BLESSINGS OUT OF BUFFETINGS--2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Intro:  Once a little girl found a cocoon hanging from a limb in the forest.  She took it to her room and placed it in a jar, expecting one day to see a butterfly emerge.  One day, she saw the butterfly within the cocoon trying get out.  It was struggling and trying to push its way out of the tight opening.  In an effort to help the poor insect, she very carefully slit open the cocoon.  After that, the butterfly was able to easily exit the cocoon. But, a strange thing happened.  Instead of spreading two beautiful wings, the butterfly had two withered, shriveled, useless, ugly wings hanging by its side.  Why?  God designed the butterfly and his cocoon so that the tight opening would straighten and strengthen his wings.  Without the pressure of the tight opening, the butterfly was robbed of the beauty of his wings, and more importantly, he was robbed of the ability to fly into the heavens.  He was condemned to a life of walking around on the ground!  I want to talk to you about the buffetings Paul mentions. Just like that butterfly, we will find that the trials and the sufferings of life will refine and prepare us to take flight for the glory of God. 

 I.  v. 7                   THE PAIN OF THE BUFFETINGS

A.     The Personality Of This Pain –What was the nature of Paul’s thorn?  It has been suggested that Paul suffered from an eye disease of some sort, Gal. 6:11.  We do know that his bodily presence was somewhat weak, 2 Cor. 10:10. One thing we know for sure about Paul’s thorn is this: it may have been carried out by Satan, but it was conceived by God! 

B.     The Place Of This Pain – Paul’s thorn was “in the flesh”.  It afflicted his physical man.  Often, the thorns and buffetings we endure in this life will manifest themselves in the physical realm, through sickness and other forms of physical suffering.  At other times, we will endure emotional pain, such as depression, loneliness and heartbreak.  Sometimes our thorns will be spiritual in nature, as we doubt our salvation, struggle with holiness and battle spiritual pride.

C.      The Persistence Of This Pain – The word “buffet” is a verb and it is in the “present tense and the active voice”.  Paul’s thorn was continual in nature.  In other words, he lived with this thing all the time!  When this problem came, it came to stay!  He even asked God three times for relief, still the problem endured!

 II.  v. 7-8          THE PURPOSE OF THE BUFFETINGS

A.     Buffetings Regulate Our Flesh – For Paul, the buffeting came his way to keep him from being “exalted above measure”.  This phrase means “to lift oneself above one’s place”.  Because of all the blessings Paul had been given, v. 1-6, and because of all the mighty ways in which God had used him, v. 7, there was the danger that Paul might try to take all the glory for himself.  It was sent to remind Paul that this thing was about God and not about Paul!

B.     Buffetings Rejuvenate Our Faith – Notice that Paul’s trials drove him to his knees.  When he began to hurt, he began to seek the Lord is a fresh and a new way.

III.  v. 9a             THE PROMISE IN THE BUFFETINGS

A.  The Promise Of Divine Sufficiency – Paul prayed for the thorn to be removed.  The Lord’s answer was this: “My grace is sufficient for thee…”  The word “sufficient” means “to be possessed of unfailing strength; to be enough”.  The Lord is telling Paul, “Paul, I know you have a big task to accomplish.  I called you to that task.  I know you feel weak and inferior for the need. Paul, you need to know that I have the power you lack.  You are never enough, but I am always enough!”

B.  The Promise Of Divine Sovereignty – The Lord Jesus tells Paul that He is working out a divine, sovereign plan in Paul’s life.  He reminds Paul that God’s plan will only be accomplished through God’s strength.  It was the power of God! When the Lord says that His “strength is made perfect in weakness”, it simply means that God gets more glory from using the weak things of the world that He does by using the things of greatest strength and power, 1 Cor. 1:27.  By making Paul weak, God could display His power and strength!  God gets far more glory out of weaker vessels!

IV.  v. 9b-10           THE PRIZE OF THE BUFFETINGS

A.  The Prize Of Power – Paul says that when the infirmities of life have him pressed beneath their weight, then he is stronger than ever!  Why, because the power of God is able to work in his life.  His own power is subdued by his sufferings and the power of God is able to move in a way that it could not under other conditions! 

B.  The Prize Of Praise – As you read these verses, Paul uses words like “most gladly, glory, take pleasure”.  These words indicate that the Lord, through grace, had taught Paul the secret of rejoicing in the midst of difficulty!  Job also learned this valuable lesson, Job 1:20-22. 

C.  The Prize Of Peace – Notice that Paul names all these things that he is “in”.  Yet, he tells us that it is “in” these things that he has found peace and contentment!  He had learned a secret that many of never get a handle on.  Paul had learned the truth that God is just as real and just as powerful in the battles of life and He is during the times of peace and prosperity!

Conclusion:  Are you being pierced by the cruel, sharp thorns of physical, emotional or spiritual affliction?  If you are, then just let me remind you that God’s promises are still true!  His mercies are new every day, Lam. 3:21-22!  Do you need to come before Him today to get grace for your race?  Do you need help for your valley?  Do you need to find that prize in your pain? You say, “I can’t do that!”, then you need to come and ask Him to help you reach that place.  Listen, none of us have arrived!  This is hard for me too, but part of healing our hurts is coming to the place where we yield to God and to what He is doing in our lives.  This altar is open; bring your thorn to Him right now!