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Hello my friend!
Merry Christmas! At the bottom of this email, I'll extend to you a special holiday offer to be a blessing. But first, let me share some exciting revelation with you...
Recently I wrote about the need to address human suffering, and how, unfortunately, Apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh" has been weaponized by the enemy to convince Believers that they should justify a lack of resistance to sickness and disease, rather than actively fight against it.
This is the third in what has become a short series on sickness and suffering, and how we should view it. In case you need them, here are the links to Part 1 and Part 2. I don't wish to repeat everything I've already said.
Allow me to continue my discussion of Paul's "thorn in the flesh" — but let me make one things clear: I am NOT doing away with Paul’s thorn. (It's in the Bible!) I'm killing the MYTH of Paul’s thorn.
The mythological "Paul's thorn" is destructive, but the biblical "Paul's thorn" is a great Bible truth that will set people free — once they understand it.
‣ John 8:32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
The phrase "thorn in the flesh" comes from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians...
‣ 2 Cor 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. (9) And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
As I pointed out, the common teaching is that "thorn in the flesh" (v. 7) was a sickness that Paul had in his body, and that he could not be cured of it. Further,
1) Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was a sickness in his body.
2) Paul could not be healed of that sickness.
3) Paul asked God to remove the "thorn".
4) God said NO to Paul's request.
Of the four points above, only point #3 is true. In Part 2 of this series, I explained why point #4 was false.
‣ 2 Cor 12:9 And He (the Lord) said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
God's answer to Paul was just like His answer to many Believers today who ask Him for things that are already provided. God was telling Paul, "I've already given you the power to handle this"; "My grace is SUFFICIENT" (meaning "more than enough"); or "Paul, you have authority over this. You get rid of it!"
Proof that "Paul's thorn" was not a sickness!
In my experience, it's commone, when expounding what the Bible says about healing and health, for someone to ask, “What about Paul’s thorn?” It's usually posed as a "gotcha" question, as if it's supposed to stump you because you have no answer. But to me, it's easy.
Dear friend, it's not good when people fight for the right to stay in bondage, and my intent here is to see people set free! But that said...
I answer the question, “What about Paul’s thorn?”, with a question: “What does that have to do with sickness and disease?” — or, “What does that have to do with healing?” My response is often met with shock, as if to say, “What do you mean, ‘What does that have to do with healing?’ Paul was sick, wasn’t he?”
I’ve heard it said (I think even in Bible college), “We don’t know what 'Paul’s thorn' was, but we know it was a sickness or a disease.” That statement is wrong on BOTH counts. We DO know what Paul’s thorn was, and it WASN’T sickness OR disease! It’s very clear in the scripture. But even if it wasn't...
Supposing Paul’s thorn in the flesh WAS sickness or a disease. If that WERE true, would that negate scriptures using clear redemptive language. Would it do away with...?
‣ Matt 8:17 He Himself took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.
Of course, the answer is NO. Next, we'll consider the scriptural precedent for the phrase, "thorn in the flesh."
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