Paul rejoices in suffering and boasts in weakness because both show that in apostolic preaching more is at work than human intelligence or articulateness. Nothing can explain the life-changing effects of the message of the Cross except the almighty operation of God’s sovereign Spirit. Therefore, Paul’s toil and struggle are sustained by “all [Christ's] energy that he powerfully works within me” (Col. 1:29).
In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Paul compares the preacher’s task to the siege and conquest of forbidding fortresses: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” The strongholds are cleverly defended, deep-seated error that arrogantly opposes God’s truth in Christ. These defenses of the human heart are harder fortifications to breach than the massive walls of unscalable stone that encircled ancient Jericho. Yet, the apostolic preacher has in his arsenal the very weapons that can pierce stone-hard hearts and invade spiritual death with new life: the gospel of Christ, carried forward by the invincible Spirit of Christ.
From Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures
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