Paul's Thorn In The Flesh
Lessons From 2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Last week we left off with the apostle Paul, through inspiration, mocking the false apostles and those listening to them over him a true apostle according to Christ.
Paul did this by first pointing out this boasting is useless, but then going on to demonstrate his “accomplishments” for the faith far exceed anything they, those really not that faithful, could even compete in.
And if that wasn’t enough Paul then begins in our text today by “continuing to go on boasting” about “knowing a man/himself” who was caught up to the third heaven, which was paradise (2 Corinthians 12:1-4).
Here Paul then writes in 2 Corinthians 12:5-6…
2 Corinthians 12:5–6 (ESV)
5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.
Obviously these false teachers were embellishing their accomplishments to make themselves seem great, but in reality they were just lying about it all.
These lies tend to eventually catch up with people.
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
For the purpose of this lesson, however, I want us to focus on what Paul describes concerning his “weaknesses” and what they do for him, spiritually speaking.
The Thorn In The Flesh
The Thorn In The Flesh
What Was This Thorn?
What Was This Thorn?
Throughout the years many have attempted to give a specific answer to this.
Tertullian thought it to be “a pain in the ear or head.”
Medieval commentators thought it to be “unruly fleshly lusts.”
MacKnight thought it to be “stammering in speech.”
Ramsay, considered it to be Malarial fever.
Many have suggested it could be eye problems such as his going seemingly blind.
13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
The truth of the matter is we simply do not have an answer to this question.
We are not told what was only that Paul prayed fervently for it to go away.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
So, we don’t know what it was then maybe we should turn the question into…
Why Was The Thorn Given?
Why Was The Thorn Given?
Here we have concrete answers.
God was very plain to Paul why he was given this “thorn in the flesh.”
2 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations…
To keep Paul from becoming conceited due to the many revelations he had received.
Paul had been blessed to receive many revelations throughout his time as an apostle.
On the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6).
In Jerusalem (Acts 22:17-21).
At Troas (Acts 16:8-10).
In Jerusalem again (Acts 23:11).
On his way to Rome (Acts 27:22-25).
This vision of Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:1-6).
To keep him humble to not conceited or “exalted above measure” a messenger was sent his way to deliver the thorn.
2 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
The word “harass” (ESV) or “buffet” (NKJV) literally means “to strike with the fist.”
1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)
27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Paul was being struck by Satan’s messenger to keep him humble.
Humility is required in Christianity.
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
Summary
Summary
If all we had was this right here we would have a great and powerful lesson in and of itself.
However, there is something else to consider and that is…
Paul’s Reaction
Paul’s Reaction
To The Thorn.
To The Thorn.
Naturally, being human, Paul wanted to get rid o this thorn.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
Again this is human.
42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Notice the similarities between the Paul’s prayer and the Lord’s.
Both prayed three times.
Both did not receive the answer they desired.
Both received the answer that was sufficient for them.
This should remind us…
God wants us to pray with persistence.
17 pray without ceasing,
God wants us to pray with a seriousness behind it.
Matthew 7:7 (ESV)
7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
God wants us to even pray with specific things in mind as Paul did.
I think the greatest lesson however is Paul’s reaction…
To The Lord’s Answer.
To The Lord’s Answer.
Let’s look at how Jesus answered Paul.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”…
My grace is sufficient for you.
The Lord would give Paul everything he needed to make it spiritually and physically though this life and into the next.
This didn’t mean the Lord would necessarily given Paul everything he wanted.
My power/strength is made perfect in weakness.
In other words, it is in times of weakness and hardships that the Lord’s strength can be experienced the most completely.
When everything is great we simply cannot experience the power or strength of the Lord in our lives as vibrantly or completely.
Why, because this is when we come to rely on the Lord the MOST!!!
Summary
Summary
Now notice Paul’s reaction…
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Paul brings his argument about boasting in accomplishments full circle by making the point that it is our weaknesses that we should boast in because that is when we are the most reliant on God.
Therefore, weaknesses or infirmities are a time of rejoicing not complaining.
James 1:2 (ESV)
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds
Conclusion
Conclusion
v
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.