TRADITIONS, LIES, and TRUTH – PART TWENTY-FOUR
THORN IN THE FLESH – PART THREE
Saturday – June 29, 2019, Sivan 26, 5779
Greetings dear saints of God and welcome back to this study which seeks to divide the traditions of man, and the doctrine of demons from the Truth. The Truth is the unadulterated (pure) Word of God. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment and hit the “like” and “share” buttons to further the reach of this good news, the Truth. Today we will explore a passage of Scripture that will most likely be familiar with most but seemingly misunderstood by much of the Church, the Christian community. The misunderstanding seems to arise out of the false and perverse doctrine of our need to suffer various elements of the curse in order to show the goodness of God. Now let’s turn our attention to our initial primary Bible text and read it aloud.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (KJV)
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.
By way of a reminder the Apostle Paul has told us that due to the abundance of revelation given him, he was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan. His interpretation of this was to humble him so he would not brag or boast about this abundance of revelation. Now we find the Apostle Paul asking the Lord to remove this thorn in the flesh, in fact he asks the Lord three times to remove it. The “it” in verse eight is the thorn in the flesh of which we are not told its exact nature. It was likely something that tempted his flesh to sin and acted to hinder the ministry in some fashion. Next, we see the response of the Lord Jesus telling the Apostle Paul that His “grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. As I understand it the general interpretation of this phrase by the Church is that God’s grace will help Paul put up with this thorn in the flesh. Let me ask, does that even sound reasonable to the spiritual mind?
First let us settle just what or who is the grace of God. The word grace should be capitalized because it is the third person of the co-equal triune God, the one we call Holy Spirit. The Grace of God is a function, a facet of the Holy Spirit. Grace, the Power of God, brings favor (success) into our lives, prepares our path, and wraps us in protection. As we look at verse nine, we might also read it as the strength of Grace is sufficient for you in your weakness. There are things we can do in the natural which are ordained of God however even those require His guidance, assistance. Just to be clear, to be successful, everything we do in the Kingdom requires a Helper, the Grace of God, the Holy Spirit and Power.
When an attack comes, as in this case, we need Grace, the Holy Spirit for it will take a superior force (holy angels or Holy Spirit) to cast out the inferior spiritual force (demons). As a reminder, we have authority in the earth (and Heaven) and with the proper exercise of that authority the Power of God flows to accomplish whatever the required task might be. In this case the required task is to remove the thorn in the flesh. So, where did the Apostle Paul miss it, and what is the lesson for us? Paul asked the Lord to do what was his responsibility to do. The Apostle is the only one who can exercise that responsibility. The Apostle Paul’s responsibility was to command the thorn in the flesh to leave or be severed from him. Then and only then could the Power of God be released to remove the thorn in the flesh. Prayer helped Paul to discover this was a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan. It was then his responsibility to command or decree it removed, severed from his life. At that moment the Anointing (“power of Christ”) would do the work.
The things we can do, we must do. The things which are beyond our natural abilities, our weakness or infirmity, will be handled by the Anointing (Holy Spirit) upon our command. Therefore, Paul says that he will then boast in the Power of God which is at work when and where he is weak (infirmity). I know that some of you are struggling with commanding God, but He set it up I didn’t. Consider thoughtfully and prayerfully the following Scriptures as well as every miracle in the ministry of Jesus.
Job 22:28 (KJV)
28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
Isaiah 45:11 (KJV)
11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
Mark 11:23 (KJV)
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.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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