RIGHT WAY LIVING: THE GIFT OF THORNS

1. Paul’s boasting 

Chapter 11:18 Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.

2. Paul’s Blessing 

12 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

3. Paul’s Burden – God’s strategy for our Humility

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

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. 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.

11 I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong.

4. Paul’s Brokenness

14 Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

5.  Paul’s Boldness
 

13 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare— 3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

6. Paul’s Benediction 

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

13 All the saints greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Did Paul have it all together?   absolutely not!

Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

Go back to chapter 12:7-10 (ESV)

ESV

2 Cor. 12:7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh,

This passage applies to all thorns.

God uses thorns in our lives to accomplish several things.

vs.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.

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

You ever pray for something passionately and don’t get the answer you are wanting?  Or an answer at all?

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Grace, is the light of the son that constantly shines in your life no matter how dark it may seem.

Remember what Paul said just a few pages back?

2 Corinthians 9:8 –

NKJV 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

ESV 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

CSB 9:8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

NLT 9:8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Look at 12:9 again.

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

God takes our weakness  – and sometimes uses the devil to do it, so that we can see His power!

When we are at our weakest point, that is truly when we discover the strength of His power.

When you come to the end of yourself, and give yourself in total surrender to God, you’ll discover that you are right at the beginning of discovering the power of His grace.

I have lived this several times in my own life.

12:9b – ”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Great Faith is only forged in the fire!

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.

A rose has thorns (prickles) to:

protect  – it from it’s enemies

retain  – water and other life giving nutrients

Growth – the thorns actually grab on to fences and other vines and act as a support system for the rose to be able to climb higher and receive more direct sunlight.

•Removing a Rose’s thorns can damage the rose’s tissues and lead to infection, potentially weakening the plant or even causing it to die.

ironically, it is the rose’s thorns that give it strength!!!!!

God allows thorns in our lives to do the same thing:

Protect –  us from our selves – our pride , our sin

Retain –  in us a reminder of our need for Him.  We need His strength to sustain us.

Growth –  our spiritual growth so we might climb higher and higher in our knowledge of His word and experience the power of the Son – who’s grace is our sufficiency.

When you endure your thorns:

you are sanctified for His service

Christ is magnified in Your service

others are edified by your service

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.