Power in Weakness

Power in Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:1-15
July 20, 2025

In this last section, we find Paul continuing to defend his apostleship. Last week we saw that there were those questioning his authority. There was a group of people visiting the church after Paul left, undermining the gospel which he taught, wanting to bring them back under the law and works.

So, Paul had to deal with these people. For a moment he said it was beneficial to play their games, proving his credentials, boasting, although it is not profitable. He then mentions the great experience of having been  privileged to see heaven.

Yet, we see that Paul is not boasting about this. He only makes a quick mention of this, whereafter he moves on to what he boasts in. His real heart is, ‘let him who boast, boast in the Lord.’

We do see, though, that he had a thorn in the flesh, which brought him much discomfort. What was this thorn, why was it allowed, and how did Paul react to this?

We all experience difficulties in our lives, things that we don’t understand, things we pray for and it seems like there is no answer. In this section we get a glimpse at the different perspective that Paul had as he shows us how to react to these circumstances.

We also see that there is a greater plan that flows from adversities.

We see Paul’s faith and gain a great insight into what it means to see God’s strength, God’s power, and God’s provision in our lives.

I. Stay Humble

 Paul starts off by talking about the incredible revelation that he had. He does not mention it here, but Paul actually had 7 visions during his life which are mentioned in the Bible.

In this instance, he says that he was caught up into the 3rd heaven. When referring to the first, second and third heaven: the first is what we would know as the sky and the clouds we can see. In other words, the atmosphere around the earth. The second heaven refers to outer space where the stars and planets are.

Paul is referring to the 3rd heaven which represents where God is. The supernatural other dimension that we cannot observe in the physical state that we are in.

He says that it is so glorious that it is impossible to describe it in human words. It is like trying to explain with words all the amazing colors in creation to someone who has been born blind. It has to be seen to be really understood.

These are great privileges that God gave him, and it would be easy for a person to become boastful because of all that he has been privileged to see and hear from God.

A. God resists the proud

• Paul says that because of the surpassing greatness of the revelation, to keep him from exalting himself, there was given to him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment him – to keep him from exalting himself.
• This is quite an interesting scripture.
• This implies that Paul conceded that the potential was there for him to become boastful because of all the wonderful privileges and experiences he had with and received from God.
• Pride is the root of sin. It was Satan’s pride that made him fall, and his aim is to get us in a state of pride as well. Being spiritually prideful is very dangerous and can sneak in under the radar.
• The Bible teaches us that God hates this sin.

James 4:6, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

• If God’s grace is equated with humility, we should pray, “God keep me humble at all cost, because I do not want to miss out on your grace.”
• So, we find this interesting verse that says that there was given to him a thorn in the flesh to keep him grounded.
• This is a very well-known saying which originates from this piece of scripture, but the original language doesn’t use the word ‘thorn’. It is more like a stake, or a long, thick tent pen that is used to keep things anchored in severe weather and storms.
• So he was actually saying it is like a wooden stake that has been driven into his flesh. This was not just a small irritation. This was a serious problem.
• The text seems to indicate that it was not a moral weakness or a temptation. Many use this scripture as an excuse to keep on sinning and say that the problem is just their thorn in the flesh given by God. ‘God gave me the weakness for chocolate. It is my cross to bear and my thorn in the flesh.’
• Concerning this, we must remember even if you have a weakness, a character trait, negative personality traits, or genetic ‘disposition’ in a certain area, it is not an excuse to continue doing wrong. We lean on the grace and strength of God to overcome and resist the weakness.
• Nobody really knows what it was, but we do know from studying the scriptures that it was an agonizing, tangible, mysterious condition. We know that it was something that had the potential to be repulsive to other people.
• Some have suggested that it might have been epilepsy, but more evidence actually points to the fact that it could have been an oriental eye disease which was repulsive to look at and would impact one’s life severely.
• I do think it is important to recognize that God ordained it for us not to know specifically what it was so we would not measure our experiences with Paul’s, feeling it is lesser or worse and missing the point.

B. God can use suffering

• In our western culture we overemphasize comfort. Everyone tries to get more comfortable and make their lives easier.
• Every day there are more and more resources, gadgets, and material things we can buy to achieve that.
• There is nothing wrong with comfort, but the wrong assumption is that many think that comfort is their right, (and that is wrong) and become agitated and disgruntled if life is not comfortable.
• As a result, many have a warped idea of God and God’s blessings. They believe that it is God’s responsibility and His primary aim to make us comfortable.

Illus – Any good parent will know that, although fun and comfort is part of our lives,  your main focus in your child’s life should not be making their lives comfortable, and that everything should be fun. For example, disciplining a child is not fun and comfortable. Teaching them good manners, good morals, good work ethic, responsibility and all the other values we would like to see in them as well-rounded adults one day, doesn’t just happen. It takes work, and sometimes, it is hard. It takes loving but firm guidance and correction. Otherwise, children grow up to be selfish, spoilt, narcissistic and lazy adult brats.

• The presumption of comfort sets the stage for disappointment, because all go through some type of suffering or struggle at some stage in their lives.
• God is a good Father who knows what we need, and sometimes it is not what we want.
• This erroneous thinking results in a mindset that, if I am comfortable and ‘blessed’, God is happy with me. But if I’m going through suffering, struggle, sickness, or adversity, God is angry with me and I am not under His blessing.
• The false assumption is that they equate blessing with comfort, but cannot see that suffering can also be a blessing.

C. Why do we sometimes go through suffering?

• Some suffering is of our own making. Being prideful, rebellious, and doing foolish or disobedient things leads to suffering.
• Sin leads to suffering. God forgives if we repent and bring it to Him, but we are still subject to God’s laws of reaping and sowing. He can use it for His glory, but it might result in a difficult journey.
• Sometimes it is correction from God, correcting the course of our lives, or saving us from ourselves and stupid actions and decisions.
• Sometimes we go through trials and suffering to build character (Rom 5), or God even uses it as training to equip us for ministry to be able to comfort others.

Illus – It is an interesting phenomenon that rocks that are exposed to the waves and currents of the ocean, tend to become smooth, while those who are protected in a cove outside of the water stays jagged and sharp.

• God uses suffering and discomfort to grow us. I submit to you that most growth comes through times of hardship or difficulty, even if you might not see it while in the thick of it.

Illus – I am sure that most of us have had times when a vacation went wrong. Or you had to endure some unplanned difficulty on a road trip. Maybe it was a bootcamp or a summer camp where you had to go through some difficult training, or team building exercise. Most people would say that, although it was hard, they will never forget it and can take something valuable from the experience. Even if it is just the fact that you made it through it alive!

• In this instance with Paul, we see that God allowed this stake in the flesh. In fact, it goes further. Paul says that it was a messenger of Satan tormenting him. It was a continual buffeting, not just a momentary discomfort.
• In other words, though it was from Satan, God allowed it to remain because it served the purpose of preventing spiritual pride. And pride is one of the greatest obstacles to true spiritual maturity.
• Just like a stake or pen would be used to keep something grounded, God kept Him grounded.
• God knows what we need, more than we think.

Illus – We tend to imagine how we would act or what type of people we would be if we were in different more favorable circumstances. Many think that if they were billionaires, they would stay wonderful, humble, serving people. “God you, can trust me with that”. Or if God used you to do mighty miracles, that you would still be a very humble, pious person. God knows us better than we think, and He knows what we need to keep our hearts focused on Him. “Every house has it’s cross.”

II. Be Content in Weakness

• Verse 10 – therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, etc.
• We see that Paul asked the Lord that this would leave him.
• God answers him, and after that Paul’s attitude towards it changes. He then says I will boast in my weakness so the power of Christ may dwell in me.
• It’s often times our attitude about these difficulties that gets in the way. Paul knows that God can use these things to manifest His glory and His power.
• God’s presence and power was more important to him than his comfort. If his comfort would mean losing the power of God in his life because of the wrong attitude and pride, there was no contest!
• There are many, many people who would give up at the first sign of distress. This is a life lesson for all of us. Don’t let these troubles discourage or dishearten you, God is using them to shape your life and to manifest His power.

A. God’s grace is sufficient

• Three times Paul asked, no, he entreated three times that the thorn in his flesh would leave him. This was serious. Jesus also prayed three times that the cup would pass Him by.
• God’s answer to Paul was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” In other words, God wanted this weakness to remain so that Paul would see the sufficiency of grace.
• He wanted Paul to recognize the power of God and things God were doing through him INSPITE of the trouble, suffering, and weakness he was experiencing.
• Sometimes we have to come to the end of ourselves and accept that the grace of God is sufficient and what we really need. The “ I cannot do it, God…” place is the best place to be.
• Paul’s prayer was not answered the way he desired, but Paul was content with the answer. This is a key to spiritual maturity. Can we accept that God may have a purpose for difficult things?
• Can we take hold of the revelation that affliction is working FOR us, not AGAINST us?
• God may withhold something we strongly desire in order to give us something that’s much better.

B. Power is perfected in weakness

• This is a great principle and counterintuitive to all that we would normally think. You would think that God would take power and expound on it.
• The natural way of thinking is that God would look for the ultra-talented, the ultra-beautiful, the ultra-powerful and use them.
• No, God is more concerned about the heart. The person who is filled up with himself isn’t much use to God.

2 Samuel 16:7, “God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

• Verse 9 – I would rather boast about my weaknesses, Paul wrote, than about my strengths.
• We are more likely to fall in that which is our strongest suit. Even the thing that God has blessed you with can become a destructive force.

Illus- If you have great leadership capabilities, you can become prideful and domineering. If you are a talented musician, you can become prideful and a narcissist. If you have a wonderful engineering mind, you can become prideful and arrogant.

Illus – Peter, the disciple with the most courage is the one that fell for lack of courage.

1 Corinthians 10:12, Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 

• From this chapter we see that God even sees to it that we don’t exalt ourselves.
• Paul, after God answered him, had the deep revelation of this truth.

Verse 10 – Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

• He understood that he needed to be weak so that God’s power can be perfected in his weakness. He needed to be weak so that God’s perfect purpose could come to fruition in and through him. He needed to be weak to be kept from self-destruction.
• This weakness is not a “ it is hopeless. I give up” type of weakness. It is to be able to honestly look at oneself in relation to God and understand one’s deep dependence upon Him for everything.

Illus – In spite of whatever gift or talent God has given me in music, I am very aware that every breath my lungs take are dependent upon God. Every vibration of the vocal cords is dependent upon God. It is His power and grace that sustains my body with the ability to do anything.

• Only in my understanding of my weakness can I rest in and rely on the power of God. Only in my weakness does God’s power dwell in(tabernacle) in me.
• The secret of being content is knowing that God is the strength of your life and that you can do all things through Him.
• The people of greatest spiritual impact were often those who suffered and endured through many of life’s trials and troubles. The greater the calling, the greater the adversity; to prepare, to grow, to train, to keep humble.

Genesis 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

• God knows how to balance our blessings and our burdens, our suffering and our glory.
• He is the only one who can, and can then work all things together for our good. It might not be easy, but it is good. God doesn’t just have the good of the big picture in mind. In the end, it is also good for you.

Illus – Being pushed beyond your perceived limits by a personal trainer in the gym is not fun…Sometimes, when God is pushing us, urging us forward, our spiritual muscles might start to cramp up, emotions might get overwhelmed. But we must keep the eternal hope and God’s purpose in mind and push through, hold on. Lean on His grace that is perfected in our weakness.

• The key is faith; looking for God to demonstrate His power.
• If you believe God brings beauty out of ashes, then you’ll be watching and waiting for God to move. If you do not believe, you won’t be looking and you’ll be left with ashes.

Illus – Paul could have stopped ministering because of his thorn, but He trusted God to bring a blessing from it.

• In the weakness, in the hardship, expect God’s power.
• There is a blessing to be found in every season. Are you looking for it, or have you given up??

Isaiah 42:3, A bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish.