POWER MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS
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Good morning church family!
It’s great to be here with you this morning.
It’s always great to get to open up God’s Word together for us to be encouraged together as a faith family.
I hope you have had a steady diet of God’s Word throughout the week and I hope you are coming here as a supplement to your daily spiritual diet.
LAST WEDNESDAY EVENING… after I made sure all our students were with their parents to get home. My girls had already evacuated Buffalo Gap and I told Adrian I would go back by the house to see what else I could pick up.
Really what I was focused on was trying to grab some more clothes for the girls and a few other things I didn’t want to burn.
As I was leaving the house I can remember praying,
Lord I obviously do not want our home to burn. Lord please protect our home.
(We had just spent about 5 months waiting for this house to be finished, and so far we had only live in it 2 months.)
But God, I know this is not our real home, our home is with You. And wherever you lead us Lord we will go.
To tell you the truth, I felt completely weak. I felt like there just wasn’t much I could do if that fire came over those hills. I had just spent all day trying to help fight the fire, and I STILL FELT USELESS AND POWERLESS.
I was in my daily reading this last week reading where I read a devotional that I decided to flesh out more this morning. The reason I decided I wanted to flesh it out more, is because it really resinated with me, from this last week yes, but also with much of my life.
And I think many of us here, if we admitted it, would say the same.
In the beginning of this devotional Paul Tripp says,
I don’t know about you, but I tend to not like being weak. I don’t enjoy physical or spiritual weakness. I want to be right, strong, able, and in control. I don’t want to feel like I’m not up to the challenge. I don’t want to be confused or unready. I don’t want to feel unqualified for the task at hand. I don’t want to be the one who is keeping things from getting done or is holding others back. I don’t like it when it seems that there are things I should know that I don’t know. I don’t want to look back with regret, wishing that I had had a stronger resolve and the power to follow through. I don’t want to stare failure in the face. I don’t want to let myself or others down. I want to have a track record that I am proud of.
I DON’T FIND WEAKNESS TO BE VERY COMFORTABLE. I GUESS WHAT I’M SAYING IS THAT I DON’T WANT TO BE WHO I AM OR FACE WHO I AM. AND I SUSPECT YOU’RE A LOT LIKE ME.
I read that the other day and it hit me as hard as I had been hit in a while by my readings.
We can all fall into this trap of needing to look like we are strong, have it all together and have no weaknesses.
Honestly this whole year so far I have felt like I have been behind the 8 ball and have not felt like I can catch up...
(MAYBE IT’S HAVING THREE KIDS? MAYBE WE OVERLOADED OURSELVES OR OUR SCHEDULE)
IDK
But this year particularly I have felt weak.
I have felt not ready,
I have felt at times not able,
I have felt at times not good enough,
and not in control.
Maybe this is something that You have felt this year or in different seasons of your life?
Seasons where for no apparent reason, we just feel weaker than others. Or a particular piece of our lives where it just seems like God has aloud things to happen against us.
Tripp refers to 2 Cor. 12:9 where Paul, the GREAT APOSTLE PAUL. Paul begins to understand this about his own life. That God will allow suffering in our lives along with the blessings in our lives.
He says here,
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
I briefly spoke last week at the baccalaureate service about how God take the things of this world and he flips them upside down. Like the reality that God MOSTLY WORKS THRU OUR WEAKNESSES.
HOW DID PAUL COME TO THIS UNDERSTANDING?
I want to take a look at this today.
I do not enjoy being weak. So how can we gravitate more to this reality and understanding in our own lives?
How can we understand also that God gives us this sufficient grace for the trials and tribulations in our lives.
Let’s dive into the passage for today’s sermon...
1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And 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. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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.
God Honored Him (2 Cor. 12:1-6)
God Honored Him (2 Cor. 12:1-6)
NOW going back to 2 Cor. 11. Paul has been dealing with False apostles.
We have this understanding that the Corinthians still are wanting proof of HIS OWN APOSTLESHIP.
For whatever reason they still did not believe him. That he is an apostle sent by Christ. Even after him starting the church there in Corinth.
And so, much like his opponents, he decides to boast since that is what the Corinthians want. He asks the Corinthians to in chapter 11, “accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.”
Apparently the Corinthians expected reports of apparitions of Christ from an apostle. Some of the Corinthians found in their “apostle”, whoever it might have been a direct link to the risen Christ. We know from scripture that the Corinthians also had a lot of interest in spiritual power like speaking in tongues and revelations which were all a regular elements with the worship of the church (1 Cor. 14:6, 26).
You can see already some similarities between Corinth and our American culture today.
We as Americans sometimes don’t even realize the interest we have in our own strength and power. We are raised up in this culture of independent strength. That I can do it or that I can figure it out myself. We drive the latest cars, have the latest technology, many times have to have the nicest houses. Unconsciously seeking this independent strength as an American.
The Corinthians were all about Spiritual Power. If they did not see Spiritual Power from you, they did not believe really that you were a Christian and for sure not an apostle.
Paul had already taught them about everything being for the building up of the church.
We also cannot assume that the converted Gentiles made a clean break with their religious past. Some of the converts here in Corinth may still have been influenced by their religious background concerning visionary experiences.
And so we see Paul reserved to speak about such things because he does not believe that recounting one’s extraordinary mystical visions will do anything to build up the community.
Nevertheless, in chapter 12 Paul turns to “appearances and revelations of the Lord.”
This would serve to substantiate the claim to be an apostle sent by Christ.
1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And 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 here for whatever reason tells this story in the third person.
By doing so he takes on the attitude of not really wanting to boast of this experience that he went through 14 years ago.
He refers to himself as a man in Christ. Again showing that he believes that this experience does not set him apart from others.
In his understand, he remains no different from anyone, A WEAK VESSEL OF CLAY WHO CAN ONLY BE SUSTAINED BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
IT SOUNDS AS IF PAUL DOESN’T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS ASCENT. PAUL GENUINELY DOESN’T KNOW. By continue to say “GOD KNOWS”.
He tells the Corinthians of this man being caught up into paradise.
He hears things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. He does not say of anything he saw, but just that he heard.
SO WHY?
WHY DOES PAUL TELL OF THIS STORY to the Corinthians? Why does he sort of keep it private telling it in the third person?
What does this experience mean for what Paul is sharing here...
No matter where he was, in prison, in dangerous travels, he knew that God was with him and that all was well. This experience was for the benefit of Himself.
This was something that had honored Paul.
As far as we know, Paul had exercised great spiritual discipline during these 14 years allowing this to be a thing between him and God.
There is no doubt that this vision of God’s glory was one of the sustaining powers in Paul’s life and ministry.
But this is something that belongs to all Christians effectively. As the reality of the new creation, in which we share in Christ.
Warren Wiersbe says it this way,
You and I are not going to heaven till we die or till our Lord returns. But we have a marvelous encouragement in the fact that we are today seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). We have a position of authority and victory “far above all”. While we have not seen God’s glory as Paul did, we do share God’s glory now (John 17:22), and one day shall enter into heaven and behold the glory of Christ (John 17:24).
Now think about this for a sec, such honor that is shared with us by Paul would have made most people boast and be very proud of themselves.
At the very least somebody else would have been talking about this very experience for the last 14 years!!
JUST IMAGINE if you had this type of experience knowing that it was real. THAT YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO BE CAUGHT UP IN PARADISE AND THEN ALSO COME BACK TO THIS WORLD TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SHARE ABOUT IT.
But Paul stays humble. He wants people to have an honest estimate of himself and his work.
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.
How could Paul have such an experience and stay humble?
Because of the second experience that God brought to his life.
PAUL SAYS… I need to tell you of this experience so that you can better understand my weakness, why God allowed it and how God uses it.
Just because I have had this experience that you desire to know me as an apostle, does not mean that I am excused by God balancing my life as well.
God Humbled Him (2 Cor. 12:7-8)
God Humbled Him (2 Cor. 12:7-8)
THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO BALANCE OUR LIVES.
You know if we only had blessings in this life, we would be stubborn, selfish, spoiled little children.
God permits us to have burdens as well.
Pauls great experience in heaven 14 years prior COULD HAVE RUINED HIS MINISTRY HERE ON EARTH.
So God, in His goodness, permitted Satan to strike Paul with this thorn in order to keep Him from becoming proud.
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
Suffering is an interesting topic isn’t it?
Countless people over the years have asked why a good God allows suffering.
Suffering will not be solved completely in this life. Sometimes we suffer simply because we are human.
Our bodies change as we get older, and we are susceptible to normal problems of life. The same body that brings us pleasures can also bring us pains.
The same family and friends that delight our hearts can also break our hearts.
Sometimes we suffer because we are foolish and disobedient to the Lord. Our own rebellion may afflict us, or the Lord may see fit to chasten us in His love.
One commentator says this,
In His grace, God forgives our sins, but in His government, He must permit us to reap what we sow.
Suffering is also a tool that God uses for building godly character (Rom 5:1-5).
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
For Paul, suffering, His thorn in the flesh was given to him to keep him from sinning.
Exciting experiences, like going to heaven and back-can have a way of inflating the human ego= which pride can lead to a whole lot of sins!
Think about this, had Paul bee filled with pride, those next 14 years would have been filled with failure instead of success.
HONESTLY, we don’t know what the THORN IN THE FLESH was. it was a physical affliction of some kind that brought pain and distress to Paul.
Enough to where he felt is afflicted his ministry or else he wouldn’t have prayed three times for it to be removed.
Think of everything that he went through with this in his life, letters to write, people to talk to and to disciple, churches to start, trips to take, the dangers he would face.
GOD ALLOWED SATAN TO AFFLICT PAUL.
Just as He permitted SATAN TO AFFLICT JOB.
We do not understand evil, we do not understand the purposes that God has in mind here or in the story of Job for that matter.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT GOD CONTROLS EVIL AND CAN USE IT EVEN FOR HIS OWN GLORY.
SATAN CANNOT WORK AGAINST A BELIEVER WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF GOD. EVERYTHING THAT SATAN DID TO JOB AND TO PAUL WAS PERMITTED BY THE WILL OF GOD.
We see here that God makes sure that Paul has no misunderstanding of his own strength. What a contrast! Paul went from paradise to pain, from glory to suffering.
He was completely humbled by God but for good reason.
His previous experience with God allowed him to know that God was able to meet his need.
And God does just that.
God Helped him (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
God Helped him (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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.
So we read here that Paul receives his answer!
How awesome is this! God could have just let it alone and allowed Paul to learn to deal with it but no God answers Paul.
He says “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfect in weakness.”
Paul learns here that the thorn will not hamper his calling. He can make do with the grace he has already recieved and the power of Christ will become more visible as it works through his weakness!
WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE TO COME TO IN A WALK WITH JESUS!
WE LEARN FROM THE MESSAGE GIVEN TO PAUL THAT GOD’S GRACE IS NOT JUST THE UNMERITED FAVOR THAT SAVES US BUT A FORCE THAT ALSO SUSTAINS US THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES.
THIS WHOLE STORY POINTS FORWARD TO THE POWER OF JESUS!
4 For he was crucified in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God’s power.
We see over and over in scripture where weakness is translated into power in God’s Kingdom through the power of Christ.
And it is all through this sufficient Grace.
This grace that has the power to save us but also the power to sustain us.
There is never a shortage of grace. GOD IS SUFFICIENT. GOD IS ENOUGH.
LISTEN CHURCH FAMILY, it is often times that for the will of God that to meet our needs, it’s not through substitution, but its through transformation.
He does not remove the affliction, but He gives us grace so that the afflictions works for us and not against us.
PAUL PRAYED EARNESTLY for this to be removed.
But God says no.
Paul learns that this affliction is a gift from God. And Paul’s job was to accept this gift of suffering and allow God to accomplish His purposes through it.
THIS DOESN”T MAKE SINCE DOES IT!
But what’s crazy, is that this is God’s basic way of operating in this world isn’t it?
We see this through scripture.
We see it in Abraham (confesses to be nothing but dust and ashes.)
Moses ask God, “Who am I? That I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?
David says, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the kings son-in-law? I’m only a poor man and little known.”
27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence.
GLORY TO GOD FOR THIS REALITY. GLORY TO HIS NAME FOR USING WEAKNESS RATHER THAN STRENGTH.
This principle completely undermines the whole infrastructure of Corinthian wisdom and boasting.
Fascination with visions and heavenly journeys are unimportant, it is how God works through his human weakness that is now more significant and confirms his legitimacy as an apostle.
PAUL FINISHES THIS WITH A VERY MEMORABLE SAYING…
“When I am weak, then I am strong.”
THE POWER WORKING IN PAUL IS MOST CLEARLY SEEN AS COMING FROM GOD WHEN HE APPEARS TO BE WEAK.
BRING ON INSULTS, HARDSHIPS, PERSECUTIONS, CALAMITIES, Because it is then that God is going to be able to work through me far greater than at any other time.
We will not be pleased with these when they come, but because of God’s sufficient grace we will endure when they come.
CLOSING
SO CHURCH...
I hope this encourages you as it does for me… That God’s way of working in our world is through working through our weakness’s and not our strengths.
So, when you have those times that we spoke about at the beginning of the sermon.
When you are in a place where you are not strong, not right, not able, not in control… it is there that the grace of Jesus is sufficient.
When you’re not up for the challenge, when you are confused and unready, when you are unqualified for the task at hand, when you have to look back with regret, when you’re staring failure in the face… it is then that the power of Christ is made perfect through your weakness.
ALLOW US TO UNDERSTAND THE THIS INDEPENDENT STRENGTH… CHURCH IT’S A DELUSION.
This weakness of ours is not a great danger we seem to think that it is. The danger is our delusion of strength.
So church I have a challenge for us this morning as we walk into memorial day tomorrow.
Allow us to boast in what most people fear in our weaknesses.
I know… that just doesn’t feel American does it?
Good thing Jesus isn’t American!
Christian, you have been and are being saved by grace. LIVE BY IT. ALLOW IS TO SAVE YOU… AND ALLOW HIS GRACE TO SUSTAIN YOU.
If you are here today and have never trusted in Christ as KING and LORD. Today is the day!
You do not have to carry on this act of strength any more! You do not have to strengthen yourself in front of Christ or have it all together to come to Him.
He simply takes you as you are.