GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
2 Corinthians 12:1-10 W. Max Alderman
INTRODUCTION: Paul greatly illustrates the wonderful, sufficient grace of God. God has the help that we need in times of our need. What makes it so great is that it is sufficient grace. The Lord certainly knows what we need, and this study should show this to be true. May we look at Paul as he prayed for the Lord to remove the “thorn in the flesh”.
I. NOTICE PAUL’S HIGH PRIVILEGE. (Vv. 12:1-6)
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
Paul described an event that took place fourteen years earlier that would forever change him. Paul is telling of the great privilege that he had to see the heavenly. He tells how he would be required to have a thorn in the flesh to keep him from being exalted above measure…
A. Paul Had The Privilege of Seeing the Unseen. (V. 1)
Paul had the privilege and the responsibility of seeing things that had previously been unseen by the human eye. The Lord revealed much to him that became a part of the canon of Truth. The Lord allowed Paul to write about the church in ways that were previously only a mystery. Paul is going to describe an experience and vision that may have taken place after he was stoned while in Lystria. Visions were rather common in the New Testament as these examples will show:
i. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, had a vision of an angel (Luke 1:8-23).
ii. Jesus’ transfiguration is described as a vision for the disciples (Matthew 17:9).
iii. The women who came to visit Jesus’ tomb had a vision of angels (Luke 24:22-24).
iv. Stephen saw a vision of Jesus at his death (Acts 7:55-56).
v. Ananias experienced a vision telling him to go to Saul (Acts 9:10).
vi. Peter had a vision of the clean and unclean animals (Acts 10:17-19 and 11:5).
vii. Peter had a vision of an angel at his release from prison (Acts 12:9).
viii. John had many visions on Patmos (Revelation 1:1).
ix. Paul had a revelation of Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 22:6-11 and 26:12-20).
x. Paul had vision of a man from Macedonia, asking him to come to that region to help (Acts 16:9-10).
xi. Paul had an encouraging vision while in Corinth (Acts 18:9-11).
xii. Paul had a vision of an angel on the ship that was about to be wrecked (Acts 27:23-25).
Before we had the completed Bible, the Lord saw fit to reveal Himself by the use of visions or the supernatural experiences. Now that we have the Canon of Truth, there are no further revelations.
B. Paul Had The Privilege of Hearing the Unheard. (Vv. 2-4).
Can we but imagine what heaven sounds like? Every once in a while the Lord allows us to get “a touch of heaven”. Paul got HEAVEN… He could not even utter the words of heaven. Perhaps the words spoken in heaven are so perfect, without the curse being upon them, that it is a language that we cannot even comprehend while here upon this earth…
Also, the Lord did not give Paul permission to talk of the heavenly economy. Much about heaven will only be revealed upon one’s arrival. I wonder about people who have had their “outer body experiences’. Most of these people want to talk continuously about their experiences, with Paul waiting over fourteen years to talk about his experience and then only reluctantly. He then said that it was not lawful for him to talk about what he had seen except in just general terms…
C. Paul Had The Privilege of Experiencing the Indescribable. (Vv. 4b.-6)
Then, how would you come back and really describe heaven? How would you word what you saw? I think of what it will one day be like when we look and the veil is removed and we no longer “see through a glass darkly”. Praise God, one day we shall experience all the glories of Heaven…
II. NOTICE PAUL’S HURTING PAIN. (Vv. 7-8)
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
After Paul had witnessed and also had been a part of such a great experience as this, he was given a thorn in the flesh “lest he be exalted above measure”.
A. The Pain Was There For a Purpose. (V. 7)
Paul says that he was given the thorn, whatever that may have been, to keep him from being exalted above measure… Even Paul had to combat pride. Poole said it well: “The best of God’s people have in them a root of pride, or a disposition to be exalted above measure, upon their receipt of favours from God not common to others.” (Poole)
B. The Pain Was There By Permission. (v. 8).
The Lord knew exactly what Paul needed to have for him to acknowledge that and to say: “for when I am weak, then am I strong”. The Lord permitted this thorn to rest upon him. The thorn was given in such a manner, by allowing a messenger of Satan to buffet him. Just as Satan had to have permission to go after Job, so did he also against Paul, and so does he also when going after us.
III. NOTICE PAUL’S HEAVENLY POWER. (Vv. 9-10)
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
A. It Was A Grace Power. (V. 9)
What a great comfort in knowing that God’s grace is sufficient. I learned the meaning of this truth in a very special way when my sister came down with terminal cancer. When I asked her what should I tell our Mother and then she immediately answered: “Tell her that God’s grace is sufficient!” Four months later she went on to be with the Lord and during that time, leading up to her death, she demonstrated the sufficiency of God’s grace in her own life… God certainly gave her that “New Grace” or “dying grace”
B. It Was A Great Power. (V.9)
Verse number nine tells us that the Lord’s strength is made “perfect in weakness”. Paul said that he would rather glory in his infirmities just to have the “power of Christ” rest upon him.
C. It Was A Glorious Power. (V. 9,10)
It was glorious in that the Lord gave him the strength to glory in his infirmities…
D. It Was A Guiding Power. (V.10)
When the Lord gives us the grace that we need it causes us to do things, as Paul said, “for Christ’s sake”. When we do things for Christ’s sake we will take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses knowing that we are going in the direction that is according to the will of the Lord…
