WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.000 I'm going to invite one of our elders, Hamish Alexander, to come and to read to us from the Scriptures from 2 Corinthians chapter 12. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:10.000 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.439 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise. 00:00:35.179 --> 00:00:38.380 Whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know. 00:00:39.259 --> 00:00:40.060 God knows. 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:45.000 And he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 00:00:46.519 --> 00:00:55.179 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 00:00:55.179 --> 00:01:03.320 Though if it should be wished to boast, I would not be as a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:11.120 But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:21.400 So to keep me from becoming conceited, because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn has given me in the flesh. 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:27.000 A messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being conceited. 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:32.200 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 00:01:32.860 --> 00:01:39.920 But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 00:01:40.960 --> 00:01:47.700 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:56.600 For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. 00:01:57.340 --> 00:02:00.379 For when I am weak, then I am strong. 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:01.439 Amen. 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:01.519 Amen. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:09.579 It's great to be with you this morning. 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:12.800 A little disorienting being up high like this. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:14.840 I was talking with someone on the way in. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:18.520 It seems like preaching from down there is more of a Corey problem. 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:21.539 Maybe I should be down there since I'm a little taller. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:28.479 But, you know, speaking of which, we're talking today about power and weakness. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:37.139 And it's amazing how, like, the lengths that we will go to to avoid weakness or avoiding appearing weak. 00:02:37.699 --> 00:02:45.719 For instance, we went to a movie yesterday at the cinema, and there was a time where I almost fell asleep. 00:02:46.079 --> 00:02:50.739 And, you know, that person who can't admit that they fell asleep during the cinema or whatever, 00:02:50.899 --> 00:02:54.079 it's like, they're trying to deny their weakness, right? 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:58.500 Or maybe it's trying to cover up a mistake or telling a half-truth. 00:02:58.760 --> 00:03:04.120 Or maybe you've been in the gym and haven't been able to complete a set like you thought you would. 00:03:04.140 --> 00:03:09.360 And you got up and you were, like, looking around to see if anyone noticed that you weren't actually as strong as you thought you were. 00:03:09.740 --> 00:03:17.840 Or maybe you've even seen someone on the football pitch faking an injury in order to excuse a failure that has happened. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:27.099 And just recently, we were in Greece with some friends, and Kelly handed me a tin of beans to open up. 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:29.280 She's like, I can't get this open. Can you open it up? 00:03:29.300 --> 00:03:31.500 And I'm like, I can't get it open. 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:34.120 So we handed it to our friend, and she opened it right up. 00:03:34.140 --> 00:03:37.659 And, of course, I said, I must have loosened it for you, right? 00:03:37.659 --> 00:03:40.759 Because we don't like to appear weak. 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:47.139 The message that we pick up early in life is weakness is bad. 00:03:47.459 --> 00:03:49.199 I can't show my weakness. 00:03:49.399 --> 00:03:50.359 I must hide it. 00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:57.959 So we will appeal to our strengths in order to prove ourselves or our trustworthiness or our dependability. 00:03:58.340 --> 00:04:05.599 And which is actually proving your strength is actually the passage or the context for our passage today in 2 Corinthians. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:11.460 The theme of the whole letter of 2 Corinthians is that through Paul's weakness and suffering, 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:16.839 the believers there have been comforted, and the gospel has been spread. 00:04:16.980 --> 00:04:20.279 However, there were some false apostles that had come through, 00:04:20.659 --> 00:04:25.199 and they were claiming to be superior to Paul and why you should listen to them instead of Paul. 00:04:25.300 --> 00:04:30.959 So they're boasting in how bold they are, how much authority they have, how gifted they are, 00:04:31.819 --> 00:04:33.319 how they should be respected. 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:36.540 And Paul sarcastically calls them the super apostles. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:39.899 He refers to them as that in a couple of verses. 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:44.680 So when Paul's coming to this passage, and I don't know if you picked up on it, 00:04:44.699 --> 00:04:46.959 but there were a few times he talked about boasting, 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:51.060 about boasting in the Lord or boasting in strengths or boasting in weaknesses. 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:53.980 And what he's saying as he's coming to the passage, he's like, 00:04:54.039 --> 00:04:55.759 it's foolish that I should have to do this. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:58.019 Like, I really don't like the thought of boasting. 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:00.039 It's ridiculous that I'm having to go there. 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:04.000 But if we're going to talk about who can boast, I'm going to be honest with you, 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:06.260 and I will speak plainly with you. 00:05:07.100 --> 00:05:08.879 And he goes on and describes an event. 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:11.100 And at first he says, a man in Christ. 00:05:11.200 --> 00:05:13.280 He didn't say it was himself until later on. 00:05:13.460 --> 00:05:19.259 But he goes on to describe an event where he was called up into the presence of God. 00:05:19.259 --> 00:05:25.000 This happened about 14 years earlier before Paul had any influence in the church. 00:05:25.459 --> 00:05:28.480 And so he's kind of like a nobody at this point when it happened, 00:05:28.579 --> 00:05:32.180 but he also hasn't spoken to people about it. 00:05:33.279 --> 00:05:40.060 But ultimately, this event, instead of pushing him into an arrogance or trying to claim, 00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:41.519 hey, I've been in the presence of God. 00:05:41.599 --> 00:05:44.060 Look how much authority I have as a prophet or whatever. 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:52.500 Instead, he keeps it to himself and comes to our passage and starts talking about how this actually pushed him into weakness. 00:05:52.860 --> 00:05:56.620 So this morning, what we're going to talk about is the power of weakness. 00:05:57.780 --> 00:06:01.920 And since Corey's not here, and I thought I would honor him by having three points. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:05.079 The first point is we can't avoid weakness. 00:06:05.480 --> 00:06:08.620 The second point is we shouldn't try to avoid weakness. 00:06:08.840 --> 00:06:11.920 And the third point is we must embrace weakness. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:14.040 And you may be like, those sound very similar. 00:06:14.280 --> 00:06:14.980 They are. 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:16.720 But let's dive in. 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:19.420 The first thing, we can't avoid weakness. 00:06:19.960 --> 00:06:23.920 One of the things that we understand from reading the whole of Scripture 00:06:23.920 --> 00:06:31.480 is that we were actually created to be dependent on God and interdependent with each other. 00:06:31.580 --> 00:06:37.400 So from the very beginning, we lacked strength and ability to do everything on our own. 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:43.899 It was God's intention as his creation for us to be in a state of dependence. 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:48.979 In fact, in Genesis 2, verse 18, we have that verse we've probably all heard. 00:06:49.500 --> 00:06:49.739 It says, 00:06:49.919 --> 00:06:50.979 Then the Lord God said, 00:06:51.179 --> 00:06:54.060 It is not good that the man should be alone. 00:06:54.479 --> 00:06:56.859 I will make a helper fit for him. 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:02.620 This word helper actually means one who supplies strength 00:07:02.620 --> 00:07:06.019 in the area that is lacking in the one that is helped. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:10.199 In other words, Adam needed help right away. 00:07:10.540 --> 00:07:13.439 And so God created someone who would compliment him 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:17.019 that they would be interdependent with one another. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:21.519 So weakness actually comes before the fall. 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:25.680 Weakness is not sinful or necessarily a result of sin. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.019 That dependence on God and interdependence with one another 00:07:29.019 --> 00:07:31.060 was meant from the beginning. 00:07:31.060 --> 00:07:33.300 And if we think about weakness, 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:37.699 we can imagine some scenarios where good things come from weakness. 00:07:37.819 --> 00:07:39.560 I mentioned working out in the gym. 00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:41.500 If you work out in the gym, 00:07:41.560 --> 00:07:43.780 you may know that reaching the point of failure, 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:45.399 is the way they talk about it, 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:47.879 is when the real work is beginning to happen, 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:49.660 when muscle is being built. 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:52.199 But it comes after facing weakness. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:53.600 I mentioned earlier, 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:54.340 but in this letter, 00:07:54.459 --> 00:07:57.279 Paul is talking about that it's our weakness 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:00.240 that allowed us to be comforted by God. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.120 This is chapter one. 00:08:01.980 --> 00:08:04.000 And then since we were comforted by God, 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:06.160 we can then comfort one another. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:07.819 So through weakness, 00:08:07.960 --> 00:08:11.199 God uses us to minister to one another. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:13.920 And as we know, 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:16.400 the heart of the Bible's message 00:08:16.400 --> 00:08:18.860 has to do with weakness. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:22.240 How Christ let go of his authority, 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:23.480 of his glory, 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:25.819 and embraced weakness to become a man 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:28.259 so that he could die for our sins. 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:30.639 He rejected power 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:32.759 and became the Lamb of God 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:34.620 so that we could have life. 00:08:35.939 --> 00:08:38.980 It's literally how we become a follower of Christ. 00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:40.960 Romans 5, 6 says, 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:42.899 for while we were still weak, 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:44.639 at the right time, 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:46.899 Christ died for the ungodly. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:50.179 A great hymn that we sing sometimes, 00:08:50.439 --> 00:08:51.720 Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy. 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:52.639 It says, 00:08:53.040 --> 00:08:54.740 all the fitness he requires 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:57.200 is to feel your need of him. 00:08:57.620 --> 00:09:00.139 It is in weakness that we find life. 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:02.800 It is in weakness that we find strength. 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:05.139 We see that throughout the whole of the Bible. 00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:05.639 But yet, 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:08.300 we still try to avoid weakness. 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:09.960 So the first point, 00:09:10.060 --> 00:09:11.500 we can't avoid weakness. 00:09:11.820 --> 00:09:12.580 The second point, 00:09:12.660 --> 00:09:14.540 we shouldn't try to avoid weakness. 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:15.519 Again, 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:16.399 this is very similar, 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:17.259 but if you look throughout 00:09:17.259 --> 00:09:18.680 all of redemption history, 00:09:18.679 --> 00:09:22.179 you see how God has chosen the weak things 00:09:22.179 --> 00:09:24.219 in order to accomplish his purposes 00:09:24.219 --> 00:09:26.339 and to show his strength. 00:09:27.299 --> 00:09:29.239 God usually didn't choose 00:09:29.239 --> 00:09:30.739 the big powerful person 00:09:30.739 --> 00:09:33.659 or the big powerful tribe, 00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:34.779 country, nation. 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:35.899 In fact, 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:37.319 when he says he chose Israel 00:09:37.319 --> 00:09:38.299 is because they were least 00:09:38.299 --> 00:09:39.919 among all the nations. 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:41.139 Whether it was Abraham, 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:41.899 Jacob, 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:42.419 Moses, 00:09:42.579 --> 00:09:42.939 whoever, 00:09:43.579 --> 00:09:45.339 God was working through weakness. 00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:47.099 We know stories of Gideon 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:49.540 where in fighting the Midianites, 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:51.700 God kind of trimmed down the army 00:09:51.700 --> 00:09:54.360 from 32,000 to 300 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:57.279 so that God's perfect strength 00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:58.240 could be made known. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:00.180 We see in David and Goliath, 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:01.680 that famous story we all know, 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:03.240 that David battles, 00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:06.240 battles a battle-tested, 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:07.639 hardened giant. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:08.800 And he says, 00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:10.360 this battle belongs to the Lord 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:13.080 and defeats him with a sling. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:14.800 Obviously, 00:10:14.800 --> 00:10:15.519 we've mentioned this, 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:16.639 but the ultimate example 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:18.860 of not avoiding weakness 00:10:18.860 --> 00:10:19.639 was Jesus, 00:10:19.819 --> 00:10:21.419 where he says in Matthew 20, 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:23.019 verses 26-28, 00:10:23.699 --> 00:10:25.639 it shall not be so among you, 00:10:25.740 --> 00:10:27.699 but whoever would be great among you 00:10:27.699 --> 00:10:28.980 must be your servant, 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:30.980 and whoever would be first among you 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:31.899 must be your slave. 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:33.539 Even the Son of Man 00:10:33.539 --> 00:10:35.240 came not to be served, 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:36.419 but to serve, 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:38.139 and to give his life 00:10:38.139 --> 00:10:39.759 as a ransom for many. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:41.840 That's one of the themes 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:44.000 of Jesus' message on earth 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:44.919 was, hey, 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:46.440 as I have served you, 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:48.279 so you must serve one another. 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:49.659 You must let go 00:10:49.659 --> 00:10:50.519 of what you think 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:51.379 is your strength 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:53.399 in order to follow me. 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:54.840 And then Paul says 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:55.580 in the next chapter 00:10:55.580 --> 00:10:56.519 of the book 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:57.340 that we're looking at, 00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:58.019 chapter 13, 00:10:58.100 --> 00:10:59.000 verse 4, 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.799 that Christ was crucified 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:02.299 in weakness, 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:04.720 but lives by the power of God. 00:11:04.940 --> 00:11:05.840 This is a theme 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:06.419 that we see 00:11:06.419 --> 00:11:07.820 throughout the whole Bible. 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:08.960 We know this. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:09.759 I'm not telling you 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:10.500 anything new 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:11.620 if you've grown up in church 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.560 or familiar at all 00:11:12.560 --> 00:11:13.100 with Scripture, 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:15.120 but yet we still 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.879 try to avoid weakness. 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:19.720 So we shouldn't try 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:21.100 to avoid weakness. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.080 And that leads 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:23.019 to the third point, 00:11:23.179 --> 00:11:23.799 and this is where 00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:24.539 we'll camp out, 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:27.340 is we must embrace weakness. 00:11:27.899 --> 00:11:28.940 If it's true 00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:33.919 that we are created dependent, 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:36.019 we're going to be weak, 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:37.519 why is it that we spend 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:38.480 so much time, 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:39.580 so much energy, 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:40.639 so much thought, 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:42.420 avoiding weakness. 00:11:42.920 --> 00:11:43.259 And now, 00:11:43.660 --> 00:11:44.680 I'm not advocating 00:11:44.680 --> 00:11:45.400 that you should go 00:11:45.400 --> 00:11:46.300 back to your CV 00:11:46.300 --> 00:11:47.200 and start, you know, 00:11:47.400 --> 00:11:48.080 trying to demonstrate 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:49.900 to a potential employer 00:11:49.900 --> 00:11:50.820 of how weak 00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:52.060 and undependable you are, 00:11:52.139 --> 00:11:53.020 anything like that. 00:11:53.300 --> 00:11:54.320 I'm not saying 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:55.920 we glorify weakness 00:11:55.920 --> 00:11:56.639 so that it's like, 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:57.520 man, being weak 00:11:57.520 --> 00:11:58.500 is the best, you know. 00:11:58.600 --> 00:11:59.440 I'm not saying 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:00.820 anything like that. 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:03.020 But what I'm saying is, 00:12:03.060 --> 00:12:04.120 it is God's intention 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:05.400 for us to understand 00:12:05.400 --> 00:12:06.540 how to live 00:12:06.540 --> 00:12:08.080 from His strength 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:09.700 through our weakness. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:11.200 So, let's look 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:12.180 at our passage today. 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:14.200 In verse 7, 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.259 He says, 00:12:15.420 --> 00:12:16.300 to keep me 00:12:16.300 --> 00:12:17.920 from being conceited 00:12:17.920 --> 00:12:20.000 because of the surpassing 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.620 greatness of the revelations. 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:24.240 He actually says this twice, 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.320 to keep me 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.120 from being conceited. 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:28.600 And I think we just need, 00:12:28.680 --> 00:12:29.639 because He repeats this, 00:12:29.700 --> 00:12:30.600 I think we need to stop 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:31.340 really quickly 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:32.080 and just understand 00:12:32.680 --> 00:12:33.759 and acknowledge 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.140 there is a reality 00:12:35.139 --> 00:12:37.220 where knowledge about Jesus 00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:39.500 or an experience with Him 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:41.240 might lead us 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:42.199 to arrogance, 00:12:42.840 --> 00:12:43.559 to pride. 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:46.039 That's the opposite effect 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:47.159 it's supposed to have, 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:48.559 but we do see 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:50.100 that because of our sin 00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:51.939 we often become judgmental 00:12:51.939 --> 00:12:53.240 or overly critical 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:54.819 or feel superior to others. 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:56.379 Arrogant instead of humble 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:59.120 because of knowledge about Jesus. 00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:01.319 Or maybe it's an experience 00:13:01.319 --> 00:13:02.539 we had with Jesus. 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:04.139 So there is a danger. 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:05.819 I mean, even His own disciples 00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:07.179 were arguing about 00:13:07.179 --> 00:13:07.699 who is going to be 00:13:07.699 --> 00:13:08.740 the greatest in the kingdom. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.019 I mean, you read that 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:10.399 and you're like, 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:12.240 are you paying attention at all 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:13.419 to what Jesus is saying? 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:14.759 But yet, 00:13:14.939 --> 00:13:16.279 that is the inclination 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:17.100 of our hearts 00:13:17.100 --> 00:13:19.080 to avoid weakness 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:21.159 to which ultimately 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:23.100 causes us to avoid strength. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:25.240 But throughout church history, 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:26.840 we know there have been those 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:27.759 who have used Jesus 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:29.120 to try to gain power. 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:31.439 And this should not be. 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:32.899 The glories of Christ 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:34.360 should humble us, 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:36.539 but sin in us is strong. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:38.079 So we must fight against this. 00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:39.000 So he says, 00:13:39.079 --> 00:13:40.600 to keep me from becoming conceited 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:42.100 because of this great experience 00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:43.779 I had in the heavens, 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:46.480 a thorn was given to me 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:47.240 in the flesh. 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:48.600 Now we've heard, 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:49.740 probably heard about this, 00:13:49.779 --> 00:13:50.740 a thorn in the flesh. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:51.980 And the reality is 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.799 we don't know what this is. 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:55.079 Many think it might be 00:13:55.079 --> 00:13:56.039 a physical ailment. 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:58.339 After having some back problems 00:13:58.339 --> 00:13:58.799 a week ago, 00:13:58.860 --> 00:13:59.099 I'm like, 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.120 it could be a back problem. 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:00.980 That was really bad. 00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:01.539 That was hard. 00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:04.759 Some think it might be eyesight, 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.519 a bad eyesight 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:06.439 because of some things 00:14:06.439 --> 00:14:07.299 that are said 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:08.259 in some other letters. 00:14:09.079 --> 00:14:11.059 Could it have been migraines, 00:14:11.179 --> 00:14:12.159 some have suggested. 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.719 Some think it's a physical ailment, 00:14:14.099 --> 00:14:15.279 but then some have suggested 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.519 because of all the stress 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:17.219 he talks about 00:14:17.219 --> 00:14:17.879 and different things, 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:18.399 it might have been 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.959 a psychological ailment. 00:14:20.699 --> 00:14:22.039 Whatever it was, 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:24.199 it was a big struggle. 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:26.379 And because he doesn't tell us 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.920 exactly what it is, 00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:30.879 we can kind of fill in the blank there 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.240 and say, 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:32.120 okay, I understand 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:32.980 what you're talking about. 00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:34.580 I know what it's like 00:14:34.580 --> 00:14:36.180 to have a thorn in the flesh. 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:37.900 That thing that makes me feel weak 00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:38.940 and vulnerable 00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:41.100 and makes me feel really frustrated. 00:14:41.640 --> 00:14:43.040 Something that we've asked 00:14:43.040 --> 00:14:44.200 the Lord to take away 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:46.020 and he has yet to do that. 00:14:46.660 --> 00:14:48.340 We can understand that 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:49.879 because Paul doesn't describe 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:52.080 specifically what he's talking about. 00:14:52.280 --> 00:14:54.120 Now we might look at verse 10 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:55.360 and where he says, 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.299 for the sake of Christ, 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:58.320 then I'm content with weaknesses, 00:14:58.779 --> 00:14:59.779 insults, hardships, 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:01.799 persecutions, calamities. 00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:03.460 You know, we might say, 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:04.299 okay, it might fit 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:05.960 into one of those categories. 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:07.899 When you start looking 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:09.419 at what some of these words mean, 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:10.740 like the word calamities, 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:13.080 it means to be in a narrow space. 00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:14.299 We would use the phrase 00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.440 like to be between a rock 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.240 and a hard place. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:18.019 We all understand that 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:19.980 or understand what hardships are, 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:20.720 which is basically 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.539 something outside of us 00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:24.620 is making things really difficult, 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:26.099 putting pressure on me. 00:15:26.459 --> 00:15:27.939 Some of us have faced persecution. 00:15:28.959 --> 00:15:29.879 We all know what it's like 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:30.579 to be insulted. 00:15:31.199 --> 00:15:33.279 But we understand this idea 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.279 of weakness. 00:15:34.459 --> 00:15:35.740 And whatever it is, 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:38.059 whatever this thorn in the flesh was, 00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:41.199 it was sent to harass Paul, 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:41.899 he says. 00:15:42.099 --> 00:15:43.139 This word harass 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.639 literally means to torment 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:48.199 or to strike with the fist. 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:50.600 whatever it was, 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:52.160 it was bad. 00:15:52.900 --> 00:15:56.000 And Paul felt pretty beat up about it. 00:15:56.400 --> 00:15:57.240 And in verse 7, 00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:59.759 he calls it a messenger of Satan. 00:16:00.040 --> 00:16:01.480 Now, we understand 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:03.560 that a messenger carries a message. 00:16:03.660 --> 00:16:04.620 And I think that helps us 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.860 to understand this passage. 00:16:06.020 --> 00:16:07.740 So when we have something 00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:09.280 that makes us feel weak 00:16:09.280 --> 00:16:10.440 or vulnerable 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:11.700 or frustrated, 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.220 that thorn in the flesh, 00:16:14.040 --> 00:16:15.580 there are two messages 00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:17.520 that we could be listening to. 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.299 That first message 00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:21.319 would be the message of Satan, 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:24.259 which is all throughout Scripture 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:24.939 we've seen 00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:27.079 where he tries to tempt us 00:16:27.079 --> 00:16:28.379 and deceive us 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:30.340 and to think that God doesn't love you. 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:32.159 He wants to keep you down. 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:35.059 Don't you think you know better 00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:36.159 than God does? 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:37.720 If God really loved you, 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:40.139 wouldn't he grant this for you? 00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:41.460 That message of Satan 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:42.460 that came in the garden, 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.519 literally, 00:16:43.819 --> 00:16:45.120 God had said to Adam, 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:47.480 you can eat of all the fruit 00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:49.360 of all the trees 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:51.399 except this one tree. 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:53.639 And Satan comes in 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:55.460 and has him focusing 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:57.399 on this one tree 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:58.080 and said, 00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:59.460 if God really loved you, 00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:00.300 he would let you eat 00:17:00.300 --> 00:17:00.960 of that one too. 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:03.220 Instead, 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:04.680 he doesn't know 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.480 what's best for you. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:07.480 He knows that when you eat it, 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.759 you will become like him, 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.620 knowing good and evil. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:12.220 The message of Satan 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:14.299 is God does not love you. 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:16.299 He does not have a plan for you. 00:17:16.419 --> 00:17:17.740 And he is withholding 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:19.759 something great from you. 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:22.940 He wants us to doubt God's love 00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:24.759 and good plan for our lives. 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.519 And when we're feeling 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.399 a thorn in the flesh, 00:17:26.419 --> 00:17:27.240 that's one message 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.639 that we are tempted to believe. 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.759 But the second message 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:32.720 comes from God. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.220 That when we have 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:35.279 that thorn in the flesh, 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:36.039 something that makes us feel 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:37.500 weak, vulnerable, frustrated, 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:39.299 that says, 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:42.519 my grace is sufficient for you. 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:46.539 My grace is enough. 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:49.339 It can satisfy your longings. 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:50.700 My grace will provide 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.940 all that you need. 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:53.740 I'm giving you 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.220 all that you really need 00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:57.660 and it is good for you. 00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.460 So hear what God's saying. 00:17:59.500 --> 00:18:00.859 I'm giving you my riches. 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:03.319 I'm giving you all that you need 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.440 to face the problems 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.759 that you're facing today. 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:07.359 I'm giving you 00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:09.379 the very power of Christ 00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:10.980 to strengthen you. 00:18:11.339 --> 00:18:13.920 My grace is sufficient for you. 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.220 But we're tempted 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.420 to believe the other message. 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:19.259 So Paul's saying, 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:20.980 a messenger of Satan 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:22.119 was given to me. 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.619 A thorn in the flesh 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:26.000 that came to harass me. 00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:28.940 And he heard this message 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:30.039 from Satan, 00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:30.640 but then he heard 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:31.660 this message from God. 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:32.960 Which message 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:34.680 are we going to listen to? 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:36.759 But Paul says in verse 8, 00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:38.539 three times I pleaded 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:40.380 with the Lord about this. 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.980 Three times I asked God 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:44.620 to take this away. 00:18:45.320 --> 00:18:46.279 And the Lord said, 00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:48.960 no, I'm not going to take it away. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:52.180 Commentators will kind of tell us 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:54.460 that this echoes Jesus in the garden. 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.840 We know how he came three times 00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:58.080 praying, saying, 00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:59.980 Lord, if it be your will, 00:19:00.120 --> 00:19:01.860 let this hour pass for me. 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:03.940 Let this cup be taken away from me. 00:19:03.940 --> 00:19:05.920 And each time God said, 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:08.160 no, you must face this. 00:19:09.860 --> 00:19:11.240 When we're suffering, 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:14.299 good meaning, well-meaning people 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:16.880 will tell us things like, 00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:20.259 hey, the situation's going to change. 00:19:20.620 --> 00:19:21.720 This will get better. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.519 We know this is going to go away. 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.960 But what if it doesn't? 00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:29.160 What if it doesn't go away? 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:32.500 What message will you believe? 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:36.220 Jesus's words from Matthew chapter 7, 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.700 where he says, 00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.500 who among you, 00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:40.119 when a son asks for bread, 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.240 will give him a stone? 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:43.380 Or when he asks for a fish, 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:44.400 will give him a snake? 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.900 If you being evil, 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:48.200 know how to give good gifts 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:48.839 to your children, 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:52.119 how much more will your heavenly father 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:53.259 give what is good 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:55.279 to those who ask him? 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:58.440 Are Jesus's words true to us? 00:19:58.879 --> 00:20:00.859 That he is a good father? 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:04.500 Not giving us a stone or a snake, 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:06.879 but is giving what is good 00:20:06.879 --> 00:20:09.440 to his children when they ask. 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.379 Do you believe that? 00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.839 When we have a thorn in the flesh, 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:13.500 it is tough to believe it. 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:15.220 We've all been there. 00:20:15.879 --> 00:20:17.420 As I'm talking about a thorn in the flesh, 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.639 you probably have something 00:20:18.639 --> 00:20:20.279 that is going through your mind 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:22.519 and where we have pleaded with the Lord 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:24.299 to take it away. 00:20:24.899 --> 00:20:26.519 And when we think about our pleading 00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:27.980 and we're hearing a no, 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:30.399 we shouldn't be hearing a harsh voice. 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.839 Like a lot of times it's like, 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.399 no, I'm not going to do this. 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.559 Stop asking. 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.819 But that's not God. 00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.700 Instead, it's more like 00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:41.139 the loving, gentle father saying, 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:43.259 not right now, sweetie. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:44.859 Not yet, buddy. 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:48.099 I'm Abba, father, 00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:49.579 and I give what is good. 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:50.959 You have to trust me. 00:20:52.699 --> 00:20:54.399 I'm going to give you something better. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:57.179 I'm going to give you my power 00:20:57.179 --> 00:21:00.459 so that you can thrive despite this thorn. 00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:02.559 And this will deepen our relationship 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.619 and you will know me more. 00:21:03.699 --> 00:21:06.359 And also, you will be able to comfort others 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:08.819 with the comfort that I'm comforting you with right now. 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:12.159 God says, my grace is enough. 00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:14.379 It is all you need. 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:17.500 And then verse 9, Paul goes on to say 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:20.140 that the message that he got was, 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:21.180 my grace is sufficient 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:24.960 for my power is made perfect in weakness. 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.279 When we are weak, 00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:28.799 it allows God's strength 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.480 to actually work through us 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:32.660 and to put his strength on display. 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:34.680 We already named some examples of that 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:36.859 with Gideon and David and Christ. 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:38.960 And one of my favorite examples 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:40.700 that gets me through a lot of hard times 00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:42.619 is from 2 Chronicles chapter 20 00:21:42.619 --> 00:21:45.919 when King Jehoshaphat comes before the Lord. 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:48.779 A great army has come against him. 00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:50.879 And he says in verse 12, 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.079 for we are powerless 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:54.000 against this great horde 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:55.319 that is coming against us. 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:57.559 We do not know what to do, 00:21:57.899 --> 00:22:00.119 but our eyes are on you. 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:03.079 He then sends out the worship team 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:03.859 ahead of the army. 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.859 And the Ammonites fight against themselves 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.679 and destroy themselves. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.439 That'd be like us putting Don in the band 00:22:09.439 --> 00:22:10.399 out in front of everybody 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.060 and say, hey, lead the way. 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.759 God did it. 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.900 We don't know what to do, 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:19.220 but our eyes are on you. 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.840 For when I am weak, 00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:22.700 I am strong. 00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:26.380 Paul Tripp, in his great devotional book, 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.340 New Morning Mercies, 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:29.160 he addresses this idea of weakness 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:31.240 that was really ministered to me recently. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:34.920 He says, I don't want to be confused 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:37.440 or unready to feel unqualified 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:40.180 or hold others back. 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:42.180 I don't like it when it seems 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:43.700 that there are things I should know 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.620 and I don't know. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.500 I don't want to let myself 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.900 or others down. 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:50.580 But your weakness is not the great danger 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.580 that you think it is. 00:22:52.060 --> 00:22:53.600 Rather, the great danger 00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:55.519 is your delusion of strength. 00:22:56.040 --> 00:22:57.700 Because if you think you're strong, 00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:59.300 then you don't seek the help 00:22:59.300 --> 00:23:00.800 that you desperately need 00:23:00.800 --> 00:23:03.080 from the one who is the ultimate source 00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:05.160 of strength of every kind. 00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:07.779 For when I am weak, 00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:09.900 then I am strong. 00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:12.400 So Paul goes on to say, 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:15.460 therefore, let's read verse 9. 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:18.440 Therefore, I will boast 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:21.040 all the more gladly of my weaknesses 00:23:21.040 --> 00:23:23.640 so that the power of Christ 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:25.500 may rest upon me. 00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:28.019 He says, I'll do this all the more gladly. 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:29.540 This word gladly is actually 00:23:29.540 --> 00:23:31.160 where we get the word hedonism, joy. 00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:35.640 He's saying, when I embrace my weaknesses, 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:38.580 that's when the power of Christ 00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.880 is made perfect in me. 00:23:40.060 --> 00:23:41.440 It's emptying ourselves 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.660 of our self-sufficiency 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:44.980 so that we can be filled 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:47.040 with the power of Christ. 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:49.759 It means that I can find joy 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.320 in the middle of suffering, 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:53.259 in the midst of weakness. 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:56.480 Because it's then that Christ's power 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.500 rests upon us. 00:23:57.620 --> 00:23:58.320 And I realize, 00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:00.619 if you're going through suffering, 00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:04.119 I realize you read something like this 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:04.559 and you're like, 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.759 this sounds like someone 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.960 who hasn't suffered before. 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:09.879 But we know Paul suffered 00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:11.700 more than we can imagine. 00:24:12.939 --> 00:24:14.099 I mean, I don't think we understand 00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:16.419 when it talks about him being lost at sea 00:24:16.419 --> 00:24:17.740 a couple of times. 00:24:18.159 --> 00:24:19.419 I don't think we fathom 00:24:19.419 --> 00:24:20.480 how terrible that is. 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.720 This is someone who has known 00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:24.200 great, great suffering. 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:27.500 But he's saying we can rejoice. 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:30.080 We can be glad about our weaknesses 00:24:30.080 --> 00:24:31.380 when these things come 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:34.100 because it allows the power of Christ 00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:35.319 to rest upon me. 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:37.799 This word rest literally means 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:41.920 to pitch a tent or to tabernacle. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.220 And one commentator said 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:47.539 that this is likely Paul drawing 00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:49.019 on the Old Testament image 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:50.519 of the glory of God 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:52.580 coming to rest on the tabernacle. 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:55.319 Think of that imagery. 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:58.379 The power of Christ 00:24:58.379 --> 00:25:01.659 coming to rest on you 00:25:01.659 --> 00:25:04.439 in the middle of your weakness 00:25:04.439 --> 00:25:06.199 when you need it most. 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:09.240 Gets rid of all self-sufficiency 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:11.980 and allows us to rely 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:14.240 on his sufficient grace. 00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:16.119 We can handle the thorn 00:25:16.119 --> 00:25:18.259 because Christ's power and presence 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:20.039 comes to settle on us, 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:21.359 to rest on us. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.679 We can be content 00:25:22.679 --> 00:25:24.699 with weaknesses, insults, 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.319 hardships, persecutions, 00:25:26.479 --> 00:25:27.059 and calamities. 00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:29.619 And again, this is not glorifying weakness 00:25:29.619 --> 00:25:32.279 and saying the more bad stuff 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.539 that happens to me, the better. 00:25:33.699 --> 00:25:35.719 We can even glorify our weaknesses 00:25:35.719 --> 00:25:37.359 where we try to compare 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:38.079 with other people. 00:25:38.199 --> 00:25:39.539 They're not suffering as much as I am. 00:25:39.579 --> 00:25:41.000 How dare they say that? 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:44.059 We bend this so much 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:45.159 because of our sin. 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:47.800 But instead, 00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:50.880 we must learn to embrace our weakness 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:52.540 to rely on Christ 00:25:52.540 --> 00:25:54.660 and the strength that he provides. 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.060 So what? 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:58.420 How should this change 00:25:58.420 --> 00:26:00.360 the way that we live? 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:05.240 Weakness is not a hindrance 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.440 to joy and thriving. 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:08.080 It's a means 00:26:08.080 --> 00:26:10.320 by which we can have joy 00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:11.259 and thrive. 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:13.859 Weakness does not get 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:15.039 in the way of experiencing 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:16.440 what God has for you. 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.440 A thorn is not a sign 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:20.039 that God doesn't care. 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.119 Weakness is a tool 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:23.460 to help us experience 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:25.579 God's amazing grace. 00:26:26.379 --> 00:26:27.379 So when God lets us 00:26:27.379 --> 00:26:28.440 experience weakness, 00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:31.140 he's graciously reminding us 00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:32.480 of who we are 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.400 and who he is 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:35.000 and where we can find 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.299 real strength. 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.400 God is protecting us 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:38.000 from ourselves. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:40.319 I love Tripp's words there 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.779 of delusion of strength. 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:44.480 Weaknesses help us 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:46.160 wake up from that delusion. 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.420 And we've got to learn 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:49.660 to draw on the power of Christ, 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:51.299 learning to embrace that weakness 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:55.220 so that God's perfect grace 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.500 can work in us. 00:26:56.900 --> 00:26:57.980 Now when hardship and suffering 00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:59.259 comes that make us weak, 00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:01.519 I think one of the things 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.960 that we should say is, 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:06.259 okay, Jesus must be up to something. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:08.299 When the phone rings 00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.700 and that's that person 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.819 that you would least 00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:12.359 like to hear from 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.660 or to think about, 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:14.720 we should think, 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:16.220 I wonder what God 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.259 is up to right now. 00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:19.879 When we face that situation 00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:21.039 at work that makes us 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:22.579 wake up with dread, 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.039 not even want to get out 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:25.160 of bed tomorrow, 00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:27.099 we should think, 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:28.039 what is God wanting 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:28.859 to do for me? 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.859 When we're overwhelmed 00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.599 by the problems 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:33.200 that seem to just pile up 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:35.500 on top of each other, 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:37.500 the problems that we're facing 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.559 just multiplies 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:40.140 and we feel weighed down by that. 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.740 Anything that disrupts 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:42.400 the way we think 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.720 the world should be going, 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.619 we should be thinking, 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:46.759 what is God wanting 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.759 to do through this? 00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:49.259 What is he up to today? 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:51.000 So as I was working 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:53.359 on this passage this week, 00:27:54.460 --> 00:27:57.259 recently the acres 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:59.200 are kind of up for visa renewal. 00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:01.279 That can be a real stressful time. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:03.240 And we were getting some word 00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:04.899 from the office 00:28:04.899 --> 00:28:06.940 that there's some timing issues 00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:08.619 and we're a little stressed about it. 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.200 And we're praying 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.839 and we're praying 00:28:10.839 --> 00:28:11.359 and we're praying 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.859 and the Lord provided. 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:13.579 This is great. 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.339 This is wonderful. 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:14.839 Okay. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:16.480 The Lord has answered our prayer. 00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:17.500 Well, on Friday, 00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.339 after I've been working 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:20.180 through this passage for a week, 00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.859 I have sent some messages 00:28:21.859 --> 00:28:24.059 to our person in the office 00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:26.099 and haven't heard anything. 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:29.019 And she finally responds and says, 00:28:29.159 --> 00:28:31.099 hey, I've got an update for you. 00:28:31.219 --> 00:28:32.759 I will send to you soon. 00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:36.079 Now, previously in the past six months, 00:28:36.139 --> 00:28:37.319 that's been code for, 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:39.199 uh-oh, things haven't been going 00:28:39.199 --> 00:28:40.639 as they should, 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:41.699 but it's okay. 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.919 We're working on a solution. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:46.059 And so I sent that message. 00:28:46.459 --> 00:28:47.740 Okay, I have to ask, 00:28:47.919 --> 00:28:49.559 is everything okay? 00:28:50.899 --> 00:28:53.639 And then I see those three dots. 00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:56.820 And I wait. 00:28:57.640 --> 00:28:58.520 And I wait. 00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.380 And I said, 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.000 all right, Lord. 00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:03.640 You've been working in me on this. 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.940 I've got to ask the question, 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:07.140 what are you up to right now? 00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:09.960 I don't know if I can handle this. 00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:12.580 What are you up to right now? 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:16.500 And I heard that my grace is sufficient. 00:29:18.780 --> 00:29:19.840 So I was resting. 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:23.600 Come to find out there's nothing wrong. 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:25.540 It was a total just like God 00:29:25.540 --> 00:29:28.020 just teaching me something in that moment. 00:29:28.100 --> 00:29:30.220 Am I willing to apply this to my life 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.620 and the things that I dread 00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:33.759 and the things that I don't want to be true 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:36.900 in the most inconvenient, stressful times? 00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.940 Am I willing to say, 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:39.500 all right, God, what are you up to? 00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:41.060 I'm here for it. 00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:44.240 Your grace is sufficient for me. 00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:47.700 Are we willing to embrace weakness 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:49.080 in that way? 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:51.980 Are we going to try to cling to our own strength, 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:54.120 which is what we try to do oftentimes? 00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:55.920 But when we do that, 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:57.460 when we try to hold that control, 00:29:57.860 --> 00:30:00.259 we are avoiding the power of Christ 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.579 working in our lives. 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:04.240 When God doesn't seem to be answering prayer, 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:06.220 when it seems he's abandoned us, 00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:09.079 because we can't fathom anything good 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.519 coming from this situation. 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:13.079 When those times happen, 00:30:13.120 --> 00:30:13.819 we just have to realize 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:15.740 we haven't reached the end of the story yet. 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.720 God is working. 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:19.559 He is working powerfully 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:22.019 and he is giving me his riches 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.779 to make it through, 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:25.140 to thrive, 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:26.500 to have joy. 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:29.940 He has my good and his glory in mind 00:30:29.940 --> 00:30:30.860 and he just says, 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.819 trust me. 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:34.740 And we have to understand, 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:36.420 God's not necessarily trying to solve 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:38.480 all of our problems that we're facing. 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:40.740 God is trying to use your problems 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.860 to draw you to himself 00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:44.900 so that you can know him deeper, 00:30:44.900 --> 00:30:47.780 increase the intimacy that you have with him, 00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:50.700 be a comfort to others. 00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:53.560 And so weakness is like an invitation 00:30:53.560 --> 00:30:56.000 to a deeper relationship with Jesus 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:57.740 because we're learning to depend on him 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:59.860 in ways that are new. 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:01.780 Every morning it seems like. 00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:06.120 Because Jesus embraced weakness for us, 00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:08.160 all the promises of God 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:10.160 find their yes and amen. 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:12.840 Jesus embraced weakness 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:14.459 on our behalf perfectly 00:31:14.459 --> 00:31:16.240 so that we could have 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.179 his perfect strength. 00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:22.039 And one day God's going to take care 00:31:22.039 --> 00:31:23.720 of all those secondary problems. 00:31:25.159 --> 00:31:26.159 Jesus says, 00:31:26.379 --> 00:31:28.199 I'm making all things new. 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:30.539 And until then, 00:31:30.919 --> 00:31:31.759 until then, 00:31:32.379 --> 00:31:35.459 let him draw you into that deep, 00:31:35.659 --> 00:31:37.240 soul-satisfying relationship 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:39.699 that he desires for us to have, 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:42.000 even though it requires us 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:43.259 to embrace weakness. 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.140 Let's pray. 00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:49.799 God, we do thank you 00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:55.400 that not only you are our strength 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.140 when we're weak, 00:31:56.900 --> 00:31:58.779 you meet us in weakness 00:31:58.779 --> 00:32:00.539 filling us with your strength, 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:02.680 making your strength perfect 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.640 in our weakness. 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.799 Let us learn to cling to that, Lord. 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.960 Lord, we are so tempted 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:09.279 to believe the message of Satan. 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:11.720 We're so tempted to say, 00:32:11.880 --> 00:32:12.980 if he loved me, 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:14.519 he would answer me right away. 00:32:14.620 --> 00:32:15.000 He would say, 00:32:15.120 --> 00:32:15.519 yes, 00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:16.940 help us, Lord, 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.720 to trust you. 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:19.259 You've proven it over and over 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.420 and over and over. 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.559 Day by day, 00:32:21.620 --> 00:32:22.940 your mercies are new every morning. 00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:24.840 Your grace has been lavished on us, 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:26.160 and yet we daily, 00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:28.120 moment by moment, 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:28.519 forget. 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.519 Please help us 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:32.279 to latch on to your grace, 00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:33.319 to embrace weakness, 00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:35.700 knowing that when we are emptied 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.900 of our self-sufficiency. 00:32:37.580 --> 00:32:39.180 Your sufficient grace 00:32:39.180 --> 00:32:41.480 fills us with the strength of Christ. 00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:42.759 Let us embrace that, Lord. 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:45.140 Let us live in the way 00:32:45.140 --> 00:32:47.580 that you desire for us to live 00:32:47.580 --> 00:32:49.720 so that we can have intimacy with you 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:51.799 and fellowship with one another, 00:32:52.380 --> 00:32:54.799 building up each other in Christ, 00:32:55.340 --> 00:32:56.519 because we're all weak, 00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:57.319 needing strength, 00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:58.180 and we need each other 00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.039 as you've created us 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:00.019 to be interdependent. 00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:02.980 Help us to rely on you 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:04.240 and to embrace weakness 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:06.279 in order to find strength of Christ. 00:33:06.860 --> 00:33:08.140 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:33:08.779 --> 00:33:09.039 Amen.