18th Jun 26 | 04:35
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Vision and brokenness
📖 Acts 16:08-09
Acts 16 - Series 02/Episode 13 - Thu, 18th June 2026 - Vision and brokenness - Acts 16:06-10 - THE MACEDONIAN CALL - II Corinthians 12:01-10
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Acts 16:8-9 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. (9) And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Regarding the matter of visions, Paul gives us deep insight. II Corinthians 12:1-5 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: (2) I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-such a one was caught up to the third heaven. (3) And I know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows- (4) how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. (5) Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.
Paul, deliberately, speaks in the third person because he does not want to be mesmerised by the visions that God gave him, get carried away, and become proud.
God gives us visions and His word for our times. He speaks into our circumstances and moves all things toward His purposes. We understand only a small part of what He is doing, and we faithfully deliver that word to the people. They are blessed, and they affirm that God has spoken to them through us. We are encouraged, and we begin to feel unusually special or closer to God than others. That subtle shift in our heart leads to pride, and pride is always the precursor to a fall. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
This is immensely dangerous for those whom the Lord is using mightily in His ministry. This is why Paul is quickly applying the principle of walking in humility before God, though he has had extraordinary experiences. These experiences that Paul had were so strange that he could not actually specify whether they were in his body or outside his body.
Paul separates himself from all of these revelations. He says that these revelations from God are indeed special and cannot be denied or lessened in their gravity. Yet, as for himself, he would only boast in his infirmities. I Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Paul is concerned that his life in any way should be a hindrance to others. II Corinthians 12:6-7 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. (7) And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
The Lord, in His grace, gave Paul a thorn in the flesh so that he would not boast and consider himself superior to others. This is such a crucial lesson for those whom the Lord is using in His purposes. We must always be conscious that we are nothing but sinners, but Jesus is our all in all.
We do not know for certain what the thorn in the flesh was for Paul, but it plagued him. It was painful, it humbled him, and it was persistent. These are the lessons that we can learn from Paul's experience.
§ It was allowed by God but delivered by Satan.
§ It kept Paul dependent on God's grace
§ It displayed Christ's power in weakness.
Paul pleaded with the Lord to take away this thorn in his flesh. II Corinthians 12:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
The Lord's response to Paul is His response to each of us. II Corinthians 12:9-10 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) 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.
When we remain acknowledging our weaknesses and frailties before God, constantly affirming that it is He who is in control of our lives, then we live and move in strength.
Paul then gives us a picture of a completely different level of our journey with Christ. He tells us that he takes pleasure in infirmities, for he is deeply rested in this truth that when he is weak, then he is strong.
Visions are special experiences by which the Lord speaks His message for the times to us. We receive, pass on and live out the vision of God, but in all of this, our heart remains contrite and broken before Him.
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