"Strength & Weakness"
Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
'... even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.' - NLT Version
'Thorn in the flesh'
What is it? Why was it put in Paul?
Two main views:-
a) a form of physical disability
b) an opposition or persecution
- Something that weakness or impedes Paul's ministry
Question:
Do you have a thorn in your flesh?
Are you weak or strong?
Strong
a) Positively: capable, competent called to be strong in the Lord
b) Negatively: proud, puffed up, self glory and lack of humility
- Philippians 4:13
Weak
a) Negatively: viewed as less capable, incompetent, low self-image, limitations
b) Positively: viewed by God come through, whom God can use to accomplish His purposes, dependent
- John 15:5
"My grace sufficient... My power is made perfect in weakness..."
Two windows:
a) The window of grace
b) The works of grace
"blessed are those whose strength is in You" - Psalm 84:5
- Only grace can work to perfection what human strength cannot attain.
- "When I am weak, then I am strong."
- 2 Corinthians 11:16-32 - Paul's Gallery of Weakness... Thrown in jail many times, whipped numerous times, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked 3 times, faced floods, robbers, hunger, sleepness nights
- verse 30; "if I must boast..."
- Jesus at the cross
- Joni Eareckson Tada - On July 30 1967, she went out to the beach with some friends. She dove into Chesapeake Bay not knowing how shallow the water was. She broke her neck - a fracture between the fourth and fifth cervical levels and became a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the shoulders down. She fought for her life and have to live the rest of her life on a wheelchair. Despite being angry and struggled with depression, she immersed herself in Bible to become spiritually strong.
Conclusion:
- Weakness draws us closer to God for only He can meet our deepest need.
- Weakness draws the church body of Christ, closer to one another in prayer, love and service.
- Weakness humbles us with the reality of humanity, fragile, fallible.
- 1 Corinthians 1:25-31.
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