#2 Corinthians 2:12

[thinkingonscripture]

How to Know Your Call to Ministry

How can you know your call to ministry is from the Lord? In the Bible, people such as Samuel (1 Sam 3:4-10) and Isaiah (Isa 6:8) experienced direct, audible calls from God. These instances left no doubt about the divine origin of call to ministry. However, these cases were unique and often accompanied significant shifts in God’s work in history. Today, God still calls people to ministry, but He…

[walkswithmyfather]

Proverbs 5:1-2 (NLT). “My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel. Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned.”

Hebrews 5:14 (ESV). “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

1 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT). “He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit.”

“Why We Need Spiritual Discernment” by In Touch Ministries:

“When faced with a decision that seems to have several good answers, rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance.”

“Things aren’t always what they seem. That’s the mantra of many mystery books and TV shows, but it’s also a wise attitude for life. Many people make decisions based on feelings or judge situations by what appears to be ideal. Thankfully, God has given every believer a spirit of discernment to help us determine what’s best.

Think about how many decisions we must make on a daily basis—choices about family, finances, work. In a perfect world, each decision would have a correct and incorrect choice. In reality, however, what seems right isn’t always best. Some things that are neither wrong nor sinful may still be outside God’s will for us.

Scripture doesn’t contain specific directives about every possible life scenario. Instead, it’s filled with principles laid down by direct teaching or, at times, through stories. As we grow in spiritual maturity, biblical principles coupled with guidance from the Holy Spirit help us make godly judgments. (See 2 Peter 1:3.)

The question isn’t whether a certain choice looks good or feels right, but whether it’s God’s will for that point in our life. A spirit of discernment is essential for living in His will. Many choices that feel appropriate are actually contrary to what the Lord desires. That is why we must evaluate situations from a biblical perspective and ask the Spirit to guide us.”

[focr]

"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

2 Corinthians 12:9

[wiirocku]

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NKJV) - Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

[loveerran]

I think addictions or eating disorders are more like the thorn in the flesh Paul talked about.

And less like a false idol that offends God.

Paul's thorn was not Paul's God.

[jesus-is-lord-and-savior]

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(2 Corinthians 12:10, ESV)

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Paul's Thorn and God's Grace

7 Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. — 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 | New American Standard Bible (NASB) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Cross References: Numbers 33:55; Job 2:6; Ezekiel 28:24; Daniel 10:19; Hosea 2:6; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 26:44; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 10:10; 2 Corinthians 12:1; 2 Corinthians 12:5; Ephesians 3:16; Philippians 4:13

[coptorthodox]

And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ 2 Cor 12:9

[geminiagentgreen]

May I be made to inspire and teach my son to read through his future bible with the desire that I long didn't have, for how long have these radiant treasures of verses been unknown to me in my foolishness?

I have dreaded Godly sorrow lately like I have dreaded worldly sorrow - to be avoided, that there must be another way - but Paul here speaking to the church in Corinth is also speaking to the lame like me: he did not speak so as to harm, he did not speak to bully or to cause lasting wounds. His letter was to, and accomplished, turning the people to repentance. I'm now thinking of Psalm 30:5,

"For his anger lasts only a moment,

    but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may stay for the night,

    but rejoicing comes in the morning"

The sorrow that they experienced was for their benefit, and it's not to be the whole of their lives for in Christ there is joy and no more weeping, peace and no more pain.

And what's more, how Paul expresses that he had regret for hurting them. I don't point this out because I think Paul was in any wrong for being harsh, but that he wasn't harsh for the sake of being mean but for love. No one who loves wants to cause pain, but in doing what he had to do and that the Lord saved these people, his regret had been replaced with joy: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11).

Now I'm not excited to go out and experience sorrow for the fun of it, but I pray that we would have our eyes opened to our sins, our hearts brought to repentance, and that we would not fear the recieving of any discipline and rebuke but properly fear with respect any discipline and rebuke - harsh as they might be. May the good Lord watch over His children, and may we be made more and more into the likeness of Christ.

Amen.

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Verses:

2 Corinthians 7:8-10

Psalm 30:5

Hebrews 12:11

[phoenixflames12]

[walkswithmyfather]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT). [9] “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Exodus 3:21-22 (AMP). [21] “And I will grant this people favor and respect in the sight of the Egyptians; therefore, it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. [22] But every woman shall [insistently] ask her neighbor and any woman who lives in her house, for articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and daughters. In this way you are to plunder the Egyptians [leaving bondage with great possessions that are rightfully yours].” [Gen 15:14]

“The Effectiveness of God’s Way” by In Touch Ministries:

“Trusting God in our weakness helps us see the power and glory of God.”

“Yesterday we looked at Moses’ self-reliant attempt to rescue a Hebrew man from the cruelty of an Egyptian. Today, let’s see what God can do in the life of someone fully submitted to Him.

When we choose to submit to the Lord’s way, He’ll do amazing things in and through our life. Despite Moses’ failures, he was still used in accomplishing God’s purposes, but only after becoming usable—that is, humbled and broken of his self-will. Just consider what God achieved when Moses relinquished control:

• He showed what He could do through one yielded person.

• He proved the superiority of His way by freeing an estimated two million people without the loss of a single Hebrew life.

• He sent impoverished slaves out of bondage with their captors’ riches (Ex. 3:21-22).

• He demonstrated to both the Israelites and the Egyptians that He alone is the God of heaven and earth.

• He received all the glory.

Our past failures never prevent God’s willingness or ability to use us. In fact, our weakness is a great opportunity for the display of His power (2 Corinthians 12:9). In our own strength, we are ineffective. But when we submit to the Lord’s authority in our life, we can experience His victory in whatever He calls us to do.”

[drshermaines-wisdomnuggets]

"THERE'S DANGER IN TWISTING SCRIPTURE!"

Deuteronomy 4:2, “Now listen, Israel, listen carefully to the rules and regulations that I am teaching you to follow so that you may live and enter and take possession of the land that God, the God-of-Your-Fathers, is giving to you. DON’T ADD A WORD TO WHAT I COMMAND YOU, AND DON’T REMOVE A WORD FROM IT. Keep the commands of God, your God, that I am commanding you.” (MSG) Ecclesiastes 3:14-15,…

[doulafaith]

Harmony

“He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.” Psalm 40:3 I am sure many of us have witnessed two distinct ways of singing a song and playing an instrument; and one appears to be more of a gift or an acquired gift than the other. There is the soloist and musician who studies the notes and practices methodically until the…

[gospelborn]

Men and Women in Creation

14 Points from Genesis that emphasize male-female differentiation  What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be a woman? While it seems that this discussion is a fruitless endeavor that results in people only stating their personal preferences, we do find an objective perspective given to us in the first three chapters of Genesis that demonstrate the essential equality of men and…

[soaringeaglesingingjoy]

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