TRADITIONS, LIES, and TRUTH – PART TWENTY-TWO
A THORN IN THE FLESH – PART ONE
Saturday – June 15, 2019, Sivan 12, 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 which will likely be familiar to most readers but is 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. So, let’s pick up our story with the Apostle Paul talking about his knowing a man caught up to the third Heaven. It is widely presumed this was Paul himself however he does not express that in this passage. However, he does talk about the wonderful revelations that God has given him and that he is often tempted to boast about that.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (KJV)
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Before I move forward, I want to provide a little insight into verse four. In the King James Version, the impression is given that the things seen in Heaven and perhaps other revelations given him of God were not permissible or lawful for Him to reveal. However, that is not what the Scripture is telling us. The proper interpretation appears to be that the things seen or uncovered were either not expressible in current human language or incompletely expressible.
2 Corinthians 12:4 (HCSB)
4 was caught up into paradise. He heard inexpressible words, which a man is not allowed to speak.
2 Corinthians 12:4 (TLB)
4 and heard things so astounding that they are beyond a man’s power to describe or put in words (and anyway I am not allowed to tell them to others).
The predominate take away from the preceding translations is that the ideas were inexpressible or beyond man’s power to describe. The idea that he was forbidden to express them seems improbable since he is unable to reveal them fully due to language limitations. The idea of allowing would seem to relate to the fact that human language would not allow the full expression of the things seen or revealed. As we think upon this let’s call to mind that this creation, all things are brought about by words and perhaps even thoughts. Recall at the tower of Babel and the words of the LORD.
Genesis 11:6-7 (KJV)
6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
In the beginning Adam and Eve had the language, the words of God, and therefore their very thoughts were the same as God’s. So, these words and these thoughts could accomplish anything and God says so in the preceding passage. Do you suppose God meant something different when He said “nothing will be restrained from them”? Did He mean ‘nothing’ or did He mean ‘some things’? It seems to me that when God confounded their language, He reduced their capacity for language and therefore man could no longer fully express the things of God. This limitation of expression would limit what could be accomplished. This was at least in part or more likely totally corrected with the return of the Holy Spirit available to all peoples and the speaking with other tongues. Scripture tells us that when we speak with other tongues, we are speaking the perfect will of God. In the following passage notice the phrase; “which cannot be uttered”.
Romans 8:26-27 (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.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Lord willing, I will pick up this study right here next Saturday.
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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