2 Corinthians 12:9

[Chrisss7]

Hopefully I've posted this in the right section.

Not the normal 'thorn in the flesh' question here, but regarding 2 Corinthians 12:9:-

'But He said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'

These are the words the Lord spoke to Paul when he begged God to remove his 'thorn in the flesh'. I'd like to know whether these words spoken to Paul at that very time in these verses were only for Paul, or whether we can hold to these verses as being from God to our individual lives?

I hope that makes sense? I personally find the verses encouraging, but realise that Paul was called by God to a specific kind of ministry where he would suffer in particular.

 

[RaymondG]

I Am the lord....I change not.... I would assume that these verses applies to all. "Let the weak say I AM strong," comes from the OT. And most of the other sentiments are echoed throughout the bible as well....

So be encourages those that are "down" God is getting ready to raise you "UP"

 

[Greg J.]

Hopefully I've posted this in the right section.

Not the normal 'thorn in the flesh' question here, but regarding 2 Corinthians 12:9:-

'But He said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'

These are the words the Lord spoke to Paul when he begged God to remove his 'thorn in the flesh'. I'd like to know whether these words spoken to Paul at that very time in these verses were only for Paul, or whether we can hold to these verses as being from God to our individual lives?

I hope that makes sense? I personally find the verses encouraging, but realise that Paul was called by God to a specific kind of ministry where he would suffer in particular.

This is something the Lord does today as he reveals himself to people.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. (2 Corinthians 12:7, 1984 NIV)

When we struggle/experience our inadequacy to be able to do something, we are transformed (experiential knowledge, not book knowledge/understanding). We can better learn that God is great and apart from him we can do nothing (John 15:5), that all we have including every breath we take is by the grace of God (Acts 17:25), God still loves us and accepts us, and sometimes, that God makes up for what we lack—that is, when we cannot act, God sometimes acts for us..

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10, 1984 NIV)

This is specifically a reference to when we need to do something, but can't, so God will do it for us, or through us with strength that we have seen we don't have. Paul had an intimate and successful relationship with God, where Paul did what he was supposed to do, and God showed His love to Paul like He wanted to.

It refers to a brokenness we can have where we get to see God work on our behalf. It is one way to experience the effects of "dying to self." It is a part of developing our faith so that we can have peace and trust God and all circumstances, because he will come through for us sooner or later (on His timetable).

 

[W2L]

Hopefully I've posted this in the right section.

Not the normal 'thorn in the flesh' question here, but regarding 2 Corinthians 12:9:-

'But He said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.'

These are the words the Lord spoke to Paul when he begged God to remove his 'thorn in the flesh'. I'd like to know whether these words spoken to Paul at that very time in these verses were only for Paul, or whether we can hold to these verses as being from God to our individual lives?

I hope that makes sense? I personally find the verses encouraging, but realise that Paul was called by God to a specific kind of ministry where he would suffer in particular.

I believe that Paul is teaching us an example, the same one found in Romans 5:3-5. In my humble opinion.

Edit, added verse 3,4

 

[Chrisss7]

thanks for your responses, everyone

Just had my doubts due to the response to Paul's begging being like a 'personal' reply to his request.

It maybe is personal, but I'd like to know that God would say the very same thing to us under such pressures as us Christians

have in life

-Chris