A THORN IN THE FLESH – PART SIX
Saturday – March 10, 2018
Greetings and welcome back to our study of “Prayer Failures” which I have approached from the angle of the Apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”. I hope that each one reading this is well aware that I have been laying a foundation for proper analysis of Paul’s thorn in the flesh and that foundation will be further expanded over the next few weeks. Some questions, in fact many questions, can only be properly answered when a firm foundation is in place. Two common mistakes are to assume the other person has the same knowledge base as ourselves and believes as we believe. The second is the attempt to answer all questions in the now popular sound bite or talking point fashion. Due to the devils’ activities over the centuries to fragment the Church there are a multitude of variations in beliefs. The beliefs of many are not based on diligent and thoughtful Bible Study but a weekly spoon feeding on Sunday which needless to say is inadequate and commonly flawed. Differences of beliefs should be in the form of incomplete understanding and revelation and not outright error. It is common for each of us to initially see a different part of the elephant and focusing on that part as if it were the whole. This is incomplete understanding and knowledge and not an error of understanding or belief. We would all do well to take the Apostle Pauls’ advice and prove all things.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV)
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Now, let’s review our primary text and then move on in our study, continuing to lay the proper foundation to understand the full context of Paul’s throne in the flesh.
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.
If you are just now joining this study of the thorn in the flesh I most strongly advise you to go back to the beginning. To start here is like opening a book half way through and think you will get the same benefit as starting from the beginning. Hopefully, those of you who have diligently followed this study to this point are now standing on the same sound foundation of the authority, power, and mandate given in the Garden. Much was forfeited in the fall from righteousness to unrighteousness, but now there is restoration of it all and more by Christ Jesus. We are now looking at how Jesus operated in the earth. He did all things in His earthly ministry as an Anointed man, not as God. He is our primary example, we are to operate today just as He did. Let us get some further instruction in the following verses.
John 5:18-21 (KJV)
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
I know that many of us have referred to ourselves as the father or mother of our various pets but we were not in either the spiritual or physical sense. We are not of like kind with our dogs or cats however we are of like kind with God (since the womb of Mary both spirit and physical). To be clear here, the one that was born of the Virgin Mary and named Jesus, the Word, discarded all that made Him God and inhabited flesh. Jesus inhabited His mortal flesh just as we as spiritual beings in the image and likeness of God inhabit our mortal flesh. Every bit of His earthly ministry was as a man. He was restored as God at the Resurrection. This is absolutely essential to our understanding otherwise we will have a very skewed view of Jesus and who we are in Christ Jesus. Not only that but we will have no insight as to what our authority, the Power released by that authority, or how to exercise that authority and Power.
As I am sure you are well aware, there are massive prayer failures, near universal in the vast majority of Churches and individual Christians lives. Even more alarming is that for some reason no one is interested in why or how to change and achieve universal success. In the preceding passage Jesus makes it clear (as a man) that the power is not His and that He only does what the Father showed Him to do. Suppose we should seek to follow a similar pattern?
John 8:28-29 (KJV)
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
Again, Jesus tells us that He speaks and does nothing of Himself, only what the Father reveals for Him to say and do. This was always pleasing to the Father. Do we suppose this is a good pattern to imitate?
John 8:38 (KJV)
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
In prayer or on the spot the Father taught Jesus what He wanted Him to do. Jesus did not have a memory of eternity past with the One He now calls Father, but only what He has learned from birth. Jesus saw what the Father wanted just as we are to see (understand by the still small voice) and the Word of God what the Father wants us to do in any and all situations.
John 14:10 (KJV)
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Before we ask anyone else, do we believe that we are in Jesus, who is in the Father and that He is in us? And, again we see Jesus saying, I do not speak of my own accord but only what the Father wants said, who is within me. Jesus goes on to say again, it is the Father who does the works. So, Jesus said what the Father told Him to say, Jesus did what the Father told Him to do, and when He did it, the Father confirmed the Word with signs following. Is this a pattern we might give some thought too!
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 (MSG)
24 GOD bless you and keep you,
25 GOD smile on you and gift you,
26 GOD look you full in the face and make you prosper.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
MY BOOKS: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org/shop/
