Paul’s Thorn…

Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” 2 Corinthians 12:7 was allowed by God just as Satan was granted dominion over Job’s wealth and then his health. As we learned from the Job story that God believes in us the same way we believe in Him and nothing in all creation can come between our faith in the Almighty, if only we believe. So what was the reason for Paul’s thorn in his flesh if not to help him to avoid being “exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations” as the text says. As we read further we see that he pleads 12:8 that it might depart. No use splitting hairs or forming dogmatic conclusions on what the exact particulars of this passage may be 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Of this much we are sure a “thorn in the flesh” had come upon Paul by the way of a messenger of Satan and that the Providence of God allowed this to happen.

So God allows Paul and I would stagger a guess at all believers in general the act of suffering as a way of growing spiritually as opposed to worldly. We all live in this world, we all have certain beliefs from this world and God wants to replace lies with truth. The bottom line is that there is pain involved in growing in Godliness just as there is pain in creation, birth, muscles, etc. The whole idea here is it seems to be a rule that there is no growth except by pain. We are advised over and over to embrace our trials and count them as blessings as I’m sure that the blessings follow the trial, if only you believe. Could this be God’s way of teaching us to have a positive attitude for the Kingdom that is the opposite of the prosperity teaching which obviously seemed to exist even in the time of Job and Paul’s ministry? Or perhaps we are to embrace our trials as a way of learning simple logic and being able to accept things as they are and not as we think they should be, trusting God all the while.

Either way if we learn or willfully choose not to turn from our path as we work through our trial, to which this is likely specifically chosen for us due to the condition of our hearts. We will come out the other side as we should be. With further God given knowledge and revelation that strengthens our walk with the Almighty and helps in the remaking of the new creation we have become.

So I ask you again Christian can you feel the presence of God when you walk with Him, talk with Him, worship Him, argue with Him (yes you can argue with God), wrestle with Him, listen to Him, wait for Him, serve Him, receive Him, preach Him, Can you feel the presence of God?

If you cannot feel the presence of God there is only one solution and lest God do it for you I would humble myself today!

1 PETER 5:6

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

If everything was always rosy okey dokey for Paul many more people would have came to Christ but his condition scared away the faint hearted shallow folk that attended church just for the image. You know the type always to busy to commit to anything or to serve when asked or most times begged. We are not here to consider each others feelings when in truth we are phoney baloneys attending church just for the image of it.

So how would you know if you’re one of these types?

Simple really, ask yourself theses questions and the answer will tell you if you are a real Christian or the phoney baloney type that is attending church just for image.

1. How many folks did you bring to Jesus today?

2. How about his week?

3. How about this month?

4. How about this year?

5. How about your whole life?

You want to be a real Christian, tell people about Jesus and discard your excuses in the refuse pile with all the other garbage TODAY!

Want to learn how to spread the gospel in about five minutes flat take a look at The Way of the Master to learn more…

May...

The Lord bless and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

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All posts by M.A.C. © Bruce W. Moar