2 Corinthians 12:1-10 "Strength through Scars"

Resound
June 19, 2011

Bryne Palmer

Strength through Scars

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

-Psalm 121:3-4- We need sleep, God doesn’t. That is only one more thing that proves God’s power that makes us that much more insignificant.

1.       Sarcasm VS 1-5

Paul is talking about himself in 3^rd person here. –Acts 18- (when Saul became Paul). He’s telling them not to boast but there he is boasting sarcastically. The whole point of his sarcasm, how awesome he is, is to prove that the only reason he will boast is because of Jesus Christ, the only reason he is cool is because he met with Christ. Paul is saying we as believers can do amazing things but remember to whom the glory belongs. The only reason he/we are awesome is because of Christ. Every day we have a choice to either glorify ourselves or God.

2.       Shortcomings VS 6-9

His thorn in his side is like a pain that keeps you from doing normal things, but the reason for it is so that he doesn’t glorify himself. We tend to have the mentality of something good happens it’s our fault something bad happens it’s God’s fault. This thorn gets in the way and keeps us from being as strong as we could be on our own. What is your thorn? Whenever something good is taken away, we usually have one of two reactions: anger at God or longing after God, telling him that we are weak in that area. When Paul sight was taken away he could have either been angry at God or leaned on God completely. Where/who do you run to when bad things happen. When we boast we need to boast in our weaknesses and give the glory to God, let God shine through our weaknesses. God moves in us daily.

3.       VS 10

The more we can admit our weaknesses the more God can shine though. Allowing His son to die on the cross seems weak. To die, death seems like giving up, He could have called angels to come and bring Him down from the cross. But in his death that is when God shined the brightest.

We will always have scars from the thorns that have entered our flesh but those scars will remind us how far we’ve come and how we couldn’t have done it without Christ. It’ll remind us how bright He’s shined and still shined. What are your scars? Even little things like your car breaking down or a gf/bf breaking up with you are scars and God will shine bright through them. Share your weaknesses with others and how God has brought you through them.