[0:00] chapter 11, chapter 12, that ought to work, 2 Corinthians chapter 11, oh God help us this morning, 2 Corinthians 11, I hope you found your place there, here's a, toward this end of this chapter, Paul gives this list, and a description of the manifold perils that he faced, and things he endured while in the ministry, serving Jesus Christ, and I think you're somewhat familiar with these, I don't want to read them all off to you, he talks about being whipped, and beaten, and stripes, rods, stoned, talks about being, in verse 27, weariness and painfulness, hunger, fastings, and a rough list of things that we don't want to go through, and in verse number 30, he says this, if I must needs glory, I'll glory of the things which concern mine infirmities, now what a weird thing to say, I mean really, you can admit it, I think so, maybe I'm weird, but when you read that, and you hear, and you consider the apostle Paul, and his statement, and you hear his heart on this, it sounds a little off to me, it's definitely off of the way I would imagine it to be, and consider, glory of the things which concern my infirmities, what a foreign thought, and a foreign concept, accept, now in chapter 12, in verse number 1, he says, it's not expedient for me, doubtless to glory,
[1:49] I'll come to visions and revelations of the Lord, if he's going to start talking about who he is, and what he's done, and what God's used him for, good night, he'd put us all to shame, I mean he's there, he's done it, and so it's not the right thing for him to do, is to go that direction, all right, come to verse, look at verse number 5, skip a little section here about him, probably when he was killed, and caught up to the third heaven, to paradise, but in verse 5, he says, of such in one will I glory, yet of myself, I will not glory, but in mine infirmities, second time he said it, look at verses, we're going to read now, verses 6 through 10, for though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool, for I will say the truth, but now I forbear, what he means is, I would tell you the truth, about all of this, about myself, but I'm going to forbear doing that, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me, and lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure, for this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me, and he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness, now Paul's response to that is, most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, the third time, that the power of Christ may rest upon me, therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, fourth time, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then am I strong, doesn't make sense to me, I don't understand that, it's an irony, it's a true Christian irony, that when you're weak, you're strong, and how does that make sense, and how does that operate, and four times we read that Paul's, he's going to glory or take pleasure in these infirmities, and those painful, and those distressful afflictions, that he faces while he's serving Jesus Christ, have you ever talked like that, I doubt it, have you ever felt that inside of you, glory to God, for this tragedy, for this heartache, for this pain,
[4:17] Lord, thank you, I know you're helping me, I know you're doing something, we don't think that way, you know how we think, God, take it away, get this out of my life, fix it, help me, and Paul did the same thing, he said that in verse 8, this thing, I besought the Lord thrice, get rid of it, God, take it away, praise the Lord for this thing, then, he turns his tune later on, when Paul chose to serve Jesus Christ, when he chose to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, he became obedient to a calling, a calling that was a calling of power, a calling of revelations, a calling of miracles, a calling of preaching, and delivering the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost, and at the same time, it was a calling into infirmities, and to distresses, and into afflictions, suffering, pain, and weakness, and in the ministry, as I mentioned last week, if God is ever going to get the glory, then there's got to be both, there has to be the sufferings, it's more than just simply, oh, there's opposition, like we've been talking about on Wednesday night, to witnessing, there's going to be opposition, you should expect it, there's, it's more than just, there's opposition out there, if I live for God, no, this is something that,
[5:56] God allows, no, even more so, he insists upon, this was the Lord's doing, you remember Job and his story, and how harmful that was to Job as a man, how hurtful and painful that was, but he recognized where it came from, he knew what came from the hand of God, and so this morning, we can view weaknesses, Christ said, my strength's made perfect in weakness, and Paul said, when I'm weak, then am I strong, and we can view weaknesses, then as a gift from God, I know that's hard to believe, I know that's hard to, to receive that, especially since the modern day, idiots, are just pumping the body of Christ, full of God wants to bless, and help, and lift up, and encourage, and strengthen, and it's just all good things, it's a total different story, they promise, and yet as I mentioned, Job said, shall we receive, good from the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil, and so the evil, or the afflictions, or the reproaches, the distresses, the weaknesses, are a gift from God, and we need to see it that way, this morning, you don't have to understand it, you don't have to be able to explain it, and chances are you won't, but like it or not, you're going to receive it, and you're going to experience it, and I believe God has a reason for it, and I think today, we can see that he has a real purpose for it, and that the weakness in us, can accomplish something, and so that's what I want us to consider, in this passage from the Apostle Paul, this morning,
[7:41] I want to preach a message, I'm calling the work of weakness, the work of weakness, we hate it, we despise it, we want to fix it, but if we'll accept it, and receive it, it can do something in us, and boy, we need it, we need God to do something in us, but he's not going to do it, without the weakness, and so I want us to see that this morning, let's pray together, and then we'll get back into this passage, Father in heaven, Lord, humbly, ask that you'll help, and that you'll use these thoughts, to minister to each one, Lord, may we change our thinking, may we adjust it, to the word of God, may this book teach us something, and grow us, and strengthen us, and Lord, just take what's said, and use it for your glory, I don't know what else to ask, I hope that's enough, I pray that you'll do it, help me to preach it, in Jesus name I ask,
[8:44] Amen. The work of weakness, look at verse number seven, I want to say something here, that one of the works of weaknesses, is to eliminate self-confidence, and Paul says, unless I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of revelation, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure, he previously declared, in so many words, that if anyone could glory, Paul would take the prize, because he could do it, and he's done some things, but to eliminate, self-confidence, to ensure that Paul, remained lowly, that Paul remained humble, that Paul stayed the servant, of Jesus Christ, that he was called to be, and really the only way, that God would, could fully use him, God gave him, an unwanted, unwelcomed, weakness, he calls it, a thorn, in the flesh, a thorn in the flesh, now some speculate, that it had to do with his eyesight, there's a few verses, in his writings, that seem to indicate, he had issues with his eyes, others speculate, it was something to do with, his body, his appearance, or a weakness, muscular situation, and speculate they can,
[10:06] I don't know what it was, but I know it was something, in his body, and it must have hurt, to call it a thorn, and he verifies, with us in the passage, that he had a need, for this thing, because in verse number six, he says, for though I would desire, to glory, and I would too, and so would you, and then within him, would be this desire, to glory, and to speak as a fool, as he said, in the previous chapter, and just to boast, of what he is, and what he's done, and exalt himself, above measure, though he would desire, to do that, God fixed it, so that he wouldn't, and to keep others, from lifting him up, God fixed it, so that Paul was humbled, he said, in verse six, lest any man, should think of me, above that which he, seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me, unless I should be exalted, above measure, God did something, God gave me a weakness, and the weakness, the work of weakness, is to eliminate, self confidence, the work of weakness, in his life, was to get something, out of Paul, and to keep it, out of Paul, it's God's way, of keeping him humble, it's God's way, of removing any arrogance, any pride, that's in the man, and allow him, to be used, the Lord saw it, corrupts Lucifer, as we've just covered, in Sunday school, the Lord saw it, corrupt him, by reason of his brightness, and his beauty, and his wisdom, and he's seen it, over the course of time, anytime a man, oftentimes a man, that's lifted up, to a position, of authority, and power, his heart's lifted up, with it, and down he has to come, and it's all through the book, and God's seen it, with Lucifer, he's seen it, with many a man, and so in the apostle,
[11:51] Paul's sake, God saw fit, to give him, a special gift, to keep that, from happening, a thorn in the flesh, this work, is to keep, something out, of Paul, in verse 7, he calls it a thorn, I think it's painful, he says, in verse 7, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me, that means, to beat him around, this is what Paul, viewed this thing as, whatever exactly it was, this infirmity, beat him down, it no doubt, caused him much discomfort, and distress, and grief, it just wore him out, and no doubt, Paul's coming to God, saying, just take it from me, I could serve you, so much better, I'd have more energy, I could travel further, in a day, he could come up with, any real legitimate reasons, scriptural, ministerial reasons, why this should be gone, and the Lord said, no, no, it's actually doing something, for you, that you don't realize, you think it's holding you back, but it's helping you, in verse number, by the way, verses five and six, this worked, this thorn in the flesh worked, because he said, in verse five, of such in one will I glory, yet not of myself will I glory, and though I desire to glory, he won't do it, he wouldn't do it, and it shows us, that this thorn in the flesh worked, it kept him from glorying, in himself, and in his accomplishments, instead he's glorying, in his infirmities,
[13:22] I think of, he set the apostle Paul aside, and I'll consider myself, and probably every one of us, nobody likes pain, and nobody likes distresses, and nobody likes getting beat around, and wore out, and yet God allows it, and God even insists on it, and what he does, is he uses it, to get something out of us, he uses it, for more than one reason, there's a work, of weakness, he uses it, to distract, to extract things, in our flesh, that are keeping us, that are detrimental to us, in our new man, and walking with him, experiencing weakness, for the Christian, isn't necessarily, a bad thing at all, whatever form it comes in, whatever, by whatever means, that causes you, to be brought low, and to be brought, to a humbled state, look at it, as a gift from God, from the hand of God, it's a blessing from God, that is fitted just for you, to perfect you, in Christ, look at James chapter 1, you can keep your place, but flip over, to something James says,
[14:37] James chapter number 1, other people, will never know it, they'll never experience it, they'll never get it, until they go through it, themselves, until that thorn, is in their flesh, but God's doing, something with it, in James chapter 1, look at verses 2 through 4, my brethren, count it all joy, when you fall into, diverse temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith, worketh patience, but let patience, have a perfect work, that ye may be perfect, and entire, wanting nothing, it doesn't seem like it, but the work of weakness, is growing you, it's growing you, into the completion, of the son of God, is seeking the work, inside of you, it's getting some weakness, or some carnality out, it's getting some pride out, it's getting that self confidence, and self reliance out, so that you learn, to do something, and that's the second point here, look at back in, second Corinthians chapter 12 again, and notice that, the work of weakness, does more than just, eliminate self confidence, but it also, works to establish, a dependence, upon Christ, oh how much we need this, you don't know, you don't know you need this, until God gives you a weakness, until you begin, to depend on Christ, and then you find out, this is what I'm supposed, to be doing, in the, in second Corinthians, chapter 12, in verse number 8, for this thing,
[16:32] I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me, so this, this thorn in the flesh, drove him, to the Lord, to call on him, and to pray, and to seek his face, and to cry out to him, for relief, and for help, but then it also, did something else, when he got his answer, what Christ said, in verse 9, 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, at the end of verse 10, when I'm weak, I'm strong, what Paul found then, was strength and power, that he didn't have, he never knew, this strength before, he never knew this, all he had was his own, and now when he's become weak, he needs to rely, on the power of someone else, and he gets the power, of Christ, resting on him, he gets the grace, of Jesus Christ, that's sufficient, to help him endure, this weakness, and so the second work, of weakness, is to establish, dependence on Christ,
[17:40] Christ, it's now Christ strength, that he serves in, it's now, the grace of Jesus Christ, that enables him, to endure, the affliction, and the distress, and the weakness, a man or a woman, that stands on his, or her own two feet, that's completely, self-reliant, self-made, self-sufficient, they have need of nothing, they're doing it themselves, and they will never, understand the value, they'll never understand, the necessity, they'll never get the importance, of depending on Jesus Christ, that's a different life, it's a life, that God will lead you to, they'll never know his grace, that's there to help, in time of need, because they don't need it, until they're in weakness, they won't know, how he gives power, to the faint, how he can renew, someone who's beaten down, and weary, and lift them up, a man that's self-made, and self-sufficient, and everything's going right, will never know that, and understand his need, and how important it is, to abide in Christ, and to walk in Christ, but enter weakness, enter infirmities, and it'll teach you a lesson, and by the gentle mercies, and the humbling grace of God, weakness will force you, to depend on Christ, and that's what you need to be, from the beginning, it'll reveal your insufficiencies, and it'll reveal your impotence, weakness produces dependency, and for a believer, it promotes dependence, on Jesus Christ, and whether you see it, or not, what a loving God, what a good caring God, to help us, not to help us, in weakness, but to help us, to weakness, so that he can, pull us out, in life, you enter this world, just frail, you know, just an infant, just helpless, completely dependent, and eventually, if things carry natural course, you're going to leave this world, dependent again, in many ways, but in between, the majority of your life, is lived in this state, of independency, you develop into a unique individuals, that makes your own choices, your own decisions, but in everybody's life, at some point, comes a day, or even a season, of dependence, sometimes it's just simply, getting sick, sometimes it's, it's breaking a bone, or not being able to drive, now you're dependent, on others, there's a variety of things, that come in life, where you now, need help, you become dependent, that weakness, as it approaches, as it sets in, in your life, forces you to dependence, my wife just went, and spent a month, with her father, and he went from a state, of very much independent, to in a day, extremely dependent, life or death dependency, and it went on for weeks, until now,
[20:52] God, the grace of God, he's slowly, incrementally, coming out of it, to where he's able to do, a few more things, on his own, and the restrictions, are being lifted, as the Lord allows, but that dependence, shows up, that weakness shows up, and it forces, dependence, and God gives, weaknesses, to his children, to cause us, or to establish, a new life, in him, a different life, where we're dependent, on him, you can keep your place, but again, go back just a few pages, to 2nd Corinthians chapter 4, just a few chapters back, 2nd Corinthians chapter 4, let's read verses, 8 through 11, and Paul talks about, the sufferings, in the ministry, he says, we are troubled, on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed, always bearing about, in the body, the dying, of the Lord Jesus, why, that the life, also of Jesus, might be made manifest, in our body, for we which live, are always delivered, unto death, for Jesus sake, that the life, also of Jesus, might be made manifest, in our mortal flesh, that doesn't show up, if you're not, getting beat down, but as Paul, is getting troubled, and persecuted, and he's getting cast down, and perplexed, the life of Jesus, is being made manifest, in his life, in his heart, it's showing up, in the weakness, he's become dependent, upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and now, his work, and his strength, is coming through, with a thorn, in his flesh, the apostle Paul, is dependent, on Jesus Christ, he was able, to work things, for Christ, in a way, that he never would have known, never would have been able, to do, without the weakness, and so then, it's because of his infirmities, that he wanted to get rid of, that the power of Christ, rested upon him, you could say, that weakness, forced him, to find strength, in other than himself, what Paul learned, and it makes a whole lot, more sense, when we look at it this way, he learned,
[23:14] I can do all things, through Christ, which strengtheneth me, boy that, that statement, carries, it's just, absolutely clear, that a man, that is suffering, and in weakness, is dependent on Christ, and now he realizes, I can do all things, through Christ, which strengtheneth me, because his strength, and his power, rests upon me, I'm strong, through Christ, he says in Galatians 2, yet not I, but Christ, liveth in me, in Colossians 1, Paul said, I also labor, striving according, to his working, which worketh in me, mightily, in 1 Corinthians 15, verse 10, Paul says, I labored more abundantly, than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God, which was in me, he told the Ephesians, to be strong in the Lord, and in the power, of his might, the Christian life, is to be lived, in dependence, on Christ, all the labor, and all the striving, apart from the Lord,
[24:16] Jesus Christ, is just vain, it's worthless, and in the end, it's unfruitful, but weakness, weakness enters, and it promotes, it provokes us, to a dependence, upon Jesus Christ, in John chapter 15, Christ likens our relationship, with him, to a vine, and branches, and he said, I am the true vine, and my father's the husband, I'm the vine, ye are the branches, and the branch, is completely dependent, upon the vine, without the vine, there's no fruit, without the vine, it's cut off, and the branch, just withers, it's worthless, he said in that passage, without me, ye can do nothing, and that Christian, who doesn't go through something, and he's not cast down, he doesn't know what it is, to depend on Christ, and to abide in the vine, so there's a work, of weakness, and it's a beautiful work, it's a painful work, it's a hard work, to receive, but it's fruitful, and in that passage, when the vines, the branch is in the vine, and when it gets pruned, like it ought to, it's able to bring forth, much fruit, come back to our text, in 2nd Corinthians 12, there's one more thing,
[25:44] I want to draw out, from this text, a work, of the weakness, that Paul endured, and the third thing, is that, the work of weakness, is to elevate, our understanding, and our thinking, it's to renew our minds, in verse 8, for this thing, I besought the Lord, thrice, that it might depart, from me, so what's Paul's, initial response, to this pain, and weakness, is I want it out, help me God, get rid of this, please, and the answer, became no, and so, Paul then, changed his tune, when he understood, that Christ, wanted this in his life, and that he was, going to give him, the grace, that was sufficient, for him, to continue on, and serve him, and that he would get, the strength, of Jesus Christ, one that's made perfect, in such a weakness, and Paul changed, his tune, from God, get rid of this, to well, I'm going to glory, in this thing, I'm going to embrace it, because this is, a gift of God, for me, to serve him, and he's given me, the grace, and the strength, and so now,
[26:51] I'm going to take pleasure, in everything, that comes my way, in infirmities, and reproaches, and necessities, and persecutions, and distresses, for Christ's sake, for when I'm weak, then am I strong, what did Paul do, he changed his mind, he renewed his mind, he was transformed, right before us, in this passage, and so the work, of weakness, will elevate, our understanding, and our thinking, Paul's not just, accepting it, okay God, if you say so, but he's glorying, and taking pleasure, in it, now he understands, there's a real purpose, for this, and God's right, and he knows, what he's doing, and without the weakness, Paul would never understand, he would never get it, because you have to go through it, to experience it, the work of weakness, is to renew, our thinking, and to transform us, to elevate us, you remember in Isaiah, where God says that, that as the, or my, my ways aren't your ways, and my thoughts, aren't your thoughts, as the heaven is high above the earth, so are my ways higher, than your ways, and my thoughts, than your thoughts, and what does weakness do, it changes our thoughts, to get a little higher, to where his thoughts are, because God gives us, what his thoughts are, for Paul here, and Paul didn't, he didn't agree with that, he was against it, until he received the weakness, and the weakness worked in him, to elevate his thinking, to elevate his understanding, into the mind of God, on the situation, he's getting in touch, with the way God operates, with the way God thinks, and it shows up, in some of his epistles, now look at this, before we turn, look at, let's read verses six, and seven again, in this passage,
[28:43] Paul says, for though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool, for I will say the truth, but now I forbear, lest any man, should think of me, above that which he seemeth, me to be, or heareth of me, and lest I should be exalted, above measure, through the abundance, of the revelations, there is given in me, now turn back to Romans, chapter 12, and notice, how when Paul was given, this thorn in the flesh, remember in second Corinthians, this is after the fact, it's already been given to him, he's already, he sought the Lord, three times over this thing, God made it clear, it stays, and he writes after the fact, so I don't know the timing, of when this was received, and when this became, a thing with Paul, but, he puts this in his epistles, in Romans chapter 12, and look at verse number, well let's start in two, and be not conformed, to this world, but be ye transformed, by the renewing, of your mind, that ye may prove, what is that good, acceptable, and perfect, will of God, for I say, notice this phrase, through the grace, given, unto me, to every man, that is among you, not to think of himself, more highly, than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God, hath dealt to every man, the measure of faith, do you see the correlation, with his own personal testimony, of saying,
[30:11] I'm not going to, glory, in myself, I'm not going to allow, anyone to think of me, above that they ought to, and he said this, in Romans, he said, I say this to you, through the grace, you know what grace, that was given unto me, that was the grace, that he's talking about, in that chapter, where he wants the weakness, and the infirmity is gone, and Christ says, no, because I gave you that, I'm going to give you grace, a sufficient grace, to help you, through this, and Paul says, I'm saying something, to you people at Rome, and I'm saying it, through the grace, that was given to me, over this thorn, in my flesh, don't you think of yourself, above that, what you ought to think, or you'll be the one, with one too, or God will humble you, and bring you low, Paul's, his thinking's been changed, he's now thinking, in a higher light, look at Romans chapter 8, Paul now understands, that these sufferings, and afflictions, and infirmities, they work for us, there's a work of weakness, and it's going to change us, and strengthen, and lift us up, in Romans chapter 8, verses 17 and 18,
[31:26] I'll back up to 16, the spirit itself, beareth witness, with our spirit, that we are the children, of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs, with Christ, if so be that we suffer, ooh, ugly, glory, if so be that we suffer, with him, that we may be also, glorified together, for I reckon, that the sufferings, of this present time, are not worthy, to be compared, with the glory, which shall be revealed, in us, if so be that we suffer, with him, that we may be glorified, together, the sufferings, and we could do a bible study, on that, the sufferings will produce, that will be rewarded, with glory, with a glory, where you'll shine, and look at 2nd Corinthians, again, let's come back through there, look at 2nd Corinthians 4, a similar verse here, and we'll match this, with what we just read, in Romans 8, 2nd Corinthians 4, the work of weakness, it's elevating, our understanding, and our thinking, and now we can receive, some truth, from the word of God, how it's working, for our good, in 2nd Corinthians 4, look at verse 17, he says, for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us, a far more exceeding, and eternal weight, of glory, wow, but we just want it gone, we just want rid of it, but now we can change, our thinking, from the scripture, and realize, no wait a minute, if I embrace it, if I submit to it, and surrender to it,
[33:11] God's going to use it, to work something, in me today, and it's even going to be, manifest eternally, in the future, look at 2nd Corinthians chapter 6, and here is a, incredible passage, notice verse number 1, we'll read the 10 verses here, of this passage, and this will be the last place, we turn to, verse number 1, we then, we then, as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receive not the grace of God, in vain, for he saith, I have heard thee, and at the time accepted, and in the day of salvation, I have secured thee, behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation, verse 3, giving no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed, but in all things, approving ourselves, as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, by pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love, unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness, on the right hand, and on the left, by honor, and dishonor, by evil report, and good report, as deceivers, that's what they think they are, and yet true, as unknown, down here on the earth, and yet well known, as dying, and behold we live, as chastened, and not killed, as sorrowful, yet all the way rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing all things, there's a difference, between what it feels like, and then the reality of it, for the spiritual man, for the believer, what it feels like, is sorrow, but in, but the truth is, in it's rejoicing, what it feels like, at the end, there was the list of the stripes, and the afflictions, and the pain, when the truth, is working for us, something far greater, it feels like, it feels like, it feels like, we have nothing, just beat down, but Paul says, we possess all things, but what the grace of God does, as he mentioned it in verse one, and what the weakness does, coupled together, is it elevates our thinking, and our understanding, of what this is all about, and what's going on in this life, if you're that simple, of a Christian, to feel like,
[35:58] God just wants to dump blessings on me, then you're missing, what the Christian life is, you're missing a lot, and weakness will teach you that, weakness will change your thinking, it'll show you things, out of this Bible, that God's servants, have endured, and faced, and it'll teach you, what they're all about, the work of weakness, this morning, it's a work of God, a work of God, a gift of God, bringing us into a fellowship, with him, one that we would never, otherwise understand, or know, it eliminates our self, it establishes a dependence, upon the Lord Jesus Christ, right where we ought to be, the whole time, and weakness also elevates, the way we think, so that we can now, know his will, and know his working, and understand his purpose, and then wholeheartedly, submit to it, the work of weakness, is a blessing, when we see it, from the scripture, which is what I'm trying, to do this morning, now we can actually, like Paul, thank God, for the infirmities, and for the afflictions, it makes a little more sense,
[37:20] Paul's not so crazy, after all, he's on to something, he's actually, tuned in to something, that I'm not, until I receive the weakness, and embrace it, Paul's walking on high ground, and it's because, because of this infirmity, I wonder this morning, if you came in here, with a weakness, with some infirmity, with some tribulation, with something, in your flesh, something in your heart, will you this morning, receive it as a gift, from God, oh how can it be, a gift from God, it's ugly, it's terrible, it's nasty, did God stop it, from happening, did he allow it, to happen, is only the good gifts, from God, shall you receive, good from the hand, of the Lord, and not evil, maybe you should, adjust your thinking on it, and embrace the weakness, let's bow our heads together, and as we bow, would you take a moment, would you, would you ponder, or would you meditate, this morning on something, do you find yourself, in your heart, resisting, the pain, and fighting it, and begging God, to remove it, is it in your heart, to despise, a situation, that you're faced with, and is it in your heart, to give up, because of it,
[38:56] I want you to learn, and remember this, this morning, it's from the hand of God, he fully knows, he's fully aware, didn't surprise him, as much as it surprised you, and he allowed it, and he's right, he's absolutely right, so Christian, I employ you, I beseech you, to embrace it, to submit to it, to learn the glory in it, Peter said, when we do, that Christ is glorified, I don't know what it is, but you do, and God does, and so this morning, let's elevate our understanding, and our thinking, and let's choose to embrace it, and let's choose to surrender to it, so that Christ can be glorified, let's choose to depend on him, let's choose to shut off other things, other voices, and go to him, if he allowed it, if it's okay with him, then it ought to be okay with us too, you can trust him, and maybe that's all you can do, you can trust him, he'll give you faith to trust him, go to his word, get in his presence, there's a work in weakness, and there's business, let's do it.
[41:12] Thank you. Thanks, for your attention, here, I will help you make me way to be generous, to Buenos Aires, for you, and if you want to talk with yourself,