The Reminder of The Thorn

The Reminder of The Thorn 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (KJV 1900)

Some quick Observations of Verses 7-10

1st Prayer don’t always change things [ Big Mama ]

Note: Now the question is WHY PRAY if prayer don’t change things

It’s to keep constant/consistent communicate with God

It’s to get information from God / It’s not about your Grocery List

It’s to keep you encourage by God

2nd There’s somethings God want change

3rd Praising God is not based on His performance but praising God is based on who He is

4th God will use the thorn in our life to humble & develop us

5th Don’t ever think you can’t handle what God has allowed in your life ( Paul 3 times )

The thorn in Paul’s life Ministered to him [ REMINDER ]

1st The thorn was to keep him humble

2nd The thorn was to keep him in God’s will, so that God could use him

3rd God’s Grace is Always Sufficient

Let’s see why Paul has this thorn

Why Was It Written?

There were, many reasons that Paul wrote 2 Corinthians:

(1) to answer the false teachers who had entered the church at Corinth (11:13–15),

(2) to defend his apostleship and message (12:12),

(3) to reveal his trials and triumphs as an apostle of Christ (chaps. 4, 11),

(4) to show the consolation provided in the service of Christ (1:3–7; 4:17),

(5) to encourage their giving to the poor (chaps. 8–9).

(6) Of course, overall, it was written to encourage the Corinthians to be jubilant and triumphant in their Christian faith (2:14).

Explain: Verses 1-6

Paul has this thorn , this thorn was sent to him by God, to keep him humble. As with Job, Satan was the immediate cause, but God was the ultimate cause.

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.

“ so to keep me from becoming conceited “

We are ALL subject to become beside ourselves [ Conceited/Exalt oneself ] — so God gives a thorn

Note: Some people try to be big when little got them

“ because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations “

So because of the

Extraordinary insight

That God gave Paul

And the great things

God was doing in Paul’s life

God gave him thorn

Note: It’s when God is taking you somewhere He has to give you something in return to keep you to remind you that this is not you doing this, but it’s ME

“ revelations “ — communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency; especially communications that proceed from God or Christ [ to make fully known ]

Note: The same God that gave Paul INSIGHT also gave him a THORN [ To Balance him ]

“ a thorn “ — trouble, WOE, suffering, serious inconvenience , annoyance; disability

Paul’s use of the word messenger

(Greek, angelos, or angel)

from Satan suggests the

“thorn in the flesh” (lit. “a stake for the flesh”)

was a demonized person

not a physical illness

Of the 175 uses

of this Greek word in the NT

most are in reference to angels

This angel was from Satan

a demon afflicting Paul

Possibly, the best explanation

for this demon

was that he was indwelling

the ring leader

of the Corinthian conspiracy

the leader of the false apostles

Through them

he was tearing up Paul’s

beloved church

and thus driving a painful stake through Paul

Further support for this view

comes from the context

of chapters 10–13,

which is one of fighting adversaries (the false prophets)

The verb translated “buffet”

always refers to ill treatment

from other people (Matt. 26:67; Mark 14:65; 1 Cor. 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:20).

Finally, the OT describes

Israel’s personal opponents

as thorns (Num. 33:55; Josh. 23:13; Judg. 2:3; Ezek. 28:24).

“ lest I be exalted above measure “.

The assault was painful

but purposeful.

God was allowing Satan

to bring this severe trouble

in the church for the purpose

of humbling Paul

who, having had so many revelations

including a trip to heaven and back

The demonized false apostle

attacking his work

in Corinth was the stake

being driven through his otherwise proud flesh.

“ to harass me “ — beat, strike with the fist, to hurt, to slap

2 Corinthians 12:8 ESV

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

“ I pleaded with “ — [ parakaleo ] — para- means along side

[ kaleo ] - is the verb to call

Note: so when you put those two words together it means to come along side

Note: You heard of the ‘ paraclete “ the greek word for the Holy Spirit is the one who has been called to come along side to help

So Paul is calling

On Jesus to come

Along side to come help him

“ it should leave me “ — [ aphistemi ] — depart, go away, to leave, keep away

Note: This is where we get our english word “antihistamine”

Note: antihistamine sends the germs away

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.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

“ is made perfect “ — [ teleo ] — complete, finish, accomplish

Note: This is the same root word of “ tetelestai “ - paid in full when Jesus said it is finished on the cross

Note: God’s power is accomplish when there is weakness present

Illustration : Walk away from the toilet so it can flush

The reminder of the Thorn

1st Paul had Unusual Knowledge ( V 1 )

2 Corinthians 12:1 (ESV)

1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

Note: God has given you somethings that He haven’t given others

Illustration : You will be the First one [ My PHD in 1989 ]

The reminder of the Thorn

1st Paul had Unusual Knowledge ( V 1 )

2nd Paul had Uncommon Experiences

2 Corinthians 11:23–30 (ESV)

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Note: The thorn is to remind you what you’ve been thru

The reminder of the Thorn

1st Paul had Unusual Knowledge ( V 1 )

2nd Paul had Uncommon Experiences

3rd Paul had Undeniable Accomplishments

Paul wrote over half of the NT

Paul planted churches all over

Paul had a successful ministry in spite of the Devil adversity

2 Timothy 4:7–8 (KJV 1900)

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Your success is not predicated on your Crowd or Critics

Your success is not predicated on your Accolades or Accomplishments

Your success is not predicated on your results

Your success is predicated on your OBEDIENCE to the Lord

Quote: “ Don’t mind the results mind your obedience “

The reminder of the Thorn

1st Paul had Unusual Knowledge ( V 1 )

2nd Paul had Uncommon Experiences

3rd Paul had Undeniable Accomplishments

4th Paul had an Unconditional Praise

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 ESV

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. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.