2 Cor 12:9

So i've been studying this scripture in length the past few days...i've really just been chewing on it and my findings. i haven't had quite the opportunity to write about it though, which is what usually helps me process the information and retain it all better. Here goes:

I don't know really what i have written on my findings so far, so i will start where i feel it's necessary i guess.

Paul explains that he is caught up into the third heaven and shown things that he cannot share, visions and revelations that are awesome. (paraphrasing here), then he states that he was struggling with a "thorn in the flesh" (no one really knows WHAT the thorn is, although many speculate that it is something to do with his eyes, or something that was embarrassing in appearence...possibly hindering him while preaching), but we don't know because the bible doesn't give us that information.

Then he says that he besought the Lord about it 3 times. and the third time, the Lord answered with, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

so, i think i remember talking about the meanings of grace and sufficient, so let me move onto the next portion of scripture. the statement, "for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Let the reader understand that God has no need for us to BE weak to show His power, furthermore, our weakness is completely visible to the Lord. WE are the ones that don't realize how vulnerable, naked and weak we really are. the Word says, "all flesh is grass." meaning, if it gets too hot, if there's no rain, sunshine, well, we are completely dependent upon the Lord for all things. but the reason that our weakness is made manifest through struggles, is so that God can make Himself known unto us and others.

What this is really saying here is that for those who serve the Lord and are dependent upon Him with their whole lives, He makes them strong through circumstances that people without Him cannot bear. so, they seem strong, but it is because of Him. (PS 88:7 & JN 17:15).

Now, this is the part i have been desiring desperately to get to: "Most gladly therefore will i rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Now, one could ask why he would want to glory in what he struggles with? he answers this in the next part of the scripture: (this is the best part of it all and was such a lovely surprise when i found this, and not just one commentator said this, but 3 different ones),

"that the power of Christ may rest upon me" -- the "3 guys" referernced this scripture, which i thought was excellent:

2 Cor 13:4 "For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you."

it pretty much says it all right there actually, but i will explain for the sake of those that are not under the teaching of the Message of the Cross, which is standard Pauline Doctrine. what this means is this:

Christ was all powerful, put better than that, He was DIETY, and yet He laid down his expression of diety without ever losing possession of His diety. Meaning, He had the power on the cross to call down billions of angels to take charge and bare Him up out of the circumstance that He was in, but He didn't. The Word says that He was smitten, spat upon, mocked...and yet He was dumb (he opened not His mouth to revile them, nor to defend Himself).

This is something that we could NEVER do for ourselves, but it is pleasing in the sight of the Lord. So, when He was crucified, He did the right thing, which we cannot do...and He was ALL POWERFUL, but became weak in order to bestow that strength to us in times of weakness. (man, i can just speak latin when i realize the revelation in this scripture, amazing!)

What does this have to do with Paul? i'll tell you what it has to do with Paul, and every believer with the correct object of faith (Christ and what He did at the Cross of Calvary): This means that no matter what happens to us, no matter how horrible, no matter what the struggle, pain, difficulties, we will come out victorious through Christ Jesus. We may think that our problem is the bill that we can't pay, or the job lost, or the wayward child...all of which are valid struggles...but, sin has been our biggest problem ever! and He overcame it!

So then, the last part of this verse says, "....the power of Christ...may rest upon me."

This word, REST in the greek means, tabernacle, dwell upon, to come and live in like a house or home. it means that He is WITH US THROUGH IT ALL.

When we were baptized into Christ (not water) but Christ, we died with Him. baptism in water is a typology of death. when you go under water, you can't breath. neither does a baby in the womb. that is why He says you must be born again. He means, baptized into HIM, (again, not water...there is not power in the water, there is the POWERFUL ONE, Christ Jesus). So...there would be nothing awesome about dying with Him, if He wasn't risen again in the newness of life. He is NEW LIFE, but He had to do all of that, for us to receive it. By one man came death (ADAM--the "original sin"), and life came by one man, (Jesus Christ.) So, for His power to rest upon me...for Him to dwell in me, means that through faith in Him, I am NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER alone again...and i am forgiven of my trespasses.

How awesome is that, huh? yeah, i know...that is why i am called The Word Geek. :)