2 Coríntios 12

2 Coríntios 12:9

Constable - This is one of the most important lessons every ambassador of Jesus Christ must learn. Both natural weakness and supernatural power are constantly at work in us, as they were in Paul and in Jesus. The Cross is the greatest example of divine power working through human weakness. The greater we sense our weakness, the more we will sense God's power (cf. Ep 3:16; Php 4:13). We may not have experienced as high spiritual highs or as low spiritual lows as Paul did, but we, too, are in constant need of being aware of God's supernatural power. Our success does not depend on our natural abilities but on God's power working in and through us. Human weakness can be a profound blessing if it results in our depending more on God and less on self. (2 Corinthians Expository Notes) George Woods discusses three critical things about Paul's thorn... (1) One is that the thorn stands for the pain we cannot remove and God will not remove. The thorn stands for the pain we cannot remove, no matter how much we might want to. It's impossible for us to remove it. And God will not remove it. This, of course, raises the whole question of what Paul's thorn was. There are as many ideas as there are biblical commentators on what the thorn was. Anybody who tells you they've got the one sure thing and they know what the thorn was, you've got to know, they don't know what they're talking about. What was the thorn? John Calvin said the thorn in Paul was spiritual temptation. It was the temptation to doubt, to shirk his apostolic duties, and the sting of conscience when temptation won in his life. That was his thorn. Luther said the thorn was the oppression and the persecution he experienced. I would suspect there's a little bit of reading into the text that Calvin's thorn was spiritual temptation and Luther's thorn was oppression and persecution. How easy it is to read our experience into the apostle's. The Monastics said that Paul's thorn was carnal temptations. That was their thorn. Some have said that his thorn was his physical appearance—he looked so ugly that it was a cross to bear. Others have said he had epilepsy and that was his thorn. And others have said he had headaches. When you get a migraine, it feels like a thorn in your head. Others have said, perhaps with more justification from the biblical text, that it was probably his eyes. He does admit to the Galatians, in chapter 4, that they would have taken out their eyes and given them to him. And he says, at the end of Galatians, "See what large letters I'm writing with my own hand"—eye trouble that maybe caused him headaches. Others have said he got malaria when he was on his first missionary journey. Malaria produces pain. Still others have said the thorn was his wife. That person obviously was not happily married, therefore, they transposed that into Paul. The Scriptures never talk to us about Paul's wife, although there may be a suggestion that he was married. The thorn actually was not a rosebush thorn but a stake—a sharpened wooden shaft that was used for impalement. If you wanted to impale someone, that was the thorn. Whatever this thorn was, it was in his flesh. Always, when we use "flesh" in Scripture, it can mean one of two things. Either the body, the flesh. Or the spirit of man that is alien from God—the flesh, like Paul uses it in Romans 7. More likely, the simpler meaning is to be preferred here. The flesh here refers to the physical body. And he said the thorn was something that buffeted him. The NIV says "tormented" him. But "buffeted" is actually the word. It's the same word in the Greek, which is used to describe Jesus being hit with fists. He was buffeted. So this thing in the flesh, this thorn in the flesh, slapped him around. It was painful. It crippled his enjoyment of life. It frustrated his full efficiency. It may have been humiliating. He says that behind this thorn is a messenger of Satan, because he recognizes that the immediate work of the enemy is behind all of our afflictions. But behind the immediate work of the enemy is the permissive will of God. He discovered what Job was experiencing. Since we believe that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write Scripture, I think we can have a fair reason to know why the thorn is not defined. And why it will never be defined. All of us who truly serve Christ will, at one time or another in our life, have a thorn. If Paul's thorn gets defined, then we'll say, "He didn't know what I'm going through." But the very fact that the Holy Spirit caused him to leave it undefined, means we can all identify with the text. The thorn may be visible. Or it may be private. The thorn may be physical or it may be psychological. The thorn may be something from which we pray to be released, but have not been. Paul prayed three times for the removal of the thorn, and no doubt he does this because Jesus in Gethsemane prayed three times for the removal of the cup. He exercised permission. He exercised the right to ask for the thorn to be removed. But it wasn't. And that thorn came to stand for the pain he could not remove and God wouldn't remove. (2) Which leads us to the second truth about the thorn. That is, when God does not remove the thorn, he gives us a word about the thorn. His word simply is this "My grace is sufficient for you." Or the new English Bible puts it this way, "My grace is all you need." He didn't know what I'm going through, but the very fact that the Holy Spirit caused him to talk helps persons who are going through difficult things in their life. I find that as we open our hearts to the Word and to prayer, the Lord speaks to us some word. Often what gives us strength to carry us through difficult moments is from the Scripture. Paul had his word from the Lord, "My grace is all you need" (2 Corinthians 12:9). What Paul says is, "All I really need in life is to know everything's ok between God and me. I thought I needed something more than that, but when it comes right down to it, all I need to know is that everything's ok between God and me. That His grace has been given to me. His grace, therefore, is sufficient for physical weariness, for physical pain, for opposition, for slander." A Sunday School teacher was asked by a child why it was that Jesus came to His disciples three times and said, "Watch and pray," the first two times, but when He came the third time, He said to them, "Sleep on and take your rest." Why didn't He say the same thing all three times? Why did He say the last time, "Sleep on and take your rest"? The teacher was quite baffled at the child's question. Then a little child suddenly said, "I think I know! It was because Jesus had seen the face of His Father and He didn't need their help anymore." Paul said the Lord spoke to him, "My grace is all you need. My power has its full development in weakness. That's where My power is going to be displayed—in the vulnerable parts of your life. In the parts in which you don't seem to have it together, that's where I'm going to breathe My Spirit and give you energy and ability to face that and come through it successfully." I realize, when I'm talking to an audience this size, that surely I'm talking to someone who has not gotten what they wanted. Maybe what you wanted was a courtship, but that has been broken off. Maybe you received serious news medically. Maybe you're grieving. Maybe you are going through a divorce or its aftermath. Maybe you have an insensitive spouse or an insensitive child or an insensitive parent. Maybe you're going through an economic reverse. The Lord is saying to you, as you go through that thing, that His grace is sufficient, it's all you need and His full power is going to be developed in your weakness. Peter says, "These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1Peter 1:7). No one has ever had a defect that cannot be made useful. If God does not remove the thorn, He seeks to give you a word about the thorn. (3) The third thing about the thorn is our response to the thorn: God's answer can transform our life or deform our life. How we respond determines whether we're going to be transformed or deformed by that experience of pain. Whether it's psychological pain, physical pain, or spiritual pain. The thorn drives us close to God. Paul refused to take a fatalistic attitude about the thorn. He determined to boast more about his weakness. He determined to rise to the challenge and say, "If this is going to be the case, then, rather than face the thorn defeatedly, I will face it defiantly, and I will turn it from a matter of shame to a matter of glory, and say, 'God uses me even with this.'" We do better to exult in our weaknesses rather than in our strength. And to marvel that, when we are weak, He is strong. We have to go on hungering in our life for deep and mystical experiences with God, experiences of spiritual ecstasy. But we need to keep our feet planted in the world of suffering and pain and need, because it is in those times when God is most glorified in our life, and when God is making out of the lumber of our life, not a tavern, but a temple. He is at work in us. (From his sermon "Spiritual Ecstasy and Agony). Thomas Watson - The Christian though weak, has omnipotence to underprop him. THE BEATITUDE OF WEAKNESS: Blessed are the Weak Excerpts from an article by J. R. Miller (The Blessing of Weakness)... We are not accustomed to think of weakness—as a condition of blessing. We would say, "Blessed is strength. Blessed are the strong." But Bible beatitudes are usually the reverse of what nature would say. "Blessed are the meek." "Blessed are you when men shall reproach you." The law of the cross lies deep in spiritual life. It is by the crucifying of the flesh—that the spirit grows into beauty. So, "Blessed are the weak—for they shall have God's strength," is a true scriptural beatitude, although its very words are not found in the Bible. Weakness is blessed, because it insures to us more of the sympathy and help of Christ. Weakness ever appeals to a gentle heart... Weakness is blessed, also, because it saves from spiritual peril. Paul tells us that his "thorn" was given to him to keep him humble. Without it he would have been exalted over much and would have lost his spirituality. We do not know how much of his deep insight into the things of God, and his power in service for his Master, Paul owed to this torturing "thorn." It seemed to hinder him and it caused him incessant suffering—but it detained him in the low valley of humility, made him ever conscious of his own weakness and insufficiency, and thus kept him near to Christ whose home is with the humble. Spiritual history is full of similar cases. Many of God's noblest servants have carried "thorns" in their flesh all their days—but meanwhile they have had spiritual blessing and enrichment which they never would have had, if their cries for relief had been granted. We do not know what we owe to the sufferings of those who have gone before us. Prosperity has not enriched the world—as adversity has done. The best thoughts, the richest life lessons, the sweetest songs that have come down to us from the past—have not come from lives that have known no privation, no adversity—but are the fruits of pain, of weakness, of trial. Men have cried out for emancipation from the bondage of hardship, of sickness, of infirmity, of self-denying necessity; not knowing that the thing which seemed to be hindering them in their career—was the very making of whatever was noble, beautiful, and blessed in their life... That is, our "thorn" may either be a blessing to us, or it may do us irreparable harm—which, it depends upon ourselves. If we allow it to fret us; if we chafe, resist, and complain; if we lose faith and lose heart—it will spoil our life. But if we accept it in the faith that in its ugly burden, it has a blessing for us; if we endure it patiently, submissively, unmurmuringly; if we seek grace to keep our heart gentle and true amid all the trial, temptation, and suffering it causes—it will work good, and out of its bitterness will come sweet fruit. The responsibility is ours, and we should so relate ourselves to our "thorn" and to Christ, that growth and good, not harm and marring, shall come to us from it. Such weakness is blessed only if we get the victory over it, through faith in Christ... There is a blessing in weakness, also, because it nourishes dependence on God. When we are strong, or deem ourselves strong, we are really weak, since then we trust in ourselves and do not seek divine help. But when we are consciously weak, knowing ourselves unequal to our duties and struggles, we are strong, because then we turn to God and get his strength. Too many people think their weakness is a barrier to their usefulness, or make it an excuse for doing little with their life. Instead of this, however, if we give it to Christ, he will transform it into strength. He says his strength is made perfect in weakness; that is, what is lacking in human strength he fills and makes up with divine strength. Paul had learned this when he said he gloried now in his weaknesses, because on account of them the strength of Christ rested upon him, so that, when he was weak, then he was strong—strong with divine strength. We need only to make sure of one thing—that we do indeed bring our weakness to Christ and lean on him in simple faith. This is the vital link in getting the blessing. Weakness itself is a burden; it is chains upon our limbs. If we try to carry it alone—we shall only fail. But if we lay it on the strong Son of God—and let him carry us and our burden, going on quietly and firmly in the way of duty—He will make our very weakness, a secret source of strength. He will not take the weakness from us—that is not his promise—but he will so fill it with his own power that we shall be strong, more than conquerors, able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us! This is the blessed secret of having our burdening weakness, transformed into strength. The secret can be found only in Christ. And in Him--it can be found by every humble, trusting disciple. We ought not to allow ourselves to be beaten in living. It is the privilege and duty of every believer in Christ to live victoriously. No man can ever reach noble Christian character, without sore cost in pain and sacrifice. All that is beautiful and worthy in life—must be won in struggle. The crowns are not put upon men's heads through the caprice or favoritism of any king; they are the reward of victorious achievement. We can make life easy, in a way, if we will—by shirking its battles, by refusing to grapple with its antagonisms; but in this way we never can make anything beautiful and worthy of our life. We may keep along shore with our craft, never pushing out into deep waters; but then we shall never discover new worlds, not learn the secret of the sea. We may spare ourselves costly service and great sacrifices, by saving our own life from hardships, risks, and pain—but we shall miss the blessing which can come only through the losing of self. "No cross—no crown" is the law of spiritual attainment. "He who has never a conflict—has never a victor's palm, And only the toilers—know the sweetness of rest and calm". Therefore God really honors us, when he sets us in places where we must struggle. He is then giving us an opportunity to win the best honors and the richest blessing. Yet he never makes life so hard for us, in any circumstances, that we cannot live victoriously through the help which he is ready to give. This lesson applies to temptation. Not one of us can miss being tempted—but we need never fail nor fall in it. Never yet was a child of God in any terrible conflict with the Evil One, in which it was not possible for him to overcome. There is a wonderful word in one of Paul's Epistles, which we should write in letters of gold on our chamber walls: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to endure it." (1Co 10:13-note) These are sublime assurances. Not one need ever say, "I cannot endure this temptation, and must yield and fall." This is never true. We need never fail. Christ met the sorest temptations—but he was always victorious; and now this tried and all-conquering Christ is by our side as we meet and endure our temptations, and we cannot fail when he is with us. It is possible, too, for us to so the meet temptations, as to change them into blessings. A conquered sin becomes a new strength in our life. We are stronger because every conquest gives us a new spirit of life; the strength we have defeated becomes now part of our own power. Victoriousness in speech is among the hardest of life's conquests. The words of James are true to common experience, when he says that the tongue is harder to tame than any kind of beast or birds or creeping things or things in the sea; indeed, that no man can tame it. Yet he does not say that we need not try to tame our tongue. On the other hand he counsels us to be slow to speak and slow to anger. A Christian ought to learn to control his speech. The capacity for harm in angry words, is appalling. No prayer should be oftener on our lips than that in the old psalm, "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." (The Blessing of Weakness) SO THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY DWELL IN ME: hina episkenose (3SAAS) ep' eme e dunamis tou Christou: 2 Corinthians 12 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Man's extremity... God's "opportunity" God can transform troubles into triumphs! So that (hina) expresses purpose (whenever you encounter a "so that" P & P [pause and ponder] asking what is the purpose?, How is it effected?, What is the result?, etc) that our weaknesses tap into Christ's power. Ponder His power (e.g., read Heb 11:3 compared with Heb 1:2-3, Col 1:16-18!). THOUGHT - Beloved, do you truly believe you have access to His power? Answer: You do! So walk out in newness of life from this day hence, walking not by sight but by faith, trusting in Christ's sufficiency to provide you with just the amount of grace you need to make it through each day. He is faithful! Paul has given us an example to follow (1Cor 11:1 is not a suggestion but a command!). He lived out the truth of how we can (God's Spirit working in us can) make difficulties work FOR US and not AGAINST US! This is not natural and thus seems foolish to the unsaved (1Cor 2:14), but to us it is the words of life, real life, life indeed and in abundance (Jn 6:63, 10:10b). These are words that only the Spirit can teach us (1Cor 2:13), so spend time in His Word and walking out in obedience to what you read (even our obedience being enabled by the Spirit of Christ in us!). Instead of being discouraged, Paul was encouraged by weaknesses. Remember that the derivative sense of discourage is the idea of "without heart." "When Christ is Lord of your life, He can put into your heart the courage you need to face life with its problems and be a victor, not a victim. No matter what the feelings within you or the circumstances around you or the pressures against you, you can be encouraged! And you can encourage others (with the Word of Truth, especially truths like 2Cor 12:9-10)." (Wiersbe) He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; To added affliction He addeth His mercy, To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. -Annie Johnson Flint (Read her story exemplifying Spirit enabled "Boasting in weakness"!) Power (1411)(dunamis from dunamai = to be able, to have power) refers to intrinsic power or inherent ability, the power or ability to carry out some function, the potential for functioning in some way, the power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature. Paul's burden became Paul's benefit and this can be true in our life also beloved. Believe it. Walk out in faith, not looking at the burdens but at the "Burden Bearer", Christ Jesus (Heb 12:2)! God knows how much we can bear (1Cor 10:13), and His grace is sufficient for each day. Do you have a heavy burden you think you simply cannot bear? Then believe His Word, for He is faithful to His Word... Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Ps 55:22) GOD WILL MAKE A WAY WHEN THERE SEEMS NO OTHER WAY. AMEN Feeling tried and burdened to your limit?... — Watch the video in an attitude of prayer & thanksgiving - God Will Make a Way) Edward Everett Hale (1822-1909), former US Senate chaplain: "Never attempt to bear more than one kind of trouble at once. Some people bear three kinds--all they have had, all they have now, and all they expect to have." Dunamis is the root from which we derive the English word dynamic, (synonyms = energetic, functioning, live, operative, working) which describes that which is marked by usually continuous and productive activity or change. That which is dynamic is characterized by energy or forces that produce motion, as opposed to that which is static. Another English word dynamite, not referring to "explosive" power, but to intrinsic power, the power that is able to transform our lives from natural to supernatural.