Sermon Outline - The Rapture of Paul, 2 Corinthians ch.12 vv.1-10
Date | 18/01/2004 |
---|---|
Time | 18:30 |
Preacher | Rev. Maurice Roberts, Inverness |
Sermon Title | The Rapture of Paul |
Text | 2 Corinthians ch.12 vv.1-10 |
Sermon ID | 746 |
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INTRODUCTION
Importance of talking about God's blessing with us personally. So Paul does so often: Testimony. Here - a 2-fold experience.
FIRST EXPERIENCE
THE RAPTURE:
v.4
- The reason why he tells us this (12:11) - the false apostles who misled the church and who promoted themselves proudly.
- The manner in which Paul informs us of this:
- embarrassment: v.11 - "a fool". Explain = only tells believers the church's good is at stake.
- after a very long time: v.2: "14 years". Something which was too sacred to tell.
- in the 3rd person (v.2 - But clearly it was the apostle himself. See v.7)
OBSERVE: The more we trust in God, the less we shall boast in ourselves. Yet it is lawful to "boast" if the church's good needs it.
- The nature of it: v.2-4:
- in the body or not - could not say (Explain)
- v.2: "third heaven" (with v.4: "paradise") 2 views = one rapture or two? I believe only one.
- "3rd heaven" - Explain.
- "Caught up" - supernatural experience
- "unspeakable words" (v.4). Explain.
- v.1: "visions...". He may also have seen as well as heard.
- Why did Paul have this experience?
- a special token of favour from Christ
- it was for him alone - not for us to expect.
OBSERVE: Paul had many revelations for us - "mysteries":
EXX: godliness/iniquity/gentiles/Jews/Church as Bride of Christ.. - We have the benefit indirectly: the courage, zeal, example of Paul
in all his sufferings.
OBSERVE: Importance of experiences of God in secret.
EXX: Dr. Lloyd-Jones: David Morgan
APPLICATION: Pray that preachers will get experiences of God.
A BALANCING EXPERIENCE
- The danger of spiritual experiences: "exalted..."
OBSERVE: How little we can be trusted! - This SECOND experience:
- "thorn in the flesh" = physical Disability - deliberately not defined
- sent by Satan - to buffet him.
OBSERVE: How sent by God and Satan? - He prayed for its removal 3 times.
But not to be removed. God said, 'No!'
OBSERVE: We are better for some of our troubles.
Explain. Mr. MacSween: "Donkey." - Another word from the Lord: v.9 - very different in kind: "My grace..weakness."
- Paul's conclusion: v.9-10
OBSERVE: He rather gloried in this weakness.
- The danger of spiritual experiences: "exalted..."
LESSONS
- The Bible is our perfect rule on earth but it is not all there is to know: "unspeakable words" - so much more!
ILLUSTRATION: "Farewell Bible!"
But while here, the Bible is our only light. We must look for no other. - How blessed to be in this Paradise! What they saw! What they heard!
DUTY: to think often about Paradise
ILLUSTRATION: Baxter's practice good. - See how careful of our soul Christ is: now good/now evil - in balances.
OBSERVE: We need faith to see this and to live by it.
DOCTRINE: You and I need all our trials to keep us right.
ILLUSTRATION: A hydrogen-filled balloon must be tied down to earth with ropes. So "knowledge puffeth up" but "thorn in the flesh".
- The Bible is our perfect rule on earth but it is not all there is to know: "unspeakable words" - so much more!
CONCLUSION
Have we learnt to glory in our infirmities?
- "If only I had better health..."
- "If only I could speak better..."
ILLUSTRATION: Whitefield's ASTHMA!
All is well if we get to heaven safely.
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