Title: Weak is Strong
2 Corinthians (47) Weakness is strength (2 Corinthians 11:28-33)
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The false teachers of the Corinthian church were special in boasting of their spirituality. As some church members were deceived by the spiritual pride, they even ignored and opposed the apostle Paul. The impatient Apostle Paul also said that he would brag about himself and talked about the hardships of his life when he suffered for the sake of the gospel. It was to make the Corinthians realize what ‘true pride’ and ‘true spirituality’ are. After all, the cross is pride and the cross is power. The saints must have the marks of the cross.
When will Satan come? They come to see the 'greed' in the soul. Excessive greed, whether lust for water or spiritual greed, is Satan's invitation. Satan only works when there is darkness in the soul. To hold fast to the cross is to sacrifice oneself in order to bless others without being led by desire. So when you take up the cross, the forces of darkness cannot exert their power. In the end, if you crucify lust and greed, you cannot overcome Satan.
A believer who lives by holding on to the cross does not have fallen greed while living as the body of Christ. There is no fear because there is no greed. A person who bears the cross does not judge others according to selfish standards, does not look for a speck in the eyes of others, sees the faults of others generously, covers them with love, and achieves peace.
God's comfort and peace are given when we look at each other with love and respect and see the world without using a magnifying glass to look for faults in others. That comfort and peace is the comfort and peace that comes from the underlying joy. When we strive to live according to God's will, God's love and mercy will overflow and the door of blessing will open wide. When life is difficult, think of God who watches over you with loving eyes, and prepare for blessings by bearing the cross with joy.
"Weak is strong"
The Apostle Paul boasted of his suffering on the cross and at the same time his deep affection for the church and neighbor (verses 28-29). Also, he wasn't a triumphist or a triumphist. So, he boasted about his background for a while to compare him with the false teachers who infiltrated the church in Corinth, but eventually returned to the beginning and boasted about his weakness (verse 30). Why can you brag about your weakness? Because when we are weak, the Lord gives us strength so we can become strong.
The Apostle Paul was not a great being different from an ordinary man. He was the same person, and he had many weaknesses. He also lacked looks. He was short, bald, had straight eyebrows, and had a very thick magnifying glass on his face. Also, he was weak. But God left his weakness and used him. It could be used after health was given, but it was to emphasize the fact that people with diseases were working under the grace of God. That is how God works. Even if you lack everything, if your heart is aligned with God, you will be used by God.
In Acts 14, Paul was stoned while preaching the gospel in Lystra during his first missionary journey. People thought that Paul was dead, so he threw them out of Dong-gu and piled up heaps of stones. However, Paul woke up after a while, limped through the rubble and went into the city, and the next day he left again for Derbe, 250 li away, feeling uncomfortable. Even if he rested for a few days with that body, no one could curse him, but he goes on his mission even though he stubbornly limps. Watch him risk his life for the gospel.
God looks at the center of the flawed life and uses it nicely. God does not choose perfect people. A person who feels “I am perfect!” is rather disloyal. Such a person is self-centered and believes in his or her life of faith and moves according to his or her own convenience, so he cannot be used by God and cannot do great things. On the other hand, even if we are lacking in life, if our center is aligned with God, we will surely be used by God. Now, don't be ashamed of your weak and lacking appearance. Even if you are weak, if you hold on to God and go out, you will eventually become strong.