Thorn In The Flesh

Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

2 Cor 12: 7-10 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


INTRODUCTION

1. Paul tells of "a thorn in the flesh" which greatly bothered him.
a. It was something for which he prayed the Lord to remove from him.
b. The Lord did not do so, but gave Paul an answer that greatly encouraged him.

2. We might not be able to know exactly what the "thorn" was, but there are some valuable lessons to be gleaned as we consider...
a. Why this "thorn" was given to Paul?
b. Paul's initial reaction to the "thorn".
c. His reaction to the answer given him by the Lord.


I. WHAT WAS PAUL'S "THORN IN THE FLESH"?

A. SEVERAL PHYSICAL AILMENTS:
1. A pain in the ear or head (Tertullian)
2. Unruly fleshly lusts (medieval commentators)
3. Stammering speech (MacKnight)
4. Malarial fever (Ramsay)
5. Acute eye problems (Farrar and others)
a. Eye inflammation
b. Based upon comments in Gal 4:13-15; 6:11
c. Possibly brought on initially by the blinding vision on the Damascus road

B. "INFIRMITIES" PAUL SUFFERED:
1. The persecutions he suffered as an apostle of Christ
2. Reasons for this view:
a. In the OT adversaries are sometimes referred to as "thorns in your sides" (Numbers 33:55; Judges 2:3)
b. The term "messenger" in Paul's writings refer to a person
c. The basic topic of 2 Cor 10-13 is Paul's opponents, those who were troubling the Corinthians and Paul himself
d. Paul parallels the "thorn" with a "weakness" (or infirmity) in which he will glory; in the context of 2 Cor 10-13 he connects his weakness with persecution -2Cor 11:30-33; 12:10; 13:3-4


II. WHY WAS THE "THORN" GIVEN?

A. LEST PAUL BE "EXALTED ABOVE MEASURE" (2 Cor 12:7)...
1. Paul had been blessed to receive many revelations...
a. On the road to Damascus - Acts 9:3-6,
b. In Jerusalem - Acts 22:17-21,
c. At Troas - Acts 16:8-10,
d. In Corinth - Acts 18:9-11,
e. In Jerusalem again - Acts 23:11,
f. On his way to Rome - Acts 27:22-25,
g. The vision of Paradise - 2Cor 12:1-6

2. It would have been quite easy...
a. For Paul to be filled with pride over these revelations
b. For the church to exalt him too highly


B. THERE IS A PRACTICAL LESSON RELATED TO HUMILITY...
1. Humility is a necessary trait for God's people - Luke 18:13-14; 1 Peter 5:5-6
2. Sometimes it is useful to have "outside help" to keep us humble!


III. PAUL'S REACTION TO THE "THORN"

A. BEING HUMAN, HE WANTED TO GET RID OF IT! (2 Cor 12:8)...
1. He pleaded with the Lord three times to remove it
2. Just as the Lord Himself prayed in the garden at Gethsemane - Luke 22:39-43
3. Notice the interesting similarities between Paul and the Lord...
a. Both prayed three times
b. Both did not receive the answer for which they prayed
c. But they both received answers that were sufficient...
1) An angel came to minister to Christ
2) The Lord told Paul:
a) "My grace is sufficient for you"
b) "My strength is made perfect in weakness"

B. THIS SHOULD REMIND US OF CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER...
1. We are to pray with persistence - Luke 18:1-8
2. We are to pray in earnest - Matthew 7:7
3. We are to pray specifically (as Paul did) -- Yet God knows what is best for us, so the answer may not be what we wish.


IV. PAUL'S REACTION TO THE LORD'S ANSWER

A. TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LORD'S ANSWER (2 Cor 12:9a)...
1. "My grace is sufficient for you"
a. The Lord would give Paul what he "needed"
b. But not necessarily what he "wanted"
2. "My strength is made perfect in weakness"
a. It is in times of weakness and hardship that the Lord's strength can be experienced most completely.
b. For in such times we really come to depend upon the Lord, and not upon our own strength or wisdom.

B. NOW CONSIDER PAUL'S REACTION...
1. "I will boast in my infirmities" – 2 Cor 12:9b
a. Rather than complain about his trying circumstances, he will glory in them!
b. For it is in such infirmities that he has the opportunity to experience the power of Christ in his life as He helps him deal with them.
2. "I take pleasure in infirmities...for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." – 2 Cor 12:10
a. Infirmities can be a time for rejoicing! - Romans 5:3a
b. For that can be a time in which to experience the strength Christ gives, and the development of character that pleases Him - Romans 5:3b-5; James 1:2-4



CONCLUSION

1. It may be impossible to determine exactly the nature of "Paul's Thorn In The Flesh"
a. Some commentators believe that this ambiguity was by design
b. Otherwise, those with other "infirmities" may think the spiritual lessons are not for them

2. But from a perplexing passage, we can glean powerful principles applicable to all...
a. In time of infirmity, pray!
b. But don't be surprised if the answer to your prayers are similar to those given to Paul
1) "My grace is sufficient for you"
2) "My strength is made perfect in weakness"
c. The Lord may choose not to remove the infirmity...
1) Instead, He may choose to give you the strength to endure it
2) If so, then rejoice that power of Christ rests upon you!

As we close, think about the Lord's statement as it relates to the problem of SIN, and the SALVATION He offers ("My grace is sufficient for you")... – Titus 3:4-7


WRAP-UP

The model of the apostle Paul:
1. Admit your weaknesses
2. Be content with your weaknesses
3. Honestly share your weaknesses
4. Glory in your weaknesses

Admit my weaknesses. I need to admit not only that I have weaknesses, but admit specific weaknesses. When I am honest with myself I can learn how God wants to use my weaknesses.
Be content with my weaknesses. By being content with my weaknesses I am telling God that I trust that He knows what is best for me. My weaknesses will increase my dependence on God. They can also cause me to draw closer to other believers as I share my weaknesses with them and help others who share the same weaknesses.
Honestly share my weaknesses. Ministry begins with vulnerability. I need to share my failures, feelings, frustrations and fears so I can be an example of humility to others. By admitting my weaknesses I build credibility with others.
Glory in your weaknesses. I need to see my weaknesses as a "trophy of grace" that shows just how incredible and faithful God has been in working in my life. God can turn my weaknesses intro strengths. The very things that bother, embarrass and humiliate me most can be used by God for His glory.

Are you thinking that God wouldn't use you because you do not have any big weaknesses. Be convinced that God is going to use you to do incredible things because you are completely messed up -- and yet His grace is greater still.



My weakness:

My action:






Scriptures Referenced in Lesson:

2 Cor 12: 7-10 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Gal 4:13-15 13As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

Gal 6:11 11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

2 Cor 11:30-3330 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

2 Cor 13:3-43 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

Acts 9:3-63 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

Acts 22:17-21 17 "When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking to me. 'Quick!' he said. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.' 19 " 'Lord,' I replied, 'these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr [a] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.' 21 "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.' "

Acts 16:8-108 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Acts 18:9-119 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Acts 23:1111 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

Acts 27:22-2522 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.

2Cor 12:1-61 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about someone like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say,

Luke 18:13-1413 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

1 Peter 5:5-65 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Luke 22:39-4339 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

Luke 18:1-8 1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4 "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!' " 6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Matt 7:7 7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Romans 5:3-5 3 Not only so, but we [a] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

James 1:2-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Titus 3:4-7 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.