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Summary | When I am Weak, Then I am Strong | 2 Corinthians 12:1-10Paradise -The dream of heaven  v 1-4Paul Boasts of his Weakness  v 5-6  Pray  v 8-9Thorn in the flesh to keep humble – Have no idea what that was.  Migraine headaches, eye trouble, malaria, epilepsy have all be seriously suggestedA messenger of Satan to buffer me – to keep me from exalting myself! Need to be careful that we do not blame everything on SatanBad things can be brought by God for our goodPaul came to see this thorn as God’s way of keeping him humble and dependent on the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This passage makes several sharp points of application:Suffering can be used by God to make us more humbleGod does not always answer our prayers the way we wishGod never causes us to go through painful circumstances without giving us the grace to overcome them.Prayed three timesAnswered prayerMy Grace is sufficient for youGod wanted Paul to find comfort and security in the grace he had received in Christ – the same thing god desires for all believers.God’s denial of Paul’s request turned out to be to Paul’s greater good because it was to God’s greater gloryPower is made perfect in weakness. Throughout Scripture God delights in displaying His power in situations where human strength is weak. When God’s people are weak, then God’s strength becomes evident.Power  v 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecutions, difficultiesThese were causes for joy because in these times of weakness, Paul was strong in the power of God Therefore I am well content with … for Christ’s sakeWhen I am weak, then I am strongPaul may have been dead or barely alive – weak – It was then that he saw vision of heaven – strong. Paul had thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan – weak – that he learned My Grace is sufficient, that power is perfected in weakness.  Paul was well content with weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecution, difficulties, for Christ sake – power.I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strengthThe 12 were nobodies, weak, but became Apostles upon whom church is builtJohn the Baptist put idea of when I am weak then I am strong like this “He must increase but I must decrease.”  I am overwhelmed.  There is nothing too hard for GodIn your life, day by day, moment by moment; remember When I am weak then I am strong But the flip side is also true.  He that thinks he stands take head lest he fall.  Pride goes before a fall and a haughty attitude before destruction.  The way up is down, and the way down is up.  Depend upon Christ, lean on the omnipotent, omniscient God and you will learn and live When I am weak then I am strong