Pastor Matt read 2 Corinthians 12 and Pastor Graham preached on it.
Sermon 2 Corinthians 12
Thorns, Weakness and Visions
1) The Weak Man
The “thorn in the flesh” - a frequent topic for debate.
There is no clear agreement between students of scripture what this means, yet the words “thorn in the flesh” divert our attention from the real point. The real point is the grace of God displayed in human weakness.
“Thorn?” A sickness? A physical weakness? We do not know, but it was certainly a weakness of some sort.
The writers of the footnotes in the NIV Study Bible link this with passages that speak of being buffeted by Satan for an end that God knows will be for a good outcome.
1 Timothy 1:18-20 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
1 Corinthians 5:5 ..hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
Again, the real point is the grace of God displayed in human weakness - not his problem but God’s assurance of grace.
See:
1 Chronicles 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
And Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
It is often our weakness that allows the glory of God to show through.
2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
How can you and I allow God’s grace to be shown through our weakness? Think of a time when all seemed to go wrong, you demonstrated grace by your meek submission to God. I heard about some research re working in the NHS, it said, “A rude and discourteous place to work.” What is the best way for a believer to behave in such a place?
How does the scripture in Jeremiah apply to the workplace? Jeremiah 29:7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
2) The important Man
Paul does not want his weakness and dependency upon God to give ammunition to the false teachers in Corinth who are trying to prevent the Corinthian from receiving his wisdom and authentic Godly teaching.
It is for this reason that Paul does something he evidently finds uncomfortable - he “boasts”
2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.
The reason for this boasting is to assure the Corinthians of his trustworthiness and of him as a teacher, and a teacher of the Truth.
- This chapter speaks of his experiences, showing that God marked him as special
- This chapter speaks of his character, showing he thought them so special they were worthy of his service as he devoted his life to them.
Many have mimicked this strategy of Paul’s and have claimed to have had visions and revelations in order to make claims to authority and status.
The difference with Paul is that his claims about his experiences were in addition to his character, his track record of ministry and service to the believers was well known.
We also have Paul’s own warning in Galatians 1:6-10
I have known individuals joining a church and seeking position quickly, they have spoken of their experiences. Character will speak for itself - though it may take some time. Those that seek status through their experiences, and wish to bypass the need to demonstrate good character will need to make their so-called experiences sound extra special. No surprise then that some people like that speak of the bizarre.
3) The Revealed Man
We see what Paul is like here, he is open with his readers.
Why was Paul writing like this, working like this, fighting for the truth like this? Why didn’t he just go home and make tents?
Because:
(a) He had the big story in mind.
Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.
(b) He didn’t want to stop pleasing God.
Luke 3:22 When all the people were being baptised, Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.
“Love” and “Please” are not the same
Conclusion
Do you:
- have the big story in mind? What difference does it make to the way you live?
- want to keep pleasing God? How are you doing that these days?
- understand the difference between God loving you and being pleased with you? Do you know how to rest in that?
