“If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.” (2 Cor 11:30, NKJV)
“If I must boast,” Paul contends in 2 Cor. 11:30, “I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.” In the previous teaching it became clear to us that in this willingness to bend the knee, to let go and let God, a certain spiritual power is released.
The section in 2 Cor. 12:7-10 that was quoted in the previous teaching, does however offer a mystery that asks for further illumination: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”
[The precise nature and symbolic meaning of the “messenger” and the “thorn in the flesh”, and what it means for this messenger to “buffet” you, will be dealt with at a later stage.]
Paul considers “the thorn in the flesh”-weakness, as an important element when it comes to the release of this power. Obviously the spectrum of the power included here is very wide, as The Complete WordStudy Dictionary for instance points out: “Physical strength, mental or moral power as an endowment … to be healthy … inherent power … the ability or capacity to perform … dominion … power in action … authority or the right to exercise power …”
We know that the New Testament is explicit about receiving “power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8), but the following three verses (amongst others), clearly points out that this power is nestled in the revelation of who the Christ is:
- “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Rom. 1:16)
- “… but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:24)
- “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)
Is the Holy Spirit and the Christ both “the power of God”? The answer to this lies in 2 Cor. 3:17-18: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” And of course 1 Cor. 15:45 which spells out that “The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”! The baptism with Spirit and the (second) coming of Christ, or rather, the coming/manifestation (parousía), is the process through which the Body of Christ obtains the power of God.
- Selah: Explain this incredibly important last paragraph, and ponder the implications.
- Read: 3; John 20; Ps. 133 [Absolute Godly synchronicity!]
- Memorise: 133.
