This exposition of 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 21, 2018.
Intro:
He didn’t want to do it. It went against the grain of his character but he felt there was no choice. As much as he loathed boasting, he was forced to boast in response to the boasting of the false teachers, the super-apostles who had the ears and hearts of many of the Corinthian believers.
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Following the customs of the Greeks, who were convinced that if you were in deed a spokesmen for the gods you must have great stories of fantastic visions, the super-apostles had the Corinthians groveling at their feet due to their arrogant boastings. Thus Paul was forced to boast of his own ecstatic experience. As he began his boast, he did not mess around in the foothills, he went directly to the mountain peak. He spoke of his experience of being “caught up” into the very presence of God. Our text this evening is found in 2 Corinthians chapter 12.
Text: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Remember Paul’s critics have called into question his character, his integrity, his message, his methods, even his claim of apostolic authority. Along the way they have made fun of his appearance, his lack of oratory skills, and his life of trials coming to the conclusion that he could not possibly be God’s messenger. Paul has countered their charges with some boasting of his own. But he did not boast of the number of churches established, or the number of converts, or his acquaintance with the original apostles but rather has boasted of his weakness. In fact he went so far as to say that his weakness is the validation of his ministry. In this evening’s text he continues to boast of his weakness but he begins with an experience that trumps any experience claimed by his critics.
As we consider this text we note that…
Thesis: God’s method of equipping His ministers and determining their qualifications for ministry differ dramatically from the conventional wisdom of the times.
There is a surprising twist in our text. As Paul begins we assume he is going to do just like the false teachers and use his experience as the validation of a God-called, God-blessed ministry but he doesn’t do that. In fact he down plays his experience of heavenly glory and focuses on God’s humbling of his servant. What is it Jesus said, “If you want to be great in my kingdom then you must become the servant of all.” In God’s kingdom economy the way up is down. The way to glory is through humility.
What Paul is doing is brilliant.
He is laying out God’s method of preparing him and at the same time rebuking his critics.
There are just 2 things I want to note this evening.
- Genuine power and authority in ministry are not based on visions or ecstatic experiences but on the actions and words of a true godly servant. (12:1-6)
- Genuine authority for ministry comes to the one who embraces the crucified life. (12:7-10)
Conclusion:
It is the grand theme of the entire epistle. Authentic ministry is power in weakness. We find in in 1:89; 2:14; 4:7-12; 6:4-10 and again in the text before us. Power in weakness is the thread that runs throughout Paul’s letter.
Paul came to understand and to embrace that weakness was the key to the experience of Christ’s ongoing power. Thus, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Rest upon = language of the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:34; John 1:14 and 2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul then concludes with his philosophy of life and ministry in 12:10 - For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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