2 Corinthians 11:30 English Standard Version (ESV) If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:1-6 English Standard Version

Paul’s Visions and His Thorn

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.

The first thing that I see here is that the editors of the ESV added the chapter comment “Paul’s Vision”. That is an editorial opinion added to give us the impression that Paul is talking about himself when he writes “I know a man in Christ”.

Secondly there is the issue of this compulsion to boast. This is a conversation that begins in chapter 11 and continues in 12. Letters are not numbered. Those are editorial additions for us to find scripture for our convenience.

Our third experience here is how to handle things we know that in the spirit we are not allowed to share. Paul never shares what that vision was spoken of in verse 4.

How did Paul know that those visions, his or anyone else’s are not to be shared?

If the Word is given to us to rightly handle the word of God then the example set before us might have some instruction for us to handle our own experiences.

That does not mean we will or that we should seek to have them. 

If we allow ourselves to be convinced by editorial displays of excellence, who are we following, man or Christ?

This is where discernment differs from instruction. We are to judge which examples we are to follow, man’s or God’s.

Psalm 26:3 English Standard Version (ESV) For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.

While we might not see God’s perfect will with our physical eyes, our spiritual eyes see faith.

2 Corinthians 5:7 English Standard Version (ESV) for we walk by faith, not by sight.

We learn to walk by faith by taking little steps, not giant leaps.

Matthew 25:21 English Standard Version (ESV) His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Who among us does not want to hear our Lord say “Well done.”? Praise of faith does not come by hearing with our earthly ears, it comes with our spiritual ears of faith.

That first step of walking by faith is going to be timid, unsure but easy to accomplish. Our Lord wants us to succeed. Gone are the days of men like Moses, or Elijah, or Gideon. The office of the prophet has gone away and the faithfulness of God does not abide in the world, He abides in us?

God is faithful, Jesus in God, the Holy Spirit is God, God abides in us and His faithfulness continues to exact His will through us by faith.

One reason that this walk by faith is done in small steps is to build up our trust that we are hearing God. Not just hearing God by faith, but getting it right. If it were not slow we would be at risk of thinking we had actually done something ourselves. That might lead to pride and we know what the Word says about pride.

Proverbs 16:18 English Standard Version (ESV) Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.