2 Cor 12:7-10 Mid-Week Study

ONE DEGREE OF GLORY

If you remember, last week I mentioned that we were that we were "skipping ahead" from 2 Cor 10:6. It's true, in 2 Sundays, we'll wrap up 2 Corinthians for the Summer with an epic sermon of 2 Cor 10:7 - 13:14. And on Sunday you'll receive a booklet (click here for a preview) to help you prepare for Sun, 9/6. 

However for this Sunday, we're going to take one portion - one classic text - from those 80 verses and we'll ask, "Why did God seem to ignore Paul's pleas?" As we wrap up with our series' "title text", let's dive in to 2 Cor 12:7-10.

2 COR 12:7-10

7 So, to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• "CONCEITED" - Verse 7 starts with “so” which is kind of like “therefore” only without the silly phrase. It means that Paul is explaining a consequence of something that came before. What event might lead Paul to be conceited?

• "THORN" - This thorn is given to Paul to keep him from being conceited. That is a godly purpose. Yet, Paul also describes it as a “messenger of Satan.” Whose purpose is ultimately being accomplished with this thorn?

• "PLEADED" - Often, we can think about how Paul prayed to have his thorn removed, but Paul uses a stronger word than just “prayed” or even “asked.” When was the last time that you pleaded for God to do something?

• "SUFFICIENT" - God’s answer might not be what you expected. Or at least not what you expected when you read it the first time. A passage that’s this familiar to many of us can become normal. But I think it should shock us. Does God’s answer change the way you think about the outcomes of your prayers?

• "WEAKNESS" -  The words “weak” and “weakness” are mentioned four times in verses 9 and 10. The title of our series is “When Weakness Wins?” How does God view our weaknesses? How does Paul respond to that view?

GAME CHANGER - Too often, we can structure our lives trying to flee from our weakness and the thorns of life. How does studying this "title text" of our sermon series help you to embrace those realities rather than working so hard to avoid them?

Looking forward to Sunday,

Darren and Michael