With Great Honor Comes a Thorn

2018-03-04

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. (2) I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (3) And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) (4) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (5) Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. (6) For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. (7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (8) 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. (11) I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. (12) Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. (2 Corinthians 12:1-12)

In the previous chapter, Paul spent a lot of time defending his ministry and his authority in the Gospel to the Corinthians, who had exposure to false prophets that challenged Paul (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). He defended his record by the suffering and hardships he faced because of the Gospel, though he emphasized such boasting is foolishness (2 Corinthians 11:16-33).

In 2 Corinthians 12, we see Paul continues this “boasting” to defend his ministry to them. Paul turns to visions and revelations he had received. This would appeal to the fickle Corinthians who were impressed with certain gifts of the Spirit that received more attention than others (1 Corinthians 12). This section concerns this. Let us look at what we can know about his revelation and the implications thereof:

Boasting is not helpful. Paul tells us “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory.” It does not profit because God is supposed to get the attention in all that He has given us. It only profits these people, because they seem to honor showy gifts. 2 Corinthians 12:1
Paul used the third person. Paul, is concerned that people would “think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me” (2 Corinthians 12:6). His wording is careful because of this consideration. 2 Corinthians 12:2-3
He may or may not have been physically in heaven. The apostle John had a similar experience (Revelation 4:1-2), and he knew that he “was in the spirit” (Revelation 4:2). Paul was not sure if this was the case with him. It would make sense that it was probably the same for both men, so he likely was also only in paradise in the spirit, but who knows? 2 Corinthians 12:2-3
God commanded Paul to not repeat what he heard there. Paul was obedient to the commandment. 2 Corinthians 12:4
Paul is tempted to boast of this experience, but does not. Very few people get such an experience as Paul did. This was a great privilege. However, Paul refused to lift himself up. On the contrary, he concentrated on things that made him weak. More on this in a moment. 2 Corinthians 12:5
Boasting about ourselves is foolishness. Christianity is not about our credentials, but about being a new creature in service to God and to others (Matthew 20:25-26). 2 Corinthians 12:6
Boasting lifts us up, not the Lord. Paul spoke little about the revelation from heaven, partly because God told him not to repeat the words that were said, but also because he did not want to focus on something that was going to make him look great. 2 Corinthians 12:6
With great honor comes a “thorn.” The Lord gave Paul some kind of serious ailment so that he would not be lifted up with pride. It was serious enough that Paul begged God three times for it to go away. Nonetheless, God sent this ailment to keep him from being exalted. Read more about how God uses the enemy to accomplish His will here. 2 Corinthians 12:7-8
When Paul was weak, the Lord is strong. God was most effective in Paul when the apostle was weak. This way, Paul could not rely on his own strength; he had to rely on God. The grace of God is sufficient in that he gives us the ability to do what we need to do, regardless of our shortcomings. The young man David slew the giant Goliath. Gideon and his small army defeated the Midianites. Asa and his army defeated the Ethiopian army, which was a million strong. God uses the weak things in this world to accomplish His will because then you will know that it had to be God that accomplished the task, and not the person. We see this in 1 Corinthians 1:25-31. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul took pleasure in the unpleasant things of life. It sounds absurd: Paul counted it pleasure being sick, being in need and poor, being persecuted, and the like because God used him more in those conditions than otherwise! I cannot begin to understand how this would be the case, but it shows how my thinking is wrong. We need to be glad when we are in hard times, because God can use us in those situations. Such times allow us to recognize our need for God and to be used of Him. 2 Corinthians 12:10
Paul boasted these things because the Corinthians required his credentials. He recognized the exercise was foolish, but he proved himself to be the apostle that he was in fact. He also did many signs and wonders that should authenticate both the Gospel and his apostleship. 2 Corinthians 12:11-12

From Paul, we see that the great experiences he had were coupled with harsh trials and painful infirmities. The faith healers and the false prophets of today do not have the same balance of honor and pain; they are wealthy with no sign of chastisement in their lives.

Do we want to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God? There is a cost to discipleship; with great honor comes the great thorn in the flesh.