Title: My power is made perfect in weakness
“… A thorn was given in my flesh, an angel of Satan, that he might strike me down so that I would not be overconfident. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me, and he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is weak. It is said that it is made perfect in the . . . Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in reproach, in want, in persecution, in distress, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
It is the story of the period of the judges of Israel. Because Israel worshiped foreign gods and became corrupt, God delivered the people into the hands of Midian and made them slaves for 7 years. After that, an angel of God appeared to Gideon, who was secretly threshing wheat in the winepress, and said, “Great warrior, the LORD is with you.” Gidoon heard these words and confessed his own weakness. After that, they were attacked again by the Midianites and the Amalekites. They filled the whole earth like locusts. When Gideon blew his trumpet, 32,000 people from the Israelites gathered. Gideon obeyed God's word and left 300 people who grabbed water with their hands and licked them. Those who trembled in fear or who came first were sent back. And armed them and went to war.
1. Paul's three pleadings and rejection
Paul was the greatest disciple of Jesus in history. But Paul had much to be proud of. He was circumcised on the eighth day, of the house of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to the Law, a Pharisee, without blemish. Also, he was a disciple of Gamaliel who was respected by all the people at the time, and he was a great person with a great family, philosophy, literature, and fervent faith. Moreover, even after believing in Jesus, I received many revelations from God. Therefore, God gave Paul a thorn so that he would not be conceited, and he severely broke it. Paul was in so much pain that he asked him to cast off Satan's messenger three times. God answered the third time, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
To endure suffering is to become obedient vessels. When it is comfortable, he is stubborn and will do his own thing, but when it is too painful, he obeys, obeys, and follows. Anyone who grew up in the countryside will have seen many times a calf getting his nose pierced as he grows up to become a mother cow. When farming, you cannot farm with a cow that has not snore. When God decides to use it, he snores. Man is proud and disobedient because he has fallen from Adam and Eve and has a heart of disobedience. That is why God pierces our noses so that we are not arrogant is the pain and suffering we experience in our lives. The more God tries to use it, the more trials and tribulations he will face. At the age of 40, Moses thought that he could save the Israelites from Egypt with his wisdom, understanding, counsel, talent, and knowledge. But he had to spend 40 years in the wilderness of Midian. What I've realized in 40 years is that I'm useless, pointless, and incompetent. Suffering humbled Moses. When we are suffering, we pray more and be awake.
2. To rely more on God's grace
Suffering comes more and more to depend on God's grace. 2 Corinthians 1:9 says, “We found ourselves condemned to death, that we should not depend on ourselves, but only on God, who raises the dead.”
As John Bunyan said, “Temptations and hardships make us seek God.” Martin Luther said, “The most dangerous trials are when there are no trials and all is well. Because then man will be tempted to forget God.”
1 Corinthians 15:10 says, “But it is by the grace of God that I am what I am, and his grace that was given to me was not in vain. I say. Paul confesses that I am not who I am, but that God's grace that came into me made me this way.
Dr. Eric Lindman, an American psychiatrist, surveyed people in distress. As a result, 85% of those who suffered, said that their suffering turned into a blessing. First, I was able to break bad habits because of hardship, second, I restored my family, faith, and love through hardship, and third, my life was renewed as a result of trying to overcome hardship, and my life of resentment and complaining was changed to a life of gratitude. . Our weaknesses and hardships can be turning points that change the direction of our lives.
3. Enemies Weakening Paul
2 Corinthians 12:10 says, “Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, privations, persecutions, and afflictions for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
The first is ‘weakness’. Because Paul was weak, he had to constantly depend on God and pray. Then there is 'satisfaction'. However, those who are insulted for preaching the gospel in this world will have a great reward in heaven. And what Paul said was 'disgraceful'. Disgrace means poverty. It was also ‘persecution’. Persecution is the use of force or power to afflict and harm the weak. Paul was beaten five times, forty minus one. He was beaten with a stick three times and stoned once, and was dragged out of Dong-gu, thinking he was dead. He was shipwrecked three times and floated on the sea day and night. Then there is ‘Gongo’. Poverty is a difficult situation and suffering.
He can speak boldly because he experienced that he could not stop his love for Christ even after going through such great difficulties. No matter how wealthy a person is, there is an emptiness in their heart, and even the powerful have an emptiness in their heart. Solomon, who had everything and enjoyed it, confessed that everything was in vain.
The mast of a ship is made of the hardest wood because it must not break even in strong winds when sailing. So he climbs a high mountain, selects a tree for the mast, and then cuts down all the trees around it. So I made it exposed to the wind and blizzards. When a tree is hit by the wind and a blizzard and grows in a difficult environment, it grows very strong. They cut it and made a mast, so no matter how windy the sea blows, the mast will not break. Problems with family and business, problems of poverty and disease, weakness of our bodies, insults, insults, persecution, hardship, etc. come and weaken us. However, all these enemies of suffering end up turning us into a powerful army of God's faith that will not budge no matter what storm or storm blows.
M. Hudson Taylor was well aware of the secret of being made whole in weakness. Hudson Taylor said, "God sent me, the weakest man, to the most difficult inland China to do this great success." God uses weak and incompetent people. On the other hand, it makes people who are strong and smart realize human incompetence. Therefore, do not be discouraged when you face many weaknesses in this world. A strong God is by your side to help you. If you leave it to God who gives rest to those who are toiling and heavy laden, God will take responsibility for it.
-Prayer-
Heavenly Father, thank you for being strong when we are weak. We believe that suffering and suffering are coming to give us greater power and strength. Give us all great comfort and peace, and let us always look to the throne of God and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen.