READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l We all don’t want to rely on others, if we can help it. We want to always be strong. But there are people in our lives and situations that may, at times, cause us to be weak. As the people of God, it is important for us to grasp a theology of weakness. There is a spiritual paradox – for when we are weak, we are strong. For those of us who are feeling helpless, weak and tired; today’s scripture text brings an important lesson, because there is divine strength even in our weakness.
At the time, a group of arrogant power-hungry false teachers were opposing Paul’s authority and credibility as an apostle. They criticised Paul for his weak bodily presence and contemptible speech. Paul responded that, in terms of heritage and overcoming challenges in life, he was no less that these self-proclaimed super apostles.
Paul describes being caught up to the third heaven 14 years ago. Interestingly, Paul spoke in the third person. He did not say “I” was caught up, but rather that he knew of a person in Christ who was caught up to the third heaven. Paul had something magnificent to boast about — a splendid encounter with God and hearing inexpressible words, words a man was not permitted to say, as no human vocabulary was adequate to express it. Although Paul had every right to boast, he chose not to boast of that.
Instead, Paul boasted of his thorn and weakness. Even though the revelation to Paul was great, God also allowed the thorn which kept him humble. Paul described the thorn as a messenger of Satan. God had also permitted both Jesus and Job to be tested by Satan. This is a reminder that God can permit thorns in our lives.
Fleshly struggle (2 Cor 12:7): Some believed that Paul’s thorn might be fleshly struggles — an intense struggle between doing what is right versus what our sinful desire wants. A thorn that constantly poked at Paul spiritually.
Physical illness: It might also have been a physical illness. Some bible commentators suggested that Paul suffered from epilepsy, or an illness related to the eyes. Another possibility was a speech defect. We do not know for sure. However, a medical condition can be a spiritual thorn, because it tempts us to despair, doubt the goodness of God, lose our trust in God, and give up on God.
Trial and Affliction (2 Cor 4:17): Paul’s thorn could also have been the troubles he faced. In his ministry, Paul was persecuted and faced hardship, often caused by others. A thorn may be very difficult and painful relationships with others. Whatever the thorn in our lives; it can make us weak, vulnerable, exposed, tempted and tired.
Embrace His Purposes for Your Thorns
Humility: We should not despise our thorns. Although not wanted, it may be precisely what we need. God allowed the thorn to keep Paul humble. It brought Paul face to face with his own weaknesses. The thorns remind us to always revel in the Lord and to never arrogantly rely on our own strengths.
Surrender: Three times, Paul asked the Lord to remove the thorn. Despite his prayers, God did not take away the thorn. But God’s grace was sufficient and Paul reached a point of surrender. This is not giving up, but giving in to God’s ways that are higher than our ways. We give in to God’s sovereign goodness, for He knows why the thorn is needed. Our surrender is the crucible of our discipleship. A place where we are refined. It purifies our intentions, motives and sense of self-dependence.
Decisive choices: Sometimes the thorn remains because we do not make decisive choices. Are there decisive choices we need to make, but don’t want to? It could, for example, be to forgive, reconcile, move out of a toxic situation, have a crucial conversation or speak the truth in love. When we embrace God’s purposes for our lives, His grace empowers us and is sufficient to lift the thorn off us.
Discover His Strength in Your Weakness
Thorns are a messenger from Satan. They come with negative messages telling us we are failures, useless, will never recover and are undeserving of forgiveness. But we can reject these negative messages and choose God’s reassurance that His grace is sufficient. God’s power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor 12:9) When we are most weak, then somehow, we are most strong. When we are weak, falling apart and utterly vulnerable; that is when God’s strength is made perfect! When we come to the end of ourselves, God takes over.
We have a king who was weak so the He may be truly strong! If we want the crown, the cross must come first. When God’s strength comes upon us, it accomplishes three purposes. Divine strength makes us hopeful and not bitter It keeps us faithful and not compromised. We are surrendered to God’s ways and not defeated, which is to give up.
Pursue His Glory in Your Surrender
His strength is upon us, not just so that we can be strong. When God strengthens us, it is for His glory. God is most glorified when we are most satisfied and surrendered to Him. When we fall apart, it is the gold of God’s glorious strength that mends and holds us together. Like in kintsugi art, the beauty is seen in the scars, because the gold is most visible in the cracks. God’s glory is most visible in our weakness.
God knows the pain of our thorns. Yet some thorns are not meant to be taken away. We may may one day understand why. Whatever thorns we wrestle with today, it is in our weakness that God’s strength is made complete. Even when we cannot understand, we can trust God’s heart. Jesus had thorns crushed into His head because of His love for us. God’s grace is sufficient, for there is divine strength for our thorny weakness.
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Study Scripture
Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. What stands out to you? - Recall Sermon
a. What right does the Apostle Paul have to boast?
b. Why did he choose instead to boast of his thorn?
c. What may be some purposes for the thorns in our lives? How can you relate to these purposes?
d. What is God’s strength for us when we are weak? What does it mean to be weak?
e. How does our surrender to His strength glorify God? - Relate Personally
a. What about the message that really spoke to you?
b. What is one discipleship lesson you have gleaned from the message? - Commit to Action
a. In what ways is God calling you to act in response to the message?
b. What steps will you take this week to apply the lessons learned from the sermon?
