Our Thorn in Paul’s Flesh... Nothing embarrasses a believer like ignorance. Scriptures are replete with admonitions not to be ignorant.
The first activity of the devil was to deceive; you only deceive ignorant men.
1 Timothy 2:14 KJV the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
This was in The Genesis account of man’s sin
Genesis 3:1,3 KJV [1] Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
3] But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
God never said " don't touch it ", that's Eve's " rhema ". People often call misinterpretation of scriptures their own " rhema " Jesus says satan takes away the word sown in our hearts when we lack understanding
Matthew 13:19 KJV [19] When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one , and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
This happened to eve and does to any ignorant believer.
Hosea 4:6 KJV [6] My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge.
Destroyed here originally implies " captivity "
Matthew 22:29 KJV [29] Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Lack of this knowledge is not knowing Gods power .
It's not sufficient to cite bible references like Satan did to Jesus in the four gospels
Matthew 4:6 KJV [6] And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
You must have understanding .proper explanation else you sound like him It's a result of being well taught and schooled in the scriptures . Knowledge is the very next important pursuit after salvation
1 Timothy 2:4 KJV [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
The knowledge of the truth.
1 Peter 2:2 KJV [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
The word to grow.
2 Peter 3:18 KJV [18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Not any kind of knowledge but that of Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:13 KJV [13] These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.
We aren't urged to believe but to know. Hence Paul’s repeated admonitions in Corinth
1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV [16] Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 6:2-3,9,16,19 KJV [2] Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3] Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
16] What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
If you take note here, he is emphasizing knowing who " you are in Christ” and what you have in Him .
1 Corinthians 12:1 KJV [1] Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
The things of the Spirit. We must never allow knowledge play second fiddle to any activity in the local church. It's dangerous. The Church is a school of the Word
1 Timothy 3:15 KJV [15] But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
That said.
I recently overhead a famed televangelist teach about how God uses tests and trials to train us. He mentioned the fact that God uses sicknesses to keep us humble and focused.
The intriguing part was the fact that this fellow has a genuine healing ministry with remarkable signs and wonders.
Yet, he was extremely misleading his audience. Such men usually go unquestioned arguably based on the genuine proofs of miracles we see.
Yet, when they are ignorant, it spells doom as it puts the believing and potentially gullible audience at the Risk of living at the mercy of the fallibility of such preachers .
Now let's examine his quoted texts .
2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV [7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh.
Paul’s thorn in the flesh, this preacher called it sicknesses and disease . I have heard this for several years, in fact since I received christ . He buttressed his point further by saying paul prayed three times and God said no,I can't heal you,so you don't get proud !
I can't imagine how sickness can help us serve God sincerely . Again he quoted scriptures
2 Corinthians 12:8 KJV [8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
This he said means God can refuse to answer our prayers in some cases in order to train us. Again I have heard this for almost 30 years now.
Now let's see where the preacher and many others have been in error . The term "thorn in the flesh" isn't in any medical dictionary as a sickness and disease . It is a figure of speech .
Used severally in scriptures.
Numbers 33:55 KJV [55] But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.
It refers to irritants, annoying actions from men. Distractions. Done by men, who obviously we're not living in their bodies (of the Israelites in this case)
Joshua 23:13 KJV [13] Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.
Again men who stood in the way of Israel were called " scourges in their sides ,thorns on their eyes ,snares and traps " Not sickness and disease but distractions and hindrances .
2 Samuel 23:6 KJV [6] But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:
Thorns .again used for men .
This is readily seen in Pauls texts. He calls the reason a messenger of the devil
2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV [7] ...a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Not from God but the devil ,so Pauls revelation will not advance further in reach
2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV [7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh…
God couldn't be behind this! To buffet means " blow, and blow " used for winds and storms.
For example Mark 4:37 KJV [37] And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
The waves of sea here buffeted the ship Jesus and his disciples were in.
Matthew 26:67 KJV [67] Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
It's used for torture and persecutions . Not sickness and disease
This was evidenced in Pauls earlier words in the previous chapter .
2 Corinthians 11:23-27 KJV [23] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
This is the buffeting. Even the post text too
2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV [10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
This was what paul referred to. For the gospel sake.
2 Corinthians 12:8 KJV [8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
To beseech here, means desire not necessarily to pray.
2 Corinthians 12:18 KJV [18] I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother.
Same word.
Romans 12:1 KJV [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies.
Same word.
This is similar to what Jesus did in the garden
Matthew 26:39,44 KJV [39] And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt .
44] And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
Interestingly ,three times too.
Take note this wasn't an imposed situation rather Jesus was obeying to take the persecution and affliction of men for us .
Philippians 2:8 KJV [8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
He could have walked away. Hence it’s called obedience not compulsion.
Same as Paul.
Another vital fact is the use of pronoun
2 Corinthians 12:8 KJV [8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Some more original translations have it as " he" rather than " it" It makes textual and contextual consistency. "It "could refer to a thing, "he" infers a being .
2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
A being, messenger of Satan, Angelos in the Greek, used 188 times for persons not things.
Paul rejoiced in Gods response
2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV [9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Just like Jesus Hebrews 12:2 KJV [2] ...who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
God’s grace is his ability.
Infirmity here isn't sickness but inadequacy.
Used in teaching Christ's intercession
Romans 8:26 KJV [26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Also for teaching the high priest ministry of Jesus
Hebrews 4:15 KJV [15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
These hindrances by the messenger of Satan, the persecution and afflictions were infirmities.
Paul was never unaware of this suffering; he wasn't taken by surprise
Acts 9:16 KJV [16] For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
He had grace to work in spite of it not grace to bear sicknesses
1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
To labour! It worked continually
Acts 14:19,21 KJV [19] And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead He was taken for dead!
We shall see this later. Yet proceeded to preach
[21] And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Whilst in captivity, occasioned by the messenger of Satan
Acts 28:8-9 KJV [8] And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9] So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
He healed the sick!
2 Timothy 2:9-10 KJV [9] Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. [10] Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Yet he had to endure this for the gospel to reach others, this is grace at work.
2 Timothy 3:12 KJV [12] Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Persecutions This Is for those busy about winning souls not one self-righteous laid back believer
2 Timothy 3:11 KJV [11] Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
God delivered me, meant they wanted to harm him.
The angel of Satan uses men to accomplish things, just as Satan did with Jesus
1 Corinthians 2:8 KJV [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it , they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
These are human beings but ruled by Satan
Ephesians 2:2 KJV [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Hence his call for prayer
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 KJV [1] Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2] And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
If they stop the preacher, they stop the gospel,
Romans 10:14 KJV [14] ... and how shall they hear without a preacher?
This is why we must pray for the preservation of the lives of ministers of the gospel.
2 Timothy 4:17-18 KJV [17] Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18] And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
So that all Gentiles might hear. Without men, men can't hear the gospel. And won't be saved. We should stop praying for unscriptural things like " more anointing, grace etc."
His power and grace are sufficient. Let's stick to scriptures. Prayer can't stop persecution.
But will empower and strengthen the ministers against them Grant them boldness
Acts 4:29 KJV [29] And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.
Boldness to preach, we all need it when faced with these troubles
Ephesians 6:19-20 KJV [19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:3-4 KJV
3] Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4] That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Also deliverance from such wickedness of men. The church learnt this after Stephens demise
Acts 12:5 KJV [5] Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
And he was delivered. Remember the Angel of Satan uses men. And we won't be busy fighting them using police, media etc.
Ephesians 6:12 KJV [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
This was Paul’s thorn in the flesh.
It's a figure of speech even used today in sports, so and so Person is a thorn in the flesh of many defenders (in soccer / football)
Sickness is from the devil and should be treated such
Luke 13:16 KJV [16] And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
It's not of God .
Acts 10:38 KJV [38] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
It should never be mentioned alongside Gods will! He doesn't test with evil
James 1:13 KJV [13] Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
If you are sick, receive healing in Jesus name
[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick
The prayer of faith can't be uttered if you think the sickness came from God.
That's error
James 1:16-17 KJV [16] Do not err, my beloved brethren. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Then you will be double minded
James 1:7-8 KJV [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
It has been said " wrong thinking produces wrong believing, wrong believing produces wrong speaking, which produces wrong actions and results"
Very correct.
Get proper information via accurate explanation of scriptures, the otherwise can be fatal.
The earlier mentioned televangelist; bless his heart, is very ignorant.
So the multitude which follow his teaching without caution. Hope this is clear?
We continue later ...
I call you blessed Jesus is Lord, We Win
Pastor Onayinka Olusegun
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