Welcoming Weakness

Introduction - Paradox of Power

Vladimir Shmondenko , known online as Anatoly, a professional powerlifter who pranks unsuspecting gym-goers.

“Anatoly’s” stats:

 competes as an elite natural powerlifter in the 172-174lb weight class. Despite his lean physique, his personal records place him in the upper echelons of strength athletes for his weight

Deadlift — 639 lbs — His strongest lift; ranks in the top 1.2% of his weight class.

Squat — 463 lbs — A highly competitive raw lift, ranking in the top 12.7%.

Bench Press — 330 lbs — Achieved for 2 repetitions during a showcase with Larry Wheels.

God uses His people in, despite, and through their weaknesses for His glory.

Paul’s Incredible Vision (12:1-6) Paul’s Painful Thorn (12:7-10)

Paul’s incredible vision (12:1-6)

2 Corinthians 12:1–10 “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. 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 says, I know a guy. . .

Like any good preacher, when he brings out the hypothetical person, he is more than likely referring to himself.

I love the - in the body or out of the body, i do not knwo

Third heaven . . . paradise

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 12

Both terms would be recognized by Jewish readers as references to the realm of God’s direct presence

God wants to bless His people

Paul’s incredible vision (12:1-6)

Paul was privileged (we are privileged)

The danger of pride from privilege

The road to idolatry of self-sufficiency is paved and made smooth by blessings.

Hear me, I am saying it makes the road more smooth; I’m not saying the blessed person must travel down that road.

I know many extremely blessed people (monetary, physical, etc.) who have been given much because they are godly people who steward and give much.

There can be a hidden danger in blessing if it should lead us to believe in our own self-sufficiency rather than in God’s supply of our every need - When we become content in our comfort and create an expectation of ease from God’s hands.

Deuteronomy 8:11–14, 17–18

Deuteronomy 8:11–14 ESV

11 “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God . . .12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, . . .

Deuteronomy 8:17–18 ESV

17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth,. . .

Hosea 13:6 ESV

6 but when they had grazed, they became full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.

*When things are going well, do you have a tendency to forget God?

*Does your prayer life increase as comfort increases or when discomfort sets in?

2. Paul’s painful (humbling) thorn (12:7-10)

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

God may allow problems in order to curb pride

A thorn was given:

“to keep me from becoming conceited”

“to keep me from becoming conceited”

This actually God’s grace!

Which is better,

The “thorn”

Could be Paul’s psychological struggles with the past

Paul’s current struggles with his opponents and personal attacks

Numbers 33:55 ESV

55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell.

Could be a physical limitation (poor eyesight, etc)

Could be spiritual attacks (“a messenger of Satan”)

All of these makes sense from what we know of Paul’s life and context.

The reality is we don’t clearly know what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. I’m ok with that.

Paul didn’t seem to think that was the main point or he would have clearly described it

It keeps me from justifying my “thorn” as not comparable to Paul’s

What is your thorn?

They come in all shapes and sizes:

Infertility, or a body that won't do what you want it to

Aging — a body that used to work and now doesn't

Anxiety or depression that medication and prayer manage but don't erase

A short temper you've fought for years

An addiction — years sober, but the pull never fully goes away

A moral failure people know about (or one only you and God know about)

Financial mistakes that still shape your life today

A divorce you never wanted

Three times he prayed and God did not remove it.

I wonder if Paul’s prayers went something like this:

1. God, please take this thorn from me. Would you please be gracious to me and remove it from my life?

2. God, this really hurts and I’m having a hard time here. By your grace please take this from me.

3. God, I don’t understand. How can you not be gracious enough to remove this thorn? Don’t you know how much more I could do for you if I

Didn’t have these fears

wasn’t always reminded of my past sins

I’d be able to serve you more if I was healthy

Didn’t have these people blocking my way

Didn’t have these spiritual attacks hitting one after another.

Can’t you give me a little grace?

I wonder if there was going to be a fourth prayer, questioning God’s love for him if God is unwilling to remove this thorn. And then he remembers:

Mark 14:32-41 Where it seems Jesus, the Son that God loved, prayed three times in the Garden for the cup of God’s wrath to be removed only to receive the answer that he must walk through it.

Ever feel this way? You have prayed repeatedly for God to remove a problem from your life and you keep getting denied.

I know I have experienced this

ILLUST - anxiety limiting me from doing things - even (perceived) ministry. But one day I came to the realization, I don’t believe I would be this close to God - that I would seek His presence in my life - if I didn’t feel so desperately weak without it. If this is what it takes, I would rather have the thorn and God’s presence in my life than to comfortable apart from Him.

God’s grace is sufficient right where you feel deficient

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,

I love how God’s response to Paul was not “Don’t worry, Paul, my power is overwhelming, or my strength will remove it.

Instead, He told Paul, “my grace is sufficient”

When the illusion of self-sufficiency is removed from your life, you will find God’s grace has been sufficient for every need.

God’s grace is available and sufficient regardless of how critical the circumstances may be.

Romans 8:31–39 “31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

He told Paul, “my grace is sufficient”

Sufficient for what? (Not to remove it)

Sufficient to bear it

Sufficient to grow from it.

Sufficient for God to work in and through it

Paul does not say a word about what he saw in God’s glory, but he tells us everything God said about his weakness.

Why is God’s grace sufficient?

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.”

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 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.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 12

Paul’s earthly weaknesses, not his revelations, are to be the platform for demonstrating the Lord’s power and grace.

Instead of telling everyone what he saw of God’s glory, he offers his weakness as the means to display God’s glory.

Paul would rather have problems than pride.

God can be glorified in the places of your problems.

*Could it be that the very thing you believe is limiting you may actually be the platform God wants to use to display His power?

That is what God tells Paul — (for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ) the area of your life that reveals your weakness is the very area I want to use to display my strength — to you and through you.

You can welcome weakness as an opportunity for Christ to work in and through you.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Boast in weakness?

Paul understands this and submits his weakness for God to use

Do you view your “thorn” this way?

Have you submitted your area of pain and struggle for God to display His power and strength?

The culture around us doesn’t value “boasting in weakness”

(Around the water cooler):

You guys will never believe how weak I was this past week. Man, I struggled so hard - yep, didn’t get anywhere. How about you?

Oh yeah, I feel completely helpless in my relationships.

I keep having so many physical issues I can’t go anywhere outside of work

Culture doesn’t advocate for boasting in weakness; rather, from a young age we are taught to HIDE and TRY when it comes to weakness and difficulties in our lives. Both of these short circuit God’s desire to display His power in and through the weakness in my life:

HIDE - no weakness here - I’m fine - How can we expect God to display his saving power to those who claim to need no help.

TRY - I got this - I can workout more to be physically better. I can work more to cover the expenses. I can do this

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul hints that the power of Christ would not be present if the weakness were not also present.

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.”

Be OK with being weak as it shows the strength of Christ.

The paradox of power changes the perspective of your problems.

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.

"Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and takes pleasure in God's disposal in every condition."

— Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewell of Christian Contentment

Paul didn’t say, “Welp, I can’t change it so I’m just going to have to be content”

ILLUST - Our kids wanting more at Christmas and we need to tell them to be content.

10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses

Paul is content with weakness - with his thorn - for the sake of Christ.

It gives Jesus a place to work

It gives God an opportunity to show off

It takes my story and turns it into His Glory.

It turns my mess into ministry and my muck in to mission

Paul was so confident about christs power that he was content

How do prayers change when you become content with weaknesses when and you understand the paradox of power?

God take this - to - God USE this

That’s how you know you can be content with weakness.

God,

Take my loneliness and use it to show me how to be satisfied with you first.

Take my physical limitations and use them to open new doors of ministry

Take my insecurities, my fears, my anxieties, and make me bold as a spouse, a friend, a coworker in living a godly life such that others know it is from you!

Help me to give you every area of my life to use for your glory.

God, I want your presence and your power displayed in my life, and I will welcome weakness if necessary

God, I give you my weakness for you to use as you see

Conclusion

When others saw Anatoly, they saw weakness. But the power he displayed caused everyone to stop and stare.

Had Anatoly been as visibly large as some of the other men it would still be impressive (at least to me) but not surprising.

It is the unexpected power through expected weakness that raises the question that demands an answer.

Where are you weak? Where have you lost your self-sufficiency?

Are you tired of hiding your weaknesses - pretending that everything is ok?

Are you weary of trying to fix yourself and your problems all by yourself?

Are you ready to be open about your weaknesses, to submit them to Jesus, and boast about Him as He begins to display His power in your life?