richcathers.com
2Corinthians 12:1-10
CCEA MidWeek Study
February 25, 2026
Introduction
Stand and read the passage together first.
For those of you who would like a copy of my notes, I’ll have them up on my new website in a few days.
The website is “richcathers.com”
How much is “enough”?
Play Joey Chestnut Record video clip
Have you ever heard of “Joey Chestnut”?
He’s “hot dog eating champion” of the world.
In 2024 he broke the world’s record, eating 83 hotdogs and buns in 10 minutes.
Do you think he ate “enough”?
Illustration
A man is walking down the beach and comes across an old bottle. He picks it up, pulls out the cork and out pops a genie. The genie says, ‘Thank you for freeing me from the bottle. In return I will grant you three wishes.’ The man says ‘Great! I always dreamed of this and I know exactly what I want. First, I want one billion dollars in a Swiss bank account.’ Poof! There is a flash of light and a piece of paper with account numbers appears in his hand. He continues, ‘Next, I want a brand new red Ferrari right here.’ Poof! There is a flash of light and a bright red brand-new Ferrari appears right next to him. He continues, ‘Finally, I want to be irresistible to women.’ Poof! There is a flash of light and he turns into a box of chocolates.
I wonder if sometimes our quest for “more” only causes us trouble.
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, and inventor.
We often quote Pascal as having said that there is a “God-shaped-vacuum” inside every person. His actual words were,
“What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that
there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the
empty print and trace?
This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there, the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself”
We all have “hungers” we are trying to satisfy.
We try to stuff all kinds things into those holes.
What does it take to have “enough”?
The title of my message tonight is “Sufficient”, or you could title it “Enough”.
Sufficient
2Corinthians 12
The context: Paul has been dealing with those in the church in Corinth who have questioned his authority as an apostle.
In 2Corinthians 11, Paul had been laying out his “credentials” as an apostle by talking about all the ways he had suffered persecution by preaching about Jesus, things like…
(2 Corinthians
11:23–27 NKJV) —23 …in stripes above measure, in
prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the
Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times
I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep…
In vs. 26 he talks about all the “perils” he had faced, then,
27 in weariness
and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings
often, in cold and nakedness—
Paul understood going through hard times.
And when he writes this, he hasn’t even been arrested in Jerusalem, spending more years in prison, sent to Rome, shipwrecked, etc…
Paul moves on from “suffering” to other things that might be found among his “credentials” as an apostle. Now in Chapter 12…
:1-6 Visions
:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:
:1 visions
The idea behind a “vision” is that of “seeing” something supernatural.
The Greek word optasia is defined as an event of a transcendent character that impresses itself vividly on the mind; a vision.
It is a word based on the root word for “seeing”. It’s “seeing” something supernatural.
It was not completely uncommon for people in the New Testament to experience “visions”. Paul encountered “visions” several times.
When John the Baptist’s father was working as a priest in the Temple, an angel appeared to him and told him that he was going to have a special son.
(Luke 1:21–22 NKJV)
—21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered
so long in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he could not
speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the
temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
In Acts 9, After Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he had a “vision” of a man named Ananias who would help him. (Acts 9:12)
(Acts 9:12 NKJV) And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and
putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
In fact, this same man, Ananias had a vision at the same time telling him about a man named “Saul of Tarsus” (or, “Paul”) (Acts 9:10)
(Acts 9:10 NKJV) Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to
him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
In Acts 16, On his second missionary trip, Paul decided to cross into
Europe to preach the gospel because of a vision of a man from Macedonia saying “Come over to Macedonia and help us”. (Acts 16:9)(Acts 16:9–10 NKJV) —9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia
stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to
Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Paul knew about “visions”
This was about 8 years before Paul would write 2Corinthians.
When Paul was in Corinth for the first time, things were getting difficult, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision at night saying…
(Acts 18:9–10 NKJV)
…“Do not be
afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am
with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in
this city.”
This was about five years before Paul would write 2Corinthians.
:1 revelations
Yes, this is the same word found in the book of Revelation.
Apokalupsis means “making fully known”, disclosing things that were “hidden”. It’s used 18 times in the New Testament (only once in Revelation).
It’s used to describe one way that God taught and directed believers (Gal. 2:2; Eph. 3:3; 1Cor. 14:6)
Paul said he came to learn the “gospel” through revelation.
(Galatians
1:12 NKJV) For I neither received it from man, nor was I
taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul said he also learned the truth about God’s desire for Gentiles to be saved “by revelation” (Eph. 3:3-6)
(Ephesians 3:3–6
NKJV) —3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have
briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may
understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in
other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed
by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the
Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise
in Christ through the gospel,
But wait… there’s more…
:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
:2 I know a man in Christ
This is going to sound a little strange to us, but Jewish rabbis were accustomed to speaking about themselves in the third person.
So for a few sentences Paul is going to describe something he experienced as if it were someone else.
It’s a way of introducing this idea without immediately “bragging” about it.
By the time we get to verse 7, we will realize that Paul is talking about himself.
Warren Wiersbe:
Jewish rabbis were accustomed to speaking about themselves in the third person, and Paul adopted that approach as he unfolded this experience to his friends (and enemies) at Corinth. [1]
:2 caught up to the third heaven
The Greek word for “caught up” is harpadzo, the same word associated with the Rapture of the church.
(1 Thessalonians
4:17 NKJV) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
The Mormons and the Gnostics claim that there are seven heavens.
The Scripture only talks about three.
1) Where the birds fly
We call that the “atmosphere”
2) Where the stars are
We call that “space”
3) Where God dwells
We might call this “paradise”, or “heaven”.
This is where Paul found himself caught up to.
:2 fourteen years ago
(Note: Paul also uses “fourteen” to describe the length of time between visits to Jerusalem – Galatians 2:1)
If this is Paul, where was he fourteen years ago?
Some think this was in Lystra where Paul had been stoned and everyone thought he had died (Acts 14)
On his first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas were in the city of Lystra (Acts 14). Paul healed a lame man, the pagan people thought Paul and Barnabas were “gods” and tried to present them with a sacrifice. Paul and Barnabas were rejected this nonsense, and in the end they were driven out of the city and Paul was stoned and left for dead.
The believers prayed for Paul, he got up, and walked back into the city.
Because of this, some folks think this was when Paul got a glimpse of heaven.
The problem with this view is the chronology.
It’s only nine years before the time of Paul writing this, not fourteen.
I think this was an experience that wasn’t in any of the historical records.
I may be wrong in my chronology of Acts, but over the years I’ve roughed out some dates that quite a few scholars agree on.
Chronologically, it would have happened somewhere between Acts 11:28 and Acts 12:19.
There’s a lot more info on this in my notes.
Paul writes 2Corinthians from Philippi around AD 56 or 57, or, between Acts 20:1 and Acts 20:2.
Fourteen years prior to that would be around AD 42 or 43.
Chronologically, that would place it somewhere near the end of Acts 11, or sometime near the first half of Acts 12.
I wonder if it might have taken place while Paul and Barnabas were taking the gift from the church in Antioch to Jerusalem.
This was also the time when Peter was in prison and the church prayed Peter out of prison.
(Acts 12:5 NKJV) Peter was therefore kept in prison,
but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
But that’s all speculation.
In Acts 11:28, the prophet Agabus warned of a great famine that would impact the whole world. That famine occurred in AD 41.
The church in Antioch responded to Agabus’ warnings, took up a collection, and sent it to the poor church in Jerusalem in the hands of Barnabas and Saul (Paul).
It is some time after this that in Acts 12, Herod begins a persecution of the church in Jerusalem when he has James the brother of John arrested and put to death.
Then Herod decides to arrest Peter as well, and Peter is put into prison awaiting execution.
You are probably aware of the story of what happens to Peter.
(Acts 12:5 NKJV) Peter was therefore kept in prison,
but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
Peter is rescued from prison by an angel, and the church seemed a bit surprised when Peter shows up at one of the prayer meetings.
I think that Paul and Barnabas were at those prayer meetings.
Later in that chapter, Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch
(Acts 12:25 NKJV) And Barnabas
and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry,
and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
Could it be that sometime during that period Paul has this experience of being “caught up to the third heaven? Perhaps.
:3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—
:4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Remember, Paul is actually referring to himself.
4 heard inexpressible words
inexpressible – arretos – something that cannot be expressed, since it is beyond human powers; or … something that must not be expressed, since it is holy.
Paul not only saw things (a “vision”), he has heard things as well, things he couldn’t repeat.
:4 caught up into Paradise
Paradise – this is another term for God’s throne, the “third heaven”.
Paul is not the only one who’s gotten a glimpse of heaven.
Moses and the elders did (Exodus 19)
(Exodus 24:9–10
NKJV) —9 Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of
the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. And there
was under His feet as it were a paved work of
sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity.
Isaiah saw God’s throne (Isaiah 6)
(Isaiah 6:1 NKJV) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a
throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe
filled the temple.
Daniel did (Daniel 7)
So did Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1)
John would as well (Rev. 4)
(Revelation
4:2 NKJV) Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a
throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
Lesson
Suffering is worth it
We all go through difficult times.
Peter wrote,
(1 Peter 4:12 NKJV) Beloved, do not think it strange
concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though some strange thing happened to you;
Paul would write to Timothy:
(2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live
godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
We saw in 2Corinthians 11 that Paul knew all about suffering.
But in the end, is it “worth” it?
If we go back a little further in 2Corinthians, Paul said something else about how he handled difficulty.
(2 Corinthians
4:16–18 NKJV) —16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even
though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed
day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are
seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are
eternal.
Paul knew about afflictions.
He also knew about heaven.
When Paul talks about a “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory”… does he know what he’s talking about?
When Paul says that heaven is worth all the mess we face on earth, he knew what he was talking about.
He had tasted heaven.
Illustration
Sometimes our grandkids can be picky-eaters. Some of them will only eat about five different things when they come to our house.
It’s really quite odd since I think that Deb and I, as well as the kids’ father, are all pretty open to trying new foods.
The first time we offered chocolate ice cream to one of our grandkids, she didn’t want it. She said she didn’t like chocolate ice cream. We asked, “Have you tasted chocolate ice cream?” Of course she said, “No”
I am happy to inform you that she does now indeed like chocolate ice cream. Sometimes we’ll say to her, “Do you remember when you didn’t used to like chocolate ice cream?” We will say that to entice her into trying some new food.
Do you know how amazing heaven is going to be?
Have you ever tasted heaven?
Paul got a taste of heaven.
And compared to the difficulties he had gone through in life, he knew how “worth it” heaven will be.
Paul wrote his letter to the Romans very close to the time of his second letter to the Corinthians.
(Romans 8:18 NKJV) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
“the glory which shall be revealed…” – how did Paul know what that was like? Could he perhaps have this experience in paradise in mind?
Illustration
One night a man was out walking in the desert when a voice said to him, ‘Pick up some pebbles and put them in your pocket, and tomorrow you will be both sorry and glad.’
The man obeyed. He stooped down and picked up a handful of pebbles and put them in his pocket. The next morning he reached into his pocket and found diamonds and rubies and emeralds. And he was both glad and sorry. Glad that he had taken some, but sorry that he hadn’t taken more.
I know that some of you have been going through a desert of great difficulty. And I know what it feels like to want to get out of that difficulty as fast as possible, and to get away from it as far as possible.
But what if, as you are in that “desert”, God would ask you to stop and pick up a few pebbles here and there on your trip through the desert?
Look for the lessons you are learning while in your difficulty.
You might wish that you had stopped and picked up a few more.
:5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
:6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
The New Living Translation puts it all in easier language…
(2 Corinthians
12:5–6 NLT) —5 That experience is worth boasting
about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I
would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to
give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,
:7-8 Thorns
:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
:7 lest I should be exalted above measure
Now we learn that Paul had been talking about himself when he talked about “revelations”
Paul recognized there was a purpose for this “thorn”.
:7 a thorn in the flesh
thorn – skolops – anything pointed, that causes serious annoyance, thorn, splinter
There are more than a few theories as to what this “thorn” was for Paul.
It could be a person Paul had trouble with like…
(2 Timothy
4:14 NKJV) Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May
the Lord repay him according to his works.
The word is used in the LXX when God describes the inhabitants of Canaan that weren’t conquered.
(Numbers 33:55 NKJV) But if you do not drive out the
inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you
let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your
sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.
It could have been an eye condition like the one he wrote to the Galatians about.
(Galatians
4:15 NKJV) …For I bear you witness that, if possible, you
would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
(Galatians 4:13–15
NKJV) —13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel
to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh
you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even
as Christ Jesus. 15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed?
For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own
eyes and given them to me.
Some suggest it could be something demonic, since he calls it a “messenger of Satan”.
Others suggest it could be anything from malaria, migraines, epilepsy, to speech difficulties.
The point is, we don’t know, and Paul isn’t telling us.
I think if Paul had been specific, some of us would say, “Well I can’t relate because I don’t have an “eye disease”, that’s not my problem”.
But because Paul is vague, we find we might relate quite well to what Paul is talking about.
:7 a messenger of Satan to buffet me
The word “buffet” (kolaphizo) means to strike sharply with the hand or fist.
Whatever this “thorn” was, Paul feels like he’s getting beat up by it.
messenger – aggelos – usually this is translated “angel”, but here it’s appropriate to translate it as “messenger”.
It’s translated “messenger” several times to describe John the Baptist.
(Matthew
11:10 NKJV) For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I
send My messenger before Your face, Who will
prepare Your way before You.’
It’s translated “messenger to describe John the Baptist’s disciples who came to Jesus with a question.
(Luke 7:24 NKJV) When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the
multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A
reed shaken by the wind?
I don’t think this has to be a demon, but simply that the “thorn” is acting like a “messenger” to send Paul a message.
Some of us have been exposed to certain theological viewpoints that when we sense Satan is at work, that we must “bind” Satan or “cast” him out.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for exercising authority over the demonic realm, but note that in this verse Paul has prayed three times and the “thorn” is still there. And Paul had quite an excellent track record with casting out demons.
(Acts 19:15 NKJV) And the evil spirit answered and
said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
I think it’s more likely that it’s either a person or a disease.
The language makes me think of what happened to Job.
(Job 1:9–11 NKJV) —9 So Satan answered the Lord
and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not
made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on
every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have
increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and
touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
God allowed Satan to “take a swing” at Job.
Satan did this by affecting Job’s family, his wealth, and his health.
There may be times when God in His sovereignty may allow difficult things into our lives.
Yet God is still in control.
God may allow things for a purpose.
For Job, God wanted to show the universe how a good man will respond when he goes through difficulty.
For Paul, God want to work greater humility into his life.
Could there be a purpose for the “thorns” you might buffeted by?
:7 lest I be exalted above measure
Paul recognized there was a purpose for this “thorn”.
It may have a connection with Satan, but Paul recognized that it was allowed into his life to keep him humble because of the “revelations” and “visions” he had been allowed to see.
Paul saw a purpose in this “thorn”.
:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
:8 I pleaded with the Lord
pleaded – parakaleo – to ask to come and be present where the speaker is, to summon to one’s aid, to call upon for help.
This is the word at the root of the word “Comforter” (parakletos), the Holy Spirit, the One called alongside to help.
Some of us have a background that when we hear that something involves Satan, that we must immediately take authority over it and cast it out.
But this thing, this thorn, wasn’t going to go anywhere.
This thing was being used by God for a purpose – to cultivate humility in Paul.
:8 pleaded … three times
Don’t look at this as some sort of magic number, as if this is the limit to how many times we should pray for something.
This was simply the number of times that Paul prayed before God told him he didn’t need to keep praying about the “thorn”.
There are some things that we only need to pray once over.
There are some things that we ought to be willing to pray every day for years.
:9-10 Grace
:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
:9 My grace is sufficient for you
I want to take a few minutes to unpack a word that has a bit more meaning than we might have been aware of. The word “grace” is a word we use and hear a lot, but do we realize what it is?
grace – charis – an undeserved gift
The word is related to the word for “joy” (chara), so “grace” is a gift that brings “joy”.
In the Old Testament LXX, charis often translates the Hebrew words hen, hanan, or hanun, which we translate as “grace”, or “gracious”.
(Exodus 34:6 NKJV) And the Lord passed
before him and proclaimed, “The Lord,
the Lord God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
Words like “beauty” and “good” are often associated with this word.
Names such as Ananias, Hannah, or Anna are all based on the Hebrew word hanan. (or, “grace”)
Lesson
See the treasure
Grace is often associated with what brings salvation.
(Romans 3:23–24
NKJV) —23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus,
His redemption was like paying a ransom – we were being held prisoners by sin, and Jesus paid the price for our freedom.
Even though we are undeserving sinners, God gave us a gift (grace) through Jesus’ death on the cross which “redeemed” us.
It’s possible that some of you haven’t quite realized yet how amazing this grace is.
You might still be trying to do things to “please” God, or be “good enough” for God, when in fact God has already done everything necessary to make you right with him.
You might be running yourself ragged because you’re afraid God might get angry with you.
If this is you, you’ve missed the point.
You can’t add anything to what God did for you when Jesus Christ became a man, took our sins upon Himself and died on a cross.
On the cross, Jesus cried “it is finished”. It’s all been paid for. Everything.
You don’t become “right” with God by doing more, you become “right” with God by receiving God’s forgiveness and simply trusting Him.
Do you see the treasure?
(2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV) For you know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that
you through His poverty might become rich.
Sometimes the word “grace” goes a bit beyond salvation.
(Titus
2:11–14 NKJV) —11 For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for
the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus
Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless
deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good
works.
Grace is more than salvation. It brings salvation. It teaches us how to live.
Sometimes “grace” is simply a “gift”, even a financial one.
(1 Corinthians 16:3 NKJV) And when I come, whomever you
approve by your letters
I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem.
The word “gift” is charis.
When writing to the Corinthians, Paul used “grace” to describe the financial gift he was asking them to make towards the saints in Jerusalem.
(2 Corinthians 8:6 NKJV) So we urged Titus, that as he had
begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
The verb form charidzomai, has at its root the idea of “to give”.
The principle of “giving” is also connected to “forgiving”, giving someone a “release” of your grudge or pain, even if they don’t deserve it.
(Ephesians 4:32 NKJV) And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave
you.
You can forgive others because of how Jesus forgave you.
Sometimes the thing we are “given” is suffering.
(Philippians
1:29–30 NKJV) —29 For to you it has been granted
on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His
sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is
in me.
God’s grace towards us may start with what Jesus did for us, but it goes far beyond that. It’s ALL God gives us.
(Romans 8:32 NKJV) He who did not spare His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give
us all things?
God isn’t done “giving” to us.
Another related word is charisma, which we would typically look at as “spiritual gifts”. The word literally means “a work of grace” (the -ma end on a Greek word indicates a “work” of something, here a “work of grace”)
Grace is about all that God gives to us, even when we don’t deserve it.
In our passage, I’m not sure I see in the context the need to limit this word “grace” to just the idea of what God has done for our salvation. I think it carries the broader sense of all that God has given to us.
What has God given you? What has He “graced” you with, even beyond salvation? Here are three ideas to get you started:
Your spouse
(Proverbs 18:22 NKJV) He who finds a
wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.
That sounds like “grace” to me. Do you see the treasure in your spouse?
(Proverbs 19:14 NKJV) Houses and riches are an
inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Your kids
(Psalm
127:1–5 NKJV) —1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman
stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for
you to rise up early, To sit up
late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a
heritage from the Lord, The fruit of
the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a
warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is
the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their
enemies in the gate.
(Psalm 127:3 NKJV) Behold, children are a heritage
from the Lord, The fruit of
the womb is a reward.
The word for “heritage” in the Hebrew is nachala, an “inheritance”, something passed on to you for a possession.
When Jacob returned to Canaan with his large family, his brother Esau saw all the women and children
(Genesis 33:5 NKJV) And he lifted his eyes and saw the
women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said,
“The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
“graciously given” in Hebrew is hanan, the word for “grace”.
I know that kids can be difficult at times. Raising kids today can be trying. Even grandkids can be a teeny bit difficult at times.
But they are one of God’s most precious gifts to you.
Ministry
(Romans 12:6 NKJV) Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if
prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
The “gifts”, spiritual “gifts” (charisma) is literally a “work of grace”.
When you find yourself using your gifts and serving the Lord, that’s your “ministry”. Your spiritual gifts and your ministry are “gifts” from God.
Illustration
William Randolph Hearst, the late newspaper publisher, invested a fortune collecting art treasures from around the world. One day Mr. Hearst found a description of some valuable items that he felt he must own, so he sent his agent abroad to find them. After months of searching, the agent reported that he had finally found the treasures. They were in Mr. Hearst's warehouse. Hearst had been searching frantically for treasures he already owned! Had he read the catalog of his treasures, he would have saved himself a great deal of money and trouble. [1]
You may be thinking there’s a great “treasure” out there you would like to find, when you may already have it. Learn to see the treasures in the “gifts” God has given you.
My grace is …
sufficient – arkeo – to be enough, sufficient, adequate
This is the “title” of my message.
It often shows up in the New Testament translated as “contentment”.
Contentment is not an easy thing to achieve.
Illustration
John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, was one of history’s richest men. At his peak, if you put his wealth into today’s dollars, he would have been worth $400 billion.
A reporter once asked him, “How much money is enough?” His reply? “Just a little bit more”
We have trouble sometimes finding “enough”
Solomon, another fairly wealthy individual, wrote,
(Proverbs 27:20 NKJV) Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of
man are never satisfied.
We may realize we have a “treasure”, but it doesn’t always seem “enough”.
When John the Baptist was preaching to soldiers…
(Luke 3:14 NKJV) Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to
them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with
your wages.”
In contrast to those who have a “desire to be rich”, Paul writes,
(1 Timothy 6:6–8
NKJV) —6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is
certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with
these we shall be content.
In dealing with the issue of greed, the writer to the Hebrews says,
(Hebrews
13:5 NKJV) Let your conduct be
without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.
For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
We don’t have to get sucked into wanting more and more (covetousness).
We need to be “content” with what we have.
Ultimately what we “have” is God Himself (“I will never leave you”)
Paul had to learn this lesson.
(Philippians
4:11–13 NLT) —11 Not that I was ever in need, for I
have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have
learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a
full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do
everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Christ is the one who can give us the strength, the ability to be “content” in our circumstances.
So what’s the point of God telling Paul “My grace is sufficient for you”?
Lesson
Sufficient treasure
Paul is saying two things:
1) God answered “no” to Paul’s prayer. His prayer request was denied. He would get “no more”.
2) Paul didn’t need more. What God had already given Paul was more than enough.
From TDNT:
Two thoughts intertwine in 2 C. 12:9: a. You will get no more, Paul’s request being denied, and b. You need no more, cf. the positive explanation: ἡ … δύναμις ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ τελεῖται.[2]
God’s gifts are enough
When you see a little better what God has truly given you, you realize that it’s not just “barely enough”, but it’s “more than enough”.
Your spouse
Our world wants to tell you that if you are having trouble with your spouse, it’s time to move on to the next one.
You say, “But they’re not meeting my needs”.
You are wrong.
Stop looking around and seeing if you think somebody else might be better for you.
Perhaps you ought to be asking God to meet the “needs” that you think your spouse should be meeting.
You may need to do some work in your marriage, but you don’t need a new spouse. Perhaps you need to appreciate what you have.
I think a good prayer to pray every day is this, “God help me to be the husband that my wife needs me to be.”
Your kids
Don’t give up on your kids and distance yourself from them when things are difficult.
Play the “long game”. Disciplining your kids isn’t easy, but it will pay off in the long run.
Solomon wrote,
(Proverbs 29:17 NLT) Discipline your children, and they
will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.
Pour into your kids.
Read the Bible with your kids.
On Sunday afternoons we ask the grandkids what they learned in Sunday School class and we discuss it.
Your ministry
When you begin to taste what it means to serve the Lord, it’s a pretty sweet taste.
But if you’re not careful, you can start looking for something “more”. You can dream about having a “bigger Bible Study” or becoming an elder or a pastor.
There are lots of ways to gain a “bigger Bible Study” or a “bigger church”, but most of them are not godly.
At Fullerton, we had folks who started to be used, and then they jumped ship to go to a “bigger” church where there were “bigger” opportunities.
God’s not looking for people with big dreams. He’s looking for faithfulness in the little things.
(Luke
16:10 NLT) “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in
large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with
greater responsibilities.
Illustration
Greg Laurie told this story, “I read a story about a man who found an old, blue-and-white vase while he was cleaning his attic. He took it to an auction to sell it, thinking he would probably get twenty or thirty dollars from it, maybe one hundred dollars if he was lucky. To his utter amazement, the vase turned out to be an original fifteenth-century work of art from the Ming Dynasty. It sold for $324,000.”
From Greg Laurie (2/19/26) –
Could it be that some of God’s “gifts” are worth just a bit more than you think they’re worth?
God had given Paul “grace”, and that was enough
Even if you exclude all the various types of “grace” that God shows towards us, don’t ignore the big one.
Jesus died for us and has promised forgiveness and eternal life for those who believe.
Is that “enough”?
:9 My strength is made perfect in weakness
Another way to say this is that God’s ability to work in us is matured through our weakness.
I’ve got more I could say on this, but for the sake of time will move on. It will be in my notes.
strength – dunamis – potential for functioning in some way, power, strength, capability; ability to carry out something.
This same word is translated “power” later in this verse.
This is that word preachers often call the “dynamite” power of God when we preach from Acts 1:8
(Acts 1:8 NKJV) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come
upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The more I study Greek, the less I like that idea.
The word is based on a very common verb, dunamai, which is normally translated “to be able”.
Yes, strength can be involved. Yes power can be involved. But the idea is simply to “be able” to do something.
In Acts 1:8, the Spirit gives us the “ability” to be witnesses”.
Yes, sometimes it’s the “ability” to perform miracles.
I also think it’s the “ability” to follow Jesus like we should.
In our passage, dunamis is the “ability” to do all that God wants us to do.
The “abilities” that God wants to give us are “made perfect” in weakness.
made perfect – teleo – to complete an activity or process; finish, complete.
Yes, this is the same word Jesus used on the cross tetelestai (it is finished), but Greek words can have a broad semantic range depending on the context.
I like to think of this word in terms of “maturity”. James uses this same word in…
(James 1:2–4 NKJV)
—2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may
be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Our trials produce patience, which produces “maturity”.
God’s “ability” in us is made “mature” when we are weak.
weakness – astheneia – a state of debilitating illness, incapacity for something, weakness
In our passage, the word is translated “infirmities” (vs.5,9,10) “weakness” (vs.9), and “weak” (vs.10)
The word is found quite a few times in our passage, though it’s translated a few different ways. You might want to circle these:
(2
Corinthians 12:5 NKJV) Of such a one I will boast; yet of
myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
(2
Corinthians 12:9 NKJV) And He said to me, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(2
Corinthians 12:10 NKJV) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For
when I am weak, then I am strong.
(1 Timothy
5:23 NKJV) No longer drink only water,
but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.
(Hebrews
4:15 NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we
are, yet without sin.
Lesson
Mature Strength
Our strength, our “abilities” can mature when we encounter “weakness”.
That’s because our “strength” becomes dependent on His strength.
Back in the days of ancient combat, the maturity of a warrior was not measured in the size of his muscles, but in the kinds of scars he wore.
Muscles without scars tells me a fellow hasn’t faced battle.
If you want to find a strong prayer warrior to pray for you, don’t pick the person with fancy words, pick the person who has endured much difficulty.
:9 Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
most gladly – hedeos – superlative adverb of “pleasant”, or “sweet”, to be pleased with something.
infirmities – astheneias –
power – dunamis –
may rest – episkenoo – to use a place for lodging, take up quarters, take up ones abode.
It’s a word built on the word for “tent” or “tabernacle”, but with the prefix of “upon” (epi) added to the front.
A shortened form of the word is used to describe Jesus taking on human flesh:
(John 1:14 NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among
us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
Paul doesn’t mind “boasting” in the things he’s “weak” in because his weakness allows Jesus’ power to be stronger in him.
:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities…
I like the fact that Paul gives a fairly broad list of things here.
Here are the kinds of things that make us “weak” in a good way:
infirmities – astheneias – weakness, illness
If Paul only found strength in “persecutions”, we might tend to think, “well, this long stay in the hospital isn’t exactly persecution” and think that this principle doesn’t apply to us.
But it does.
reproaches – hubris – what an “arrogant” person does, namely shame, insult, mistreatment.
needs – anagke – necessity, pressure, distress
This might be describing times of poverty, but also the pressures of ministry and God’s call on your life.
(1
Corinthians 9:16 NKJV) For if I preach the gospel, I have
nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I
do not preach the gospel!
Sometimes we can feel quite inadequate for the things God wants us to do.
persecutions – diogmos - persecution
Was Paul really able to “take pleasure” in persecutions?
When Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten, and imprisoned in Philippi, they were singing hymns at midnight to God. (Acts 16:25)
(Acts 16:25 NKJV) But at midnight Paul and Silas were
praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
Paul is not just “all talk”. He lives this way.
distresses – stenochoria – stressful circumstances, difficulty, anguish, trouble.
I know that quite a few of us have experienced a fair amount of stress lately.
I have found a helpful stress test to help you determine how much stress you are experiencing.
Illustration
I want to show you a picture that was devised as part of a stress test developed by researchers at St. Mary's Hospital in London. It is the final picture of a series of stress determinators to gauge the amount of stress a patient has built up over a short time. It’s a picture of two dolphins jumping out of the water in tandem. The research has shown that the more differences you notice in the two dolphins, the more stressed you are. This is attributed to the concentration and recognition influences intensifying when stressed.
The two are very similar, so if you can tell the difference without looking hard, you should pack up work and go home immediately. Are you ready?
Here’s the picture…
Lesson
Embrace the weakness
If you’ve been experiencing a weakness, and you’ve been praying for it to go away, and it hasn’t - perhaps you ought to stop trying to run from it and instead embrace it. It’s a chance for you to grow closer and deeper in Jesus.
Too often we are looking for things to make us “stronger”.
My Facebook feed is filled with ads about “Tai Chi Walking programs”, and gizmos that promise to make you stronger.
I guess Facebook has decided I’m out of shape (guilty!).
But God’s way of making us “stronger” and even a little more “mature” is a little different than what those ads try to promote.
God’s way often involves making “you” weaker, so He can be stronger in you.
God called Gideon to take on the Midianites.
He’d be facing 135,000 of these warriors.
When he was able to raise an army of 10,000, God told Gideon he had too many.
(Judges 7:2 NKJV) And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are
too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim
glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’
So God guided Gideon into whittling his army down to 300.
F.B. Meyer wrote,
“I used to think that God's gifts were on shelves stacked one higher than the next, and the higher you got, the more gifts you got. Then I found out that they were really on shelves one lower than the next, and the lower you became, the more you received.”
It’s similar to what Jesus taught:
(Mark 10:43–45
NKJV) —43 …whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come
to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
When God used David to defeat Goliath, David had to convince Saul that he was capable.
(1 Samuel 17:37 NKJV) Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of
the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this
Philistine.” And Saul
said to David, “Go, and the Lord
be with you!”
David wasn’t completely without strength. He had faced a lion and a bear.
But ultimately David knew that God was the one who helped him.
I have to admit, we often don’t give Saul enough credit for letting the young shepherd boy face the giant.
When David went face to face with Goliath, he said,
(1 Samuel 17:47 NKJV) Then all this assembly shall know
that the Lord does not save with
sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s,
and He will give you into our hands.”
It’s not that God can’t or won’t use your “strengths”.
But your “strengths” will work much better when they are under the guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes that doesn’t happen until we experience “weakness” of some kind.
So don’t be discouraged when you face setbacks, illness, or difficulty of some kind.
What if God is trying to show you that He alone is all you need?