Trusting & Suffering

Welcome/Intro…

TURN to 2 COR… 12...

NEW THING on WEDNESDAYS (Summertime)…

TAKING SUBJECT of SUNDAY a BIT FURTHER

OR… FOLLOWING a RABBIT TRAIL a BIT.

Explain: GOAL of EXPOSITORY PREACHING—KEEP the MAIN THING, the MAIN THING.

**SOMETIMES SIDE NUGGETS of TRUTH ARE SO HELPFUL**

Setting: WE’RE GOING to FOLLOW a RABBIT TONIGHT…

**PLEASE FEEL FREE to ASK QUESTIONS/DISCUSS/PONDER**

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Transition ➡???? To Begin: reading passage//noting questions//things that stand out to you??

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Recapping Sunday:

(Q.) Does anyone remember why Paul initially went to Galatia? Bodily Ailment/He got sick.

Galatians 4:13 ESV

13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,

Numerous possibilities—some think it was malaria, and Paul went to the climate of Galatia to help his symptoms.

Very Important Word: BECAUSE…

NOT “IN SPITE OF”… BUT “BECAUSE OF”

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Tonight’s Focus: HOW GOD WORKS THROUGH HARDSHIPS…

Setting: SOME SCHOLARS CONCLUDE— PAUL’S “BODILY AILMENT” from GAL. 4… = HIS THORN from 2 COR. 12…

MAYBE… MAYBE NOT…

BUT SIMILAR TOPICS/ HELPFUL…

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Transition ➡ TO SET the STAGE a LITTLE…

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Setting/Literary Context

2 CORINTHIANS — PAUL DEFENDS HIS APOSTLESHIP…

“SUPER APOSTLES” WHO OPPOSED HIM in CORINTH LED SOME ASTRAY…

TONIGHT’S PASSAGE,, PAUL DEFENDS HIMSELF— BOASTING in GOD’S REVELATIONS to HIM & HIS SUFFERING…

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Passage Exposition:

Background: Paul’s Boast & Visions (v1-4)

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 ESV

1 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.

CH. 11 — ENDS — W/ PAUL DETAILING SOME of HIS TRIALS…

CH. 12—PAUL CONTINUES “BOASTING” — BUT CHANGES GEARS

PAUL WRITES CONCERNING “A MAN in CHRIST” THIS—3RD PERSON…

**IN HUMILITY** WE LATER LEARN IT WAS HIM.

PAUL = COMBATTING “SUPER APOSTLES” — PROBABLY HAD SIMILAR CLAIMS

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Historical Setting:

40-42 A.D. PAUL HAS a REVELATORY ENCOUNTER…

POSSIBLY in BODY/OUT of BODY?? — CAUGHT UP to ABODE of GOD.

**Fascinating** THIS = PAUL’S ONLY MENTION of THIS…

PAUL = NOT QUICK to BOAST — “SUPER SPIRITUAL”

“BOASTING in the LORD” 2 COR. 10:17

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Transition ➡ Defending His Apostleship (& Gospel) — HE BOASTS “OF THIS MAN”

READ: V5-6

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Thought 2: Boasting in Weakness (v5-6)

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 ESV

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.

PAUL HAS a RIGHT to BOAST… WHAT HE SAW WAS AWESOME.

&& IT WAS TRUE.

(v6b) HE DOESN’T WANT ANYONE THINKING TOO HIGHLY of HIM.

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Solution: HE BOASTS in WEAKNESSES (V5b)

“ASTHENEIA” = FOUND in PASSAGE 4X

(V5)… (V9, x2)… (V10).

Astheneia Word Study:

ALWAYS REFERS to BODILY SICKNESS in GOSPELS.

USED BY PAUL in 1 TIM. 5:23 THIS WAY

**WORD in QUESTION in GAL. 4:13...**

CAN ALSO MEAN WEAKNESS GENERICALLY

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(D.Q.) DOESN’T THIS SEEM BACKWARDS?? BOASTING in WEAKNESS??

C.C. — WANTING to BE SUPERSTAR— “I’VE SEEN HEAVEN!”

DOCUMENTING EXPERIENCE//YOUTUBE??

PAUL ONLY BRINGS THIS UP ONCE— AND DOESN’T SHARE MANY DETAILS—INSTEAD HE REMAINS HUMBLE…

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Transition ➡THERE’S a REASON—HE REMAINS HUMBLE.

READ: V7

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Thought 3: The Thorn (v7)

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 ESV

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.

Famous Passage: PAUL’S “THORN”

ORIGINALLY MEANT SOMETHING POINTY— THEN POKEY/ANNOYING/PAINFUL

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. σκόλοψ

then

Romans to Philemon: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Volume 3 Paul’s “Foolish” Boasting (11:1–12:13)

Quote, C. Arnold

**NOTICE PAUL DOESN’T TELL WHAT IT IS**

BUT HE EXPLAINS WHY IT WAS THERE.

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Hermeneutics Note: LOOK FOR REPETITION

(Q) ONE CONCEPT/PHRASE = SANDWICHES V7?? — KEEP ME FROM BEING CONCEITED.

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A few details:

It was “because” of the greatness of revelations…

It was a thorn in his flesh (body).

PHYSICAL MALADY

It was a messenger of Satan.

Exhort: A REAL ENEMY—BUT REALLY LIMITED…

GOD — AT WORK THROUGH EVIL!

(Q) Can ANYONE THINK… OTHER EXAMPLES...??? Job,, Crucifixion of Christ!

& AGAIN— KEEP HIM FROM CONCEIT.

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Exhort: Consider, visions of heaven must be pretty incredible.

**DON’T KNOW ALL WE “COULD/WANT” to KNOW… BUT WHAT WE “NEED” to KNOW...

FAILURES of LANGUAGE?? EMERALD RAINBOW in REV. 4???

THIS = GIVEN TO PAUL— HE DIDN’T ASK FOR IT…

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Transition ➡ INSTEAD: WE SEE HE’S NOT HAPPY.

READ: V8

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Thought 4: Paul’s Response (v8)

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 ESV

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

PAUL WANTS IT GONE—IT’S UNCOMFORTABLE…

Illustration: WHAT DO YOU DO W/ SPLINTER?? PULL IT OUT!

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Transition ➡ READ RED LETTERS/FIRST PART of V9

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Thought 5: Christ’s Response (v9a)

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

(v9) Do you see what the Lord really said to Paul’s prayer? No, I HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

Exhortation: Some people call them “unanswered prayers” but remember, “No” is an answer.

YES… NO… & WAIT.

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D.Q. Other examples from Scripture of “ungranted prayers?”

JESUS in GETHSEMANE…

DAVID’S CHILD

Illustration: PARENTS—TELLING KIDS NO—KNOWING WHAT is BEST

**CANDY for BREAKFAST—YUMMY, NOT NUTRITIOUS**

Exhort: WE HAVE to TRUST the WISDOM of GOD…

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Powerful Truth: GOD SAW BENEFIT to PAUL’S THORN,,

WAS GREATER THAN PAUL’S COMFORT.

ANSWER WASN’T “I CAN’T...” BUT… “I WON’T...”

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Instead: MY GRACE is SUFFICIENT

JESUS PROMISED to CARRY HIM THROUGH.

Encourage: REMEMBER,, JESUS KNEW WHAT it WAS LIKE to SUFFER—HE HAD ALREADY TROD THIS PATH!

Challenge: GRACE = SUFFICIENT… ENOUGH… ADEQUATE…

(D.Q.) WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS??

DOESN’T MEAN LEFTOVERS

DOESN’T MEAN IT’S EASY.

BUT MEANS IT’S ENOUGH…

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Powerful Conclusion/Reason: CHRIST’S POWER is MADE PERFECT in WEAKNESS

Made perfect/complete—HAS REACHED ITS GOAL/MISSION.

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Transition ➡ PAUL HAS a FINAL THOUGHT RESPONSE…

READ: 9-10

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Thought 6: Paul’s Final Response (v9b-10)

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 ESV

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.

FIRST—PAUL ASKED for IT TO LEAVE

NOW—HE BOASTED IN HIS WEAKNESS…

Principle in God’s Word— GOD WORKS THROUGH WEAK VESSELS…

(D.Q.) WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?? HE GETS the GLORY!

GIDEON— WEAK SCARED MAN,, ARMY of 300

DAVID & GOLIATH

SCANDAL of “WEAK” MESSENGERS from HEAVEN—FROM GAL. 4… SEEMS SO BACKWARDS!**

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(conclusion: v10)

PAUL WAS CONTENT—EVEN MORE “DELIGHTED??/TOOK PLEASURE ” in HIS WEAKNESS

WEAKNESS

HARDSHIP

PERSECUTION

CALAMITY

ANY PROBLEM

WHEN I AM WEAK… I AM STRONG (THROUGH CHRIST)

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Passage Takeaway: THIS PASSAGE TEACHES US the BENEFIT of HUMAN WEAKNESS — is that WE CAN SEE CHRIST’S STRENGTH SHINING THROUGH.

Testimony: TIMES I FEEL LESS PREPARED to PREACH/TEACH—USUALLY the BEST.

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Takeaway Thoughts/Discussion:

GREAT BENEFIT of “PAUL’S THORN” = WE DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS…

One scholar noted in Galatians 4— the BENEFIT of NOT KNOWING PAUL’S THORN— MAKES it MORE UNIVERSAL!

MALARIA?

MIGRAINES?

EPILEPSY?

EYE PROBLEMS?

WE DON’T KNOW—SO WE CAN RELATE.

WE ALL HAVE AREAS of BESETTING WEAKNESS...

(D.Q.) ANYONE HAVE an AREA of WEAKNESS THAT MAKES YOU DEPENDENT UPON GOD?? — ME, ANXIOUS TENDENCIES.

**THESE THINGS SHOULD CAUSE US to LEAN on GOD!**

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2. GOD USES THESE THINGS for HIS GLORY & the GOOD of OTHERS…

remember— PAUL’S AILMENT TOOK HIM to GALATIA…

Romans 8:28–29 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

(D.Q.) ANYONE HAVE a TESTIMONY of a TIME GOD WORKED THROUGH YOUR HARDSHIP? :

WHAT DID IT TEACH YOU?//

DID IT HELP YOU HELP OTHERS??

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?? Closing Thoughts & Questions??

!! Close in Prayer !!