"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WEAKNESS, INFIRMITIES, DISTRESS, AND PERSECUTIONS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WEAKNESS, INFIRMITIES, DISTRESS, AND PERSECUTIONS"

2nd Cor 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2nd Cor 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Some explanatory thoughts, application, and a prayer:

1. Paul is explaining what he had found to be true when going through times of weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. He has just covered a lot of ground in those words. They were his real experiences.

2. Here's what he had found during those times. 2nd Cor 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2nd Cor 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

3. Paul had what he called a thorn in the flesh, words that are used to describe a big stake, like the kind they use to hold the ropes of tent. He had some type of problem. Some think it was physical, and some think it was a spiritual problem, ( brought about by the false teachers who had come into the Corinthian church and were causing such destruction and trouble among the flock)

No one knows for sure, but it was a very painful problem for Paul. And, He had asked the Lord to take it away from him, and He did not. So, Paul asked him over and over again, and still the Lord did not. But what the Lord did tell him, is found in these two verses. And, the result of what God told him is also found in these verses. And, Paul wound up actually taking pleasure in that for which he had asked be taken from him.

4. Let's read the verses one more time only this time in the NLT.

2nd Cor 12:9 Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.

2nd Cor 12:10 Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Here's what Paul had discovered. And what a blessing it is.

(1) God had grace for Him, and told Paul that His grace would be all he needed during these difficult times.

(2) The reason for this, is that God's grace works best during times of difficulty. In other words Paul found that when he was having these problems, that God really helped Him, and Paul then wound up actually being glad when these difficulties came, because it was then that he discovered God's power and help as never before.

(3) So, from then on, Paul actually took pleasure when these times came upon him. Because he had learned that it was in his own personal weakness that God's grace and help became so evident and effective in his life. These troubles became a blessing to him.

5. So, the lesson is, that God's grace and power is all that You need in times of difficulty. Have you found it to be true.? Funny how what we think is so terrible can turn out to be so wonderful if we will turn to God in hard times and surrender our lives to Him, He is so faithful to come and give us strength, power, grace, to help us. We too, can wind up rejoicing in those times just as Paul did.

A prayer:

Father, Your ways are indeed not our ways. On a purely human level Lord, this does not make sense. But, Father, You are not human, You are Spirit, and You are wise and almighty. And, You take great joy in helping us, because, it's during these times that we find ourselves drawing closer, and closer to You then when all is well. So, thank You Lord for the truth of Grace being sufficient in our weakness and times of trouble. In Jesus name. Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia