Strength in Weakness (RUSH)

Sermon..?

INTRO: “I’ll work hard to communicate, if you work hard to understand.” Think over these things.

God given me a message I’m excited Secret, only I know. A secret that doesn’t change because size of the crowd A secret that doesn’t change because of WHO is in the crowd This secret is for EVERYBODY and that’s why it’s so exciting. Man God is good. I’m gonna use an ILLUSTRATION - Join your family at the dinner table. Phone in your room. Don’t be kicking your sibling underneath the table. Don’t be trying to watch the tv in the living room. Be present with your family. We’re excited about this Word and message, but sometimes others aren’t excited. Idk your life and what goes on at home. Don’t know if you talk about church, Jesus, the Bible with friends or, snapchat it, Instagram it, text it. Idk if you ever read the Bible or how much you read so…. If this is the only time you’re in the Bible this week, that means we gotta work EXTRA hard to make sure you understand the message God has for us. Here’s what I need Your mind Your eyes Your ears I’m cool with you thinking (don’t hurt yourself) but be thinking about What the Scripture says What we’re talking about What God might be showing you NOT ABOUT Who’s texting me, Snapchatting me, or what’s so and so thinking about.

SO…before we dig in, let me also say….

THIS MESSAGE IS AN ALL OUT WAR ON YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR WORDS. Like that’s the application. I believe the goal of what’s talked about tonight is to wreck the source of what affects your actions and determines your thoughts. Hello!

(Dr. Gray’s Hello after a powerful statement)

The Text:

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 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. 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.

This is a follow up letter from 1 Corinthians.

Purpose for 1 Corinthians : Arrogant people and did not appreciate God.

They wrote Paul back with a letter.

Purpose for 2 Corinthians: Paul visits them and they openly disagree with him.

Where we’re at in this letter is the part where he’s defending himself, saying, because I saw Jesus I have authority to call on you to repent and follow him! Please!

The RoadMap:

Verse by verse breakdown

Purpose: to keep me from exalting myself (verse 7)

The Main Point: Grace is sufficient…power made perfect in weakness (verse 9)

Verse by Verse Breakdown/Comments

Verse 7 - Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me - to keep me from exalting myself!

Who/What was the messenger of Satan?

Look to the previous verses . I think Paul is referencing . WHEN GOD USES US OR SHOWS UP WE TEND TO BRAG ON OURSELVES AND PUFF OURSELVES UP. WOW.

The most frequently proposed possibilities include: (1) Paul’s inner psychological struggles (such as grief over his earlier persecution of the church, or sorrow over Israel’s unbelief, or continuing temptations); (2) Paul’s opponents, who continued to persecute him (cf. and , where thorns refer to Israel’s enemies); (3) some kind of physical affliction (possibly poor eyesight, malaria fever, or severe migraine headaches); or (4) some kind of demonic harassment (“a messenger of Satan”). Most commentators cautiously prefer some form of the third view, since “thorn in the flesh” would seem to suggest a physical condition.

The most frequently proposed possibilities include: (1) Paul’s inner psychological struggles (such as grief over his earlier persecution of the church, or sorrow over Israel’s unbelief, or continuing temptations); (2) Paul’s opponents, who continued to persecute him (cf. and , where thorns refer to Israel’s enemies); (3) some kind of physical affliction (possibly poor eyesight, malaria fever, or severe migraine headaches); or (4) some kind of demonic harassment (“a messenger of Satan”). Most commentators cautiously prefer some form of the third view, since “thorn in the flesh” would seem to suggest a physical condition.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2238.

“To keep me from exalting myself.”

Look to the previous verses . I think Paul is referencing . WHEN GOD USES US OR SHOWS UP WE TEND TO BRAG ON OURSELVES AND PUFF OURSELVES UP. WOW.

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

The word used for “leave,” here is a strong word meaning, get the heck outta here!

The number 3 just means he diligently brought this up to the Lord. Like pastor John talked about this morning, he was “determined.”

Verse 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 on me.

What does Grace is sufficient mean? Grace: unmerited favor…you didn’t deserve the good thing coming to you. Sufficient: enough…full, satisfied, no more Example of Grace: Example of Sufficient: What does Grace is sufficient mean? God’s goodness and blessing to us.

What does power made perfect in weakness mean?

What does power made perfect in weakness mean?

Power is at it’s strongest point IN weakness.

ILLUSTRATION

My grandpa when he got feeding tube. Even though I had to help him at a young age, you’d never be able to tell he was suffering.

Basketball buddy Jacob Worlow in High School. Diagnosed with hodgkins lymphoma. Lost all his hair and weight, but never wavered in his joy and love for the game and others.

Carleunna Bobo. Beautiful little 4 year old with SO MANY physical issues that most of the time she never understood.

11 syringes every morning of meds.

M, W, F…dialysis from 6:30-10am and she loved the song “Giants,” by Francesca Battistelli. A beautiful girl physically beaten down and weak, but clearly help up by God’s great demonstrating power and not defeat.

This whole thing is a paradox. What’s a paradox?

Fancy way of saying something sounds like it contradicts itself.

An Example…When individuals are diagnosed with cancer, they take chemotherapy, which is radiation, in hopes it will destroy the cancer.

What’s a paradox? An Example?

You’re actually taking poison to overcome a poison in your body.

Immunizations (your shots)

When I was younger, and had to go in to get my shots, I used to think doctors/nurses were giving me medicine to overcome the diseases.

Instead, what they actually do is give you a small dosage of the virus so that you’re body creates little antibodies. Antibodies are like FBI agents in your bloodstream that take out diseases/little terrorists in your body.

Professional Athletes

They love the attention on the court and ball field, but they always go out in secret in the public.

The Bible is FULL of paradoxes…Jesus said

Matthew 16:25 ESV

25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Philippians 4:10–13 ESV

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 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.

Philippians 4:10-

The Main Purpose

To Keep Us From Exalting Ourselves

The Main Point

How do we keep ourselves from exalting ourselves?

We understand that when we’re weak or broken, we are finally not looking for anyone else or anything else to help us but God. That’s exactly where we need to be.

Let’s Pray.