CHRIST POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS 2 COR 12:1-10

Sermon by Prof Lionel Lee: Snippet:

Introduction: When a bulletin is but off target by a few inches at the rifle range, there is no telling how far wrong that bullet can go 10 miles down the road. It is important to be alert to false teachings that may be 95% sound and 5% wrong as it can wreck a congregation. Paul the Apostle, was anxious that the Corinth church be alerted to the insidious teachings that were infiltrating the church.

3 erroneous teachings were:
1. Visions and Revelations v 1-6: the false teachers were boasting of their visions and supernatural spiritual experience. The man he mentioned who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven was probably himself. Yet even though he alluded to it, he spoke of it in the 3rd person and still did not disclose the contents of that encounter with the divine. It was a private encounter to be kept for his own edification, not for public exposure.

• Today there are still many who are quick to authenticate their ministries by prefacing their sharing with "The Lord told me..." and surround themselves with supernatural aura by boasting of their miracles and visions. This parade of spiritual power and spirituality not only puffs up the one who does the boasting, it also harms others in a negative way. Those who hear are inadvertently relegated to being of a different class who never ever have these experiences.

2. Healing v 7-8: Paul never share with his readers what this could possibly have been. But clearly it was a torment. He prayed in earnest for his torment to be taken away 3 times, but the Lord did not answer his prayer. He was able however, to see beyond the thorn that God is working to keep him dependent on God always, rather than upon himself. Today there are many who believe that if the Kingdom of God has truly come, then not only the soul but the body will be made whole. There is also teaching that God does not want anybody to be sick. Here is an instance that Paul shares with us how his prayers for healing were unanswered and he continues to live with that tormenting thorn.

• Today there are still people who deny the face of suffering in the Christian life. Yet the reality is that God, quite often as in the case of Paul, choose not to heal no matter who many times we impose on him in prayer. This sort of teaching leaves behind a trail of despondent wrecks who are told, perhaps you have unconfessed sin, there is a curse in your family etc.

Besides the theology of healing, there is alongside the theology of suffering. Suffering is also an instrument that can bring glory to the Lord. There are some things that will remain unhealed and it behoofs us to follow in the steps of Paul, to go behind the loving purpose of God in allowing the thorn to remain.

3. Success (v 9-10) : The super-apostles led the Corinthians to associate Christian leadership with power and prestige which is inconsistent with the servanthood of Church. Corinth was a buzzing city much like Singapore. It was easy for believers in such environment to succumb to the false teaching that the evidence of God's blessings on faithful believers is success and power in society.

look up to strong men and women and measure them in terms of the visible rewards that they enjoy: high position in society, wealth etc. It is easy to mistake material blessings as a badge of our own spirituality.

J I Packer in his book "Re-discovering Holiness": "Now, you don’t hear a lot from preachers today concerning holiness, repentance and total surrender to God. It’s not because you don’t find a lot of information about these in Scripture. The Bible is loaded with information about these topics.

Most likely, the reason you don’t hear anything about these topics is that it’s not very popular to speak on holiness, repentance and surrendering to God. Sadly, the Christian church today seems to prefer hearing about success and positive feelings, getting health, wealth, freedom from care, good sex and happy families. "

What do Christians preach and teach these days? What do we value in our leaders and teachers? We no longer value their sanctified lives or their holiness but their gifts, skills and resources. If we don't have these things, then our faith is weak, God is not happy with us, we did not pray hard enough, we did not serve him enough etc. In today's church, the fullness of Christ may be demonstrated by achievement of success and wealth. But Paul says, "No." He wanted them to understand this Christian paradox: "For when I am weak, then I am strong." Paul boasts about his weakness that He might talk about the strength that God provides because Jesus is ready to draw near and supply divine strength and grace to help us in our weakness.

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy.

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Written by: Unknown Confederate Soldier, aka The Creed for the Disabled

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

1. Can we tell if a "teaching" is 5% off the mark? Why not? What can you do to grow in wisdom to separate truth from error?
2. What are the measures you use to measure one's spiritual standing? What would Paul say about them in the light of this passage?
3. Do we walk the talk is what authenticates our spiritual lives? Have we been faithfully and intentionally doing that?