Please take time to read the entire chapter of 2Corinthians 12:1-21, where Paul writes about the Revelation of the Church that Jesus Himself gave him. After reading the chapter, decide and think about how you identify with what you've read. Many times we hear or read a scripture, then identify with the wrong image of what is there. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth behind this Word, instead of allowing tradition to dictate to you.
Paul tells us that while on the road to Damascus, he was transported into the Very Presence of the Lord. Paul doesn't know whether he was physically or spiritually there, but while there, the Lord gave him the Revelation of the Church. He saw the Jews and Gentiles living as one in this Revelation, and was shown and told what Jesus' death and Resurrection means to us, even today. Through Paul's writings about the Revelation, we know about Redemption, Righteousness, sanctification, being heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. We learn of the authority of the believer, being made one together in Jesus, being sons/daughters of God, being made the Temple of the Holy Spirit and many other great Revelations, that no other person except Paul, knew at that time.
We also learn that a thorn of the flesh was given Paul, to buffet, harass and keep Paul from being exalted above measure. Which side of this chapter do you identify more with, in your life? Do you see yourself as the one who is being tried by God or the one being exalted by God? The side you identify with, is the side you draw your faith from, for you own life and the place you hold in God. If we study this chapter by the Holy Spirit, instead of man's opinions, then you'll see that satan was trying to stop Paul's revealing what Jesus had given him for us today. God wasn't trying to stop Paul. Most of the New Testament came from Paul's Revelation.
In spite of the hardships he endured, Paul was determined to bring this Revelation to light. Paul's life was a remarkable display of faith and a great love for the Lord. Paul asked God to stop the persecution in Verse 9, where the Lord answered, "My Grace (my favor and Loving Kindness and mercy), is enough for you, sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully; for My strength and Power are made perfect, fulfilled and completed and show themselves most effective in your weaknesses." Paul answered, "Therefore I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and my infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest, yes may pitch a tent over and dwell upon me."
Jesus made a covenant with Paul, to go forth and bring the Revelation of the Body of Christ to the world. Paul was chosen by Jesus as an Apostle to the Gentiles and Paul agreed to do this. As Gentiles, we owe the Revelation of salvation we received, to Paul's determination, faith and his love for Jesus. Some identify more with the thorn in the flesh and believe that God put this on Paul, in order to keep him humble. Some identify with the Revelation and received great insight and fellowship with the Father, from the Truth of Salvation given in it.
Many have accepted the truth that when you preach the Gospel, persecution always comes. Jesus gave the Revelation to Paul, so the world can hear the Message of salvation. Satan sent a demonic spirit to stop Paul's preaching this Revelation. Despite this, Paul never wavered to bring us Light and bring Glory to God in his mission. Like many today, Paul wondered why he was having so much trouble, when he was doing God's will and what God instructed him to do. Some believe that the troubles in their lives are, "God doing a work in us," while others know that satan is trying to discourage them into silence.
We must learn and know our true identity in Jesus Christ. While reading this chapter, we ask, "Why would God call Paul to do this, hold him accountable to it, and then try stopping Paul from doing what He Commissioned?" If we listen closely to the Holy Spirit, then we know that Paul's pride was in the Law and not in God's Grace. Paul took so much pride in his learning the Law, that he persecuted, jailed and murdered the Church. Satan didn't have a problem with Paul's doing these things. Satan didn't want Paul to preach the covenant to the Gentiles, so he tried to stop Paul from doing so.
If Paul had his way, then there wouldn't be a Gentile Church, but only the Law. He had to humble himself, in order to preach salvation to the Gentiles. In so doing, Paul found himself in direct opposition to the god of this world, who had been blinding Paul's eyes to Light of the Gospel. Paul finally found that God wouldn't allow the enemy to stop him and that when he was weak, God would show Himself to be strong on Paul's behalf and that God would deliver Paul by His Own Mighty hand.
In Verse 10, Paul says, "So for the sake of Christ, I am well-pleased and take pleasure in my infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities, and distresses; for when I am weak in human strength, then am I truly strong, able, powerful in Divine strength." Paul discovered what many of us are today, that it's not us, but like Jesus said, "It is the Father in Me, Who does the work." Our doing what the Lord tells us to do, doesn't mean that everything will go smoothly. Sometimes, the more we walk in what we're called to do, the more frustrated the enemy becomes and the more determined he'll be to stop us.
Like Paul, we then ask the Lord to, "Take this thing from me." If we listen closely, then we'll hear the same answer God gave Paul. Then, like Paul, we must ask, "Do I stop because it's hard" or "Do I continue and trust the Lord for His deliverance?" Do we bear the hardships manfully or do we give into discouragement and stop? In my weakness, God's ability to be glorified is strong. The people will know, "This must be God," because they know man's weaknesses couldn't do this.
Paul endured so much, in order to fulfill his commitment and the call Jesus gave him, which was to preach salvation to the Gentiles and not just to those who were under the Law. Paul's love for the Lord was greater than his fear of those under the Law. We're reading about the Revelation of the Church today, because of Paul's desire to fulfill what Jesus instructed. It's hard to find such faith and commitment today. We seem to think that if it's not easy, then "it's not God." Doing the will of God in our lives, with faith and commitment, will sometimes bring the enemy's wrath, so we must learn to trust God for our strength. This is the perfect place to go from faith to faith in Jesus.
Don't be discouraged and draw back from your calling in God, but draw strength from Him and "Run the race for the prize of the high calling in God." Let's not just run the race, but finish it! Let's identify ourselves with the victory, not allowing anything to disqualify or stop us. We won't do it in our weaknesses, but in His strength.
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