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Just because you struggle it does NOT mean A) God is punishing you, or B) Satan alone is THE one causing it. There’s a third option for the Christian: God is using Satan to make you more like Jesus OR keep you from straying from His side. (Repeat)
2 Cor is about comfort (2 Cor 1:3-4). My goal today is for us to u’stand stress in God’s terms, not our own. So we CAN “Count it all joy WHEN you encounter various trials…” (Ja 1:2).
People in Corinth liked to brag. So Paul took them to school on it. He boasted of his weaknesses (Last week). Now he really lays them low… by boasting humbly… (I know that sounds odd)
Paul’s Humble Boast (12:1-6). Paul talks about “a man,” though in 12:7 we know it is him. He was caught up to “the 3rd heaven” (1st is birds fly, 2nd is sun & moon, 3rd is God’s dwelling place). This person (Paul) experienced heaven as no one else in the Bible!
Imagine in Corinth one saying… “I speak in tongues!” Another, “I can heal!” “I’ve talked to angels!” “God has spoken to me!” {Paul… yawn…}
Paul could’ve said: “Oh really? Top this: I’ve been to heaven! HAVE YOU?!”[i] But he didn’t. He refused to use his own name b/c playing “one up” was of no profit. Thus “weaknesses” in 12:5-B.
12:6. Paul didn’t want honor or recognition or attention. All that mattered were Jesus & the Gospel! Thus real humility about his heaven experience.
Aside! Godly people do NOT boast! Especially in relation to faith matters! Peter, James, & John saw Christ transfigured.[ii] Yet didn’t speak about it till after the resurrection. And then NONE of them wrote about it. Matthew, Mark, & Luke did. Godly people will not boast. Another…
On 11/23/1654 Blaise Pascal encountered God.[iii] He wrote of it & sewed it into the liner of his coat. After his death people learned of i & realized Pascal carried this experience always. It is known as “Pascal’s Night of Fire.” Here is part of his description…
From about 10:30 PM till 12:30 AM, FIRE. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of philosophers & scholars. The world forgotten, & everything except God. Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy. Sweet & total renunciation. Total submission to Jesus Christ… Everlasting joy in return for one day’s effort on earth. I will not forget Thy Word. Amen.
Pride & boasting are dangerous. If we like being elevated because of successes, seek credit, or are proud… that’s inconsistent with Scripture. God’s work results in humility. Pride is scary! (Paul)
The Cost of Spiritual Blessing (12:7). The more God uses a person… or prepares them to be used… the more God humbles them. God breaks everyone He uses.[iv] He will also keep His own from becoming prideful.
Those who are used by God will either BE humble OR be HUMBLED[v] (Repeat!). (PAUSE) Then there times God humbles His children PREIMPTIVELY (!)… as He did with Paul in 2 Cor 12:7…
12:7. “To keep me from being too elated…” “Surpassing great revelations.” Paul: Saw Jesus (1 Cor 9:1); Taught by Jesus (1 Cor 11:23); Tongues (1 Cor 14:18); Raised the dead (Ac 20:9-10); Healed (Ac 14:8-10); Cast out demons (Ac 16:16-18); AND visited heaven (2 Cor 12:1-6). Pride alert? God took PREIMPTIVE action to ensure Paul didn’t become proud. How did God do this??
12:7. “A thorn… messenger of Satan.” God uses Satan for our sanctification!! It doesn’t matter what the thorn was. What matters is God does not leave our conformity to Christ to chance! He wills & accomplishes it! Phil 2:13, Ro 8:29.
Aside. When Paul was saved, God sent Ananias because God would “Show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name” (Ac 9:10-16). This is how God sanctifies us! Paul knew it going in…
God sends hardships, difficulties, or adversities our way on purpose. To make us pray more… rely on Him more… study Scripture more… draw closer to Him… & be more like Jesus!
When we’re stressed… pressed… or struggling (Emotionally or spiritually), we should look at our walk with God FIRST! Ask Him to reveal what HE is doing IN us. Every struggle we have is ALWAYS for our ultimate good… to make us more like Jesus. Consider Heb 12:6 (Turn!)…
The Lord disciplines the one He loves, & chastises every son whom He receives. 8 If you are left w/out discipline… then you are illegitimate children & not sons. 10 He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
God’s loving formative discipline is NOT fun in the moment. But because God loves us… He won’t stop it until we have been “trained.” 12:10 is WHY God puts “thorns” into our life… to “Share in His holiness!” Is a “thorn” worth sharing in God’s holiness?? If so… don’t fight it!
Identifying Thorns (12:8-10). Emotional stress points. Frustrations. Hardship. When we hurt or struggle, consider them as thorns… ultimately given by God… for our sanctification.
2 Cor 12:8-9. Paul didn’t like pain. He prayed 3 times for the thorn to be removed… & God said… “NO.” But with the “No” answer was a promise… “My grace IS sufficient for you.”
God’s grace is: His protection… His strength… His presence… His power… His love.
Grace “wasn’t sufficient” (past), the past is gone. God didn’t say, “My grace will be sufficient” (Future), tomorrow may not come. God said, “My grace IS sufficient!” What we need, when we need it, as long as we need it… God will provide! PRAISE HIM! Now for Paul’s response…
12:9B. He would boast of weakness SO THAT Christ’s power rested upon him. WHY?!
12:10. For Christ’s sake & God’s glory… he was content with thorns & weaknesses… insults… hardship… persecution… & calamity. Wait… read that again!! CONTENT?! Yes. Content…
What is our reaction to stress, adversity, or hardship? How do we react when insulted? What do we do when tragic events happen in OUR lives? Do we mope… have pity parties… whine… gripe… complain… lash out in anger? OR do we trust God is conforming us & thus content?
If we’re not content, we haven’t believed God enough. We haven’t embraced “When I’m weak… THEN I am strong.” Until we learn God’s lesson(s), He will continue disciplining us with thorns!
God sending thorns PREIMPTIVELY to us so we don’t become prideful… haughty… or self-sufficient is another reason to know adversity is NOT God’s anger toward us. Never forget… ALL God’s wrath toward us was dealt with on the cross!
God’s “No” to removing thorns is for our good. If Paul needed it… we do so that we walk closer with God. Bottom line… trust God with OUR thorns according to Pr 3:5!
Conclusion. How do we view OUR thorn(s)? {Every Christian has them} Know God is working so you will share in His holiness. Unwillingness to submit in to Him in hardship is hindering holiness!
Jesus suffered the ultimate thorn… God’s wrath for our sin. Jesus prayed for it to be removed… “Let this cup pass from me,” & God said no. God didn’t send grace, but punishment… so that all who believe in Him would receive God’s grace of forgiveness! COME TO CHRIST!
I close with Ja 1:2-5 and two verses from Ps 119…
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect & complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him…
Ps 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
Ron's Sunday Sermon 