August
26th 2
Corinthians 12 Depending on God
1:
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions
and revelations of the Lord. 2: I knew a man in Christ above fourteen
years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third
heaven. 3: And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4: How that he was caught up into
paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a
man to utter. 5: Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will
not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6: For though I would desire to
glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I
forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me
to be, or that he heareth of me. 7: And lest I should be exalted
above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was
given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet
me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8: For this thing I
besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9: And he
said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is
made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10:
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for
when I am weak, then am I strong.
Paul
says in this chapter that it has become necessary to glory in his
ministry to make the point that his ministry is in no way inferior
than these ‘super apostles’ who trouble the churches. Here he
relates his amazing visions. (He speaks in the third person) He says,
l knew a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago had such visions of
the heaven, (were God dwells), that he did not know whether he was in
the Body or in the Spirit - only God knows. Paul says, he was caught
up into the third heaven. [There are three ‘heavens’ in
scripture. There is the heaven were the birds fly, which we call the
atmosphere. There is the heaven were the sun, moon and stars are,
which we call outer pace. Then there is the third heaven where God
is. Where outer space ends - there the third heaven begins.] Paul
says, he (himself) was caught up into paradise and heard things
unable to be described in words. They were things which are so holy
that it is not lawful for man to speak of them. Paul says, l will
glory in God but not in myself, but l will glory in my infirmities.
Then Paul says, l have been foolish enough and will stop this
tomfoolery. And l will stop so that people will not think of me
greater than what l am. To prevent me from getting above myself,
because of the many revelations that l received, God gave me a
special difficulty in the body. It was a special thing, from Satan,
which prevented me from getting proud of myself. And three times l
asked the Lord to take this thing away, yet he said to me that his
enabling grace would be sufficient for me to bear it. You see my
spiritual strength is made strong in the midst of my bodily weakness
and so therefore l will glory in my infirmities so that the power of
Christ will rest upon me. In a way l take pleasure in my weakness and
in infirmities, in reproaches, in my needs, in persecution and in my
total poverty for Christ’s sake because at this moment of weakness
God makes me strong as l trust in him completely.
- How does Paul describe the visions that God has given him?
- Why did Paul have a thorn in the flesh?
- Why dint the Lord take it away after he asked three times?
- How does Paul face every trouble and difficulty?
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