Comfort and Affliction IV
Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
2 Cor 12
The
scriptures have a lot to teach us about suffering, troubles and afflictions.
When we are under their weight, we forget that the scriptures also teach us a
lot about comfort. The Holy Spirit is given to comfort us as we live in this
world of affliction. He is given to come alongside of us in order to advocate
for us and to help us in our infirmities. One way he helps us is through the
preaching of the Word in two senses. Sometimes, just when we are struggling,
there is some application in the sermon or some comment by a Christian friend
that helps our understanding--as long as we haven't sinned in such a way to
have God turn away his good favor. The second way is the more ordinary route of
training our minds over time by the regular exposition of the Word of God. The
Spirit help us to store away His principles so that when needed, we recall and
act either to protect ourselves or to do what needs to be done for the good of
others or the glory of God.
The
Christian, as he or she is portrayed in the scriptures is one who hears and
acts. There is no lingering between doing wrong and right once the truth is
known. Those who linger show the natural rebellion of the heart that will not,
nor cannot submit to God's ways.
Trouble has
as its source, God. We need not blame the devil. Oh, yes, Satan delights to see
us having difficulty, but it is not up to him to affect the believer. Anything
and everything happens for a reason--for our good and God's glory--even
suffering. When things don't go our way, we should thank God for his
providence. Many times, he is keeping us from what would be detrimental to
us--though we can't see it and we don't want to admit it. But, I could
introduce you to dozens of people who waited by faith for God to deliver them,
rather than taking matters in their own hands, and God delivered them in line
with his Word. And, I can show you others who took matters into their own hands
and are still suffering in the Christian life because of it. We must be careful
and discerning to do things God's way.
And, in
doing things in his way, never ever murmur or complain, especially about him.
And, when not doing things his way, to only place the blame on ourselves--and
I'll add, usually our impatience.
In 2 Cor
12:1ff we have an example of a godly man who suffered under a constant or
continuous trial. It is the Apostle Paul. He continues to teach so much that is
contrary to the health and wealth gospel. That includes the pseudo-reformed
version of it that declares there is healing in the atonement. That is by
virtue of the death of Christ, provision has been made for all believers to be
healed of all ailments because by the stripes of Christ we are healed. .
Healed in
this sense is made whole spiritually. The Greek word comes from the word from
which we get threrapy--therapeuo. Jesus never got sick--that we know of, Yet,
Paul suffered many things. If the health and wealth gospel is correct how is it
that the second most important figure in the founding of Christianity was
called to tremendous suffering? We find tha answer here in 2 Cor 12.
1. More
Foolish Boasting
2 Cor 12:1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be
gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2. The Boast Introduced
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago
was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the
body I do not know, God knows.
3. The Boast Explained
3 And I know that this man was caught up
into paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not
know, God knows-- 4 and he heard things that cannot be
told, which man may not utter.
4. The Boast Made Personal
5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I
will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
6 Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool,
for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may
think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
4. The Reason for the Boast
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the
surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the
flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming
conceited.
5. A Greater Boast
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it
should leave me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient
for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I
will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
6. A Closing Paradox
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I
am weak, then I am strong.
Let's look
at the text:
1. More
Foolish Boasting
1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be
gained by it,
Paul is down to earth. He sees through all boasting.
In another place he says Christ should be our boast. Here, he reminds the
hearers that there is nothing to be gained by boasting. When boasting is about
individual accomplishments it is often about matters of pride or one-upmanship.
Among men, it is usually playing whay I call, Alpha Dog. Who has the best story
about themselves or their experience of their intellectual attainments. Nothing
is gained by vainglory boasting to others. And beyond them, Paul mentions two
experiences that rule out most of the people. He writes:
I will go on to visions
and revelations of the Lord.
Paul was somewhat unique in these categories. It wa
not given to many to have had visions, dreams and revelations directly from the
Lord. Paul did as he was being taught about the Christian gospel by Jesus
personally in Arabia. It was after the ascension of Jesus, but before He
commenced his apostolic ministry as one born out of time.
At first, Paul talks about these experiences in the
third person, than a mixture of first and third and finally, all first. Ssuch
careful care is taken when talking about such lofty matters.
2.
The Boast Introduced
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago
was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the
body I do not know, God knows.
Notice the care. He knows a man who had this
experience. But in humility, there are some aspects of it he cannot explain. He
does not know if the person he knows had the experience while in his body or
not, that is, if his mind was transported or transfixed to receive these
things. It is unimportant detail. Paul does not seek fleshly answers to what he
does not know. He trusts that God knows and that is enough for him.
That is an important lesson for us. We may not know
fully what is going on in our lives. I'm not talking about visions and
revelations to direct us. I mean more generally we may not know what is going
on. But we should always be comforted that God knows. There are a lot of things
we may be ignorant about--just like the Apostle Paul--but, that is okay. The
one who directs our future knows all about our past. We can trust him.
Paul repeats these words for
emphasis in ….
3. The Boast Explained
3 And I know that this man was caught up
into paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not
know, God knows-- 4 and he heard things that cannot be
told, which man may not utter.
Not only did this man not understand, but some things
he thought he understood, he found impossible to describe--that should not be
told to mere unredeemed men and somehow man is unable to speak them. This could
be due to a prohibition of God or it could be that such heavenly realities are
not possible to describe or explain in human speech, no matter what language is
used.
Yet, whatever it was, Paul heard. They were real
utterances that meant something to some who where in heaven.
4. The Boast Made Personal
5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I
will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
When Paul looks at what he is and what he has become,
the only thing he has in and of himself to brag about to anyone is that he is
weak.
Paul says it is the only thing of which he will boast.
It has tremendous value to him. It is a means of his Christian growth and
nearness to Christ Jesus.
Paul turns the natural boasting of sinful humans on
its head. To boast in weakness is to be utterly humble and submissive to God
and his way. Being weak allows the power of God to work through him.
We don't need to flex our might and spiritual muscle
to do God's work. We wait upon him to act in line with his word even if we are
perceived as weak--in God's truth and by faith we are strong.
In the church, and in the world, people think
manifestations of weakness means it is time to pounce as a lion of its prey.
All that does is show character that is contrary to the Spirit of Christ.
Spiritual strength often comes in profound weakness.
Paul continues:
6 Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool,
for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may
think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
Paul wants his hearers to have a balanced view of who
he was and all that he represented. He would rather they see the power of God
manifest in Christ, than his own claims and endowments. Paul wanted the Lord
Jesus Christ to have the place of preeminence. It would be good for all of us
to wish for and work to the same. It is Jesus' life and death that is
effecacious for the salvation of sinners--whose spiritual deliverance we seek
through the work of ministry.
4. The Reason for the Boast
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the
surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the
flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming
conceited.
Twice Paul says it is to keep him from being
conceited--for thinking himself so important to the planting of churches that
it couldn't happen without him. Paul knew one day he would die and go to be
with Jesus and he knew it was a far better thing. He knew living for Christ was
important, but he wrote to the Philippians that death would be gain.
To keep him humble, some sort of constant ailment was
given to him. We don't know exactly what it was. He felt it in his flesh. It
was a messenger of Satan to harass him all the time. As we consider ….
5. A Greater Boast
We see in reality is was a means
by which Paul was reminded to call upon God for his undeserved favor--the grace
of God.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it
should leave me.
Paul did not make this a standing prayer request in
all of the churches. He doesn't mention it in the other letters. He only
mentions it hear and it is not for prayer. He alone prayed for the personal
item. Not that he didn't want to trouble the churches, but he trusted God by
faith to work. Paul prayed three times that is should leave him. That's all.
That doesn't mean that we should only pray three times
for any particular ailment. But, it does teach us not to be overly
self-centered in praying for matters of discomfort. Instead, Jesus replied to
Paul,
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness."
This is the only place where we find these words of
Jesus. It is believed that Jesus spoke these words directly to Paul in one of
those visions and revelations. From somewhere Paul received this revelation. It
was enough for him to endure the affliction for the sake of the elect and the
gospel. He knew that the power of the Lord Jesus Christ would be made complete
in his imperfections, he would become spiritually powerful in his weakness.
There have been many times my faith has been
strengthened by a short conversation with someone who has suffered. There is
much to be learned in the school of affliction by us all. So where does Paul go
from here?
9b Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my
weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Some of you chuckled two weeks ago when I said How I
felt bad for those of you with good health. You have fewer weaknesses than the
rest of us and will therefore find it harder to humble yourself to see and know
the power of God at work.
Has the Lord, by his Spirit worked in you to the point
where you can say, with Paul, the words of his….
6. A Closing Paradox
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I
am weak, then I am strong.
These are difficult words. It is not the view of
ourselves we want others to have. We want them to think of us as young,
beautiful, full of vim and vigor. But, in reality, a time is coming when we
will need to be prepared for and content with a much different existence: we
will need to confess: I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,
persecutions, and calamities. And, I'll add to that for the cause of Christ.
Why? For when I am weak, then I am strong.
From where does real inner Christian strength come?
Profound weakness in the cause of Christ.
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