We need to be made weak
Before Communion (2 Cor 13:4, Mark 15:25-39)
2 Cor 13:4 – For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you
Looking later at the weakness of Paul
He is a reflection of Jesus crucified in power at the cross
An earth shattering event
Tremendous weakness but great power
The Temple curtain torn in two
We do not like to be weak
Jesus shows us a wonderful lesson on the cross
Jesus allows/offers Himself to be taken
The Mighty God – giving Himself up into the hands of sinners
Jesus was silent and meek
Jesus submitted to mocking and scourging
Jesus submitted to false accusation
Jesus was crucified
Darkness descend upon Him for 3 hours
Judgement was upon Him
He had only ever known unbroken fellowship with His Father – yet He suffered judgment and separation
He prayed ‘My God’ instead of ‘Father’
The greatest victory was accomplished at the cross
The Centurion saw this (Mark 15:39)
Reading 2 Cor 13:4
We are weakened – made to feel our sin
We have nothing to offer God
We recognise that only God can save us
We have fellowship in Jesus
We walk in God’s strength
Remember all that Jesus accomplished for us
See Psalm 21
After Communion (2 Cor 12:1-10)
The passage given for our encouragement
When we are weak – it is in these times we are made strong
The Israelites forgot God when things went well
We forget God when things go well
We rely upon on our own knowledge
Our problem is not weakness but self-dependence and human strength
The Bible is counter cultural – examples
We often depend on ourselves – we often fail to pray
We are too strong
We need humility
Learn from Paul’s Humility
Paul is humble (v1-6)
He never boasted in himself like others
Others spoke of spiritual experiences – but Paul was taken up into the third heaven (v2)
A paradise (v4)
Caught up (v2,4)
Not sure if bodily or out of body
He saw and heard things that were too precious to speak of
The Church must of known about Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascas
Perhaps they were aware of his vision (Acts 18)
He had another vision – but has not spoken about it
Paul speaks as though he was another person
Paul is the chief of sinners – he is not to be lauded above other believers (v5-6)
2 Cor 10:17-18, Proverbs 27:2
Let God commend you
How God kept him humble
Paul was give a thorn in his side
Paul prayed three times for the thorn to be removed
It remained but God’s power would make him strong in weakness
We want to know what the ‘thorn’ was
Greek meaning – ‘Scolop’
A messenger of satan to buffet him
An eye problem – Gal 6:11, 4:15
A false worker against him – 2 Timothy 4:14
Something that God has given permission for
That Paul would become so dependent upon God
We naturally pray for suffering to end – but sometimes God permits a certain type of suffering for our good
We are not promised pain free lives but the grace of God – examples
As the burdens grow greater – may we know more of His grace and strength
One day – it will all be over
Pain makes us depend upon the Lord Jesus Christ
He knows what we can bear
We all go through trials – but we have times of green pastures, great joy and still waters
Remember than in our weakness – God’s power is there for those who rely on the Lord