1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 300 600 Jeremy continues the series on the life of Paul, preaching from 2 Corinthians 11:16–12:10. His central theme is that Christian faithfulness is not measured by impressive achievements or by how much suffering we can endure in our own strength. Instead, the Christian life is about dependence on Christ, whose grace is sufficient and whose power is made perfect in weakness. Jeremy begins with a story about visiting a bamboo forest in Japan with his wife. They both went through the same tiring journey, but for very different reasons. His wife endured the early start and long walk to enjoy the beauty of the forest, while Jeremy admits that he focused more on proving what a supportive husband he was. The same suffering can therefore be endured for very different purposes. This leads into Paul’s conflict with false apostles in Corinth. These teachers were boasting about their credentials, achievements and authority. The Corinthians were impressed by outward signs of spiritual success, so Paul responds with deliberate irony. Instead of boasting about impressive accomplishments, he lists his imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, dangers, hunger, sleeplessness and concern for the churches. Jeremy explains that Paul was not glorifying suffering for its own sake. Paul endured these things because Christ and the gospel were worth the cost. His question was not, “How much have I achieved?” but “How much am I willing to give in loving and serving Christ and his people?” The first challenge, therefore, is that it is not about our achievements. Christian maturity is not measured by titles, visibility, theological knowledge or public ministry. Faithfulness may look like quietly serving, listening to someone who is struggling, caring for a difficult person or continuing to serve when nobody notices. Jeremy’s second major point is that it is not about our own endurance either. Paul had extraordinary spiritual experiences, including visions of heaven, but he refused to make those experiences the basis of his credibility. Instead, he spoke about his weakness and the “thorn in the flesh” that he repeatedly asked God to remove. God did not remove the thorn. Instead he told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Jeremy says this is the heart of Paul’s endurance. Paul was not sustained by determination, resilience or spiritual experience, but by the grace and power of Christ. The sermon challenges the idea that strong Christians should be able to handle everything. Difficulties and unanswered prayer do not necessarily mean God has abandoned us or that our faith is weak. Sometimes God does not remove the struggle, but promises to sustain us within it. Jeremy closes with the story of a young man deciding whether to extend an enjoyable overseas trip or return home to lead young people in church. He chose the less glamorous path of service, not to prove himself, but in obedience to Jesus and dependence on Christ’s strength. The final message is simple: we do not endure suffering to prove what we have achieved, and we do not endure by proving how strong we are. We endure because Christ is enough. When we are weak, his strength is revealed. 0:00 Introduction and 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 1:31 The Bamboo Forest: Same Suffering, Different Purpose 3:44 Why Do We Endure Suffering? 4:33 It’s Not About Our Achievements 7:15 Paul Boasts in His Weakness and Suffering 11:30 Christ and the Gospel Are Worth the Cost 14:47 It’s Not About Our Own Endurance 17:31 Paul’s Visions and the Thorn in the Flesh 22:32 My Grace Is Sufficient for You 26:37 When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong Sermons from Aberdeen Christian Fellowship http://www.aberdeencf.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/43205458/height/300/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="300" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/43205458