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, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9. And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 – Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:7–10.
What is Weakness?
The dictionary defines weakness as: –
- A flaw or a weak point.
- Powerlessness is revealed by an inability to act.
- The property of lacking physical or mental strength; liability to failure under pressure or stress or strain
- Weakness is the quality or state of being weak; want of strength or firmness; lack of vigour; want of resolution or moral strength; feebleness.
- That which is a mark of lack of strength or resolution, a fault, a defect.
The Greek word that is translated as weakness is “asthenia” which means feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally; frailty.
“Asthenia” is also translated as disease, infirmity, sickness.
Therefore, weakness is not a sin. Don’t live in sin or a sinful life and say that you have a weakness in sinning. Sin is just sin. Sin is simply missing the mark. So don’t be always missing marks and say that is a weakness. That is sin. A weakness is feebleness but not missing the mark.
2 Corinthians 12:7–10
Our opening scripture shows us that: –
Weakness is a thorn in the flesh.
What is a thorn?
A thorn is something that causes irritation and annoyance. It is also a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf.
From 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, a thorn is something that causes irritation and annoyance in life and the body
– Numbers 33:55
– Judges 2:3
– Joshua 23:13
Weakness is the messenger of Satan.
“…….. there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me……..” ( 2 Corinthians 12:7)
Weakness as a messenger of Satan.
The mission of weakness is to buffet you.
The amplified bible version says,
“…….., There was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me….” (2 Corinthians 12:7 Amp.)
The mission of weakness is to: –
To rack. To rack is simply to torment emotionally or mentally. It is also to stretch to the limits.
To buffet. To buffet is to strike against forcefully. It is to strike and beat repeatedly.
To harass. To harass is to annoy continually or chronically. It is also to exhaust by attacking repeatedly.
The mission of weakness is: –
– To torment you emotionally, mentally, or physically.
– To annoy you continually
– To stretch you to the limits.
– To strike against you forcefully and attack you repeatedly until you are stretched to the limits and exhausted.
Weakness as a servant of God.
Your weakness is a pride control gadget in your life.
“7 -And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” 2 Corinthians 12:7.
“There was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure”. The purpose of Satan is to buffet you. The purpose of you being buffet by the messenger of Satan is to keep you humble,”…. lest I should be exalted above measure….” In other words, this thorn, which is the messenger of Satan and now your weakness; it’s there to make you humble. When you exalt yourself or brag before the people, the people point at your weakness. The pointing at your weakness by people makes you climb down from the top of that ladder of pride you are on. It makes you swallow up your pride. The pointing at your weakness by people keeps you in check. You cannot burst up in pride before them. You are humble before people, and you will go and humble before God in prayer.
Therefore, your weakness, whether it’s feebleness of the body or the mind, it’s there to make you humble. Hallelujah!!
Keep this in mind. The thorn, which is in the flesh, it’s Satan messenger. It is the messenger of Satan in your life through your flesh. It is on Satan’s mission of making you weak and inadequate. But God uses it— the messenger of Satan, for your good.
Romans 8:28 says.
“We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labour] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God are called to [His] design and purpose.”
And Psalm 119:91 says.
“They continue to this day according to your ordinances: for all are they, servants.”
All things, irrespective of none, are God’s servant. Even if the weakness is a messenger of Satan to buffet you, God uses it as a gadget in your life to keep you from being exalted. To keep you from becoming proud. God uses your weakness as a pride control gadget in your life. Thus, your weakness is a pride control gadget in your life.
Weakness, which is God ordained, cannot depart.
Once God takes your weakness and starts using it as a pride control gadget, the weakness becomes God ordained. What God has ordained in your life; it is serving Him. Therefore, God cannot remove it. It has to accomplish the purpose for it to depart, or God gives you grace to live with it. Apostle Paul finds himself in a similar scenario. He says in 2 Corinthians 22:8-9.
“For this thing, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee….”
Your weakness is the doorway through which sufficient grace flows into your life.
Without a weakness, there will be no sufficient grace manifesting in your life. The only way to have sufficient grace manifesting in your life is through those areas you have a weakness.
“But he said to me, my grace (my favour and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [ sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; …….
–2 Corinthians 12:9(Amp.)
There is nothing sufficient in life except grace. Money is not sufficient. Fame is not sufficient. Power is not sufficient. Wealth is not sufficient. Children are not sufficient. The only thing that is sufficient in life is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of God is sufficient.
But how?
Now, this sufficient grace of God does not manifest in your life through your strength. The sufficient grace of God only manifests in your life through your weakness and in your weakest areas. Therefore, any area you feel you are weak, or your weakness is a doorway through which sufficient grace will pass through and manifest in your life. Wow! Glory to God!! Your weakness is the doorway through which sufficient grace flows and then manifests in your life.
Your weakness is your strength in the Lord.
“……. for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” –2 Corinthians 12:9.
The strength of God always manifests in our lives, but his strength is perfected in our lives through our weakness. The only place that the strength of God is made perfect is through and in our weakness. When you are weak. When you are unable. When you have come to your wit end, then the strength of God is made perfect in your life.
Your weakness, once placed in the hands of God, He himself makes his strength to manifest. He causes his strength to manifest; therefore, his strength is made perfect in that area. When his strength is made perfect in your weakness, God becomes your strength, and your weakness is turned into God’s strength. Thus, your weakness becomes your strength in the Lord.
The amplified bible verse says,”…. for my strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness … –2 Corinthians 12:9(Amp.)
Your weakness is the magnet that draws the power of God upon you.
“……. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” –2 Corinthians 12:9
Take your weakness unto the Lord. Instead of murmuring and complaining, start worshipping, thanking, and praising God because of that weakness. As you keep giving thanks to God and praising him in your worship, God releases his power upon you through your weakness. Keep in mind that your weakness does not draw the power of God upon you automatically. It is what you do with the weakness in your life that will determine your outcome. Your weakness can be a magnet to draw the power of God upon your life, or it can serve as a magnet that will attract the power that will cause you to wither and dry up. Thanking and praising God because of the weakness draws the power of God upon your life that will cause you to flourish. Complaining and murmuring draw away the power of God from your life and causes you to wither and dry up. Therefore, your weakness, once taken in a positive way, serve as the magnet that draws the power of Christ upon you. Also, when your weakness is taken to God in Thanksgiving and praises, it always causes the power of Christ to rest upon your life.
When you are weak, then you are strong.
“Therefore, I take pleasure in weakness, in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
Here Apostle Paul lists some of the weaknesses. He states: –
– infirmities
– reproaches
– necessities
– persecutions
– distresses
All these must be for Christ’s sake and the Gospel.
We can conclude by saying your weakness is your strength in the Lord. Then together, we can make a joyful shout together with Apostle Paul “WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG!!”.
Prayer and Meditation
Father, help me to understand my weakness. Help me to bring them to you in thanksgiving and praises so that they may turn out to my benefit. For “when I am weak, then I am strong,” in Jesus’s Name, Amen.
GLORY TO GOD!!
JESUS IS LORD.
AMEN.
M . A . GIL.
By Gilbert Magomere Ayieko, Teacher of the Word of God
Email: ayiekogilbert0@gmail.com
Social Media: Facebook: Gil Ayi. YouTube: Pastor Gilly. WhatsApp: @pst Gilly.
