The Vessel Emptied of Human Strength

The history of Paul in 2 Cor. 11, might clothe him with honors and give grounds for him to boast, but chapter 12 gives us a dealing of the Lord which reduced him to "nothing.”
No doubt it was necessary that the leading man in the Christian course should be introduced into things which it was not lawful to reveal. It was necessary, too, to strengthen him in a special way—giving him to realize, above others, what was the portion of all: the possible state for every saint to enjoy, though in the state of things unspeakable also. But to follow this, the discipline came which had the effect of emptying Paul of every vestige of human strength. It reduced him to the condition of a will-less, powerless vessel, so that he might be fitted to be wielded and used by the hand of the Lord who did so.
“It is not," he said, "expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such a one caught up to the third heaven.