2nd Corinthians 12 LIFE'S EXPERIENCES How is it possible to pass through the challenges of life's events without getting proud of our accomplishments, bitter at our disappointments, or despairing at our failures? A review of the past is not out of place when we get into hard places and start to question ourselves and the validity of our commitments. When Paul was being challenged, ignored and disparaged by those at Corinth who were being influence by false teachers, the Spirit of God led him to take a look back over his life of service for the Lord, and put it into writing for the benefit of others. Paul was no stranger to visions and revelations. The visions God gave to men were supernatural sights that affect them at the moment. Revelations are truths that were given at that time as lessons to be learned. Neither of them, are for self-exaltation, but are like divinely appointed gifts given by God. They are for the benefit of other people.
Paul had visions at various times in his life. He saw the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the Damascus road at the time of his conversion and calling. It was a revelation to him of the divine power the Spirit of God would use through him to reach kings, to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and to reach out to his own people. the Jews. He had another vision relating to his commission that led him into Europe and guided him in his service. The revelation at that time had to do with divine purposes as God was leading him to various places to reach specific people. Even as the pressure came heavy against him in his service, God gave his visions relating to his own comfort and care. In this way he had a revelation of the fact of God's divine preservation through the trials ahead. When God chooses to honor a person, what others have to say about him to others, or even to his face, does not really have reason to discourage him. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" We have experienced the guidance of God and know his grace is in no way limited in meeting our emotional needs.
Physical needs have a way of taking over everything in our lives if we are not careful. There are some lessons we are given to learn through the experience of physical pain and suffering. God has allowed suffering in His people for reasons He knows are beneficial. Paul was no stranger to pain and discomfort. He had been hungry and thirsty. He had been beaten and stoned. He had been attacked by robbers and had been kept in cold dungeons. He had experienced dangers on land and sea. Most of those problems came and went. But he had one nagging, constant pain he could not get rid of and it was always there - "a thorn in the flesh." We may never understand why God gives us chronic physical conditions that seem to ensure that we are always in a measure of discomfort.
It is easy for people to tell us to "grin and bear it" but that is not easy to do. In fact, it is impossible. First, we need to understand our spiritual condition is more important that our physical well-being. In those times when we are a condition where all we can do is call on God for relief, we are actually safer that when we are free to do what we want. God honored Paul by giving him a sight of glory. To have a sight of the third heaven, God's dwelling place, was overpowering to him to the extent he couldn't speak of it. His physical condition kept him consciously aware of who he was, and the state of health which he could do nothing about, so he would not glory in the unique sight he had of heaven.
A lesson we can learn for ourselves is that when God allows us to have some unusual insight into what we have in Christ, we will never be the same person afterward. To be living on the high ground of spiritual awareness in Beulah-land make the affairs of earth, and the discouragements of life seem quite trivial in comparison. Paul learned about God's goodness when God humbled him and kept him that way by leaving him with "A thorn in the flesh" of which he was always conscious. It is possible for some success in the work of the Lord to make us think we did it, or at least our ability made it happen. That leads to pride which is a terrible sin with which we have to contend. It is important for us to remember it is God who provides all we need, to do all He intends. Obstacles may be blessings when they lead us to "trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding." When we recognize our limitations and rely on God for our strength, then we realize the work is God's and is being done by Him through His weak servant.
When we are in the place where we have faced our inability, and have committed ourselves to fulfill our responsibility, and have humbly and honestly presented to God our availability, then there are no limits to divine possibility. In that condition of bodily weakness when we admit to our limitations, our character is deepened and our worship of God is more meaningful, deeper and fuller than before. When God in His goodness humbles us, the result is a more balanced life. Physical suffering is not really a barrier to spiritual service. Not all sickness if caused by sin. Sometimes it is to bring us to maturity and to glorify God. Effective service comes when we rest in God's word and, in faith, trust Him to do in and through us whatever He desires. That is when God's grace is shown to us in a special way to help us. There is sufficient grace given to enable us to do His will. And there is strengthening grace to bring to pass what God intended from us in the first place.
Sometimes when children refuse to listen to their father and will not obey him, he has to make them ashamed of themselves in some way. Paul had to do that with the Corinthian believers. They should have been honoring him and "boasting" about him. Instead they were critical of him like disobedient and spoiled children. So, with the objective of warning them about their attitudes, examining them about their sincerity, and vindicating himself as one who has authority over them, he goes further in his corrective ministry. He had experienced, and effectively used the sign gifts given to him by the power of the Holy Spirit. He had used the gift of healing. In fact, he had used those gifts more then all of them. They had seen with their own eyes the evidence of his spiritual authority. Even the obstacles he had to overcome had not hindered nor stopped the work he did.
It is often best in our labors for God to let the evidence speak for itself. But occasionally there is a reason to reiterate how God has used us if the purpose is to help others and glorify God. Paul shamed the Corinthians with the remark that he had done the same for them as he did with all the other churches, except he did not want to be a burden to them. He did not want any pay from them, he did not want to be fed by them nor housed by them. He paid his own way there "lest I be chargeable to any one of you." He only wanted to strengthen them in the Lord so he did nothing to enrich himself at their expense. The abilities and gifts people may have does not keep them from being carnal. Doubts about spiritual things and complaints about spiritual people are often expected from those who live carnal lives. Paul shamed them for their lack of commendation of the ones who brought them the Gospel and nurtured them in the things of God. He shamed them for their lack of appreciation for the grace of God shown toward those who had ministered to them. He shamed them for their lack of consecration. Yet in spite of all of this, he still refers to them as "dearly beloved."
Unreasonable people who are unreliable in their conduct, ungrateful for the help given them, and unthankful for the blessings they have received from others, are usually untrustworthy. But we are still able to express love in whatever way is suitable to their condition of soul. In love we must do like Paul did: warn them of the consequences of unscriptural activities in which they are involved, and of false teachers. We need to teach them the way of recovery, and urge them to act on it immediately.
2 Corinthians 12:9. “And He said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
THE POWER OF CHRIST. God has His reasons, it is not mine to contend, Or fully understand, or even try to defend The actions of life that brought this trouble to pass. I really don’t really know, and I’m not going to ask. It is enough for me that His grace has supplied, More than enough to keep me satisfied. That the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The pain in my body and the pain in my soul, I find hard to contend with, because I’m not really whole. The uncertainty of the future, and failures of the past, I can’t really deal with, unless willingly I cast Every burden and confusion on Him who I love. Then His grace full, sufficient enables me to prove – That the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The pressures from without, from those who look on, Make me ponder too often on the work I have done. Rather, let me lay it all down at the Master’s pierced feet, That my joy and His glory will never compete. He’s been pleased to use the little that I’ve been able to give, So that God may be honored in this life I now live. That the power of Christ may rest upon me.
This power is not self, for the self-life is weak. This power is not will, nor for will-power to seek. This power is not mind, for intelligence can fail. This power is not prestige, or honor to hail.
This power is not strength in the flesh to attain. This power is not beauty or attraction to gain – That the power of Christ may rest upon me.
No, the paradox is this – in weakness, God gives strength. For the glory is God’s from the start to its length. Grace fully sufficient, is given to meet every need God determines the provision – it’s not based on my greed. For the power to produce what God intended at first, Is by Him fully supplied – in Him only I trust – That the power of Christ may rest upon me.
“Father God, there are many questions I have that I do not need an answer to. But sometimes I still wonder “Why?” So please, when there is no clear, unmistakable answer to such questions, give me the sense to not keep questioning. In this way I can truly express my unreserved trust. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”