2 Cor 12:1-10 Sufficient Grace

Sufficient Grace

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Elder/deacon selection

Early HS working out with Grant Pitts...teenage bench press record of over 500 lbs.

Main Idea: The Lord's powerful provision of sufficient grace is made perfect in weakness.

Flow from ch. 11 boast in weakness to ch 12 boasting in the weakness displayed in Paul’s thorn.

The Lord’s sovereign hand graciously supplies for our good through weakness.

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, not making himself better or to look better though at first it appears so...

I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. Acts records 6 different visions of Paul- this is the only mention of this vision.

likely a boast of the super apostles

Illus: Heaven is for real...what do you do with a book or movie like this...dismiss it...why?

Canon of Scripture is closed. The next revealing will be the coming of Christ. If you were going to get a full description of heaven it would be here in this text...watch closely to what Paul says and why

2 I know a man(who is the man? will see in v. 7) in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven(atmosphere, stars, dwelling place of God…number of perfection)—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3And 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 does not want to become the focus of attention...to keep him from becoming so...the thorn…v. 6 what do you see in Paul and hear from Paul. See weakness, hear the gospel.

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, conceited—exalting oneself…In other words, God did not want Paul to write a best seller about his experiences. To keep him from such...

a thorn was given me in the flesh, “The Greek word behind ‘thorn,’ scolops, means a stake or pole with a sharp, pointed end, and by derivation a splinter or thorn.” (Naylor, 210)

thorn is not clearly identified: physical ailment, persecution, depression, people,

debilitating and humiliating. Super apostles would have seen affliction and weakness as a sign of the absence of God’s blessings.

a messenger of Satan to harass me, The verb “to harass(torment)” (kolaphizein, “abuse,” “batter”) implies humiliating violence—being slapped around; and the present tense suggests that it was persistent—something that happens over and over again.

similar to Job… the messenger of Satan is allowed to operate under the sovereign hand of God...ultimately the Lord’s plan will be accomplished.

to keep me from becoming conceited.

James 4:6–10 ESV

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Where is the Lord humbling me? Where do I need to be humbled or where am I exalting myself? remember that he opposes the proud…good thing. He humbles us, sometimes with a thorn, always through weakness. When weakness comes...

The Lord's powerful provision of sufficient grace is made perfect in weakness.

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

Matter of pleading prayer…

3 times...parallel to Jesus in the garden who asked 3 times if it be your will let this cup pass from me. Why 3? Not clear

What is clear? God’s answer was no.

Illus: The Lord never answered my prayer.

No is an answer to prayer as surely as yes is. (CSB Study 1852)

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

God’s grace is not just the unmerited favor that saves us but a force that also sustains us throughout our lives. (Garland 524)

for my power is made perfect in weakness.” jars of clay

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

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

1 Corinthians 4:10 ESV

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.

As fools for Christ, we embrace our weaknesses for the sake of Christ.

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.

None is too weak to be of service to Christ, but many are too strong to be used by him (1 Cor 1:27). It is because the Lord will have all the glory that he uses those who are acutely aware of their own weakness (1 Cor 2:3). (Wilson 160)

(t)he self-sufficient (will) remain strangers to the power of that grace which is manifested only in conscious weakness. (Wilson 160)

Am I aware of my weaknesses?

So What?

Am I content with my weaknesses for the sake of Christ?

My glory or his glory...my mission or his mission. My own sake or for the sake of Christ.

“There is no value in the endurance of hardships and indignities in themselves. There is no virtue in suffering. Everything turns on the phrase ‘for the sake of Christ.’ Only a fanatic would find contentment in self-inflicted suffering and miseries. But a Christian will find special contentment in sufferings endured ‘for the sake of Christ.’” (Hughes, 215) Why? ...When we are emptied of ourselves we are filled with (Christ). (Hodge 665)

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.

Weaknesses (things beyond your control)

Physical

Emotional

Loss

Rejection

Difficult people

kids

Stott preaching in 1958...lost father the day before he was to preach the last sermon and lost his voice…preached in a monotone wisper...many converted…years to follow when he would return, he would regularly meet people who were converted during that sermon.

Stott says, “The Holy Spirit takes our human words, spoken in great weakness and frailty, and he carries them home with power to the mind, the heart, the conscience, and the will of the hearers in such a way that they see and believe.” (Guthrie 598)

Prayer

Baptism 9:30 and 11

Elders

Giving

Prayer

END