Strength in Weakness

Two fold purpose for the message today

1. That we would take courage during our difficulty and/or weaknesses

2. As a reminder of what is important to look for in a Pastor

Number two is appropriate because of the context of the passage.

Brief Background

- Paul the Apostle has had to defend the validity of his ministry to the Corinthian church because they have been influenced by some other so-called Apostles.

- They have become persuaded by external appearances and stories of grand revelations.

- This is the reason that the Apostle is mentioning these visions.

o Boasting for Paul has become necessary because of the carnality of the Corinthian church.

We can learn from this that

1. We ought not be overly impressed by people’s stories of heavenly encounters.

2. Visions and revelations are great, but they are not a measure of maturity or eligibility for ministry.

Paul is kind of saying, I’ve been there, I’ve done that. He isn’t saying that there isn’t significance in them, but rather that it doesn’t validate his ministry.

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!

As a matter of fact, the revelations that he has received are so great that, he was in danger of becoming prideful about them. Or Exalting Himself.

- One would think that such visions and revelation would not put us at risk of pride, however

- May we never allow ourselves to become prideful for the experiences that God gives us.

o “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

- Let us be reminded that though we have been given a new heart, that our old man has died, we are still capable of grievous sin against the Lord. We are still free.

Vs 7: The Thorn was from Satan, but as God has promised

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

This is a great example of God’s sovereignty. What the enemy intends for evil, God uses for good.

- Joseph

- The cross(you will bruise his heel, he will crush your head)

o –

14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Know that whatever has come against you God will use for your good.

(NASB95)

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

God’s purpose in allowing the Apostle to suffer this torment was to keep him humble. To keep him positioned to receive the favor of God.

o “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me

- There is nothing wrong with asking the Lord to remove the difficulty from your life.

- The Apostle asked, and kept on asking until he heard otherwise from the Lord.

o There is no formula in this, we ask until we hear from the Lord.

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

We can be very encouraged with these words right here as all of us bear weaknesses.

- We look at ourselves, we recognize our inabilities, our frailties, our limited mental capacity.

o Im not smart

o Im not strong

o Im too emotional

o Im not emotional

o Im too old

o Im too young

o Im too shy

9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Break down this verse

Grace

Sufficient

Power

Perfected

Weakness.

Grace

- Not just referring to unmerited favor, IE; By grace you have been saved through faith(eph. 2:8-9)

but also includes empowering grace.

14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Sufficient: It is enough, all that we need.

- For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

Power: Dynamis , where we get the word dynamite

- Same power that Jesus referred to in but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you

Isn’t this the power that we are all after?

Jesus has said that “power is perfected in weakness.”

Perfected: teleo: Fully accomplished

in weakness: astheneia - incapacity, a state of weakness or limitation

We don’t need to know exactly what Paul’s thorn was. All we need to understand is that in rendered him incapable.

You want power? It is found in weakness. Where are you weak? How are you incapable?

- This is where Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed one wants to show Himself strong in your life.

God has always chosen to show himself strong through those who are weak.

IE: Gideon (judges 6:14-16 / 7:2), David,

Therefore, the Apostle responds with

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

We don’t need to put our heads down and sulk at our difficulties, but rather, lift our heads up, and recall that weakness is the platform for the power of God to be displayed!!!

Realize that it is in those very weaknesses that the power of Christ is perfected.

10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Everything that comes against you may fall into this category of weakness.

Every situation where we find ourselves incapable.

Every mountain that we cant move.

When we come to the end of our own strength and ability, beyond what we can bear. This is when the Dynamite power of Christ manifests.

- If you want to see the power of Christ in your life you must come to the end of yourself.

Isn’t this how we came to salvation?

26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

We come to the end of ourselves. “I cannot save myself”, and the power of God manifest through Gospel to reconcile you to God.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

The walk of faith continues in the same manner.

It requires faith, stepping out into the unknown.

- My examples:

o Our home construction.

o My life in business and ministry