2 Corinthians 12:7-10 says,...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, which read,
v.7 - 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!
Paul was given these visions and revelations and he just shared one with them in a way that could have been seen as boasting as the false teachers were doing. Paul spoke of the event with a clear focus on God knowing all the details and that credibility of the gospel should not be put on that one revelation shared but on his everyday life and his ordinary words.
Paul was given these visions and revelations from God but he was also given "a thorn in the flesh" that kept him humble. Some believe this thorn was some physical aliment that made his appearance hard to look at when he spoke. Others believe this thorn was an actual person, a false teacher, who was tearing down his ministry at every turn, "a messenger of Satan." Something or someone has kept Paul down to earth to not rest on these personal visions and revelations but on the gospel of Christ and His death and resurrection.
v.8, 9 - 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 the 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.
It is interesting that Paul prayed three times for this to be removed and Christ prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane about the cup set before Him by the Father. Both were denied their requests. Paul continued to deal with this thorn but he also had the grace from God to be sufficient through it. The grace of God is seen more clearly through the weakness of man rather than the sufficiency of man. If this is so, Paul wants that grace of God to be seen through him so others will experience it also.
Our way is to look perfect and powerful and impress others and also that was the way of the false teachers. God's way is for us to recognize that we are sinners headed for hell but for the grace and action of God we see Jesus for who He is and bow our knee to the One and Only Savior. God's grace is able to take us through any "thorn" and at the same time be powerful in its message to others.
v.10 - 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.
This verse leads me to believe that the "thorn in the flesh" was an actual person who was tormenting Paul and the ministry that God put before him. A person points out weaknesses and throws at us insults. A person can give distress, persecute, and provide difficulties. This sounds more like a personal attack rather than a physical attack upon his body. Paul is content with the answer that God's grace is enough to withstand and counter these attacks for Christ's sake.
Paul responds to these attacks but he responds differently than the false teachers. His answers are powerful because he points them back not to himself but back to Christ. There is no real, lasting power in us but there is in the cross of Christ and the forgiveness of sins through His death and resurrection. It is not that Paul was a punching bag for this guy who was a thorn in his flesh and the ministry. Sure, it would have been great for God to "take him out" so Paul wouldn't have to deal with him but God said "no." Paul was to respond over and over again with the Scripture and with the gospel message of Jesus Christ in the face of attacks on his weaknesses, insults thrown at him, distresses occurred, persecutions endured, and difficulties thrown in his path. God was going to use this to make His gospel message even more powerful.
When God says "no" to us do we accept that His grace is sufficient in the situation to proceed on in life without the answer that we wanted? Do we thank God for the grace given with a "no" answer? Do we keep on point with His message through our lives knowing that in His overall plan this is how His power is made known through us by us continuing to bow the knee to Him?
"Lord, it is hard to hear 'no' from You in a difficult situation and many times my focus hasn't been on the grace that You give to walk through it but rather complain and continue to plan how to get out of it rather than walk through it. Many times I have probably missed seeing the power of God because I didn't accept the grace of God through Your 'no' answer and stayed firm on the gospel message of You and reverted to what I wanted. Help me to be content in Your grace that even a 'thorn' can be a blessing to others knowing of You through me. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.7 - 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!
Paul was given these visions and revelations and he just shared one with them in a way that could have been seen as boasting as the false teachers were doing. Paul spoke of the event with a clear focus on God knowing all the details and that credibility of the gospel should not be put on that one revelation shared but on his everyday life and his ordinary words.
Paul was given these visions and revelations from God but he was also given "a thorn in the flesh" that kept him humble. Some believe this thorn was some physical aliment that made his appearance hard to look at when he spoke. Others believe this thorn was an actual person, a false teacher, who was tearing down his ministry at every turn, "a messenger of Satan." Something or someone has kept Paul down to earth to not rest on these personal visions and revelations but on the gospel of Christ and His death and resurrection.
v.8, 9 - 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 the 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.
It is interesting that Paul prayed three times for this to be removed and Christ prayed three times in the garden of Gethsemane about the cup set before Him by the Father. Both were denied their requests. Paul continued to deal with this thorn but he also had the grace from God to be sufficient through it. The grace of God is seen more clearly through the weakness of man rather than the sufficiency of man. If this is so, Paul wants that grace of God to be seen through him so others will experience it also.
Our way is to look perfect and powerful and impress others and also that was the way of the false teachers. God's way is for us to recognize that we are sinners headed for hell but for the grace and action of God we see Jesus for who He is and bow our knee to the One and Only Savior. God's grace is able to take us through any "thorn" and at the same time be powerful in its message to others.
v.10 - 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.
This verse leads me to believe that the "thorn in the flesh" was an actual person who was tormenting Paul and the ministry that God put before him. A person points out weaknesses and throws at us insults. A person can give distress, persecute, and provide difficulties. This sounds more like a personal attack rather than a physical attack upon his body. Paul is content with the answer that God's grace is enough to withstand and counter these attacks for Christ's sake.
Paul responds to these attacks but he responds differently than the false teachers. His answers are powerful because he points them back not to himself but back to Christ. There is no real, lasting power in us but there is in the cross of Christ and the forgiveness of sins through His death and resurrection. It is not that Paul was a punching bag for this guy who was a thorn in his flesh and the ministry. Sure, it would have been great for God to "take him out" so Paul wouldn't have to deal with him but God said "no." Paul was to respond over and over again with the Scripture and with the gospel message of Jesus Christ in the face of attacks on his weaknesses, insults thrown at him, distresses occurred, persecutions endured, and difficulties thrown in his path. God was going to use this to make His gospel message even more powerful.
When God says "no" to us do we accept that His grace is sufficient in the situation to proceed on in life without the answer that we wanted? Do we thank God for the grace given with a "no" answer? Do we keep on point with His message through our lives knowing that in His overall plan this is how His power is made known through us by us continuing to bow the knee to Him?
"Lord, it is hard to hear 'no' from You in a difficult situation and many times my focus hasn't been on the grace that You give to walk through it but rather complain and continue to plan how to get out of it rather than walk through it. Many times I have probably missed seeing the power of God because I didn't accept the grace of God through Your 'no' answer and stayed firm on the gospel message of You and reverted to what I wanted. Help me to be content in Your grace that even a 'thorn' can be a blessing to others knowing of You through me. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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