[0:00] This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alfreda, Georgia. This is the next message in our series in the book of 2 Corinthians, entitled, We Faint Not.
[0:14] Take your Bibles, if you would, and turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 12. 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 1. The Apostle Paul's been defending his ministry. And they've attacked him and said ugly things about him.
[0:29] And those Judaizers have come down and they have tried to show them that they have the credentials. And Paul has mentioned all the things that he suffered. When it came Paul's time to say, I'm a man of God.
[0:41] He didn't brag about how many people attended his church. And he didn't brag about how successful he'd been. Paul said, I paid a price because I love the Lord Jesus.
[0:52] And in the last part of chapter 11, if you recall, he was let down in a basket. And that basket would have been a refuse basket. That basket would have been full of the trash or whatever from that house.
[1:03] And now in chapter 12, verse 1, look what he starts off saying. If you would read with me, chapter 12, verse 1. It says, It is not expedient for me, doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
[1:16] I knew a man in Christ above 14 years ago. Whether in the body I cannot tell. Or whether out of the body I cannot tell. God knoweth. Such a one caught up to the third heaven.
[1:28] And I knew such a man, whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell. God knows. How that he was caught up in the paradise. And he heard unspeakable words.
[1:39] Which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one will I glory. Yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool.
[1:51] For I will say the truth. But now I forbear. Lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be. Or that he heareth of me.
[2:03] Listen to that part again. Underline 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.
[2:15] Through the abundance of the revelations there was given 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.
[2:26] 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. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities.
[2:38] That the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities. In reproaches. In necessities. In persecutions. In distresses.
[2:48] For Christ's sake. For when I am weak. Then am I strong. Father in heaven I pray. That you would draw our hearts to you. And you'd help us to realize that nothing is going on in our lives that you're not in charge of.
[3:02] That everything that happens to us is God approved. God allowed. And I pray God that you'd help us tonight. To realize that with our blessings come burdens. And with those burdens comes grace.
[3:14] That gives us the ability to serve you. And to bring glory to your name as you work through us. God work in our midst tonight. I'll give you praise. In Jesus name. Amen. The first thing I wish you'd write down.
[3:25] Is Paul was super blessed. And super honored. And that's what he talks about. Paul knows that bragging are glory. And it's not the best thing to do. That's why in verse 1 he said. It's not expedient for me.
[3:36] Doubtless the glory. He said. Really. It's not a wise thing to brag. He had plenty of reasons to brag. He'd been greatly used of God. But those Corinthians had been coming down.
[3:47] The Judaizers had been coming down to the Corinthians. The Corinthians were impressed. With all the credentials. And all the letters that the Judaizers had. He is tired of hearing about it. He is tired of hearing all that they'd said.
[3:58] And knowing the people in his ministry. Were listening to the wrong people. And impressed by the wrong things. Paul's blessing and honor didn't come from men. But from God. Paul said in verse 2.
[4:09] He said. I know a man. Whether he's in the body or out of the body. And he starts talking third person. But Paul says. This guy. This guy was taken all the way up into heaven. And he saw all these things. And he heard all these things.
[4:20] And he was greatly blessed by God. Third heaven. That means he went above our atmosphere. Above where we fly our airplanes. And where they send the spaceships to the moon or Mars.
[4:34] He went all the way to the third paradise. He went all the way to heaven. It had been 14 years since that had happened. Paul said. It's the wildest thing ever happened. And I'm not sure if I was in the body. Or if I was out of the body.
[4:45] But I was taken up to paradise. That's something that hadn't happened to anybody else. God had come down to talk to Moses on the earth. And God had talked to Moses face to face. Later John will be taken up. But Paul said.
[4:56] Man I was taken all the way to paradise. And I heard unspeakable words. But that's not what I'll brag about. I will glory in my infirmities. God gave Paul visions and revelations.
[5:08] In ways that nearly no one else had ever experienced. Can you just think real quickly about some of his revelations and visions. On the road to Damascus he saw Jesus.
[5:19] Acts chapter 9 and verse 3. Chapter 22 and verse 6. He had a vision where he got a Macedonian call. He had an angel come talk to him on a ship. And tell him everything was going to be okay. But Paul knew.
[5:30] It wasn't his goal to be highly thought of. Paul knew that it wasn't his goal. That men would think better of him. He says in verse 6. Boy I wish we could get a hold of that verse.
[5:42] It kind of goes counter culture. Culture for America. It kind of goes counter culture. For independent Baptist. It kind of goes counter culture. For independent Baptist preachers. Paul said. He said I hold back.
[5:53] I'm not going to tell everything. I'm not going to be bragging. Because I don't want anybody to think of me. Above what he sees me to be. And what he hears of me. Paul hadn't spoke about this till now.
[6:05] And he won't continue doing so. He was confronting those that accused him. And thinks maybe he's overreacted. I've been foolish to glory. And God gave him a thorn in the flesh.
[6:17] I'll get to the thorn in just a second. But just real quickly. Can you imagine this? Can you imagine being caught all the way up to heaven. And seeing all he saw. And hearing all he heard. And not saying anything about it. For 14 years.
[6:29] He was not in it. To get praise. The first thing I wish you'd write down there is. He was super blessed. And super honored. He was super blessed. And super honored. And in the room tonight.
[6:40] We are super blessed. And super honored. God's been good to us. I hadn't been taken all the way up into heaven. But boy. God's been good to me. He saved me. He's blessed my family. He's blessed me with children serving him.
[6:51] He's blessed me allowing me to work at this church. He's blessed me with all the things that he's done. But when God sends big blessings. He often sends balancing burdens.
[7:02] Look if you would at chapter 12 and verse 7. Unless I should be exalted above measure. Unless I should get the big head. Think I'm somebody. Because God's been so good to me.
[7:12] And showed me so many things. He sent a thorn in the flesh. A messenger of Satan to buffet me. Lest I should be exalted above measure. Lest I should begin to think higher of myself.
[7:23] Than I ought to think. He said I even asked God three times to take it away. But he didn't do it. Blessings from God can cause us to become proud. Can I just say real quickly.
[7:36] You know you live in Alpharetta. You probably make a little more money than a lot of people. Probably live a little nicer than a lot of people. You live a lot nicer than a lot of people. In a lot of parts of the world.
[7:46] And God's given them great blessings. And all of a sudden it's awful easy to begin to think. Man I deserve this. I serve God. I've honored God. I'm a good man. I'm a good woman. We have a good family.
[7:57] And your blessings begin to puff you up. And Paul said hey God sent a balancing burden. To say hey you've been blessed Paul. But you need something here to bring you down.
[8:09] Real quickly. Let me just show you why we suffer. Here's a couple of things about why we suffer. You know the first reason we suffer. And some of us are hurting here tonight. And in the verse you're going to find out that his grace is sufficient.
[8:20] So just real quickly. Let's run through it. Why do we suffer? Because sometimes we think that if anybody's suffering. It's because God's mad. Or they've done something wrong. The first reason we probably suffer.
[8:31] Is because we are foolish. And disobedient. In Hebrews chapter 12. We don't have time to read it. But chapter 12. Starting in verse 3. Going down through verse 8. And further on. He talks about how that we were striving against.
[8:44] We haven't yet come to blood. Striving against sin. And he goes on down through there. And in verse 4. Verse 4. He talks about striving against sin. Verse 5. He talks about being chastened. Or disciplined. Or spanked by God.
[8:55] Or rebuked by God. He says in verse 6. For whom the Lord loves. He chastens and scourges every son. He says if you are without chastisement. If God hasn't spanked you.
[9:06] You are not his. If you haven't been disciplined by God. You are not his. So that is probably the first reason that we suffer. King David suffered greatly.
[9:16] Because of his sin. You remember he committed sin with Bathsheba. And you could think. Well he got away with it. But God sent. Allowed all sorts of things to happen in his life. God forgives us for our sins.
[9:29] By his grace. But he allows us to reap. What we sow. He forgives us by his grace. David didn't lose his salvation.
[9:40] David wasn't on his way to hell. But David reaped. A great harvest. But also God allows sufferings and burdens. And I do want you to look at this if you would.
[9:51] Romans chapter 5 verse 1. He allows sufferings and burdens to build godly character in us. That really goes against the grain. That really goes against TBN.
[10:03] That really goes against your charismatic mentality that you've developed over the years. In Romans 5 verse 1 it says. Therefore being justified by faith. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[10:15] By whom we have access by faith into this grace. Wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of glory. The glory of God. And not only so. But we glory. We glory.
[10:25] We rejoice. We get excited. We brag about tribulations. Knowing that tribulation worketh patience. And patience experience. And experience hope.
[10:36] And hope makes not a shame. Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Paul gloried in tribulations. Paul was like man I got problems.
[10:48] I got issues. I got things happening in my life. I got things going wrong in my life. But Paul knew that tribulations set off a chain reaction in your life.
[10:59] Tribulation sets off a chain reaction. I have heard no telling how many preachers say don't ever pray for patience. Don't ever pray for patience. That's really kind of a foolish thing to say just to be honest. I'll just go ahead and tell all of you.
[11:10] It's kind of a foolish thing to pray because you need patience which is endurance. You need God to build you and make you who you ought to be. And so problems that come your way are a good deal.
[11:21] Did you see what happens in verse 3? He said tribulation works patience or endurance. And patience or endurance gives me experience. And experience gives me hope. And hope makes me not be ashamed of the love of God that's shed abroad.
[11:33] So God's building you. You're in this room and you've been blessed. And you were happy when you were being blessed. But now you're being burdened and you're questioning that. And you're thinking what's going wrong?
[11:44] But Paul knew tribulation sets off a chain reaction in your life. We don't know what Paul's thorn was. In Galatians chapter 6 and verse 11 he brags about what a large letter he's written.
[11:57] Maybe meaning how big the letters were he wrote with when he signs his name. In Galatians chapter 4 and verse 15 he said you guys would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. Maybe he had something wrong with his eyes.
[12:08] Does it really matter what his problem was? But he had a problem. And it was torture. And it was a buffeting and beating of his body. I mean the guy was going through mess.
[12:19] And you're in this room tonight and you're thinking God must not love me because things are going wrong in my life. You're in this room and you're saying look what's happened to my family. Look at my finances. What's happening? And you're thinking maybe God's upset with you.
[12:29] The apostle Paul said hey you know what? God's really been good to me. I don't know very many people have been all the way up to where I've been and had all the blessings. And high up on the mountains as I have. But he's also sent me a messenger of Satan.
[12:41] A thorn in the flesh. You should know that all suffering and burdens and tribulations and problems in the life of a believer are God allowed and God approved.
[12:51] Satan has no power to affect us without the consent of our Lord and King. In Job chapters 1 and 2 you remember the story? Job and God or Satan and God have a conversation.
[13:05] I say that so you'll know this. You've been blessed but you've now got a burden and you need to get a hold of what's God trying to do. In your life. God's trying to produce character. You may be suffering as you reap what you sow.
[13:17] But very likely you're not. Because I don't know if anybody's really doing that in this room. But very likely God's building character. Very likely God's building a man. Very likely God's building a woman.
[13:28] Very likely God's trying to get his glory to the world. And he wants the love of God shed abroad. It's not always God's will to deliver us from our burdens by the way. Some of you think well you're thinking well you know if you really love God you're praying by faith he'll heal you.
[13:43] Well I don't know a guy that wrote over a third of the New Testament three times goes God hey how about taking this away from me. A guy who healed everybody else said God how about taking this away from me. And God said nope I'm not going to do it.
[13:55] Nope not going to do it. Nope I'm not going to do it. But better yet while you're hurting trust me and my grace will be sufficient.
[14:06] How we deal with suffering depends on us. Some become bitter and blame God. And sometimes I feel and see some bad attitudes among our little church.
[14:18] Others simply give up and fail to learn the lesson and get the blessing that God has in tribulation. Can I just stop I'm trying to rush but I'll just stop say this. You do not know there is nothing happening in your sweet little life that God's not working in you.
[14:34] God has not abandoned you. God is not mad at you. God loves you. You say well I failed him. Hey you failed him before he ever saved you. We love him because he first loved us.
[14:46] God committed his love toward us and while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. You didn't do anything to gain his love. He loves you because he's a good God. So how you deal with it? Giving up not learning a lesson.
[14:59] Some people just learn to grit their teeth and deal with it. The right thing to do is to take our burdens to the Lord. Rest in him and in his grace. And trust he's doing something right.
[15:09] Great good in our lives. Don't waste your burden or your suffering. It is not God being angry with you. By the way even if you had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
[15:26] God's so much still in love with David. It's amazing. There were consequences. But after David's dead and gone. God said I've never had a guy that had such a perfect heart towards me. I love it.
[15:38] The other day in my devotions. I put this out for you. The other day in my devotions. In Romans chapter 4. God talks about Abraham. And he says Abraham always trusted me. He didn't even stagger. He didn't even stagger at my promises.
[15:49] And the truth is he did stagger. The truth is he did stagger. But God was showing me in Romans chapter 4. How he sees you. And how he sees me. God says I know his story.
[16:00] I wrote it. How do you think you know his story? But when I look at you. I see your weak faith. And I let it be strong faith. I see your falling. And I let it be not staggering. I see you messing up.
[16:11] And don't waste it. God's not angry with you. It's not God trying to hurt you. Or get even with you. It's God building you up. And preparing you. For great things. Don't expect that God's blessing means that you will not hurt.
[16:25] That's not true. God's blessings often mean pain comes with them. It bothers me to hear so many of us say stuff like. You know as you serve God.
[16:36] Everything goes great. The truth is everything doesn't go great. The truth is you're going to die. The truth is you're probably going to lay in a bed moaning for a while.
[16:46] And that ain't going to be too great. But the truth is God's working in your life. Third thing. Paul benefits from his burden.
[16:57] Look at verse 9 if you would. And he said unto me. My grace is sufficient for thee. For my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities.
[17:10] Glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities. In reproaches. In necessities.
[17:20] In persecutions. In distresses. For Christ's sake. For when I am weak. Then am I strong. Do you have your ink pen out? Would you underline this in your Bible in verse 9? My grace is sufficient.
[17:32] Whatever you're going through. God is good enough. Paul. My grace will be sufficient for you. And Paul when he heard that said. I will glory. I choose to glory in my problems.
[17:45] Underline that. I rather glory. Look at verse 10. He said I take pleasure. I take pleasure. I know what you're thinking. But his were not the kind of problems I have.
[17:58] He was getting beat up for being a preacher. And he was all these things for being a preacher. But can I just remind you. Would you look at what it says in verse 10? He said in infirmities. When I'm sick. I'll take pleasure.
[18:09] When I'm sick. I'll take pleasure. When I have cancer. When I have. When I have weaknesses. When I'm sick. I'll take pleasure. In reproach.
[18:20] When people mock me. And say ugly things about me. I'll take pleasure. When I don't have enough to eat. And I don't have enough clothes to wear. And I can't pay my bills. I'll take pleasure. And when people persecute me.
[18:30] I'll take pleasure. And I'll take pleasure. When I don't even know where to turn. And I'm about to sink. In distress. For Christ's sake. Because I know this. When I am weak.
[18:41] Then am I strong. God wanted Paul to know. That he was enough. For Paul. God wanted Paul to know. That God. Was enough.
[18:51] We do not live. By our feelings. Or by our strength. But by his grace. John 1 16. It says. In his fullness. Have we all received.
[19:01] And grace. For grace. He has enough grace. To meet your spiritual needs. Your material needs. Your physical needs. He can. If he can save us eternally. He can surely.
[19:13] Take care of us. Actually. God's grace. Would give Paul. More strength. Than he would normally have. We do not live. By understanding. But by promises.
[19:24] That's a big problem. We have. Why God. Why in the world. Are you allowing this to happen. But we don't live. By understanding. We live. By promises.
[19:34] We. Trust. God. And what he said. We trust his book. And you say. Well. You say. I hear you right now. You say. Well. I don't feel it. Who cares. Whether you feel it or not.
[19:46] It's not a matter. Do I feel it. Nobody said. You had to get a goosey goosey. Feeling or not. And say. Well. I feel it. It's not about feeling it. It's. He said it. He's God. It's true. Amen. I live by.
[19:57] We live by what he said. Our God is a God of all grace. In first Peter 5 10. But the God of all grace. Who has called us into his eternal glory. By Christ Jesus.
[20:08] After that. You have suffered a while. After you've suffered a while. Make you perfect. Work or mature. Establish. Strengthen. And settle you. God's at work. Can you. The God of all grace.
[20:20] Tonight. You're here. Hey. I can't help you. I can't fix you. Nobody else can help you. But there's a God of all grace. Working in your life. We have a place we can go to in prayer.
[20:31] Called a throne of grace. Let us therefore come boldly. Under the throne of grace. That we may obtain mercy. And find grace to help. In time of need. Hebrews 4 16. He says.
[20:41] Hey. Come trust me. Come call on me. I'm a God of all grace. Come ask. Come boldly. And come ask. We have the scriptures. Which are the word of his grace. And now brethren.
[20:51] I commend you to God. And to the word. Of his grace. I turn you over to God. And I commend you to God. And the word of his grace.
[21:02] Which is able to build you up. And give you an inheritance. Among all them which are sanctified. His promises. Are. That he will give us. More grace. Are you hurting tonight?
[21:12] Like. If you had high times. And now you got problems. And you can't figure out. How all this bad stuff that's happening. You could work out good. And you know. Some of you. I think. I mean. I know you.
[21:23] And I pray for you. And I think about you. I think. Some of you may be in that. I don't know if this will work out. I got a promise for you. It will work out. It will work out. Oh. You may die. And you may lose your house.
[21:35] And you may have issues. But if you will allow it. God will build you. And make you. Into his image. Which is what he's doing. In your life. He giveth.
[21:46] James 4.6. He gives more grace. Wherefore he said. God resists the proud. But gives grace to the humble. Listen to this. Would you please. Would you listen to this right here.
[21:58] Some of us aren't getting blessed. Because we're too proud to go ask. Some of us aren't getting too blessed. Aren't getting more grace. Because we think we don't deserve it. And God doesn't know what he's doing.
[22:09] Some of us are not getting God's blessings. Because we are too proud to trust. And God's grace is given to the humble. God's grace is given to those who come asking.
[22:21] Some practical lessons that you could learn. Spiritual growth and health are far more important than physical health. I don't think we understand that. But God is not as worried about keeping you healthy.
[22:34] For him this is just a momentary thing going on down here. And we're just here for a while. And this isn't real life. Real life's with him. God wants to grow you spiritually. And you're like God.
[22:45] I ain't got time to grow spiritually. I'm too worried about eating another bean. I'm too worried about having another taco. I'm too worried about having more things. And God's like. I'm at work in your life. Let me build you.
[22:56] The blessed usually get burdened. And burdens come with blessings. But we don't see that. You know. You get blessed. You get taken up to the high heavens. And see and hear and know things.
[23:08] But with that God says. You'd be awful cocky if I didn't shake you. You know money will kill us if we're not careful. Ministry blessings will kill us if we're not careful.
[23:20] Preaching and seeing people saved will kill us if we're not careful. Because it'll lift us up. So God says. I got to send something. To remind you. You didn't do it. I did it.
[23:32] It's not you. It's me. Pride is worse than sickness. Trouble. Burdens or tribulations. Here's a good one for you.
[23:42] A thorn in the flesh doesn't hinder you from serving God. It actually may enhance your service. Because you see Paul said. Hey would you take the thorn away?
[23:54] Would you take the thorn away? And the apostle Paul said. Lord did you take the thorn away? And the Lord said. No I won't take it away. But I tell you what. I'll give you enough grace. And Paul said. Well I'm going to get happy about that. Because when I'm weak.
[24:05] I'm strong. When I got problems happening. I'm strong. You know what he said over in Romans chapter 5. He said. He said. As the problems happen in your life. Here's what's going to end up happening. The love of God is going to be shed abroad in your heart.
[24:16] And so you're going through mess right now. And everything's not working out. And you're saying. What in the world is happening? And God's up in heaven saying. I'm teaching you to love me. And I'm teaching you to love others. And I'm telling you. Before it's over. You're going to be a great witness.
[24:27] To carry the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will find our streak. To go on. In the word of God. His promises. His grace. Can you see the great blessings.
[24:38] God's given you? Can I stop and say. I doubt we count our blessings. Can we stop and say. Man God has been good to me. If I drop dead today.
[24:51] I would drop dead. A very. Wealthy. Blessed. Man. I got saved when I was seven. I've been in church all my life. I've had a copy of the word of God.
[25:03] I've had good gospel. Gospel preaching and friends around me. God gave me a wonderful wife. God gave me wonderful children. God's given me plenty of food. Plenty of clothing. Plenty of everything.
[25:13] God's been good to me. I am one rich guy. Boy God's good. Have burdens and problems come in your life.
[25:24] That you have allowed to cause you to be bitter. And even blame God. Boy. Baptists can become some of the most bitter people. Are you learning to seek God.
[25:36] And get his grace in the middle of your problems. Right now. The God of heaven. Even the passage of scripture we've come to. God's calling on us to say. I will trust you. I will believe in you.
[25:47] I will glory in what you're doing in my life. Are you problem focused. Or promise focused. Are you learning the lesson God has for you.
[25:57] And the problems and the burdens. Of your life. Father in heaven. I thank you. So very much. For what you're doing in our lives. I thank you for this wonderful passage of scripture. God. There are people in this room.
[26:08] Who I love very much. That are hurting very much tonight. And God. I'd ask you to help them count their blessings. I'd ask you to help them realize. How rich you've been to them. And how kind you've been to them.
[26:19] How good you've been to them. And I'd ask you to help them see that. God. God. I'd ask you to help them tonight. Holy Spirit. Deal with their hearts. And help them to realize. That the burdens and the problems. That have come their way. Every one of them were meant for good.
[26:31] None to hurt them. All to help them. God. I pray you'd help them realize. That you are working in them. So they'll become more. The people you'd have them to be. To serve you more.
[26:42] To bring more glory to your name. God. I'm asking you to convict your people. To trust you right now. And believe in you. As you do a work in their lives. You have been listening to Austin Gardner.
[26:57] Pastor of Vision Baptist Church. For contact information. Location. Service times. Or more audio and video recordings. Log on to www.visionbaptist.com