Closer: Receiving a Message from Jesus
How can we receive challenging words from Jesus? A great example of this is looking at the life of the apostle Paul and how he received one such challenging word from Jesus.
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 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.
Before Jesus changed Paul’s life, he was called Saul, and Saul was a religious leader and a Pharisee. Paul came with an apostolic platform for stand on. He could’ve allowed his impressive resume to pump him up and carry him forward, but something got in the way. And that something wasn’t a bad thing, as Paul had been through some terrible things. So, his response is incredible, considering the background.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Paul’s been through some stuff, and all he’s asking God is to remove a thorn in the flesh. Not the multiple floggings, countless death exposures, or anything else. Instead of responding from a place of selfishness, he responds in faith, humility, and in deference to Jesus’ will for him.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We have to look closely at this passage to see how that was possible.
Paul was grounded in his calling – There may be people in your life who will look at your suffering or the world’s suffering as evidence that God doesn’t exist. We need the same foundation as Paul, and if we’ve trusted Jesus to save our souls and confessed Him as Lord, then we are deeply loved by God.
We belong to Jesus, are approved by Jesus, and are called by Jesus.
Jesus was with him in his suffering – Paul prayed 3 times for this thing to be taken away, showing that in his suffering and weakness, he was still close to Jesus, and Jesus was close to him. Jesus is close to us, with us, around us, among us, and dwelling in us through it all.
Paul was entirely dependent on Jesus – My weakness + Jesus’ strength doesn’t equal MY power. Being consistent in prayer allows the power of Jesus to rest on us as we become dependent on Him. And we become more dependent on Him as His power rests on us.
Paul was entirely surrendered to Jesus – Through all the beatings, imprisonments, torture, torment, and indignities down to the thorn in the flesh, Paul surrendered to Jesus.
So, how do we start to change that in our lives to receive Jesus’ word the way Paul did?
Listen to Jesus, and ONLY Jesus – If we want a word from Jesus, He can’t be only of many. We often like having many voices speaking into our situation to get every perspective possible, but if we want Jesus’ voice, His needs to be the sole voice we listen to and for.
Be Persistent – Jesus didn’t answer Paul right away, but he was persistent. We abandon Jesus in prayer too soon. When Jesus doesn’t give us a hard “no” we need to keep after it. In just our asking alone, there’s evidence of our devotion to Him.
Hold it Loosely – It’s much less painful to have something taken from your open hands than clenched fists. Holding on loosely is a step in that direction. The goal should be to grow in this as we continue learning to surrender more fully to Jesus.
Surrender to Jesus – This is a huge step forward from holding everything loosely. This is an open-hand approach, still holding the thing that we want to lay down at Jesus’ feet with hands extended and palms down but waiting to touch it unless it is handed over to us by Jesus.
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2 Corinthians 12:1-10
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 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.
Before Jesus changed Paul’s life, he was called Saul, and Saul was a religious leader and a Pharisee. Paul came with an apostolic platform for stand on. He could’ve allowed his impressive resume to pump him up and carry him forward, but something got in the way. And that something wasn’t a bad thing, as Paul had been through some terrible things. So, his response is incredible, considering the background.
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Paul’s been through some stuff, and all he’s asking God is to remove a thorn in the flesh. Not the multiple floggings, countless death exposures, or anything else. Instead of responding from a place of selfishness, he responds in faith, humility, and in deference to Jesus’ will for him.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We have to look closely at this passage to see how that was possible.
Paul was grounded in his calling – There may be people in your life who will look at your suffering or the world’s suffering as evidence that God doesn’t exist. We need the same foundation as Paul, and if we’ve trusted Jesus to save our souls and confessed Him as Lord, then we are deeply loved by God.
We belong to Jesus, are approved by Jesus, and are called by Jesus.
Jesus was with him in his suffering – Paul prayed 3 times for this thing to be taken away, showing that in his suffering and weakness, he was still close to Jesus, and Jesus was close to him. Jesus is close to us, with us, around us, among us, and dwelling in us through it all.
Paul was entirely dependent on Jesus – My weakness + Jesus’ strength doesn’t equal MY power. Being consistent in prayer allows the power of Jesus to rest on us as we become dependent on Him. And we become more dependent on Him as His power rests on us.
Paul was entirely surrendered to Jesus – Through all the beatings, imprisonments, torture, torment, and indignities down to the thorn in the flesh, Paul surrendered to Jesus.
So, how do we start to change that in our lives to receive Jesus’ word the way Paul did?
Listen to Jesus, and ONLY Jesus – If we want a word from Jesus, He can’t be only of many. We often like having many voices speaking into our situation to get every perspective possible, but if we want Jesus’ voice, His needs to be the sole voice we listen to and for.
Be Persistent – Jesus didn’t answer Paul right away, but he was persistent. We abandon Jesus in prayer too soon. When Jesus doesn’t give us a hard “no” we need to keep after it. In just our asking alone, there’s evidence of our devotion to Him.
Hold it Loosely – It’s much less painful to have something taken from your open hands than clenched fists. Holding on loosely is a step in that direction. The goal should be to grow in this as we continue learning to surrender more fully to Jesus.
Surrender to Jesus – This is a huge step forward from holding everything loosely. This is an open-hand approach, still holding the thing that we want to lay down at Jesus’ feet with hands extended and palms down but waiting to touch it unless it is handed over to us by Jesus.
For more LHC content, subscribe to our newsletter below or follow us on Instagram.
Want to play catch-up, or are you looking for a specific topic? Check out our collection of sermons here.
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