Again, how we thank our Lord
for allowing us this time to be together. This whole world, by and large, no interest, and
Almighty God would give a people a heart to come together. For
that, I'm thankful. I want you to take your Bibles
and turn with me to the book of 2 Corinthians 12. Before we begin this evening,
let's ask our Lord's blessing. Our Father, how thankful we are
for this blessed time to call upon you. We are needy people. And how
we pray that you would bless the Word to our understanding,
our comfort. And Lord, for the salvation of
your people, I pray that you would be pleased to birth into
the visible kingdom sinners. For Christ's sake. Amen. I'd like to look at verses 1
to 10 of 2 Corinthians 12. Before we actually start looking
at those verses, there's a promise that our Lord has given us in
Isaiah 54.13, and it says this, All thy children, all of God's people, all that
he's everlastingly loved, shall be taught of the Lord. And great shall be the peace
of thy children. That's a promise. All of God's
people, all of thy children, shall be taught. There's going to be great peace. The Spirit of God, the Lord Jesus
Christ said, was going to come. He said, I must go back to my
Father. A Comforter. I'm not going to
leave you comfortless. The Comforter shall come. And when He comes, He will speak
of me, bringing back to your memory all these things that
I've said. And Almighty God condescends to teach his people,
to teach them of themselves, what they are in themselves,
and to teach them of their need of Christ. And thereby, they
find peace. They find Him who is their peace,
the Prince of Peace. Therefore, every believer desires
to be taught of God. But the Scripture reveals in
the passage that we're going to look at tonight a need that
arises that Almighty God is surely going to deal with in His people. And in the meeting of that need,
it's going to be for His honor and for their good. And this
is the need that we have. While we're being taught of God,
we need to have our pride abased. Now the Apostle Paul, at least
four times, I'm sure there were more, but at least four times
was personally spoken to by the Lord. One on the road to Damascus,
Once the Scripture mentions a vision that he had concerning a man
from Macedonia saying, come over and preach to us. And then once
the Scripture says about remaining in Corinth, the Lord spoke to
him in a vision because the Lord had many people there, had sheep
there. Paul was to stay there to preach
to them. And the last one is in this passage of Scripture
that we're going to deal with tonight. Our great need of having
pride abased. I'm going to look at ten verses,
but I'd like to look at the first six. 2 Corinthians 12, it is
not expedient for me Doubtless to glory, I will come to visions
and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ about
fourteen years ago, whether in the body I cannot tell, or whether
out of the body I cannot tell. God knoweth. Such in one caught
up to the third heaven, And I knew such a man, whether in the body
or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth, how that he
was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which
it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I
glory, yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. But though I would desire to
glory, I shall not be a fool, for I will say the truth, but
now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which
he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me." Now the Apostle
Paul is getting ready to tell of an experience that he had,
doubtless he was talking about himself. He said, it is not expedient
for me. It's not fitting. It's not advisable. It's not acceptable. For me,
doubtless or without doubt, he said, without doubt, it's not
best for me to glory. Not advisable for me to glory. The apostle knew something. of the inward working of pride. But he knew also that the revelations
that had been given him were without doubt for his advantage
and encouragement and guidance and for those that the Lord had
sent him to preach to. It was needful that Paul should
be taught It was needful for Paul to be given some guidance
and some encouragement for the trials and the tribulations that
this man endured. He said, I knew a man in Christ. And again, I say it without a
doubt, he was talking about himself, though he was talking in the
third person. A man in Christ, in oneness with
the Lord Jesus Himself. Part of his body. United to Him. Belonging to Him eternally. And electing, adopting, regenerating,
justifying and sustaining grace. One that was accepted in the
Beloved. He said, I knew a man that Christ
knew. That Christ loved. Surely. Assuredly. And this man, Paul
said, above 14 years ago, from the time he wrote this letter,
he'd kept this revelation to himself. He'd kept this revelation
secret, held it close to him. Fourteen years ago. And now,
the Spirit of God is going to allow him to write about it. Fourteen years ago, caught up
to the third heaven, Scripture reveals paradise itself, the
place of departed saints, that place that the Lord Jesus Christ
told the thief, today you are going to be with me in paradise,
in that third heaven. And the Apostle Paul says that
I heard unspeakable words, which it's not lawful or it's not possible
for me to utter. Here is this one that Paul spoke
of, caught up and heard words that a man in this body, in this
flesh, still tied to that old man, that old nature that was
still bound with him. He said, these words, I can't say them. I can't pronounce
them. I don't know how to form the
speech that I heard. Words that were spoken in the
presence of a mortal man. Words that a mortal man couldn't
say. And then he said in verse 5,
of such in one will I glory. Now, that's a hard phrase to
know exactly what he meant. Possibly, he was talking, because
I know he's talking to the third person. Whether he's saying of
such a person that was able, that was caught up, one that
would be caught up into the third heaven, I know would have something
to glory in that he was brought up into the third heaven. Or whether or not he was talking
about the experience itself. Whether or not he was talking
about the person caught or the very experience of being caught
up. He said, of such in one will I glory, yet of myself, knowing
what I am by nature, I will not glory. But in mine infirmities,
all was to be made known vividly of his infirmities. He says,
For though I would desire the glory, I shall not be a fool. For I will say the truth, but
now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which
he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me, lest one would
consider me to be something or someone any other than a sinner,
saved by the grace of God. I would desire to have glory.
That thought, that desire is there, but I'm not going to be
a fool. But how did Paul come to that conclusion? Now you think
about this. Here's a man greatly taught of
God, and it is so needful. It's needful for men and women
to be taught. It's needful. for God to teach
a pastor. It's needful for God's people
to have one taught, instructed in the Scriptures. It's needful
for you to be taught. It's needful. And you want to
be taught. You desire to be taught. That's why you're here. You want
to hear. You want to know. You want to
be instructed concerning the things of God. But he said, I
forbear, glorying. How did you come to that conclusion? What happened? Verse 7, And lest
I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the
revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a
messenger of Satan to buffet me. lest I should be exalted
above measure." Fourteen years the Apostle Paul
held this revelation to himself under God's direction. Fourteen
years. He didn't write about it, say
anything about it. But through the abundance of
the revelations that was given him, lest he should be exalted
above measure. And my friend, who would even
doubt that a man that had been personally taught of God... I
thought on this Scripture again while I was going over it this
afternoon, and I thought to myself, Paul had heard the Lord Jesus
Christ speak to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? Revelations about the Macedonian.
Revelations about Satan in Corinth. But here, Paul said, I knew a
man caught up to the third heaven. Right into the very presence
of the souls of departed saints. And heard the conversation that
was taking place. He heard what was being said.
And it wasn't possible for him to even say it, to utter it. His faculties were such that
he couldn't do it. There is an old nature in every
person that will do one thing Almighty God brought me to heaven. God brought me into the very
presence. I was where departed saints reside
right now. In the very presence of Almighty
God. Unless Paul should be exalted
above measure, Almighty God sent a messenger
of Satan. And we are not told what it was. Any speculation of any certainty
would be foolishness. But for sure, there is a secret
thorn where the very soul of this man was buffeted. Paul could not say as the Lord
Jesus Christ could say, Satan cometh and hath nothing in me.
Christ could say that. There was nothing in him for
Satan to feed upon, to work upon. But there was in Paul and there
is in every believer, every regenerated child of God, a corrupt nature
to work upon. And Satan buffeted this man under
the direction of Almighty God because of the abundance of the
revelations that had been given him, because God had taught him,
because God had instructed him in such a way And for fourteen years, Paul
is relating now this period of buffeting that without a doubt,
he still had to that day. I thought upon it, trying to
relate it to us. And I thought back on that seventh
chapter. of the Apostle Paul. When he
read, I want you to just turn with me there for a moment, for
our instruction, for our comfort, for our peace, to try to find some comfort for
God's people on why we suffer. Paul said, Verse 15, Romans 7, for that
which I do, I allow or I know not. For what I would, that I
do. No, for what I would, that do
I not. But what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would
not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then, it is no
more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know, And I think about what he had
said over in 2 Corinthians 12, that messenger of Satan had came
to buffet him and the reminding of what he is by nature. My friend,
as we struggle, and a believer is one taught of God, taught
the unsearchable riches of the grace of God, taught of God's
distinguishing grace, Now you know, I know, I know, the Scripture
clearly sets forth that Almighty God, before the foundation of
the world, chose a people. Chose setting His affection upon
them. Chose them through no merit of
their own and put them in Christ. And when the Lord Jesus Christ
came into this world, He walked in this world, lived in this
world for His people, establishing their righteousness that is imputed
to them. He laid down His life only for
the sheep. The Spirit of God shall only
call out God's elect. Do you see grounds for boasting? It's there. Because of the wickedness
of this old nature, man by nature is prideful and
boast. I can understand why. This wicked
world hears the gospel of God's free grace and say, you people
are just arrogant. You're just arrogant. Here was Paul caught up to the
third heaven. Here's a believer with the glorious revelations.
Unless any of God's people be exalted above measure, Almighty
God is going to send Satan to buffet them. You want to know
why? You grieve as you do over what
you are. Because Almighty God allows Satan
to come and tell you, to remind you, lest we should be exalted
above measure. Paul says back in Romans 7, 18,
I know that in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.
You that know Him know that. You know that. You see the frailty
of your flesh. You see the struggles that you
have while you try to pray. You see the inward attitude of
what you are, and you think about what God has taught you. But
lest any of God's people should be exalted above measure. For
to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is
good I find not. For the good that I would, I
do not. But the evil which I would not, that I do. That old man is vividly brought
back that struggle that we have within. If I do that, I would
not. It is no more I that do it, but
sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law that when I
would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the
law of God after the inward man, but I see another law in my members. warring against the law of my
mind, bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in
my members. Oh, wretched man that I am! You that know Him
agree with that. You agree. You know it. Almighty God has graciously sent
a messenger of Satan to buffet us. lest we should be exalted
above measure. Who shall deliver me from the
body of this death? Now listen to Paul's last verse
here. I thank God through Jesus Christ
our Lord, so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God,
but with the flesh the law of sin. I thank God that He has
taught me Something of myself. Something of the struggles that
are within. Something of the wars and wrestlings. Were these buffetings and unrelenting
reminders of Paul's wretchedness? Was that not for his good? A promise from Almighty God that
I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. Why do we feel the way we do?
Because of what we are. And we're not justifying the
workings of that old man. Paul meant it. Old wretched man
that I am. I know what I am in myself, but
thanks be unto God. that He's taught me something
of who I am in Christ. The all-wise, all-merciful, loving
God who everlastingly loved Paul, who lived and died according
to God's everlasting covenant to save him, told Paul when Paul
thrice asked him, to remove that messenger of Satan. And the Lord
said, My grace is sufficient for thee. Will a believer ever leave this
world not struggling with the inward workings of that old man? No. It gets more real. The struggles
are greater. In the midst of this great revelation,
my frailty, my wanderings, my inconsistencies, when I am made
to see afresh the lukewarmness, the Scripture says, I know that
His grace is sufficient, sufficient to support me when
I feel myself almost gone. Surely could God show mercy to
one such as I? There's times that I think to
myself, trying to study, going home and thinking, what did I even do today? Trying
to read. When I'm made to grieve over
my weakness, then it's made known to me afresh His strength. is most evident, sufficient to
strengthen me and uphold me under every trial and circumstance. My strength is made perfect in
weakness. God's strength and grace to His
people is never more glorified and appreciated than when we
realize our own weakness and inability. The more violently a believer
is afflicted, the more eminently wonderful is his strength made
to be known, seen. Paul said in verse 9, when the
Lord said, My grace is sufficient, my strength is made perfect,
and weakness, Paul says, most gladly, therefore, will I rather
glory in my infirmities. that the power of Christ may
rest upon me." Paul said, being taught of the need, of my need,
of infirmities. He said, I'd rather glory in
my infirmities that I might realize the power of God and the grace
of God toward me. Knowing that the thorns have
been sent by God through Satan for my good, Knowing that the
Lord graciously makes me to see the frailty of my flesh, then
prayer becomes imminently more precious. Lord,
help me. I don't even know what to ask.
Lord, I don't know what to say. But I'm reminded of my frailty.
I thank the Lord for His mercy. Last verse, therefore, I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, persecutions,
in distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I
strong. When I am weak, sunk down to
a ripe conclusion of me. When I am weak, when I am made
to see My lack of any power, my lack of any consistency in
myself. When I'm made to see that I so
desperately need Him because of His mercy to show me myself,
then am I strong, but only in Him. I don't have any strength. I have no might. He's omnipotent. It's good that I've been afflicted.
that I might learn God's statutes. When Satan reminds you of how
weak you are under the direction of Almighty God, who Satan could
not even get to you if the Lord didn't allow it. And you know
that. Welcome to Him who is ever near,
who never leaves. I found this song, I just want
to read the words to you. When frames are warm and comforts
strong, oh then we're mighty great. Self is the hero of our
song. Our weakness we forget. Then
Jesus sends some humbling stroke in love to mar our pride. that we may glory in him alone
and trust in naught beside. To those who have been made to
see their need of him, to those that have been made to understand
something of why we struggle so with our flesh, an unbeliever
has one nature. And he's quite happy with himself. It doesn't bother him in the
least that Almighty God is offended. It doesn't bother him in the
least that Almighty God is a just God. It doesn't bother him in
the least. It doesn't even concern him about
God being merciful and gracious and compassionate. But Almighty
God who teaches His people what He's done for us, graciously
abases their pride, lest they should be exalted above measure. Thank God for the fiery darts
of Satan that have been sent for your good and God's glory,
because He's not going to leave you. Now may we eat together
in remembrance of Him who is our all-sufficiency.