2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 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.
I had trouble understanding 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
I understand my strength comes from Christ.
So Satan throws up hardships at us and it's OK? (delight in weaknesses, insults, etc.) Why keep testing us?
- Question: "Why does God allow Satan to attack us?"
Answer: It is true that God allows Satan a certain amount of freedom (see Job 1:12), but it should be understood that it is Satan's choice to attack God's children (see 1 Peter 5:8). It was never in God's original design for humanity, i.e. Adam and Eve, to suffer attacks from Satan. But when Adam disobeyed God, humanity was subject to the consequences of sin, one of which is being open to attacks from Satan. It is part of our fallen nature.
In a real sense, it is humanity's fault for opening the door to satanic attack. Therefore, we cannot blame God that we are vulnerable to satanic attack. In fact, when Satan attacked Job through the loss of his family, wealth, and health, he didn't blame God. Notice Job 1:21-22, "And he (Job) said: Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this, Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong."
As believers experience the attacks of Satan, they can take to heart the truth of Romans 8:28, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God..." Therefore, the assumption is that we will experience "good" things and "bad" things, but "all" of these things can be made to be "good" as God works them out. So even the attacks of Satan can be considered "good" as God uses them in our lives to conform us to Christ, His Son (see Romans 8:29). Attacks from Satan, along with all other tribulations will cause believers to love God more, resist Satan more, practice patience, resist temptation, and grow stronger in our faith in many other ways. Praise God for His abundant protection from Satan most of the time, as well as be thankful for God's plan to make the occasional attacks of Satan "work together for good" for you!
Why should we enjoy being tested?
QUOTE BY MARTYN LLOYD-JONES: “It is very DIFFICULT to be HUMBLE if you are always SUCCESSFUL, so GOD CHASTISES us with FAILURE (so to speak) at times in order to HUMBLE us, to keep us in a STATE of HUMILITY.” [2 Corinthians 12:7-10]
God does not tempt us, He cannot be tempted, and He tempts no one. God however, allows us to be tested and tempted.
- James 1:13-16 – “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”, for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.”
- According to God's Word, the Lord is examining us, and allowing true believer's to be tested, and or tried.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 - On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
- Jeremiah 17:10 – “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
- Job 7:18 – “You examine us every morning and test us every moment.”
- James 1:12 – “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the Crown of Life that God has promised to those who love Him.
- 1 Peter 1:6-7 – “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith if more precious than mere gold. So when you faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
- Romans 2:6-10; Ephesians 5-6
- Jeremiah 17:10 – “I, the Lord, search (examine) the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.”
We pray and GOD answers our prayers (our time or HIS). I'm OK with that.
Why didn't Martha and Mary accept Lazuras' death as GOD's plan (not knowing that Jesus would come back?)
- We are human
- We can ultimately accept death, but in the actual moments that follow – I don’t know of any person who hasn’t asked for their loved one back. Speaking from personal experience when my sister was killed, I asked, "Why her? Why not me? Send her back and take me!!!" I tried making deals with Him - to no avail. I understand Martha.
I understand that it is a story to teach us GOD's Grace and HIS plan. But where is the faith in this story?
Question: "What is the definition of faith?"
Answer: Thankfully, the Bible contains a clear definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Simply put, the biblical definition of faith is “trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove.”
John 11:20 – 27
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God,who is to come into the world.”
Martha's faith is found in verse 21 and 22 and 24 and 27. She BELIEVED!