Latest / A Chapter a Day Bible Reading / September 19 - 2 Corinthians 12

Transcript

September 19 - 2 Corinthians 12 · A Chapter a Day Bible Reading

0:11
Hello friends, it's Sean. Here it is Thursday.
0:14
It is the 19th of September. Glad to have your company as we
0:19
continue along this journey. Hearing from Paul in this rather
0:23
uncharacteristic letter. Normally Paul writes so
0:26
confidently about what God has done for people, and he still
0:29
does that in this letter. But it is mixed with all of this
0:32
personal vulnerability, isn't it?
0:34
As he struggles with his role as an apostle and fighting for the
0:39
legitimacy of his voice, as he tries to speak God's truth into
0:43
this community. And today is no different.
0:46
And today we really hear this poignant battle that Paul
0:49
struggles with, this thing that that keeps on holding him back.
0:53
And we don't know what it is that he talks about as the thorn
0:56
in his flesh, but like all of us, he has something that just
1:00
holds him back and makes it hard for him to do the things that he
1:04
wishes he could do. So boy, there is something here
1:07
for each one of us as we hear Paul's words.
1:11
So let's do just that, shall we? Let us hear what Paul has to
1:13
say. Let us hear what God has to say
1:17
about Himself through His word to us today as we read together
1:22
Second Corinthians chapter 12. This boasting will do no good,
1:37
but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about
1:40
visions and revelations from the Lord.
1:43
I was caught up to the 3rd heaven 14 years ago.
1:48
Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don't know, Only
1:51
God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I
1:55
was in my body or outside my body.
1:58
But I do know I was caught up to paradise and heard things so
2:02
astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no
2:06
human is allowed to tell. That experience is worth
2:10
boasting about. But I'm not going to do it.
2:14
I will boast only about my weaknesses.
2:17
If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so because I
2:21
would be telling the truth. But I won't do it because I
2:25
don't want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see
2:28
in my life or hear in my message, even though I have
2:31
received such wonderful revelations from God.
2:35
So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my
2:39
flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from
2:44
becoming proud. Three different times.
2:47
I beg the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, my grace is
2:52
all you need. My power works best in weakness.
2:57
So now I'm glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power
3:02
of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my
3:06
weaknesses and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and
3:11
troubles that I suffer for Christ.
3:14
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
3:19
You have made me act like a fool.
3:21
You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am
3:24
not at all inferior to these super apostles, even though I am
3:29
nothing at all. When I was with you, I certainly
3:33
gave you proof that I am an apostle, for I patiently did
3:37
many signs and wonders and miracles among you.
3:41
The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other
3:43
churches, was to become a financial burden to you.
3:47
Please forgive me for this wrong.
3:50
Now I am coming to you for the third time and I will not be a
3:54
burden to you. I don't want what you have, I
3:57
want you. After all, children don't
4:00
provide for their parents, rather parents provide for their
4:04
children. I will gladly spend myself and
4:07
all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love
4:11
you, the less you love me. Some of you admit I was not a
4:16
burden to you, but others still think I was sneaky and took
4:21
advantage of you by trickery. But how did any of the men I
4:25
sent to you take advantage of you?
4:27
When I urged Titus to visit you and send our other brother with
4:31
him? Did Titus take advantage of you?
4:34
No, for we have the same Spirit and walk in each other's steps,
4:40
doing things the same way. Perhaps you think we're saying
4:44
these things just to defend ourselves.
4:46
No, we tell you this as Christ's servants and with God as our
4:51
witness. Everything we do, dear friends,
4:54
is to strengthen you. For I am afraid that when I
4:58
come, I won't like what I find, and you won't like my response.
5:03
I'm afraid that I will find quarrelling, jealousy, anger,
5:07
selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorderly
5:12
behaviour. Yes, I am afraid that when I
5:15
come again, God will humble me in your presence and I will be
5:20
grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins.
5:25
You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and
5:29
eagerness for lustful pleasure. Lord Jesus, thank you for the
5:44
many gifts you give us. Thank you for the abilities that
5:48
you have blessed us with ways that we can work in this world
5:53
to add value to the people around us and add value to your
5:57
Kingdom. And as the world would encourage
6:00
us to take all the credit for these things, Lord Jesus, we
6:05
just want to give credit back to you.
6:08
Keep us humble, keep us always boasting in you alone.
6:15
And Lord, may our hearts be shaped like yours that we would
6:19
love like you do, and that we would want to see others do well
6:26
as our priority rather than just ourselves doing well.
6:31
Ah, so Lord, we claim your countercultural way.
6:33
We claim your better way. That may not make sense to the
6:37
world, but you have shown us that this is the way to live.
6:43
So we humble ourselves before your throne.
6:46
We worship you, and we follow you, our saving mighty God.
6:51
In the name of Jesus, Amen.