Sermon for 5/21/2006
Can You Tell Me Your Weaknesses?
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Introduction:
Tell the story about how interviewing a prospective campus minister: Elaborate on your strengths was my first question. My second question was, Elaborate on your weaknesses. Guess what, he wisely refused to do that.
WBTU:
A. Isn’t it amazing how the church falls into the same ruts as the world?
B. Paul here exposes a problem that is common in the church. Exalting oneself! In sharp contrast to the super apostles that were in the city of Corinth, Paul elaborates not on his strengths but on his weaknesses. Paul says that he will boast about his weaknesses.
C. We don’t like being weak. That we don’t have the where with all to finish our work for the day, that we can’t stand the noise of the children, that we can’t seem to get things right in our marriage, that we feel so tongue tied in the presence of others. We get frustrated by such deficiencies, even depressed by them. We interpret our inability to do what we’d like to do as evidence that we’re weak, inadequate, and useless. It gets us down. However, in the presence of others we need to keep up the image that we have it all together. We are masters of any situation. We can’t appear weak. To admit to any weakness is to be exploited.
D. But the Bible says that when I am weak, then I am strong. The church needs to be different from the world.
E. Through a thorn in the flesh, Paul learns that God’s strength is revealed through man’s weakness.
Thesis: Look at three things this morning: The need for Paul’s weakness, the characteristics of Paul’s weakness, and the results of Paul’s weakness.
For instances:
1. The Need for Paul’s weakness
A. Vs. 7 through 10 contains one of the few references to Paul talking about a personal problem. Notice that Paul does not make reference to himself very often. To get through to the Corinthians, he has had to resort to foolishness and play a mind game with them to get them to see the error of their ways.
B. Even though Paul has a problem he does not complain about it, does not wear a long face of discontent about his lot in life. His writings direct attention away from himself and demand the attention of his readers to the Lord Jesus Christ. Not he and his problems, but rather God and His glory are the focus of Paul’s writings, of Paul’s preaching, and of Paul’s thoughts.
C. I mention this for two reasons:
1. Example
a. We keep focusing and talking about our problems to that same degree we show that our attention is not focused on our God and Savior.
b. IF God is #1 in our lives, there isn’t place for us to keep talking about me. Most of us have grown up in a very self centered culture, and the result is that we’ve learned well how to talk about me.
c. Paul shows us that Christians should have a different focus.
2. Why does Paul mention his thorn in the flesh here?
a. Vs. 7
b. Becoming conceited, or exalted above measure.
c. Here he is playing the Corinthians game and many times our game. He begins to talk about himself. Toward the end of this discourse he mentions a revelation that he had 14 years earlier about how he was taken up to paradise or God’s throne. This is the first time he has mentioned this, 14 years later.
d. He is humble about it and refers to himself in the 3rd person. IN Vs. 7 we know that he is talking about himself.
e. This was very different from some of the Corinthians and many in our culture. If they had this kind of a vision, they would write a book, hit the speaking tour road, and make a name for themselves. They boasted of their abilities and gifts, they told everyone about their experiences and visions in such a way that many looked up to these super apostles with respect, awe, and envy. But not Paul!
f. What does he tell us about this vision? Absolutely nothing! Heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. John had something similar happen to him and he wrote it all down. Paul doesn’t even mention it.
g. Paul has been privileged to receive numerous revelations from God.
1) Road to Damascus
2) At Troas about going over to Macedonia
3) In Corinth- keep on working
4) In Jerusalem two times
5) On his way to Rome, on the ship that sank.
6) Now here we are told that he had a vision of heaven
h. It would have been quite easy for Paul to be filled with pride over these revelations and for the church to exalt him too highly.
i. For this reason a thorn was given to Paul; that he should stay humble. As a result, Paul stayed meek, humble and kept his feet on the ground.
j. This is quite different from people today who relate experiences. They talk about them and talk about them. If we don’t have them, then we are less than Christians. If you have had them, keep them to yourself. They are personal between you and the Lord and this should not be broadcast. IF you do a special thorn might be given.
k. Also, those who really see God are changed. They are not the same as before. They are not filled with arrogance and pride; they are filled with a sense of unworthiness and a holy fear of Almighty God.
D. Paul does not want people to look up to him, as if he were really something, as if he’d done so much, was so good, etc.
E. 2 Corinthians 10:17
F. When he does talk about himself he says he is a fool.
G. IF there really is something he could boast about, it’s his weaknesses. The false teachers speak of what they have done, of what they are, and Paul is content to speak only of what he can’t do, of his limitations, his weaknesses. How different the attitude!
H. 1 Peter 5:5- God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
2. Characteristics of Paul’s weakness
A. What was this thorn in the flesh? Much speculation!
1. Poor eyesight- a swelling of the eyeballs.
2. Epilepsy
3. Malaria
4. Earache or chronic headaches
5. Feelings of guilt and depression
6. Speech defect
7. Mental ailment
8. Lustful thoughts (some sort of habitual sin)
9. Physical problems related to his persecutions (Chapter 11)
10. The persecutors themselves. People can be a thorn in the side.
11. His wife. This commentator obviously had marital troubles.
B. The Holy Spirit left out the condition that Paul was suffering from because it is a good exercise for us to fill in the blank. Everybody has problems.
C. The wording here refers not to just an irritation. We think of a thorn as something that is just irritating, but a more accurate understanding is a tent stake.
C. WE do know that it went on for a long time. For 14 years! Not a one time thing
D. It affected him physically. It affected him mentally and emotionally. It affected him spiritually because he did not get an answer to his prayers.
F. It is called a messenger of Satan. Satan is presented in Scripture as being allowed to attack the people of God, to tempt them to abandon God. But for Paul it brought him to his knees. The same for us.
G. This messenger of Satan was allowed to buffet or torment Paul. He was being beaten or battered about. (Eph 6:12 NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
H. Our battle is not against rebellious people or sickness or diseases or disorders, but against the devil. Why did Paul turn to God in prayer? Because he knew that the Lord defeated Satan. He is defeated!
I. Paul might have prayed: Lord You are sovereign and have triumphed over the evil one, and so Satan can do nothing without your permission. I pray that you will prevent Satan from harassing me with weariness and sleeplessness and anxiety. Lord, remove this from me and get the devil off of my back!
J. Who is behind the trials of life? Satan. One day he will be removed from us.
3. The results of Paul’s weakness
A. Three times (maybe extended times) Paul pleaded with God to get Satan off his back. God’s answer to Paul’s request was not the answer he- or we- would wish. What we look for in our struggles and weaknesses is relief from Satan’s harassments, relief from migraines and sleeplessness, relief from fighting’s in the family and mockery at work, relief from exhaustion and depression. Paul sought it too, but did not receive it.
B. Instead, he received another revelation. Vs. 9
C. This revelation isn’t just for him but for all who suffer from prolonged trials.
D. The Lord helps to relieve our burdens in one of two ways:
1. He takes the burden away.
2. He strengthens our shoulders so that we will be able to bear the burden.
E. Lord Don’t Move That Mountain
Lord, here I am again, Down on my knees in prayer.
Lord, You promised me that you would always meet me there.
Now there’s a mountain up ahead that I can’t seem to climb,
But I’m praying for the strength to try it one more time.
Lord, don’t move that mountain just give me strength to climb,
’Cause if you move each mountain I might grow weaker every time.
And just as your son, Jesus, took that cross up Calvary’s hill,
Lord, don’t move that mountain so I might rather do your will.
Lord, if there were no mountains I might forget to pray;
And if there were no trials, Lord I might even stray.
But I know the higher the mountain, The sweeter the victory.
Lord, ever remind me that you walk beside of me.
E. When the Lord doesn’t take our burdens away, this is when we can come to depend upon the Lord, and not upon our own strength or wisdom! In our infirmities we have the opportunity to experience the power of Christ as he helps us to deal with them!
F. (Rom 5:3- 4) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
G. God is not interested in our comfort; he is interested in developing our character!
Conclusion:
A. The trials that we go through can make us or break us!
B. Whether it’s anger, fear, low self esteem, lust, infidelity, pride, financial problems, unbearable marriages, physical conditions, broken parent child relationships or simply being overweight, all of us have personal struggles in life!
C. In dealing with these difficulties in our lives, we have a choice: We can allow our issues to crush and destroy us, or we can allow them to be a reminder of just how desperately we must depend upon God’s faithfulness and grace in our lives.
D. This is what Christ meant when he talked about being poor in spirit.
E. Bring out tennis ball and play dough. We are all affected by the storms and struggles of life. How are we going to respond? Like the tennis ball or play dough? When we put pressure on play dough, it leaves a lasting imprint. Everybody sees the marks that are left. However, if we put pressure on a tennis ball, although it does cave in, it doesn’t remain in that condition. IT always bounces back to its original shape. How do we respond to the pressures and struggles of life? Like the tennis ball or like the play dough.
F. Our struggles either make us bitter or better.
