Boasting in Infirmities

I will boast in my infirmities

2 Corinthians 12:1-12

Introduction:

In the last chapter we spend several weeks seeing how Paul defended himself against the false teachers making false accusations against him

            *Paul lifted up his own qualities

            *Saw that Paul was not thrilled with having to do that

In this chapter Paul shared an interesting experience that he had in vv. 1-4

The experience:

þ     Paul had had visions and revelations from the Lord:  He heard from the Lord directly

þ     Paul did not entirely understand the experience that he had had.

þ     He was called up into the “third heaven” v. 2

               Interchanged with “Paradise” in verse 4

þ     This was a divine act v. 2 (caught up):  he was not seeking it, God did it

þ     It was an astonishing experience:  Paul saw and heard much

Many believe that what Paul is referring to is in Acts 22:17-21.  Would have been part of Paul’s call to go to the gentiles.

Paul does not say any more about this, certainly leaves us with many questions as to what took place and why.

Part of this that is challenging to me is this:  Paul shares it briefly and moves on, he had revelation from God above all others.  Add this to his unique salvation experience and Paul had much to brag about, yet he does not.

Many today like to boast of “out of the body” encounters with God

See book advertised 90 Minutes in Heaven, author was pronounced dead from a car crash.  He came back to life 90 minutes later with the memory of “inexpressible heavenly bliss.”  This book tells what he heard, saw, and felt during that time. 

      *He is going to express the inexpressible

      *He is obviously going to “brag” about this experience that he had

      *Books like that make me wonder why Lazarus didn’t write one

Many in various religious circles today brag of such experiences and in many cases they are lifted up as a result of it

Notice though that Paul did not brag about this experience, he did not lift himself up as a result of it, he did not go on in great detail, but said, “If I am going to boast in anything at all, it will be my weaknesses and infirmities!!”

How many today would boast in where they are weak?  In what they struggle with?  This is unheard of!!

Today I want to look at three reasons why Paul could boast in his infirmities:

1.      The infirmity brought about godly character

2.      The infirmity brought a reminder of God’s strength

3.      The infirmity brought a renewal of right priorities

I.                   The infirmity brought about godly character v. 7

1.      Having a revelation such as Paul had could have caused him to be lifted up with pride

*Had Paul had a press agent he certainly would have advertised that “Paul was the only man who had visited heaven and lived to tell about it.”

*Yet God allowed a messenger of Satan to buffet him lest he be exalted above measure

*A thorn in the flesh: Many have made great cases as to what this thorn in the flesh was that troubled Paul:  boils down to no on really knows.

*I can get a picture in mind when you mention “thorn in the flesh”  Any hunter or woodsman can. 

            --Illustration of this last rabbit season:  thorn stuck in my face

                                    Couldn’t move without it pulling/causing pain

*Whatever Paul suffered with it was always there and caused him a great deal of pain or discomfort.

*He had prayed and prayed for God to remove it, and God had not

2.      Part about this that caused him to boast was that it dealt with his pride

Paul was more concerned with godly character than he was about his own comfort

Paul was willing to suffer if it would in some way make him more like Christ.

A clay pot sitting in the sun will always be a clay pot. It has  to go through the white heat of the furnace to become porcelain.

3.      What difference might it make to us if we were able to look at our difficulties and struggles as making us more like Christ?

II.                 The infirmity brought a reminder of God’s strength vv. 8-9

1.      As Paul suffered this thorn in the flesh he saw an even greater demonstration of God’s strength and sufficiency

Illustration:  Drama team while at PBTS

            Story of a missionary who was dying of cancer

            We went through the story of his struggle with cancer

At one point he recorded in his diary, “Jesus Christ, in every circumstance, is absolutely enough.”

As this man suffered and died he understood more than ever God’s strength and grace

Paul felt the same thing

2.      The ones who have suffered the most are always the first ones to point out the power and strength of God who brought them through

*Those who have suffered little seem to have the least grasp on Paul’s words here.

3.      Sometime it would be great to have some of you stand and share the strength and grace that God has given you in the midst of difficulties.

4.      Why could Paul boast in his infirmities?  It gave him the opportunity to boast in God’s strength and grace

5.      Encouragement to those suffering now

III.              The infirmity brought a renewal of right priorities v. 10

I will rather boast in my infirmities that I might be strong.  Paul is saying that his overall priority is to be strong in the Lord and to become more like him.  If it takes suffering to do that, Paul is willing

An old fable says that when it was put into the heat of a furnace gold objected to the heat and asked how long it should be expected to endure such heat.  The answer was, “As soon as the refiner’s purpose is accomplished.”  Gold then asked, “And when will that be?”  The answer was, “When the refiner can see his own face in you.”

Paul could boast in his struggles:

1.      They brought about godly character

2.      They reminded him of God’s strength

3.      They renewed his priority to become more like Christ.