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Intro:
Tonight as we continue our series on 2 Corinthians, entitled, [Matters of the Heart], I want to speak on the subject of [Strength in Weakness].
I met someone this week who knew my brother and me.
His reaction to us as siblings is normal, “I couldn’t believe that you to are brothers.”
He discussed our difference in personality and physical stature.
Stephen and I normally find humor when people don’t believe we are related.
He has been my brother my entire life, so I do not put too much thought into our differences.
We have many similarities, but there is one BIG difference.
Stephen has always been stronger than I am.
He enjoyed working out, jumping rope, and would even ask for weights and exercise equipment for his birthday or Christmas.
I never fought with my brother because I knew his strength.
Even if he tried to provoke me, I would lay down and refuse to fight back to avoid getting hurt!
I am encouraged when I read Paul’s words, knowing that I am not the strongest.
He spoke to the church in Corinth about weakness.
Of course, Paul was not focused on physical strength.
Remember, Paul had to deal with false teachers who attacked Paul in every way that they could.
These “apostles/teachers”painted a picture of Paul that was inaccurate.
They viewed him as a weak man who was small in stature, ineffective in his preaching, and unable to be a true apostle.
They focused on his weaknesses.
They put Paul down, trying to increase their following.
It is as though they said:
Paul is a weak preacher, we are strong preachers.
Paul has weak character, we have strong character.
Paul is poor, we are rich.
Paul is unstable, we are the epitome of stability.
To get the Corinthians back where they needed to be, Paul did something that was uncomfortable for him.
For the past two chapters, Paul boasted about himself.
He felt foolish doing so, but he did not point out how foolish the false teachers were.
Now, Paul shows how he really feels.
He admits his weakness and infirmity.
He was vulnerable and shared intimate details of his life.
Why?
To show in our weakness, God is stronger.
When we feel incapable, God helps us and strengthens us.
I appreciate Paul’s ability to be open and honest about his weakness.
Because there are times I feel weak.
There are times I feel ineffective.
There are times I feel I cannot do all I need to do.
But it is in those moments, God comes and reminds me, your weakness gives me an opportunity to show my strength.
When we live with the awareness of our weakness God displays His strength through us!
I want to see three areas where God showed His strength through Paul: [Strong in Wonders], [Strong in Weakness], and [Strong in Words].
Let’s begin.
1.
Strong in Wonders
The false teachers in Corinth attempted to minimize Paul’s standing by questioning how “spiritual” he was.
They felt their gifts, skills, and lifestyle was stronger than everybody else.
Some in the church were getting swayed by this, so Paul had to do what was uncomfortable.
He shared a spiritual encounter he had with the Lord.
Because Paul was uncomfortable in boasting, he spoke of the event as though it was a friend or someone else.
It is similar to when people say, I am calling for a friend who has a questions, or, someone wanted me to ask.
Normally the friend or someone is the person speaking.
Paul recounted an encounter he had with God.
In a time of prayer, God took Paul to the third heaven.
Let’s look at what it means to go to the third heaven.
In the Bible, there are three levels of the universe: {the heavens}, {the earth}, and {below the earth.}
Remember , God created the HEAVENS, not heaven.
Paul and the Corinthians understood the heavens could be divided into three categories: the first, second, and third heaven.
According to one author:
the first heaven- clouds and atmosphere, what we can see with the naked eye.
the second heaven- the planets and stars
the third heaven- where God dwells, angels and other spiritual matters.
Paul was taken to a place in God very few people get to go and still live.
His encounter with heaven took place at an early part of his ministry.
He was alone, it was before his acclaim as a famous apostle.
In fact it was a time of weakness.
The Christians in Jerusalem were not interested in him yet and the Jews wanted to kill him.
In a time of weakness, the Lord gave him a sign and wonder that would transform his live.
He showed that it is often in the hard time and difficult seasons, where we feel our weakest, the Lord does something supernatural in us.
Paul did not brag about this encounter.
Instead, he kept silent on the issue for fourteen years.
He could have capitalized on this event, instead, he remained humble before God.
Instead of foolishly displaying his spiritual exploits, he chose to boast in his weakness.
He chose to let God preform signs and wonders through Him when God wanted it to happen.
Therefore, when we realize our weakness before God, He will preform His wonders through us!
2. Strong in Weakness
Unlike the false teachers who loved to brag about what they had in regards to God, Paul was less interested in boasting about the wonders.
He wanted to emphasize the weakness.
Why did Paul do this?
He understood, as great as the wonders are, do not be deceived, times of weakness will occur.
I understand what Paul meant.
I think about being in ministry.
When I was a child and teenager, I was enamored with the ministry.
But my perspective as very narrow.
I focused solely on the church service.
I watched with joy as I listened to Pastor Tucker preach.
I would go to revivals and listen to evangelists and we would come to the altar and have great times in God’s presence.
There have been times in God’s presence I have felt like if it gets much better, I will feel like I am in the third heaven!
But when I stepped out in full-time ministry, I realized how much weakness accompanies the wonders.
I the work, the prayer, the study, and the spiritual warfare that happens BEFORE the service ever starts.
I know you may not have been in the situation of preaching the service, but we have all been there as Christians.
We love the wonder of God’s presence.
However, we understand the sting of disappointment, the sorrow of rejection, and the throbbing pain that accompanies what Paul called the thorn in the flesh.
Three times he asked God to remove the thorn.
Three times God did not answer.
Many have tried to figure out Paul’s thorn.
I am not too interested in what it was.
I am happy he left it unsaid.
Had he said my thorn is poor eyesight, as some scholars think it was, than those with good eyesight could think, well this doesn’t apply to me.
Had he said, the thorn in my flesh is being unmarried, I have never been able to find a wife.
We might think, well, I am married, so I will not have to worry about thorns in the flesh.
Instead, Paul used his personal example to teach us, there will be times of weakness in our walk with God.
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