My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Vision and revelations: We know of three early visions from Acts: on the Damascus road; at the house of Judas and in the Temple at Jerusalem

A man in Christ. ie. A Christian, Paul is speaking of himself. The 'third heaven' is a Jewish expression meaning to be actually in the presence of God. Paul is describing the presence of God. Paul is describing the most sublime experience imaginable.

A thorn in my flesh: This may be some physical illness or a reference to the unremitting opposition he encountered. Either way, it was a constant source of pain and depression - Satan's work - yet the means God used to keep Paul humble and to demonstrate his power.

Why?

We are nothing can boast about, for Paul has the right to boast in his experience. But Paul rather boasts about his weakness for God's grace is sufficient for us, God's power is made perfect in our weakness.

The experience of the power of the Lord makes us more confident in Christ. But it is our own experience to witness the existence of the Lord in our lives. But more important is to be humble in our life. 

My life, my health, my welfare, and all of my home and life is the grace of the Lord. 

Keep following the way of the Lord and trust in Him. This is the best blessing.

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分享了14年前的經歷，卻沒有說內容為何。哥林多教會很重視這些神祕的經歷，所以不得不把這些經歷說出來，因為教會已經偏離真道。保羅用第三人稱來說，來誇口。不以內容來誇口。他聽到的是人說不出來的。他也不是在誇口。保羅避免人把他神格化，免得他自己驕傲，有一根刺，撒旦的攻擊，保羅也不自誇自憐，也許是他靈性上的軟弱，不斷的要依靠主，神也給人另外一種經歷，也許是困擾、苦難。要人在試探中靠主得勝。這不符合羅馬人的觀點，應該要得勝。難在基督的得勝是在苦難中。

舊約先知大量透過異象來講神的救恩有甲乙新約中，耶穌已經來了，所以然不再有異象來描述。因為這些異象不重要，所以保羅沒有寫下來。我們見證是神的作為，還是誇自己的經歷。這一切都是為基督的緣故。

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How?

God's grace is sufficient for me, my power is made perfect in weakness.