Sermon
#1510¯ Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: A MESSAGE FOR THE STRONG
Text: 2 Corinthians 12:10
Reading: Psalm
57:1-11
Subject: When Weakness Is
Strength
And Strength Is Weakness
Date: Wednesday Evening—July 17, 2002
West Harpeth Grace Church—Franklin, TN
Introduction:
In the kingdom of God everything is exactly opposite
to the way the world thinks. All spiritual things are exactly opposite to
carnal reason. This really ought not surprise us. Our Lord told us plainly that
the world which did not know him would not know us. The Apostle John wrote, “The world knoweth us not because it knew
him not.” In spiritual matters nothing, absolutely nothing, is the way men
think it is, ought to be and must be.
·
In
the world, the way up is up. In the kingdom of God, the way up is down.
·
In
the world, the man with the greatest knowledge is the one who knows the most
about the most. In the Church of Christ, the person who knows the most is the
one who knows nothing.
·
In
the material things, the person who has the most is the richest. In spiritual
things, the person who has the least is the richest.
·
In
natural things, he who has the most strength is the strongest. In spiritual
things, he who is weakest is strongest.
This is clearly the doctrine of my text.
2
Corinthians 12:10 "Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
Paul had been translated to paradise, caught up to
the third heaven, and returned to the earth. Many talk of such an experience;
but the Holy Spirit tells us plainly that no man ever experienced this except
the Apostle to the Gentiles. There he saw and heard things that no earthly
tongue could ever describe. In this matter of revealed knowledge, knowledge
experienced by grace, Paul stood head and shoulders above all the other
Apostles.
However, lest he become exalted above measure, the
Lord God sent a very painful, troublesome affliction upon him. We are not told
what the affliction was; but Paul describes it as a thorn in his flesh and a
messenger of Satan to constantly beat him down. For this Paul prayed three
times, asking God to relieve him of this great trial, take this thorn in the
flesh from him, and put an end to Satan’s constant buffetings. Let’s read
verses eight through ten together.
2
Corinthians 12:8-10 "For this thing I
besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
Divisions: I trust that God the Holy Spirit will give me
your attention and enable me to show you four things in this message.
1.
None
of us knows what is best for the glory of God, the good of our own souls, or
the accomplishment of God’s purpose of grace in Christ (v. 8).
2.
God’s
grace in Christ is sufficient to be our every need (v. 9).
3.
Christ’s
strength is made perfect in our weakness (v. 9).
4.
“When I am weak, then am I
strong” (v.
10).
I.
None of us knows what is
best for the glory of God, the good of our own souls, or the accomplishment of
God’s purpose of grace in Christ (v. 8).
2
Corinthians 12:8 "For this thing I
besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me."
Because we do not know what is best, we do not know
how to pray for anything as we ought. It is written, “We know not what we should pray
for as we ought” (Rom. 8:26).
Prayer is not for the gratification of our carnal
lusts. It is not the means by which we obtain what we want from the Lord.
Prayer, true prayer, involves submission to the will of God. It is the cry of
the believer’s heart to his heavenly Father to do what is right and best. If I
am God’s child, if truly I know him and trust him, I want what he has purposed.
I bow to him, surrendering my will to his will, my desires to his purpose, my
pleasure to his glory, knowing that his will is best. Therefore, when we pray
(in our ignorance) the Holy Spirit cleans up our prayers and presents to the
Father the true groanings of our hearts (Rom. 8:26).
Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the
Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered."
In this passage Paul tells us plainly that though
the Lord graciously refused give him what he asked for, he graciously granted
him what he really wanted and needed.
John Gill wrote, “The Lord always hears and answers
his people sooner or later, in one form or another, though not always in the
way and manner they desire; but yet in such a way as is most for his glory and
their good. The apostle had not his request granted, that Satan might
immediately depart from him, only he is assured of a sufficiency of grace to
support him under the exercise, so long as it should last.”
Our Lord Jesus taught us ever to surrender our will
to the Father’s will. When the will of God appears to contradict that which
might appear to be most pleasing to our flesh, we ought always to follow our
Masters example, saying, “Not my will, thy will be done.” (See
John 12:27-28.)
John
12:27-28 "Now is my soul troubled; and what
shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto
this hour. (28) Father, glorify thy
name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying,
I have both glorified it, and
will glorify it again."
II.
God’s
grace in Christ is sufficient to meet our every need (v. 9).
2
Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My
grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me."
Here God’s elect are assured of his grace in Christ
and the absolute sufficiency of it always and in all things. One of the names
of our great God is El-Shaddai, which means God All Sufficient! The grace of God in Christ and that alone
is our sufficiency.
A.
It is sufficient grace
because it is effectual grace.
Today there is much talk about grace; but those who
talk about it talk about a grace that lacks efficacy. That is not the grace of
our God. God’s grace is effectual grace. It is always sufficient because it is
always effectual.
“Nothing short of the grace of Christ is sufficient
grace; and this is sufficient for all the elect of God, Jews and Gentiles, Old
and New Testament saints, the family in heaven and in earth, the people of God
that are already called, and are (yet) to be called, and (even) for the worst
and vilest of sinners” John Gill
B.
Let us ever remember that
God’s grace in Christ is sufficient for us for everything and at all times.
1.
Sufficient
to Accomplish All His Saving Purposes!
2.
Sufficient
to Pardon, Justify, Regenerate, Sanctify, and Preserve Us!
3.
Sufficient
in Every Time of Need!
4.
Sufficient
in Health and Sufficient in Sickness!
5.
Sufficient
Life and Sufficient in Death!
6.
Sufficient
in Judgment!
7.
Sufficient
to Present Us Faultless Before the Presence of His Glory Forever!
III. Look at verse nine again. In the second part of the
verse Our Savior declares that his strength is made perfect in our weakness.
2
Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My
grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me."
Obviously, our weakness contributes nothing to the
perfection of Christ’s strength. He is the omnipotent God! The obvious meaning
of this statement is that the strength of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
appears to be or is manifestly perfect through the weakness of those sinners
who are saved by his grace. Paul writes in another place, “When we were yet without
strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly.”
A.
I have no strength to atone for my sin. Christ is my Atonement.
B.
I have no strength to obey God’s law. Christ obeyed for me.
C.
I
have no strength to give myself life. Christ is my Life.
D.
I
have no strength to resist temptation. Christ is my Preservation.
E.
I have no strength to draw near to God. Christ is my way of access to
the Father.
F.
I have no strength to make myself holy. Christ is my Holiness.
G.
I
have no strength to resist the devil. Christ has bound the dragon of hell for
me.
Read the last sentence of verse nine one more time. “Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me." It is only when we are brought to
acknowledge our weakness, infirmity, frailty, nothingness, and insufficiency
that the power of Christ and his all sufficient grace rests upon us. The moment
we flex our muscles, straighten our backs, lift our chins and say, “I can do
this,” we are in trouble.
Now, I want to deal with
Paul’s statement in verse ten.
2
Corinthians 12:10 "Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
IV. “When I am weak, then am I
strong.”
Here, writing by inspiration, Paul obeys the
admonition given in Joel 3:10, where it is written, “Let the weak say, I am strong”.
He that is weak and sees himself to be so is strong in Christ, and has the
blessed experience of renewed strength from him day by day.
A.
Clearly there are some
things to which this statement does not apply.
I have frequently heard men and women quote this
statement by the Apostle as an apparent excuse for sin and disobedience. Paul
did not use it that way; and we ought never be so brazenly irreverent and
hypocritical as to use the Word of God as a cloak for our sin. Let me show you
what I mean.
1.
Weakness in the
doctrine of christ can never make me strong. It is by the study
of the Word of God that I grow in faith, in knowledge, in grace, and in
assurance.
2.
Weakness in prayer
and devotion cannot make me strong. I say with Samuel of old,
God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you, for
his church and kingdom, and for the knowledge of his will and the grace to walk
in it for his glory.
3.
Weakness in KNOWN DUTY will not make me
strong. I hope I do what I do from something far higher than a sense of duty.
Yet, nothing is more dishonorable than willful disobedience to our known duty
before God and men. If we forsake the assembling of ourselves together for the
worship of God, neglect ministering to one another, do not exhort, strengthen,
encourage, comfort, and help one another, we promote our own weakness and
destruction.
4.
Weakness in CHARACTER, CONDUCT, AND ATTITUDE
cannot make me strong. Such sinful weakness only weakens my witness, testimony,
and influence among men.
B.
We may very properly
conclude from our text that WHEN I AM STRONG, THEN AM I WEAK.
I read a very good sermon on this text by Spurgeon
yesterday in which he said, “Perhaps I can expound the text best if I turn it
the other way up and use it as a warning (and say) When I am strong, then am I weak.” Indeed, there are many who fancy
themselves very strong who are utterly weak.
1.
Most presume that they can,
perhaps with a little assistance from God, do all that is necessary for the
saving of their souls.
a.
A few are foolish enough to
think they can actually earn God’s approval and salvation by their works.
b.
Most who would denounce such
a proud notion as utter blasphemy are themselves guilty of blasphemous pride.
Though they would never claim to be righteous enough to save themselves, most
do think that they can, by their own free will obtain God’s salvation.
·
Can
a dead man give himself life?
·
Can
a dead man muster repentance from his own bosom?
·
Can
a dead man make himself a new creature?
·
Can
a dead man give himself faith? Nonsense! “Salvation is of the Lord!”
2.
Many there are who imagine
themselves wonderfully strong in knowledge.
They seem to know everything about everything. They
were, they say, born again this morning; and before dusk they have mastered the
Word of God and are ready to become instructors of others. They do not hesitate
to disagree and dispute with anyone. You do not have to ask for their opinion.
They will give to you, if you just pause to breathe in their presence. They are
sure of everything.
Spurgeon said, “I have noticed these fine gentlemen
are the first to deny the faith, and to fall into all manner of heresies…Those
who are so very sure are always the most uncertain.”
Whenever we feel ourselves superior to others in any
spiritual matter, we have reason to be suspicious of ourselves. Beware of
self-confidence. Self-confidence is nothing but a prettier word for
self-righteousness. You can mark it down as a matter of unfailing certainty - When
I am strong, then am I weak!
C. Now let me
show you the meaning of this statement. - ‘when
I am weak then am I strong.’
1.
When I am weak BEFORE THE GLORIOUS MAJESTY AND HOLINESS
OF GOD, then I am strong because my weakness forces me to look to
Christ alone for mercy and grace. This is exactly what Isaiah experienced (Isa.
6:1-7).
Isaiah
6:1-7 "In the year that king Uzziah died I
saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train
filled the temple. (2) Above it stood
the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with
twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (3) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (4) And the posts of the door moved at
the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in
the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the
LORD of hosts. (6) Then flew one of
the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: (7) And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and
thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged."
2.
When I am weak BEFORE THE HOLY LAW OF GOD, when
I see what it requires, when I realize that my very best righteousness is
nothing but filthy rags before the holy Lord God, then am I strong, because my
weakness compels me to look to Christ alone as my Savior.
·
My
Righteous Representative.
·
My
Satisfying Substitute.
·
My
All-prevailing Advocate.
3.
When I am weak BEFORE MY TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS IN THIS
WORLD, then I am strong, because my weakness forces me to look to
Christ alone to uphold, sustain, and strengthen me.
My enemies sometimes overwhelm me. The world, the
flesh, and the devil are too much for me. I am no match for them. Like Paul, I
cry out to God to take away the thorn in my flesh. Sometimes, he takes away the
thorn; but usually he responds by saying, My grace is sufficient for thee” and
graciously causes me to know that it is.
4.
When I am weak BEFORE MY CARES IN THIS WORLD,
then I am strong.
I am no different from other men. I have the same
cares and concerns as you men. I am a father. As such, I am often fearful for
my daughter’s soul and for the souls of her children. Am a husband. As such, I am fearful for my wife’s provision and
welfare when I am gone. I am a pastor. As such, I am fearful for your souls.
Yet, in my weakness, Christ is my strength. I say with David, “What
time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Ps. 56:3).
5.
When I am weak BEFORE MY RESPONSIBILITIES AS GOD’S
MESSENGER TO YOU, then I am strong, because my weakness makes me seek
God’s strength and grace in Christ.
Knowing the burden of the Word of the Lord and the
power of the gospel, I constantly cry, “Who is sufficient for these things?”
When I do, I hear the voice of every true prophet, every true apostle, every
true preacher of the past, and every true preacher today echoing the words of
Paul - “Our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor. 2:16; 3:5).
6.
When I am weak IN SPIRITUAL WATCHFULNESS, then
am I strong because Christ, my Shepherd, is watching over me. Like the
disciples sleeping in Gethsemane, I often find that though my spirit is
willing, the flesh is weak.
7.
I will probably be weak IN DEATH; but even then I will
be strong, because I will have no hope for my soul but Christ who I the
Resurrection and the Life.
I hear a good many young, inexperienced believers,
almost mockingly, speaking of the fears some of God’s saints have in death. But
I wonder if those “dormitory bravehearts” will be so strong when they face
leaving this world. Should you visit me on my deathbed and sense that I am
experiencing some apprehensions, or fears, do not be surprised. (If Peter could
sink in the water, so can I!) I hope it shall not be so. But if it is, do not
be surprised. I am a sinner now; and I will be a sinner then. I was born a
sinner; and I will die a sinner, a sinner saved by free grace alone. If I am too weak to brave Jordan’s chilly
waters, God my Savior, my good Shepherd, will yet carry his weak sheep upon his
shoulders to the other side.
All these weaknesses cause me, like the scared
little rabbit described in Proverbs 30:26, to run to THE ROCK, my hiding place,
who is my strength.
Proverbs 30:26 "The conies are but a
feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;"
APPLICATION: Christ is my Rock, the Rock of my salvation.
Like a weak, scared rabbit, I make my house in him.
1.
This is my prayer, Lord God,
make me weak before you, and keep me weak.
·
Consciously
Weak.
·
Growingly
Weak.
·
Painfully
Weak.
·
Contritely
Weak.
I pray that God will
graciously do the same thing for you.
2.
This is God’s promise to
weak, needy, helpless sinners (Isa. 66:1-2).
Isaiah
66:1-2 "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and
where is the place of my rest? (2) For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite
spirit, and trembleth at my word."
AMEN.
¯ See Misc. Sermon #1306 preached at Danville (AM 12/07/97)—North Wilkesboro, NC (El Shaddai Baptist 1997)