Tag: Devotion

2 Corinthians 12:7 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.

The Apostle Paul was given to experience the unutterable blessings of paradise, the abundance of the revelation of the third heaven in the presence of God. What privilege! And yet, he was to suffer such acute pain as having, as it were, a thorn in the flesh. Such a life of patient enduring he was to live day by day. As he perhaps cringed from pain, he remembered his unfinished mission for his Lord and the rest that was to follow in God’s paradise!

MacDonald observed well, “The apostle describes the thorn in the flesh as a messenger of Satan to buffet him. In one sense it represented an effort on Satan’s part to hinder Paul in the work of the Lord. But God is greater than Satan, and He used the thorn to further the work of the Lord by keeping Paul humble.”

The hymn “Day by Day” written by Lina Sandell Berg who accompanied his father who was the pastor of a parish church in Sweden on a ship when tragedy struck. The ship gave a sudden lurch and Lina’s father fell overboard and drowned before the eyes of his devoted daughter.

2 Corinthians 12:5-6 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.

The Apostle Paul has glorious spiritual experiences in the course of his ministry and spiritual life. He has experienced the presence of God with him in an intimate way that has been an encouragement to himself personally. But he will not be too forward to share these lest he is perceived to call attention to himself. He understood that it was God who had chosen to reveal to him rather than any merit of his own. As such, he would rather not build his spiritual credibility upon such experiences.

Hendriksen observed well on v6, “This sentence must be understood in the context of Paul’s opponents taunting him to boast about his credentials. If there should be anyone in the church who could glory in status, Paul would be the person. He had founded churches in Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece. He had worked much harder, had suffered more frequently, and had been exposed to more dangers than anyone else. And he had been given a celestial experience that placed him far above his co-workers and certainly above his detractors… But he does not wish to be a fool bragging irrationally, a behaviour that apparently characterized his adversaries. Speaking foolishly reveals the sin of lying and shading the truth. Paul, however, refuses to put himself on the level of his antagonists and to participate in their foolishness.” In fact, “He wants the Corinthians to think of him as a spiritual brother in the Lord. They must look at Paul as a man with many flaws (Romans 7:14-25), a person who had to cope with external weaknesses, hardships, and humiliations. Thus, he boasts not about himself, but about his weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

It is interesting how the Apostle Paul avoided mentioning that he was the one who experienced the vision of paradise, the third heaven. He uses a third person so that it might not bring to himself any glory or attention. Recall what John the Baptiser said in John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. This JC Ryle called “a splendid pattern of true and godly humility. A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.” The Apostle Paul understood this. He was a blind man healed because he persecuted the church of God.

Again, he reminded the Corinthians of his sufferings. It was a mark of his identifying with the ministry of Christ – Luke 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 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. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Can the living be brought into the presence of the eternal dwelling place of God? The Apostle Paul testified that there is indeed a paradise, called the third heaven, the abode of God. It was a visual preview of the eternal abode of the saints. He saw what cannot be expressed in words – inexpressible, unspeakable of what should not or must not be expressed for it is too sacred. [Friberg]

He was “caught up to the third heaven”. The verb “seized” in the passive, being caught up or caught away. He cannot articulate the bodily aspect of that experience, whether in the body or out of the body. It was a very special occasion whereby he was given a glimpse of the heavenly realm. I believe he was helping us to contrast the earthly life of suffering to the heavenly life of eternal blessedness. He wanted to express the reality of a future state of the believers. And this is via the auspices of the Christ Jesus whom he conveyed through the gospel. The ministry established through Christ Jesus is an eternal, everlasting one. There is a glorious consummation to following him and the Christ whom he follows. He “boast” of that glory to enthuse the church to her eternal glory that there may a patient waiting, sobriety and watchfulness for God’s people.

2 Corinthians 12:1-2 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.

The Apostle Paul narrated the account of a man who was taken to heaven. He was imparting the knowledge that heaven is a real place. And this man who is a believer in Christ was taken to behold the splendour of heaven fourteen years ago. He did not use the first person to share this personal testimony (2 Corin. 6:7). There is a place of heavenly rest for God’s people after the tribuluation of life on earth. He speaks of the Christian’s hope.

It was a testimony that enables those listening to sit up and take stock of this man’s words. He speaks of the eternal and transcendent matters that comes by the revelation of God. He was a witness to the truth of the heavenly vision. He is therefore not telling fables but proclaiming the truth. And because it is the truth, he was willing to endure all suffering to bear witness of it.

2 Corinthians 12:1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

The Apostle Paul had shared concerning his sufferings in the course of walking with his Lord. You recall after our Lord’s resurrection, He showed His hands the print of the nails and Thomas was asked by the Lord in John 20:27 … Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

What was Thomas’ response? John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. He believed, he trusted in the resurrected Christ and Jesus said to him Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. A message for us of its veracity. Truly, Jesus is the Christ, triumphant over sin and death – 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

2 Corinthians 11:32-33 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

This incident of his near capture in Damascus was cited by the Apostle Paul. What was the reason? For preaching the gospel. In the initial days of his preaching there was a curious interest but later, he was hounded by the unbelieving Jews. The authorities were contacted, the governor and his guards came after him. It was a precarious moment when the disciples had let him down by the wall of the city. He escaped.

2 Corinthians 11:30-31 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

The Apostle Paul makes a solemn declaration in the Name of God that his life with God is vibrant and real. He was gloriously saved, humiliated, on the road to Damascus when Jesus met him by a bright light that blinded him. He was a persecuter of Christians. He did not believe that Jesus is the Christ. He was wrong! He had to admit it. God helped him regain his sight. He might have thought life ends with his blindness! It was not so. God gave him spiritual sight and physical sight. He was commissioned by Jesus to be a torch-bearer for the gospel. What a restimony.

God manifest himself true and real to the Apostle Paul. Through all his weakness in the course of his ministry, Christ power was with him to triumph. It was not him but the Christ in Him that he sought to declare. Therefore, he said, “I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” He was merely God’s human instrument for righteousness. He had no power to change hearts and convert souls. It was all of his Lord. He understood this. He is not lying to make that statement if we have understood what went on in his life.

2 Corinthians 11:30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

The Apostle Paul speaks about his weakness and suffering as a testimony of the grace of God in his life. It is the Lord who enabled him to endure the scourges of persecution by which the gospel advances.

Jesus assures His disciples by which also the Apostle Paul takes comfort and find strength – Matthew 5:10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

It is with rejoicing that he speaks of his infirmities. By these, the Lord showed Himself able. Often, impossible obstacles, great impasse yet all things are possible with God. He experiences it and testifies of the goodness and greatness and gift of God toward him to go through suffering and triumph with rejoicing and exceeding gladness. He looks forward to his reward in heaven. What a glorious prospect.

2 Corinthians 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

The Apostle Paul was closely in touch with the happenings in the lives of God’s people. There feels for them as they go through life and what life has brought before them. When he first shared the gospel with them leading to their conversion and faith in Jesus Christ, it became his God-given mission to care for them, to pray for them. to uphold them in the faith.

When they are offended, he could feel their hurt. What they are upset, he understood their anger. His heart was given over to their welfare and well-being. When any was in affliction, he was at hand to render helpful. He encouraged the churches in Macedonia to raise the help for the saint in Jerusalem. He understood the severity of the persecution there and the hurt that the saints were going through for the gospel’s sake. He was given over for the cause of the gospel. As such, his emotions, as it were, were very much tagged with the believers in the many churches that were established as a result of the Lord’s grace.