THORNS: PROBLEMS OR POSSIBILITIES, FRIEND OR FOE? (23 OF 26)
by Rick White
Scripture: II CORINTHIANS 12:1-10
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Thorns: Problems or Possibilities, Friend or Foe? (23 of 26)
Series: Truths That Transform
Rick White
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
07-10-94
2Cor. 12:1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago —whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows —such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man —whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows — 4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such a man will I boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to {my} weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I shall not be foolish, for I shall be speaking the truth; but I refrain {from} {this,} so that no one may credit me with more than he sees {in} me or hears from me. 7 And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me —to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Introduction: All of us have wrestled with the question of suffering. There have been events this week in our nation (37 killed in the U.S. Air crash, 11 firefighters killed in Colorado, 18 killed in the floods of central Georgia) that have made us ask again, why? Keep in mind that all of these have been national cataclysmic events that have arrested the attention ...
Series: Truths That Transform
Rick White
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
07-10-94
2Cor. 12:1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago —whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows —such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man —whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows — 4 was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such a man will I boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to {my} weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I shall not be foolish, for I shall be speaking the truth; but I refrain {from} {this,} so that no one may credit me with more than he sees {in} me or hears from me. 7 And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me —to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Introduction: All of us have wrestled with the question of suffering. There have been events this week in our nation (37 killed in the U.S. Air crash, 11 firefighters killed in Colorado, 18 killed in the floods of central Georgia) that have made us ask again, why? Keep in mind that all of these have been national cataclysmic events that have arrested the attention ...
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