August 26th
2 Corinthians, 12
Depending
on God
1: It is not expedient for me doubtless
to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2: I knew a man
in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or
whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to
the third heaven. 3: And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4: How that he was caught up into paradise,
and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5: Of
such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine
infirmities. 6: 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 seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7: 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. 8: For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it
might depart from me. 9: 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, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10:
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I
strong.
Paul says in this chapter that it
has become necessary to glory in his ministry to make the point that his
ministry is in no way inferior than these ‘super apostles’ who trouble the
churches. Here he relates his amazing visions. (He speaks in the third person)
He says, l knew a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago had such visions of the
heaven, (were God dwells), that he did not know whether he was in the Body or
in the Spirit - only God knows. Paul says, he was caught up into the third
heaven. [There are three ‘heavens’ in scripture. There is the heaven were the
birds fly, which we call the atmosphere. There is the heaven were the sun, moon
and stars are, which we call outer pace. Then there is the third heaven where
God is. Where outer space ends - there the third heaven begins.] Paul says, he (himself) was caught up into
paradise and heard things unable to be described in words. They were things
which are so holy that it is not lawful for man to speak of them. Paul says, l
will glory in God but not in myself, but l will glory in my infirmities. Then
Paul says, l have been foolish enough and will stop this tomfoolery. And l will
stop so that people will not think of me greater than what l am. To prevent me
from getting above myself, because of the many revelations that l received, God
gave me a special difficulty in the body. It was a special thing, from Satan,
which prevented me from getting proud of myself. And three times l asked the Lord
to take this thing away, yet he said to me that his enabling grace would be
sufficient for me to bear it. You see my spiritual strength is made strong in
the midst of my bodily weakness and so therefore l will glory in my infirmities
so that the power of Christ will rest upon me. In a way l take pleasure in my
weakness and in infirmities, in reproaches, in my needs, in persecution and in
my total poverty for Christ’s sake because at this moment of weakness God makes
me strong as l trust in him completely.
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