Humble Boasting

Text: II Cor. 12:7-10

Title: Humble Boasting

Introduction:  We are not to boast in the works of our own flesh but we are to boast in the failures of our flesh.  Through this, God is honored and glorified and we are shown that his grace is sufficient.

Big Idea:  Our trials and difficulties remind us that a loving God is demonstrating to us that his faith is enough and we are to share that with others.

1.      God’s providence in pain and persecution.  (v. 7) We are faced with trials and temptations so as not become conceited in what Christ has done in our lives.  After all, we did not contribute to the grace that has been revealed to us. 

a.       Illustration: A silversmith is asked how long the silver remains in the fire.  The silversmith answers it is at the perfect temperature when he can see his reflection.  We are tested and tried so that we further become the likeness of Christ.  Having been made in the image of God, he molds and shapes us despite our sin through pain and persecution.

b.      Satan is even used for the glory of God so that God’s people would not boast in their own works.  God allows Satan to harass the people of God so they may see the sufficiency of Christ.

2.      Our weakness is made perfect in His power. (v. 8) 

a.       We see a parallel between Paul’s pleading with the Lord to remove the thorn and Christ’s pleas to God to remove the “cup” from him (Mk 14:32-42).  There is a huge contrast in God’s reply.  To Paul, God answers that his power is made perfect in Paul’s weakness.  In Christ, we see that our weakness is made perfect in His power.  Our sin is washed clean by the blood of Christ.  God’s power is made perfect in our weakness because our weakness was made perfect by his power.  It is because of this that we may know his grace is sufficient.

b.      Because his grace is sufficient we are to take up the cross our own cross (Mk. 8:34).  Notice that Paul uses the “thorn” to symbolize the pain he must endure.  This is but a small taste of what Christ endured on his way to Cavalry.  He endured the pain of the crown of thorns, the beatings to his back, the abuse of the crowd, the treacherous walk to the hill, and the piercings of the cross.  To take up our cross is but a thorn in the flesh compare to what Christ endured.

3.      Humility in boasting.  Notice we are not told not to boast, but we are told what we may boast in.  We are given “thorns” so we do not boast in our own works, but so that we may boast in our weakness which points to the works of Christ.  It is a paradox that we may humbly boast in the thorns that God has given us.  The Holy Spirit, through Paul, charges us to boast with gladness through our weakness so we may receive the power of Christ and share that with others.  It is by this boasting that we find contentment in the lot that God has ordained for us and the persecution we will receive.

Conclusion:  The grace revealed to us through Christ and reminded to us through pain and persecution is something not be sealed and hidden but to be boasted about and shared.  It is by this grace we are content with our trials and empowered to share the gospel.