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6/16/21 What was Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh? Wednesday Pm

2 Peter 3:16 16 Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures. AMP

We need to make sure we understand what the says so we do not miss God’s Will and things He has for us.

We need to make sure we say/teach/believe what the Bible tells us to not what we think or what others say it says.

Scripture supports scripture. The Bible will answer Bible questions

2 Peter 3:17-18 17 Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind]. 18 But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)! AMP

2 Timothy 2:15 15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. AMP 2

We have been blessed of the Lord that over the past couple of months several people have been healed.

The Lord has been moving and we are so thankful.

Tonight, I want to deal with an issue that may prevent some people from asking/believing God for healing.

There are 2 main reasons people struggle to believe it is God’s Will to heal.

There are others but here are 2 big ones.

1. So and so didn’t get healed so it must not be God’s Will to heal everyone.

Is everyone we pray for:

Saved Baptized in the Holy Spirit Forgiven Delivered

Do we think because everyone we witness or pray to be saved doesn’t get saved it must not be God’s will to save everyone?

Of course not.

The Bible says it is not God’s Will that anyone die lost. 2 Peter 3:9

We can’t allow experience to determine what the Will of God is.

We find God’s Will in God’s Word the Bible.

2. Paul asked God to heal him 3 times but the Lord told him no His Grace was all he needed.

We won’t get into that God’s Grace includes Healing that will be for another day. 3

I want you to notice what is not listed in all Paul said he went through.

There is no mention of sickness and disease.

2 Corinthians 11:25-28 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. NIV

2 Corinthians 12:1-7 1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know — God knows. 3 And I know that this man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say. 7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. NIV

Now notice Paul said satan had given him a thorn ( pointed piece of wood, constantly irritate ), in the flesh to torment. 4

It does not say SICKNESS.

NOW let me pause here for a second.

Some people say God sent sickness to Paul to keep him from getting in pride.

So let me see. God gives him the revelations and then makes him sick to keep him humble.

That’s nuts and also not biblical.

If that was true, I’m sure Paul would have prayed NO MORE REVELATION PLEASE. LOL

2 Corinthians 12:7 7 and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch. YLT

2 Corinthians 12:7 7 there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. KJV

2 Corinthians 12:7 7 And lest I should be exalted out of measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given unto me a prick in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, because I should not be exalted out of measure. GENEVA

Remember we said the Bible interprets the Bible.

Okay does the Bible ever mention thorns anywhere else?

Oh yes and we can see exactly what the Apostle Paul meant.

The term thorn in the flesh is a figure of speech. 5

Numbers 33:55 55 "'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. NIV

Joshua 23:13 13 then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you. NIV

Judges 2:3 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be [thorns] in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you." NIV

2 Samuel 23:6 6 But evil men are all to be cast aside like thorns, which are not gathered with the hand. NIV

Ezekiel 2:6 6 "Son of man, don't be afraid of the people or what they say. It is true: they will turn against you and try to hurt you. Their words will be sharp like thorns and will sting like scorpions. But don't be afraid of what they say. They are a rebellious people, but don't be afraid of them. ERTV

These all refer to people.

Do we believe Paul has was walking around with some folks hanging out of his side?

Why no.

So if the thorn is figurative then the flesh is figurative in this instance.

Do we use figures of speech today? 6

Sure, we do.

It’s raining cats and dogs. I’ve got your back

Here is a example of the thorn in the flesh today:

So and so is a pain in the neck.

Does that mean they got their hand in your neck? NO

In the Old Testament different people groups were a constant irritation and vexation to the children of Israel.

So we can begin to see when Paul said a thorn in the flesh means satan was causing Paul constant irritation and pain.

Let’s look at some scripture to see this.

Acts 13:50 50 But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. NIV

Acts 14:2 2 But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. NIV

Acts 17:5-6 5 But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, NIV 7

Acts 17:13 13 When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. NIV

Acts 18:12 12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. NIV

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace ( unfailing strength, to raise a barrier against, to set up a hedge of protection against ) is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses ( my inability, wisdom ), so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak ( that can’t mean sick ), then I am strong. NIV

If The Lords Grace was what was needed it must not have worked if Paul was sick.

Paul is not rejoicing in being sick.

The Grace mentioned here is for help, strength and provision against the demonically inspired people fighting and constantly attacking him.

Now let’s address the eye problem issue that people use to say Paul’s thorn was a sickness.

Galatians 4:13-15 13 On the contrary, you know that it was on account of a bodily ailment ( feebleness, weakness ) that [I remained and] preached the Gospel to you the first time. 14 And [yet] although my physical condition ( My temptation attack )was [such] a trial to you, you did not regard it with 8 contempt, or scorn and loathe and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus [Himself]! 15 What has become of that blessed enjoyment and satisfaction and self-congratulation that once was yours [in what I taught you and in your regard for me]? For I bear you witness that you would have torn out your own eyes and have given them to me [to replace mine], if that were possible. AMP

Infirmity means: weakness

Matthew 8:17 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities ( weakness ) and carried our diseases." NIV

Same word in both these verses. It is not sickness, now sickness may and often does make you weak.

Romans 8:26 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. NIV

Okay we know he was not sick.

How do we explain Paul’s statement where he said they would have given their eyes if it would help?

Remember we said the Bible will answer Bible questions lets go to Acts 14:19.

Acts 14:19-21 19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. 9

21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, NIV

When you are stoned do they throw rocks at your head and face?

Sure they do.

What do you think that would have done to his face and EYES?

After he was stoned where did he go?

We read that in Galatians 4.

Those people saw Paul after he had just been stoned.

He must have been a mess. His face etc. must have been extremely swollen and bloody.

He had a ( infirmity ) weakness in his flesh. His eyes were swollen, bloodied and his eyesight was not good for a bit until he recovered.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." NLT

2 Corinthians 12:9 9 My grace is enough; it's all you need. MSG

2 Corinthians 12:9 9 "My grace is enough for you. NCV

Now let’s look at another thing some people think.

It was God who gave this to Paul to keep him humble so he would not get in pride.

So, let’s think about that for a minute.

So God gives Paul this eye problem to keep him humble. 10

That’s like that saying you hear in movies.

If I tell you I would have to kill you.

That’s crazy.

Let’s look at this some more. Paul tells us himself what all this is:

SCARS

2 Corinthians 12:6 And with respect to the superabundance of the revelations, in order that I may not be exalted over- much, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to the end that he might constantly maltreat me lest I be exalted overmuch. Concerning this three times I begged the Lord that he might depart from me ( God I’m trying to preach ). And He has said to me, and His declaration still stands, My grace is enough for you, for power is moment by moment coming to its full energy and complete operation in the sphere of weakness. Therefore, most gladly will I the rather boast in my weaknesses in order that the power of the Christ [like the Shekinah Glory in the Holy of Holies of the Tent of Meeting] may take up its residence in me [working within me and giving me help]. Wherefore I am well content in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, and in circumstances under which I am subject to extreme pressure on behalf of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am filled with ability and power. WUEST NT

Luke 10:19 we have been given authority James 4:7 Submit to God resist the devil and he will flee. 1 John 4:4 Greater is Jesus in you than he who is in the world. Romans 8:31 If God is for us, it doesn’t matter who against us.

Acts 14:20-22 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. 11

21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. NIV

Acts 16:27-33 not all wounds were healed immediately. After earthquake and jails doors open supernaturally the jailer washes the wounds of Paul.

Galatians 6:17 17 From now on let no person trouble me, for I bear on my body the [brand] marks of the Lord Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions — these testify to His ownership of me]! AMP

2 Timothy 3:10-12 10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra ( this were he was stoned ); what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. NASU

Another reference to the stoning he had suffered and other things he endured.

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. ( being stoned and left for dead ) But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 12

10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, NIV

God is not against healing.

The Lord wants you and me well.

Psalms 103:2-3 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, NIV

Psalms 107:20 20 He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. NIV

Psalms 147:3 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. NIV

James 5:15 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. NIV

Mark 16:17, 18 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." NIV