2 Corinthians 12: How is there strength in weakness?
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2 Corinthians 12: How is there strength in weakness? -
May 30th, 2012, 04:30 PM
in 2 Corinthians 12:9 Christ says His power is perfected in weakness and in verse 10 Paul says that he is strong when he is weak. What weakness is he talking about, and what is his strength? How does he have strength when he is weak?
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I know a lot of fancy dancers
People who can glide you on a floor
They move so smooth but have no answers
When you ask "Why'd you come here for?"
~ Cat Stevens
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May 30th, 2012, 05:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Fontenot
in 2 Corinthians 12:9 Christ says His power is perfected in weakness and in verse 10 Paul says that he is strong when he is weak. What weakness is he talking about, and what is his strength? How does he have strength when he is weak?
He conquored sin and death(strength) by HIS accepting death (weakness)...
peace, Ted
Wheat are NOT reborn tares !!!
Matt 13:36-43 good seed are sown by the Son of man tares are of the wicked one 39 sown by the devil and, as per
Matthew 15:13 …Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up!
in 2 Corinthians 12:9 Christ says His power is perfected in weakness and in verse 10 Paul says that he is strong when he is weak. What weakness is he talking about, and what is his strength? How does he have strength when he is weak?
He came as a lamb.
Matt. 11:20 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
He came as a servant.
John 13:5
After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Lowly and humble of heart.
Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ***, and upon a colt the foal of an ***.
Like a lamb...Gentle and meek
Isaiah 42:1-4
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
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How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? (Job 6:25 KJV )
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May 30th, 2012, 11:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Fontenot
in 2 Corinthians 12:9 Christ says His power is perfected in weakness and in verse 10 Paul says that he is strong when he is weak. What weakness is he talking about, and what is his strength? How does he have strength when he is weak?
As we identify and acknowledge our weaknesses we also identify our need for God, that only through His Grace can we affect positive and lasting change. So through humility brought on by our weaknesses we can see God's power in operation in our lives.
Matt. 11:20 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
He came as a servant.
John 13:5
After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Lowly and humble of heart.
Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ***, and upon a colt the foal of an ***.
Like a lamb...Gentle and meek
Isaiah 42:1-4
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
In weakness is strength.
This is really good stuff about Christ coming in "weakness" what about Paul's weakness? What about our own?
As we identify and acknowledge our weaknesses we also identify our need for God, that only through His Grace can we affect positive and lasting change. So through humility brought on by our weaknesses we can see God's power in operation in our lives.
This is really good stuff about Christ coming in "weakness" what about Paul's weakness? What about our own?
The closer we can get to it the better. I submit Paul was weak in the body, but strong in the Spirit, since he was so greatly buffeted in the flesh. So, the less there is of me, the more there is of Christ in me. Self-less would be a could way of putting it....dying to SELF. Heck, if you don't do it willingly, it might be forced upon you.
The closer we can get to it the better. I submit Paul was weak in the body, but strong in the Spirit, since he was so greatly buffeted in the flesh. So, the less there is of me, the more there is of Christ in me. Self-less would be a could way of putting it....dying to SELF. Heck, if you don't do it willingly, it might be forced upon you.
What I find interesting though about 2 Corinthians 12 is the context. He has spent 10 and 11 boasting, and showing that we should take pride in what Christ has done. So what I think is that there may be two sides to the coin. On one, the idea that we cannot take pride in our own abilities because we cannot be good enough. On the other side, you have the idea that we must take pride in the good we do, because in taking pride in the good things God has set for us to do, we glorify Christ.
As we identify and acknowledge our weaknesses we also identify our need for God, that only through His Grace can we affect positive and lasting change. So through humility brought on by our weaknesses we can see God's power in operation in our lives.
Excellent. Let's face it, when we take charge, things go downhill. The sooner we learn "surrender," and the sooner we learn humility, the better off we are.
Don't be an *** kicking against the goads....be a lamb.
What I find interesting though about 2 Corinthians 12 is the context. He has spent 10 and 11 boasting, and showing that we should take pride in what Christ has done. So what I think is that there may be two sides to the coin. On one, the idea that we cannot take pride in our own abilities because we cannot be good enough. On the other side, you have the idea that we must take pride in the good we do, because in taking pride in the good things God has set for us to do, we glorify Christ.
Well, I wouldn't say "we should take pride" in anything...and I know you didn't mean it like that. Just joshin' around a bit.
But, I'm sure glad you had me read those two chapters together.
Did you notice all of chapter 10, Paul is being almost "scruff your shoe in the dirt" while sort of setting up his credentials, if you will. But, he's really just gearing up with an incredible "Sermon." This part always gets me..."bear with me a little in my folly." Folly, can you believe that?
2 Corinthians 11:1
1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
Then right into the Sermon. Ah, I would love to have been there to hear him in person. That man can preach the Word.
2 Cor. 11:2-3
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
But I don't think we should mention our part in what the Lord may have accomplished through us. The danger and the problem for most people, though they may not want to admit it, is that pride can enter in. I think that's why we're not to let our right hand know what our left is doing when giving any kind of alms...which, as I see it, would include good works.
Matthew 6:3-4
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
Well, I wouldn't say "we should take pride" in anything...and I know you didn't mean it like that. Just joshin' around a bit.
But, I'm sure glad you had me read those two chapters together.
Did you notice all of chapter 10, Paul is being almost "scruff your shoe in the dirt" while sort of setting up his credentials, if you will. But, he's really just gearing up with an incredible "Sermon." This part always gets me..."bear with me a little in my folly." Folly, can you believe that?
2 Corinthians 11:1
1Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
Then right into the Sermon. Ah, I would love to have been there to hear him in person. That man can preach the Word.
2 Cor. 11:2-3
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
But I don't think we should mention our part in what the Lord may have accomplished through us. The danger and the problem for most people, though they may not want to admit it, is that pride can enter in. I think that's why we're not to let our right hand know what our left is doing when giving any kind of alms...which, as I see it, would include good works.
Matthew 6:3-4
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
I think we are called to take pride though in what Christ does in us. We have made it a habit to put the good done in the world almost on the back burner but that's not what God calls us to do. If we take pride (and not pride like we think of it) in the good we do, not in a selfish way but really in humility and not facing the world with timidity but with boldness, then people will notice that we are different. People will notice our holiness and that is the point of our being holy; the purest form of evangelism. Here Paul boats, and ya it sounds foolish, but he still boasts in the ways he has served and sacrificed for the Lord. He makes the point that these things are a part of the foundation we stand on, and we should not only understand the good we do, but show the good we do as a means of pleasing God, not pleasing man. If we are able to admit where are weakness are, then we should also realistically admit where our strengths are so that we can understand in full measure what it is we should and should not do.
I must admit I don't usually dive into 2 Corinthians this in depth, but I've had to teach it in a class at church and I want to see what people have to say about it.
I think we are called to take pride though in what Christ does in us. We have made it a habit to put the good done in the world almost on the back burner but that's not what God calls us to do. If we take pride (and not pride like we think of it) in the good we do, not in a selfish way but really in humility and not facing the world with timidity but with boldness, then people will notice that we are different. People will notice our holiness and that is the point of our being holy; the purest form of evangelism. Here Paul boats, and ya it sounds foolish, but he still boasts in the ways he has served and sacrificed for the Lord. He makes the point that these things are a part of the foundation we stand on, and we should not only understand the good we do, but show the good we do as a means of pleasing God, not pleasing man. If we are able to admit where are weakness are, then we should also realistically admit where our strengths are so that we can understand in full measure what it is we should and should not do.
I must admit I don't usually dive into 2 Corinthians this in depth, but I've had to teach it in a class at church and I want to see what people have to say about it.
It would seem like the natural thing to do, but you notice whenever he does boast about himself, he acknowledges it isn't "from the Lord," and is according to the flesh.
2 Cor. 11:16-18 I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.
Paul is sorta the "every man"....he experiences the same things we all do. We watch him wonder if he sins by not being bolder, for example. I think the Cor. church was a real pain...if you know what I mean.
Paul didn't like having to "commend himself," but he was seeing a lot of contentions and even sinful behaviour so felt he had to remind them of his authority as a receiver of revelations from our Lord.
2 Cor. 10:17-18 But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.
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II Timothy 2:15, Psalms 6:5, I John 3:1-2, Romans 5:1 I John 4:18, I Timothy 2:4-5, II Corinthians 9:8,11, III John 2
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May 31st, 2012, 10:27 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Fontenot
in 2 Corinthians 12:9 Christ says His power is perfected in weakness and in verse 10 Paul says that he is strong when he is weak. What weakness is he talking about, and what is his strength? How does he have strength when he is weak?
Well, there is no strength in weakness.
Surely Paul's point is that since as humans, without the power of God in our lives, we cannot be successful against spiritual wickedness unless we go to God and let God be the strength of our strength.
Flesh and blood alone is weak.
Flesh and blood that turns to God and believes has the victory.
oatmeal
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers." Acts 2:42
"For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" Psalm 6:5
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Your faith is what you believe in and by their fruit you shall know them
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May 31st, 2012, 10:31 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jordan Fontenot
in 2 Corinthians 12:9 Christ says His power is perfected in weakness and in verse 10 Paul says that he is strong when he is weak. What weakness is he talking about, and what is his strength? How does he have strength when he is weak?
These passages go hand-in-hand with the passage where Jesus says “he who loses his life for my sake will find it”.
Matthew 10:39
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
It is a matter of us forsaking our own will that is in the spirit of man that allows “his will be done” found in the Holy Spirit given unto us.
Either God through the Holy Spirit in our hearts rules our lives, or we through the spirit of man in our heart rule our lives.
If we rule over our own lives we are apt to commit a sin. However, if Christ a.k.a. the Holy Spirit rules our life we will not sin because Christ cannot sin.
To be weak is to forgo the spirit of man and allow Christ to rule our lives.
Doug
Please read and support: "Modern Day Prophet" by Douglas Duncan
Folly, can you believe that? 
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