OUT OF WEAKNESS, STRENGTH

2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10

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Much heavier sorrow than the metaphor of a "thorn," a "stake"; one of those hideous stakes on which cruel punishment of impalement use to be inflicted (the Assyrian, Babylonian before the Roman cross).  A tremendous torture.  What was it?  Do not know, will never know 'til heaven.  But like Unknown Solider, represents whatever torments, afflicts.

 

Very much like our Lord in Gethsemane.

 

Thrice - denied - angel strengthen Jesus.  Grace sufficient for Paul.

 

The prayer: "I have prayed a thousand times."  No. Just words. 

 

Earnest, fervent, supplication.  "To call alongside."  Beseech, entreat.

 

Definite answer.  Definite request, definite answer.  Compare:  Always no. No, yes, wait awhile.

 

Addressed to Jesus.  Compare:  Stephen, Acts 7:59.  A messenger from Satan; appeals to Jesus, in all points tempted like as we are.  Came to destroy work of the devil.

 

Perfect time, "he hath said" final word.  The affliction remains, still with him as he writes.

 

"Is sufficient" abides, all the way, through the days, now.  Past troubles, yes; future troubles, yes; present troubles, yes.  Have it already given.  Not some far away magic, monstrous experience.

 

"Is sufficient" without any limiting words.  "Exceeding abundant..."  Not just bare adequacy without a margin.  Over and beyond enough.

 

     a.  Feeding the 5,000.  Philip "two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little..."  Omnipotence says, "Bring to me the five small loaves and fishes."  Faith dispenses.  Experience gathers up the fragments.

 

     b.  A little girl in the Amazon worried about the supply of water.  Amazon says:  "Poor little girl, my stream is sufficient for thee."

 

Compare:  A little mouse, days of Joseph, the grains of wheat.  Then granaries:  "My supply is sufficient for thee." 

 

Compare:  A man, breathing so many cubic feet of oxygen a day.  The sky:  "My atmosphere is sufficient for thee."

 

His acceptance of God's denial, more than submission, sainthood not state of gloom.

 

Grace, favor, love.

 

"I am poor, but if thou dost will, for thy favor, most gladly..."

 

"I am sick, but if thou dost will, for thy favor, most gladly..."

 

"I am persecuted, but if thou dost will, for thy favor, most gladly..."

 

"I am cast down, but if thou dost will, for thy favor, most gladly..."

 

"I am forsaken, but if thou dost will, for thy favor, most gladly..."

 

"I am left alone, but if thou dost will, for thy favor, most gladly..."

 

 

"For my strength is made perfect is weakness."

 

To finish, to end, to achieve its purpose.

 

Compare:  Hebrews 2:10 "Perfect through sufferings."  The strength of Christ to save his people never realized if not taken upon him the weakness of human nature.  Emptied himself.  Descended, stooped.  Had he saved himself, not saved us.  His poverty our riches.  Down - down - God in swaddling bands, on the cross of a felon, a ghastly corpse hanging on a cross, in the tomb among the dead.

 

The strength of God displayed in human weakness.

 

Compare:  If 12 kings and emperors, like Mohammed and his caliphs, with power of the sword, wins world to Christ...But when 12 humble fishermen...God did it...without arms or armor, patronage or prestige.  Overthrew colossal system of man.

 

     a.  One of the pastors in London, put to death in Smithfield one early morning before sun melted the frost.  There stood around the stake a group of young people accustomed to listen to his teachings.  So early.  Why there?  It is written, they went there to learn the way; in this instance how to die for Christ triumphantly, victoriously.  The weakness of the martyr revealed the strength of God.

 

The power of Alexander the Great - world conquering.

 

The power of Demosthenes - inflammatory oratory.

 

The power of Croesus - wealth stupendous.

 

The power of Christ - to be nothing.

To descend.

To stoop.

The five wounds.

Agony, sweat, blood.

Weakness, humiliation.

Self-abnegation.

What God can do with nothings, nobodies.

 

"For when I am weak, then am I strong."

 

The other way, round, "when strong, weak."

 

Some of you, a very Savior, a very Solomon, a very Goliath.

 

Some of you, think can do all that is needed for your salvation.  Perform all sorts of good works, at least enough to carry you to heaven.  May admit a few flaws, faults, but so trifling as to be hardly worth mentioning.  God Almighty too merciful to be very particular.  Ship of their character in fine shape, no leaks in the pumps cannot keep down, no sails rent ready to sail into heaven of peace with a most glorious, abundant instance.

 

In heaven, "We have washed...blood of Lamb."

But you, "Our robes never needed washing.  Kept them white as snow."

 

The publican, "merciful to me a sinner."

But you, "not as other men."

 

Only when weak, humbled, made low, can be strong.  Strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.  Consciously, admittedly weak, a weakness, a confession, that means our deepening dependence upon God.  To pray, to entrust, to ask for forgiveness and mercy.