A THORN IN THE FLESH – PART TWELVE
Saturday – April 21, 2018
Welcome back to the Saturday series concerning Paul’s thorn in the flesh and prayer failures. I have laid an extensive foundation for a proper understanding of our primary text. This passage has led to people believing they are to rejoice in their poverty and disease. Nothing could be further from the Truth. Wealth and health are major components of our Blood Covenant. It is like someone putting a trillion dollars in the bank, letting us know, and then we beg them to bring us some money when it is our responsibility to go to the bank and make a demand on our money. Let’s take a look at our text, please read aloud.
2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (KJV)
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
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, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
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.
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.
Last Saturday I left off our discussion with the following passage from Mark eleven which many believe to be the premier teaching on faith by the Master Himself. Read aloud.
Mark 11:22-25 (KJV)
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Thus far I have discussed from verse twenty-two that we are not only to have faith in God, for without faith we cannot please God but that our faith is indistinguishable from that of God. Our faith has the same potential as the faith that God possesses and used in the creation. That is true for our faith came from Him. A human father does not genetically pass to their son inferior organs or potential, it is the same as the fathers’. We discovered that moving the mountain, which is any obstacle to doing the will of God, furthering the Kingdom of God, was available to “whosoever”. We found that speaking to the mountain not to God was a key issue. Our text makes it clear that we must be free of doubt and have unwavering faith. Under these circumstances the things we say will come to pass. Keep in mind that our text is talking of this in the positive aspect but it works in the negative as well. Jesus goes on to tell us in verse twenty-four that whenever we exercise our authority according to the will of God, in unwavering faith, requiring the Power of God to complete, it will happen. Are we speaking to our mountains and watching the Power of God work on our behalf and that of the Kingdom or are we crying out to God for Him to do it?
Then Jesus adds what seems perhaps to be a new topic about forgiving others so we can be forgiven. If we have unforgiveness toward any, the Father cannot forgive us. It is a Blood Covenant thing, whatever I am willing to do He also will do, if I am unwilling to forgive He cannot forgive me. This forgiveness applies to forgiving ourselves as well. Sometimes, we just insist on self-condemnation, rehearsing failure, and self-flagellation. The failure to forgive is associated with the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life. This failure to forgive keeps the door open to the enemy to steal, kill, and destroy in our lives. Once unforgiveness becomes true forgiveness which is an act of the will, an act of obedience to the Word of God, the emotional content will be absent.
Based on what we have either learned, consolidated, or reinforced over the course of this study let’s look at our primary text. Leading into the mention of the Apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh it seems that Paul is perseverating, worried (sin) over the revelation he has been given and that he might be exalted above measure. Is there any example of Jesus being worried about the revelation He was given? Paul concludes that this thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan was given to him to keep him humble. Thus, we have false teaching along these lines in the Church, what blasphemy, our God does not torment His children. It is our responsibility to guard against a haughty attitude and we have the ability to control ourselves. There is much speculation about exactly what this thorn in the flesh given Paul was. Who gave it to him? Certainly, was not God, so what is the other choice? Let’s just believe the Scripture which tells us this thorn was a messenger of Satan. We do not know if this was a person demonically influenced in Paul’s life or a constant banging in Paul’s mind about being exalted beyond measure due to the revelation he had been given.
The Apostle Paul asked the Lord three times to remove this thorn in the flesh. Let me ask you, was that prayer ever going to be answered? Was God ever going to remove that thorn independent of Paul exercising the authority he had been given in Christ Jesus? Short answers, no and no. God has given for us authority to reign as kings in life (Romans 5:17) and we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). We reign, we conqueror, by our God given authority, and the flow of His Power when we speak in unwavering faith, led of the Spirit. So, what was the answer that God in His mercy provided to the Apostle Paul. God tells him that His Grace is sufficient for him. Grace is another name for, another aspect of the Holy Spirit and Power. We have a certain amount of strength and when we get to the end of that strength, when we have done what we can do, He will do what we cannot by His Grace. Infirmities in this text has nothing to do with poverty or sickness but has to do with natural human weakness. We rejoice because we know that when we have done our part He will step in with the supernatural and the job will be accomplished. That is a part of the love of God. God honors His Word, God is selfless, and God honors the Blood Covenant.
It is my prayer that this teaching series has brought a great light into all of our lives for the victorious abundant life that Jesus died for us to have in Him. A wealthy and healthy son of God is far more effective in the Kingdom than one who is poor and sick and losing ground daily. We will part with the following verse in our thinking.
Daniel 11:32 (AMP)
32 And such as violate the covenant he shall pervert and seduce with flatteries, but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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