A THORN IN THE FLESH – PART TWO
Prayer Failures
Saturday – February 10, 2018
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.
Welcome back to this multi-part Bible Study concerning “Prayer Failures” centered around the Apostle Paul’s consternation with “a thorn in the flesh”. As you will recall, I am laying the essential foundation for understanding what God is saying to us through the Apostle Paul in our primary Scripture text above. Many years ago, the Lord spoke (not an audible voice, a knowing) to me as loudly as I think I have ever heard Him and said: “If you will understand the Book of Genesis you will understand all of my Word”. I am not aware of any book that can be started in the middle and still get the full story yet this is the approach generally taken by the Church at large.
On the Day of Sin in the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve chose another god, they elevated the ideas of the Serpent above those of God. They became a servant of Satan.
Romans 6:16 (KJV)
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Mankind still had authority in the earth; however, there was no supernatural backing of the Holy Spirit (Blessing). Due to the death of the spirit man there was no longer any guidance by the Holy Spirit, the man was plunged into darkness and became a servant of Satan. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He was tempted in the wilderness. The following is one of the things the devil said to Him.
Luke 4:6 (KJV)
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
The word “power” above is authority or dominion. Jesus did not refute his claim. Just as it is easy to deceive and manipulate people in physical darkness the same is true in spiritual darkness as well. On that Day of Sin in the Garden darkness and death came to all peoples.
Romans 5:12 (KJV)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
The spirit of man immediately went dead on that Day of Sin and that deadness was now passed to each succeeding generation just as the physical DNA is passed generation to generation. Our physical DNA under the curse has been undergoing progressive deterioration, increasing chaos. Thereby we have increasing birth defects, new diseases, and a generally curse ridden man. Unfortunately, our spiritual food has been conformed to the traditions of men and the doctrines of demons therefore; now we see a powerless, sick, confused, and poverty stricken Church in every way. Even worse many preachers proudly proclaim this is the way it is supposed to be, what blasphemy.
Now, let us get back to our account in the Garden. Mankind was in a mess and needed a redeemer, one who would bring a jubilee setting all things right, returning the Garden to us. The authority given mankind by God was unconditional and mankind could by his own freewill do with it as he desired. Unfortunately, he chose, unwittingly perhaps, to give it to the Serpent. When God gave man authority (dominion) in the earth it was not one shared with God, but this authority was given solely to man. That has not changed. The Blessing on the other hand is a different story and His release to act is dependent upon the exercise of our authority according to the Word, the will, of God. I see very little preaching about the One who blesses in today’s Church but rather talk about receiving a blessing from God. Our blessings from God, the Blesser, come because of our obedience, not showing up at Church. If you will take the time to look back at our texts in Genesis from last week you will see that the blessing is a person. The Blessing is one of the co-equal persons of the Triune God. In order to receive a blessing there must be a One who blesses. The Blessing is the Holy Spirit and power. The Blessing was given to man as a supernatural empowerment to accomplish the seven God given mandates in the earth. The Blessing of course brings wonderful things into our lives and protects us from horrible things when we turn not aside to other gods. This is spelled out in many places but wonderfully in Deuteronomy chapter twenty-eight.
On the Day of Sin, the Holy Spirit could no longer live in and anoint all persons, for life cannot live with death. Therefore, until Jesus could come the blood of innocent animals confirmed God’s Covenant with those who would serve Him, allowing God to have a people in the earth. The Jewish people, the Hebrews, became that people starting with Abraham who is the father of us all (Judaism and Church). These people faithfully transmitted the Holy Words that God wanted us all to know. We call it the Holy Bible. The will of God was for man to have authority (dominion) in the earth backed by the Blessing (supernatural power of God). The Blessing or Power of God backing mans’ authority flowed through the man to accomplish the will of God. God has not changed.
Malachi 3:6 (KJV)
6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Starting with the Day of Sin in the Garden of Eden until the coming of the Messiah, the Word of God proclaimed His coming and the restoration of all things. It has been said that the Old Testament is Jesus concealed and the New Testament is Jesus revealed. The people of God, all peoples, needed healing, they needed life for death, a Messiah was coming and is now come.
Isaiah 53:4-5 (KJV)
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
We will move into the restoration of all things next Saturday. And, no, I have not forgotten we are talking about a thorn in the flesh and prayer failures. This foundation is essential to our understanding of both.
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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