I’m a Christian. Now what? Glorifying God through humility

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (NASB95)

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!

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

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

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.

성경전서 개역개정판 12장

여러 계시를 받은 것이 지극히 크므로 너무 자만하지 않게 하시려고 내 육체에 가시 곧 사탄의 사자를 주셨으니 이는 나를 쳐서 너무 자만하지 않게 하려 하심이라

8 이것이 내게서 떠나가게 하기 위하여 내가 세 번 주께 간구하였더니

9 나에게 이르시기를 내 은혜가 네게 족하도다 이는 내 능력이 약한 데서 온전하여짐이라 하신지라 그러므로 도리어 크게 기뻐함으로 나의 여러 약한 것들에 대하여 자랑하리니 이는 그리스도의 능력이 내게 1)머물게 하려 함이라

10 그러므로 내가 그리스도를 위하여 약한 것들과 능욕과 궁핍과 박해와 곤고를 기뻐하노니 이는 내가 약한 그 때에 강함이라

1. INTRODUCTION

a. I’ve come to learn through recent events that the most important attribute in the Christian is humility. Humility is defined as generally lowness in status rank or economic means. In this sense, humility is the opposite of importance or wealth. It can also refer to a virtue that involves a modest self-perception. In this sense, it is the opposite of pride and arrogance.

b. When we think of humility, it is something we speak highly about, but practically, we frown upon humility. When we look at someone who is humble, we look at them as weak. When we look at someone who is strong, we see someone who is confident and outspoken.

c. Even as Christians, we look at humility as not something desirable, but rather, something that is beyond reach. So we delegate humility for the religious elite and think that I don’t need to be humble. Well today’s passage tells us that humility is something all Christians must strive for. This passage teaches us how God humbles us through our sufferings but also covers our weakness when we are humbled.

2. BODY

a. God gives trials to humble us 7-8

i. The context in Chapter 11 gives us a background to help us understand this important verse. We see in chapter 11 that Paul is defending his apostleship (사도의 신분) in 2 Corinthians 11:23 stating that he have labored more, have been beaten more, stating that he too is a servant of Christ, then in 31 by saying that he is not lying.

ii. So this lays the context for us in chapter 12. Paul defends his apostleship which gives us the immediate context.

iii. Verse 7 starts with Paul saying that because of the visions He had been given, He went to the third heaven. He defends his vision in verse 6 which builds into verse 7. Because of this vision, to keep Paul from exalting himself, God sent him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment him.

iv. When we read this, God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh. We see clearly that God gave Paul this thorn in the flesh to keep him from boasting. How did God give him a thorn in the flesh? He sent him a messenger of Satan to torment him. Simply, God sent someone to beat up Paul and humble him just as Jesus was beat up before His crucifixion at the hands of Roman soldiers.

v. This torment was continual which is why Paul responds in verse 8 by saying, concerning this continual torment that was ongoing, Paul asked God three times it might leave him.

vi. So this leads us to the question of, what is the thorn in the flesh? Many commentators and pastors lean towards some type of physical illness. I held to this position until I studied this verse and realized that the context doesn’t align to that view. Rather, it holds to the view that Paul was referring to opposition from those who were against Paul and spreading rumors that he wasn’t a true disciple of Christ. We can see this clearly in 2 Corinthians 12:7 because they were messengers of Satan. This reference goes back to 2 Corinthians 11:14-15.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”

성경전서 개역개정판 11장

이것은 이상한 일이 아니니라 사탄도 자기를 광명의 천사로 가장하나니

15 그러므로 사탄의 일꾼들도 자기를 의의 일꾼으로 가장하는 것이 또한 대단한 일이 아니니라 그들의 마지막은 그 행위대로 되리라

vii. If we think about it in this context, it makes more sense. Paul was busy spreading the Gospel, getting beat, stranded on islands doing the work of an evangelist for the sake of Christ, and a messenger of Satan shows up to derail his work. This is why he pleads with God 3 times to ask Him for mercy.

viii. As I was studying this, I realized that God was humbling Paul through this. Verse 7 gives us the hint that God gave Paul a thorn in the flesh so that he might not boast.

ix. I thought of this passage to preach on this week because I didn’t have a great week. Certain things happened and it got me discouraged and upset so I got into a fight with my wife, and I wasn’t nice to my children. My sister said she would help me and sent me over a sermon to listen to by Dr. MacArthur. He preached on Ephesians 4:29-32 and in verse 32, he emphasized be kind to one another.

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

성경전서 개역개정판 4장

서로 친절하게 하며 불쌍히 여기며 서로 용서하기를 하나님이 그리스도 안에서 너희를 용서하심과 같이 하라

x. Initially, I didn’t want to listen to the sermon. I wanted to be mad but at the same time, I was asking myself why am I so mad? I asked the Lord to forgive me and asked Him for grace so that I would be willing to listen to the sermon. About an hour later, at work, I decided to listen to the sermon while I worked. The Lord reminded me to be kind and to forgive.

xi. That immediately reminded me what humility was. Humility is God teaching us to do what He wants us to do even when we don’t want to do it. Humility is God teaching us that He is the parent, and we are His children. Humility reminds us that God gives us trials because He knows what is best for us just like He did for Paul. Remember, that God gave Paul these trials to prevent him from boasting in himself and his experiences. It was to cause Paul to focus on God’s power and not his own ability. This is the same lesson I believe that God was teaching me through this week. It was to remind me that I am still a long ways away from where He wants me to be. This is why God gives us these trials to remind us, that He is with us. He is never just watching. He is actively giving us grace to remind us to come to Him.

xii. I am reminded by Jesus’s call in Matthew 11:28-30. The call is to come to Him and He will give us grace. That is the same promise given in verse 9-10.

Matthew 11:28-30 ““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

성경전서 개역개정판 11장

수고하고 무거운 짐 진 자들아 다 내게로 오라 내가 너희를 쉬게 하리라

b. God gives grace to cover our weakness 9-10

i. Verse 9, When Paul asked God to take away this torment from him, God responds by saying my grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Paul at this time was hard at work for the Gospel and now there was someone who was his opponent undoing all the work that He had already done. People were leaving him to follow this person and Paul pleads with God, please Lord, take away this person so I can do my work. God tells Paul that His grace, His saving grace is sufficient. Even when the trials come at you and you don’t know what to do, how to deal with it, God reminds us that He is with us. His grace is sufficient even in the most difficult of times.

Paul is reminding us that he found his comfort in knowing that God’s grace was sufficient for him. Paul found his comfort in knowing that God was with him. This is the reminder. God is promising here that He will be with us and even when the situation is too difficult to bear, God will be there to keep you up. When we put our trust in Him, He will not fail us. God is promising us that His grace, His saving grace will hold us.

ii. This is why Paul’s response in verse 9, therefore, I will boast about my weakness. I will speak about how I can’t do anything. I can’t get this person to leave by my own strength. Paul can go talk to this person but this person can choose to not listen and still spread rumors about him and lead people astray. Paul realized there wasn’t anything that he could do. The only thing he could do was trust in the goodness of God. So He realized, then all I can do is boast in the power of Christ. I must believe that He is sufficient. He alone is the one who can do all things.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

성경전서 개역개정판 12장

나에게 이르시기를 내 은혜가 네게 족하도다 이는 내 능력이 약한 데서 온전하여짐이라 하신지라 그러므로 도리어 크게 기뻐함으로 나의 여러 약한 것들에 대하여 자랑하리니 이는 그리스도의 능력이 내게 1)머물게 하려 함이라

iii. His conclusions reach a climax in verse 10 where Paul writes therefore, I am content. I am satisfied with the circumstances. Even when the circumstances are difficult and things aren’t going the way I want, I am content with those things because in Christ, I can persevere. This doesn’t mean that this is easy or any easier than it is. But when my mind is focused on His goodness and is confident and trusting in Him, then I can overcome all things. Even when God humbles us in the hardest of situations, God humbles us to make us more dependent on Him and through this humbling process, we learn the fear of the Lord.

Solomon taught that “through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil” (Pr 16:6; cf. 8:13). In Ecclesiastes, the whole duty of the human race is summarized by two simple requirements: “Fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecc 12:13).

Proverbs 16:6 “By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.”

인자와 진리로 인하여 죄악이 속하게 되고 여호와를 경외함으로 말미암아 악에서 떠나게 되느니라

Ecclesiastes 12:13 “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”

성경전서 개역개정판 12장

일의 결국을 다 들었으니 하나님을 경외하고 그의 명령들을 지킬지어다 이것이 모든 사람의 본분이니라

iv. I’ve realized that suffering helps us understand the fear of the Lord. Ultimately, that is what the fear of the Lord is. There are two great things we learn from the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is knowing that God is in control and I am not. It teaches us that we must be obedient. We must not do what we want to do but what He wants us to do.

I am reminded of following someone. Why is it difficult to follow someone? I think of this example when I drive. I tend to drive fast and when I have to follow someone who drives slow, it is hard for me. But why is it hard for me? Because I want to go the speed I want to go. I want to do what I want to do. But this is what God calls us to. He calls us not to do what we want, but do what He wants us to do. How do we know this? Why should we do what He wants us to do?

Because the fear of the Lord teaches us secondly, it teaches us that He is good. I believe that is the most important aspect of the fear of the Lord. The beginning of wisdom is to know that God is ultimately good and because He is good, He is good to me all the time. God gives us trials not because we want them, but because we need them. God gives us trials in our lives because He wants us to become more like Him. He wants us to follow Him and do what He wants for us. He wants us to grow to love Him more through this. He does these things because He knows what is best for us.

v. God uses the crucible of suffering to mold us into His image. I have been reminded again afresh the calling of being a Christian. A christian’s greatest attribute is humility because humility is dependency. Humility trusts and leans on Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, Come unto me. This is humility. Stop trusting in yourself. Stop trying to do everything by yourself. Come to me and find your rest.

vi. This is what God was telling Paul and Paul came to realize the same point. Our faith grows through suffering because suffering teaches us trust in Him. You can’t have humility without trusting in Christ. You can’t be humble if you don’t believe that the person you are obeying is not good. But because God is good, and he is good all the time, even through our trials, God gives us trials because He wants the best for us. But the best part is, even through our suffering, God gives us grace. God reminds us through our trials that His grace is sufficient. His grace is worth striving after. Living a life that is pleasing is more important than getting want I want. May we all strive to live this way.

3. CONCLUSION