Where Strength Comes From

2 Corinthians 12 

Scripture: 

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. (2 Cor. 12:9) 

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. (2 Cor. 12:19) 

I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. (2 Cor. 12:21) 

Observation: 

Remember who this letter is addressed to.  This was THE place to worship Aphrodite, with many temples and 10,000 temple prostitutes.  Nearly everyone who lived there either worked at one, had a loved one who did, or was a former participant themselves.  The entire culture of the city was steeped in the sex industry, as this is likely where many of their profits came from.  Add to that, there was a group of religious leaders (Judaizers) who dogged Paul in his missionary journeys  with the intent to convert all the churches he'd established to their own way of thinking.  So Paul sent a series of reprimanding letters to them after he'd continued to the next city to counteract all those things inhibiting them from following The Way.  

The tone of Paul's writing in these letters are an anxious filled sorrow, to restore them, treating them as a father does for his children.  And like a father who encourages them through hardship and stories from his own life, he tells them of his own struggles.   

Then he shares with them a grand secret: that it is through our weaknesses, God is able to show strength.  It's almost as if he can hear them tell him how hard it is to step out of that lifestyle.  How he doesn't understand the temptation they are under or the pressure from their families to conform, to take ownership in the family business, or follow the voices of the people who speak now in his absence.  So Paul reminds them that they don't have to do it on their own, that if they will only repent (change their mind and let their actions follow this new way of thinking as their emotions are then effected) and lean on him, then His grace will be enough for them to get through it.  (I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength! Phil. 4:13) 

Application: 

I'd like to focus a moment on the usage of the words "strength" and "weakness".  This isn't talking about physical strength, but the strength to endure a thing or the strength to withstand a thing (like temptation).  If you were to sit down and write out  a list of your strengths and weaknesses (in body, character, spirit and mind) what would you come up with?  Can you assess those things in your life that you can only do with God's help?  

The bottom line of this chapter is a call to repent.  So that is what I call you to do too.  Is there anything you need to repent of?  Is there anything you know of that keeps you from reaching out to God?   

Prayer: 

Lord, we have it so backwards!  We want so desperately to be strong and handle things on our own, its human nature and hasn't changed since the 2,000 years ago that this was written in.  The culture what we are steeped in here in the United States has it's share of sexual sin, and its got a sex trade too.  Your words back then are still applicable today.  Father, I echo Paul's plea: for us to find our strength in YOU.  That we would have the courage to repent and follow you instead of our own lusts.  Amen.