God is Working on Us

Every Christian is a work in progress.

God is working on us.

We are under construction.

There is a process of sanctification taking place in the life of ever believer.

God is at work ... day by day ... in our lives.

The Apostle Paul was also a work in progress.

God saved Paul and God went to work sanctifying, teaching, and working on Paul to day by day make him into who God wanted him to be ... for God's glory.

We are going to learn about one of those episodes today and how Paul learned that when he is weak ... he can find strength.

Living the Christian life, serving others in Christ name, representing Christ ... living out our individual callings as Christ followers ... it's not about our strength, our power, or simply our natural abilities. - And our frailties, our struggles, our sufferings ... remind us of that.

God uses the weak.

God strengthens the weak.

When we are weak ... we can find strength in the Lord and be used for His glory.

It's not about our strength, but the Lord's.

But first ... let's review where we are at this point in Paul's life.

Acts 9:30 ESV

30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

After going to Jerusalem Paul's life is under threat.

They send him back to his hometown.

At this point in Paul's life he had been converted on the road to Damascus

Paul give us a summary in Galatians ...

Paul says after being converted he ...

Galatians 1:17–21 ESV

17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

Paul had this season where he was in Tarsus and he went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia (where Tarsus was.)

We know very little about these several years. We know very little about the few years he spent in Arabia before this.

These years in Tarsus are referred to by commentators as his "silent years."

We just don't know a lot about them.

It doesn't mean Paul was literally silent we can be sure he was sharing the gospel.

But the NT writers, not even Paul, told us much about them.

It's like he sort of DISAPPEARED.

BUT LISTEN ... God was WORKING on Paul.

God was using Paul where was, and he was preparing Him for whatever would be next.

Paul had SILENT YEARS but that doesn't mean he had WASTED YEARS.

God doesn't waste time.

He doesn't waste us.

God prepares.

God works.

God readies.

God sanctifies.

It is believed by some that it is during the years in Tarsus that Paul experienced some of the sufferings he writes about in 2 Corinthians 11.

2 Corinthians 11:24–27 ESV

24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

Paul lived a Christian life full of hardship.

He went from being the one inflicting hardship, to the one being afflicted by hardship.

He went from persecutor to persecuted.

It's also believed somewhere during this time Paul received what he termed a "thorn" in his "flesh."

We read about this in the next chapter in 2 Cor. 12.

Through this experience Paul learned, Paul grew, Paul had an experience with the Lord that stayed with him.

Paul was a work in progress.

When we look back at Paul's life ... and we know though he experienced much WEAKNESS ... God made His strength known in and through Paul's life.

This lesson, this truth ... began when Paul received a thorn in the flesh after an incredible spiritual high.

In 2 Corinthians Paul is defending his ministry, his apostleship against the claims of rivals/false apostles.

These people make big boasts and Paul makes it a point in 2 Cor. 12 to talk about a great spiritual experience he had had.

He points out as we shall see that he'd rather boast in his weaknesses for he knows boasting of a great spiritual experience doesn't prove his apostleship.

What can't be denied is God's power on display in His life in the midst of weakness.

2 Cor. 12:1-10 - I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows- 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses- 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.

When Paul says "I know a man" he is referring to himself.

The man in Christ I Paul and he describes briefly an experience had 14 years prior, which likely was around the time he was in Tarsus.

Caught up to the third heaven

Paul explains he doesn't know if was in the body or out of it.

He's not sure exactly what this experience was.

The third heaven ... some in the Jewish tradition divided heaven into 7s.

Though that doesn't mean that is what Paul is doing.

He goes on to refer to it as paradise.

What Paul is clearly saying here is he had an incredible heavenly experience in the PRESENCE OF GOD.

For whatever the reason may be ... he cannot utter or share the things he heard.

Paul says ... I'll boast on that guys' behalf but not my own.

There is sarcasm here.

Paul's point seems to be ... "I have great spiritual experiences that I can go on about to ... but I don't want to focus on that.

I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me.

I don't want anyone thin more of me than they should.

"Me telling this doesn't prove anything. Let's talk about my weakness."

Now that kind of experience ... could really puff someone up right?

Listen ... If encountered God like Paul did here and heard things I couldn't share y'all wouldn't likely be able to tolerate me.

We are too easily puffed up!

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God graciously kept Paul humble and in the midst of weakness ... worked in a powerfully strong way to display His glory.

We read little of Paul's heavenly experience ... we read much of his beatings, his imprisonment, his persecutions.

God's power made perfect in weakness. The weak .... made strong.

- Paul's story here in 12:7-10 should be a reminder for us of how God works in the lives of His people. It's a reminder for us that God makes the weak strong. Here are 3 reminders from this verse of how God does this ...

1. God Can Use Thorns to Humble His People. - 12:7

- To keep me from being conceited. - It would be so easy to be proud, to think highly of yourself after having the experience he did in God's presence.

- "Wow, I must be a big deal to God. - I must be really important. - I must be the most important apostle. - I wonder if Peter had this happen? Does God love me more than Peter? - Who is like me in this?"

- God prevented this. God kept him humble. God kept him from conceit.

- A thorn was given me in the flesh - What does this mean? There are various theories ...

- Some have proposed it more psychological and maybe guilt from his past.

- Some have proposed it was persecution.

- Some have proposed it was people or a person. There are examples in the OT of people being referred to as thorns.

- Some think it was something demonic. This is because of the term "messenger of Satan."

- Some think it was a physical ailment such as failing eye sight, which we know Paul had issues with his eyes. - This seems to be the most popular view. This seems to be because of the term thorn in the flesh, many think it alludes to a bodily ailment, something in the body.

- Here is the thing ... PAUL DOES NOT TELL THEM/US. - Why? Think about it ...

- He could say ... _________ was given to me. But instead he calls it a thorn in the flesh and never says exactly what it is. - Yet ... many want to spend a lot of time figuring out and hypothesizing about what it is. - The WHAT is not the point. If Paul really wanted you to know he'd have spelled it out. It's not that he doesn't want you to know necessarily, it's that it's not that important, and he possibly doesn't care for us to know.

- Charles Swindoll says it doesn't matter.

- A messenger of Satan to harass me - Here Paul understands that Satan would want to use this to harass him. Satan intends this for evil.

- You might recall in the book of Job ... Satan requested to bring trouble into Job's life to try and get him to turn on God. God allowed it. God is sovereign ... even over Satan.

- It's like trouble in our lives ... Satan intends it for evil. He'd like to solicit us to sin, to tempt us. He always intends evil. Yet, God never tempts us to evil, but God will allow trials in our life to prove our faith, to teach us to rely on Him. Satan always intends evil. God always intends good. God is sovereign and in control. Satan is not.

- God used this thorn for good ... it was used first we see to keep Paul from being conceited, to keep him from the sin of pride.

- The thorn ... was something in his life he wanted out ... that God left in. - Satan intended it for evil, but God used it for good.

- Listen ... God can use things we might deem thorns ... for good in our lives. There are troubles, difficulties, challenges, pains that can enter our lives ... Satan 100% wants to use those to destroy your faith, your life, etc. - However ... God intends things for the good of His people. God can take painful things ... and ultimately use them for good.

- Here we see God used it to keep Paul humble. - Pain, trouble, difficulty ... is a humbling experience and reminds us ... WE NEED THE LORD.

- Humility keeps us reliant on the Lord. If we are to walk with God, to be strong in the Lord, to remain faithful ... we must first remain humble.

Prov. 18:12 - Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before

honor.

- 1 Peter 5 and James 4 both reference the OT and say ... "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

- When we walk in pride we invite God's opposition ... we walk in humility we posture ourselves to receive grace. - So it's is the grace, kindness, and goodness of God ... that humbles us. - God can use even thorns ... to humble his people.

2. God's Grace is Sufficient for His People. - 12:8-9a

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, ...

- It's important to point out ... Paul did not want this in his life. He wasn't asking for whatever this was. He wasn't running after pain, suffering, trouble, affliction.

- Paul says he asked the Lord that it should leave him. He wanted it gone. In fact, he not only ask ... he says asked three times. He prayed until ultimately he understood God was not going to remove this but rather use this.

- We should never look at a passage like this and begin to assume things about our lives or the lives of others. - Don't assume God won't heal, remove, etc. just because of what happened with Paul in this circumstance. As Sam Storms points out, Paul was shown by divine revelation that this circumstance was being used by God.

- Friends ... pray for healing, pray for help, pray for relief. It's OK to pray for the trial to go away! It's OK to pray to be spared it! PAUL DID. Keep praying!

- However, we can understand ... we don't always get healing in this life, or the answers like we are looking for in this life.

- What we see here is in the midst of his pain ... God's grace was SUFFICIENT.

- God and His grace was enough. God didn't remove it ... but God got him through it. In fact, notice it is in red, in context this is Jesus speaking to Paul.

- What God doesn't remove ... He can and will see us through. His grace is sufficient.

- God's grace ... and ONLY God's grace ... is sufficient when the trial remains.

- Sufficient can mean to be satisfied or content.

- God's grace is able to satisfy our needs ... so that we can be content in any situation.

- Every pain, ever affliction, every trouble ... brings a need for help, for grace. God's grace is sufficient to satisfy the need. So that if the trial remains ... God's grace is able to see us through.

- God's grace is sufficient .... to save the sinner ... to sustain the believer ... to encourage the discouraged ... to help the helpless. Our greatest need ... SALVATION ... God's grace was sufficient. (Gospel)

- Many times we not know what to do, how to help, what to say ... God is never at a loss. Our kindness, our mercy, our grace ... our ability ... is imperfect.

- But what must happen? WE MUST TRUST HIM. RELY ON HIM.

- Paul learned ... Paul knew ... to go to the right source ... because only ...

3. God's Power Can Strengthen His People. - 12:9b-10

... for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

- God's grace is sufficient for his power is made perfect in weakness. - Though Paul is weak ... Christ is strong.

- Because of this word from the Lord ... Paul says he will BOAST all the more gladly ... of his weaknesses. Why? So the power of Christ will rest on him.

- Paul began to understand ... it's not about his strength but rather the Lord's.

- He is content with physical weakness if he can experience spiritual strength from the Lord.

- Paul says for the sake of Christ ... he's content with weaknesses, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. - He names a lot of things we'd consider undesirable trials. His point is not these are fun or desirable ... he's content with them for the Lord's sake. For when Paul is weak ... Paul is strong. Why? The power of Christ rests upon him.

- God in his grace ... strengthens his people when we are weak, when we rely upon and trust in Him. His grace is sufficient to give us strength.

- WE CAN BE STRENGTHENED BY GOD'S POWER.

- In the OT Isaiah spoke of the strength the Everlasting God can empower His people with ...

Isaiah 40:29–31 ESV

29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

- What's the key in the OT passage? They who wait for the Lord. - We must trust in and rely upon Him. Listen to what Paul said to the Philippians ...

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

- This verse isn't about being a superstar or super salesman. This verse is about being content ... even in the worst of times. It's about no matter what you face ... you can be content because your strength comes from Christ.

- Paul had learned before Philippians ... that Christ's power is perfected in weakness. He had learned how to rely upon, to trust in the Lord.

- Listen ... hard things in our lives ... things that expose our weakness and frailty ... can lead to places where we experience new found spiritual strength in the Lord, places where His grace ... meets our need. His power meets our weakness. He becomes our strength.

- Here is the thing ... when we encounter suffering and difficulty ... we have choices:

- We can be SELF-RELIANT ... pull yourself up, flex your muscle, and keep on

- We can SUBSTITUTE FOR GOD ... other people, other hopes ...

- We can seek to ESCAPE and ignore the problem, maybe numb it ... escapism with entertainment, drugs, other passions

- OR ... We can TRUST and rely on THE LORD. We can humbly admit our need and rely on Him and His grace. We can trade our power for His strength.

- The only path to endurance, hope, and faithfulness ... is trusting in Him, relying on the Lord.