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6 16 21 What Was Paul's Thorn in the Flesh Wednesday Pm 1 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 Bible 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 Jesus 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 Silas 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.
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