God's Strength Is Perfected In Our Human Weakness

2nd Corinthians 12:1-12, “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 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. 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: 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. 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.”

In church today our pastor taught us from 2nd Corinthians 12:1-10. I learned some helpful truths today, as our pastor preached an expository sermon. I want to share with you some of the life-changing truths that we learned today. By the way, every believer needs to be in a local New Testament church. The local church is our family in the Lord. In Pensacola I have no family here, so the small church I am attending is my surrogate family, and I love and need them.

In verse 1 the Apostle Paul speaks of visions that he received from the Lord. Please make a note that Paul was an apostle ordained by God as such, so it was a special circumstance, a miracle wrought by God. As our pastor rightly taught us today, if you ever hear any preacher claiming that he has received a vision from God, RUN! Seriously, false prophets are the only ones who claim to see visions. For example: Miss Ellen G. White of the Seventh-Day Adventists claimed to have received over 2,100 visions from God, making herself a self-appointed end times prophet by God. We know Scripturally that she is a liar! What saith the Scripture? Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” Whereas God dictated His Words to holy men of old, the Bible plainly teaches that in these last days God only speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) used to say that Jesus and the Bible are TWINS! I like that. We learn from John 1:1-3 and 14, and also in Revelation 19:13, that Jesus is THE WORD OF GOD. Jesus is the Living Word; the Bible is the Written Word. This is why Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” When we read, study and abide in the Holy Scriptures, we are abiding in Christ. I always tell people that I am as narrow-minded as the Bible.

I admit that I am greatly intrigued by 2nd Corinthians 12:4, “How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” What did Paul see and hear? Nobody knows. Paul was miraculously caught up by the Holy Spirit into Heaven, and allowed to see and hear things which he was forbidden to tell anyone on earth. Someday we will all find out when it's our turn to enter into eternity. My friend Curtis Smale died and went to Heaven in January 2022. I was wondering yesterday what Curtis is now seeing and hearing. I wonder if he can see me. I know he prays for me. Me and Curtis were close friends because we both shared a driving passion to proclaim a FREE GRACE GOSPEL. Please take a slow look through his many blog articles. Curtis was a gifted prolific writer and I often told him so. Here are his ministry videos.

Salvation changes our heritage from a living death to a deathless life. I cease to be amazed when I think about God's wondrous free gift of eternal life. Dear saint of God, you are greatly beloved. If you will give God your weakness, God will give you His strength.

By the way, there are many types of Baptists, but being a Baptist once meant that you were a FUNDAMENTALIST! Over the years many Baptists have strayed from the FUNDAMENTALS. And thus attack those who remain true to the faith. I recently found an awesome podcast called: “THE FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST PODCAST” This Podcast will address the issues surrounding what it means to be a FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST. Whether you are a baby believer, or have been saved for 42 years (as I have), this podcast will be a blessing to you and your family.

The Apostle Paul further states in our text passage that if he wanted to brag, he sure had a reason too. Paul had been privileged to see Heaven head of time! Wow! God permitted Paul to see and hear the things of Heaven, but he was forbidden to tell anyone what he saw and heard. That is extremely interesting. But Paul said instead of boasting of such miracles that could have made him feel special, he chose rather to focus on his weaknesses, failures, infirmities and hardships, so that in his utter weakness Christ's strength could be perfected.

I love that!!! I love what Paul wrote in the Bible because it encourages me that all the pain, losses, suffering and miseries throughout my difficult life weren't in vain. God has used my suffering so that He could mightily bless my worldwide website ministry. The Bible teaches that God avoids proud people. James 4:6, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” The reason why God avoids them is because THEY ARE NOT WEAK. Dear reader, as God's children we don't grow in strength, we grow in God's grace. Look at what Christ told Paul in 2nd Corinthians 12:9, “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.” When Paul humbly pleaded with God three times to remove his thorn in the flesh, God told Paul: MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU!!!

Dear friend, God's grace is sufficient for you and me too! God never allows us to handle any burden that we are incapable of carrying in His strength. 2nd Corinthians 9b-10, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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.” If you could learn this truth dear friend, it would forever transform the way you look at the problems, loneliness, health woes, losses, enemies, miseries and heartaches in your life. The same blessed Savior who was able to work with power, through Paul's weaknesses and infirmities, is able today 2,000 years later to do the same in our lives!!! Therefore, we ought to REJOICE amidst our sufferings, painful memories, cries and sorrows of our hurting soul.

The Holy Spirit will never lead you contrary to the Word of God. We hear all these TV evangelists lying to the masses. I'm talking about fakes like Joyce Meyer, Pat Robertson, Benny Hinn, T.D. Jakes, Rick Warren, Joel Osteen and other infidels who prey upon the public with their demonic Health, Wealth & Prosperity false gospel. They are not preaching with the power of God's Holy Spirit; but rather, the spirit of Satan! What they are preaching is against the plain teaching of the inspired Word of God. Charismatics and Pentecostals falsely preach that Jesus was a rich man, living large and lavishly; but we read in 2nd Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” The Bible tells is that Jesus became POOR on earth, and that He lived in POVERTY. That is the true Jesus!!!

So dear reader—and you are all dear to me, which is why I write blogs and website articles day and night for my blessed God and Savior Jesus Christ—don't think like the heathen world. Christianity was began as a new birth in the Holy Bible. When it went to Greece, Christianity became a philosophy. When it went to Rome, it turned into a religion. When it spread throughout Europe, Christianity deteriorated into a mere culture. And sadly, when Christianity came to America, it became a stinking lucrative money-making BUSINESS!!!

If you are weak like me, then help someone else who is weak, and help build their work. I suffer in constant chronic neck pain. I worry sometimes that my disability will stop. But then I always catch myself and just decide to trust God, no matter what. If I lose my disability, then I will cross that bridge when it comes. I decided to get some fresh air and go for a long walk yesterday. But after walking for about 10 minutes, the intense pain from my neck radiated over my right shoulder blade, down intensely into my right arm, and sharply into my thumb.

The pain became so unbearable that I couldn't walk anymore. I had to stop for the day. God only knows what I suffer through on a daily basis. I was hit by a church bus in 1992. And then in 2004 fell down a mailslide at work, which worsened my neck injury. I underwent two major neck surgeries in 2009 and 2010, neither of which removed my affliction. Sadly, the second surgery made me 100% worse. Both of my arms since that surgery feel like they are inflated with air. The entire right side of my body feels half asleep all the time. I limp when I walk because of this. I also have constant tension in my neck, which is caused by a compressed spinal cord according to a neurologist I saw on Guam. In short, physically I am a mess.

I beat Paul in the number of times I have prayed for God to remove my thorn. Paul prayed three times for God to take away his thorn in the flesh. But I have prayed hundreds of times, literally, refusing to take no for an answer, and hoping for God's mercy. But I am still messed up, suffering from stenosis and radiculitis in my neck. It is my burden that I alone must bear. No one knows your pain! I also feel spasms of burning throughout my entire nervous system, which comes and goes from day to day, which I cannot even explain in words how much it adversely affects me.

My wife divorced me in 2006, sixteen long years ago. I lost my pain home because of the divorces and have been renting apartments ever since, not sure if I'll ever be able to afford to buy a home again without going into 30 years of debt. I lost my retirement savings. Divorce is a transfer of wealth from your bank account into your lawyer's bank account. Lawyers are legalized thieves!!! Judges are overpaid thieves!!! They all work together for JUST-US, not justice!!! I hate attorneys too! Here in Pensacola, Florida (where I moved in July of 2021), we see lawyers billboards everywhere along the roadways, which is disgusting and contemptible like cockroaches just waiting for the darkness to lurk!!!

Anyway, the silver lining in my horrors, losses and inexplicable pain, is that God continues to use this redeemed sinner to make a difference for the Lord Jesus Christ. I am just a humble sinner saved by God's grace!!! I have been wounded, banned, kicked out of churches, ostracized, slandered, mocked and despised by PASTORS. Go figure! Why? It is simply because I TOLD THE TRUTH.

We are sadly surrounded in American society today by churches that are fun centers, glorified country clubs, musical venues, party concerts, and dead ritualistic spiritual morgues. I wrote a needful article back in 2016 titled: 'The Autopsy Of A Dead Church!' I don't know about you dear reader, but with the truths I have presented to you in this blog from the inspired King James Bible, I am not going to complain and moan to God about them. Instead, I am going to look for ways to serve God more effectively each day, to MAKE AN IMPACT for God while I still can.

Even Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of working while He still could, because His time on earth was LIMITED. Read what Jesus said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” I believe that Christ is teaching here, that our time on earth as individuals is LIMITED. Psalms 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” I believe this is what the Lord meant. The wise Christian invests for eternity. Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

If you are doing absolutely nothing to invest in the eternal harvest for souls, then why not? I mean, everybody can do something for the cause of Jesus and the Gospel. Most people do not know how to do God's work. They are not sure. But the wise person will follow a man of God who does get the job done for Christ, and they will invest in that man's ministry work. I don't accept money from people, never have, and never will. But I sure can use your help with my ministry.

If you help me friend, since I am serving Christ, then you will be rewarded for helping me. What saith the Scripture? Mark 9:41, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” I love that Bible verse and principle. Anybody can serve God by serving a man of God. By helping free grace Gospel preachers, I am laying up treasures in Heaven!!!

I am not as eloquent in my preaching as Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001). I am not the charming personality of Brother Hyles. I've never been good with people. I get nervous around people. That is why I have an internet ministry instead of pastoring a church. I marvel when I consider his incredible 55 years of ministry. But I am not Dr. Hyles. I am just a dog in comparison, and he is a lion of the faith. But the Bible teaches that a living dog is better than a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9:4, “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.” Brother Hyles has already graduated from life and is gone onto Heaven to be with Jesus. That Bible verse always encourages me, because as a dog I can still promote Pastor Hyles' sermons, books and the godly principles he taught.

I challenge you dear friend to start looking at your STUMBLING STONES in your life as blessings, as STEPPING STONES. Amen. I heard a beautiful sermon the other day by Pastor Jack Hyles titled: 'The Blessings Of Sin.' God can take everything and anything in your life, the LEMONS, and turn them into LEMONADE. It is a matter of faith, trusting God that He has the power and the desire to make ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD in every believer's life, so as to conform us into Christ's perfect image (Romans 8:28-29). God bless you and thank you for reading my heartfelt words. Jesus is precious!!!