2 Corinthians, Day 9
SUFFERING AND JOY ARE TWO SIDES TO MINISTRY
2 Corinthians 12 – 13
Paul’s pleasure in weakness (12:1 – 13)
Peter was chosen by God to bring the Gospel to the Jews. Paul was chosen by God to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles through an incredible outreach ministry. He had to be trained quickly and correctly directly by God. A crash course was needed in the new age (the church age) that was entered into by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In this passage of 2 Corinthians, Paul talks about someone (himself in the 3rd person) who was caught up into the third heaven (in the body or out of the body he didn’t know) and was shown by God inexpressible things. This person (Paul) was careful not to praise himself because of this information presented by God. To ensure that Paul would remain humble, he was given a thorn in his flesh (we do not know what this thorn was). He asked God to remove this thorn, but God refused to remove the thorn and stated, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Because of this, Paul chose to boast about his weaknesses — insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. This way, the glory and praise go directly to God and not to any human effort from Paul.
Paul’s concern for the Corinthians (12:14 – 21)
Paul lets the church at Corinth know that he will make a 3rd trip to see them. He apparently senses some problem in their walk with God. He defends himself and other church leaders who have gone to Corinth to assist their church as NOT a means to make a money profit. Their only purpose for visiting them was to help them and correct some of their errors in leading their local church. Their teachings were for strengthening the Corinthian church. Paul fears that when he arrives in Corinth, he will be grieved over their sinful activities.
Paul’s warning to the church (13:1 – 14)
Paul wants the church at Corinth to know the message that he will be bringing to them. Since they know that Christ is speaking through Paul, he will not spare those who have and are still sinning. He asks the Corinthian church to test themselves as a church and as individuals to make sure they are Christians and that they are proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through their weaknesses and repentance of their sins they can be renewed through the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Application
Paul had a very strong personality. God kept him humble and reliant on the Holy Spirit by giving him a thorn in his flesh. God works in us through our weaknesses. It is the Christian teacher’s and leader’s responsibility to present the Word and demonstrate the Word. God the Holy Spirit then takes the Word that was presented and demonstrated to do the work in the lives of non-believers for salvation AND believers for spiritual growth. God is to get the glory, not the human presenter and demonstrator.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!
Blessings from Carlton Ringer