Follow us with the 2013 Faithful Conference for Pastors and Leaders!View replays and read post summaries here on the blog. In this article, see Augustus Nicodemus’s message “Power to Be Perfected in Weakness:”
The power of development in weakness
Augustus Nicodemus
Text: 2 Cor 12: 1-10
Paul wrote this second letter in an attempt to resolve a growing tension between him and the church of Corinth, in part because the Corinthians housed some false preachers who questioned Paul’s teachings. The Apostle then responds to false teachers, showing his superiority as true to the Embarrassed and humiliated, speaks of such an extraordinary experience that he could not speak much of it, then says that God gave him a sting in the flesh, which God gave him to humiliate him, now he boasts of his weaknesses. because when he’s weak, he’s strong.
Paul says it is not appropriate to keep talking about his revelations. He always took precautions so that people would not approach the gospel because of him. That’s why he’s talking about Christ crucified, and that’s it. He knows it’s not up to the minister to brag about certain things, even if they’re true. We must be concerned that we do not make disciples of themselves, but disciples of Jesus.
Paul’s revelation had taken place 14 years earlier. This teaches us that he did not have revelations every day, constantly.
Paul also speaks of himself in the third person, showing humility and unholyness, and avoids putting himself in the spotlight. Unlike many people who go from church to church to bear witness to what he has seen and what has been revealed to him, Paulo does not come out counting his experience as a trophy.
Paul’s concern is that he’s not in a position that doesn’t belong to him, he didn’t want to be an amateur or a fan club.
When he returns from the presence of angels in heaven, there is an angel of biabo waiting for him. It could refer to a physical affliction or affliction of a spiritual nature. We know it was an extremely painful thing, the word?It was used for stakes that were inserted into the bodies of the condemned to produce a slow and agonizing death, it was impaling. And that was 14 years ago. The second thing we can see is that it was humiliating. This messenger of Satan was sent to “slap,” which refers to that slap you give him with the back of his hand. Third, we can see that Satan was part of this suffering. It was an evil action aimed at bringing pain and humiliation to the Apostle Paul. If so, imagine with us. The fourth thing we learned is that God was behind everything. The fifth point we can see is that God’s plan was that Paul should not be exalted.
Paul’s reaction was Diane’s natural reaction to pain and suffering: she prayed three times. It is not wrong to ask God to deliver you from suffering and humiliation. The problem is the false gospel that says that God’s will is always to make you feel good and We have also learned that God does not always respond, that silence is also an answer, and that when He does, it may not be what is expected. Do you need more faith to say your will will will be done?to give orders to God.
God responded to Paul by saying that God’s grace was sufficient, because his power is perfect in weakness. God’s intention is not to make us great, strong, and powerful, but faithful.
Paul’s understanding is that the successful pastor is not someone who possesses property or recognition, but someone who remains faithful to God. Many want God’s power to fulfill their ministry and believe that the acquisition of this power is linked as a result of certain rituals. . However, there is only one way: it is God who lets you know that you are nothing. When you are in this condition that no matter what blessing happens to you, it is for God’s sake, then God is ready to bless him. Before that, he didn’t share his glory with anyone, let alone you.