Sermon Series: All Things New (A Study of 2 Corinthians) Message 13: How to be Thankful for a Thorn August 20, 2017 Text: 2 Corinthians 12: 1-10 Reynolda Church, EPC Summary In the context of discussing opposition and trials and tribulations, Paul reveals that there is a thorn in his flesh that he prayed about but that God would not remove. Instead God told Paul that his grace is sufficient and that God s strength is made perfect in Paul s weakness. Paul says that the thorn came with surpassingly great revelations and that it keeps him from conceit, thus serving a good purpose in his life. And so he is thankful, even for the thorn. Understanding Paul s thorn is a challenge for many Christians. The key is submission to God and his will, in faith that in all things, God works for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. We give thanks in all things of God, but we also understand the thorn in the context of God s promises and, always in submission to him, do not use it as a reason to give the devil space in our lives. Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 1I 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 a man 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, 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. 10That 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. (2 Corinthians 12:1-10) Getting to Know Each Other Leader s Guide: 1. What is an example of a silver lining in your life something that looked bad or that was painful but turned out to hold something beautiful or amazing for you? All of us have had silver lining moments in our lives, when we recognize that something difficult or painful or trying ultimately led to a great good in our lives. Looking back on these difficult times in light of the good that came from them, we can be thankful for them. Thinking about our thankfulness now but likely the struggle that existed during the height of the difficulty puts us in a mindset to consider Paul s challenge to us to be thankful even for the thorns if God is using them in our lives. Getting into the Bible Leader s Guide: 2. What does Paul say in describing the thorn in his flesh? What are the facts we know about the thorn? He says it is a messenger from Satan
He says that it torments him He says that he asked God three times to take it away but God told him instead that His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in weakness. He says that he was given the thorn to keep him from becoming conceited because of the surpassingly great revelations he had received. Leader s Guide: 3. There has always been a lot of speculation about how the thorn in Paul s flesh manifested from sickness, to physical opponents, to sinful desire, to demonic attack. Some have even conjectured that Paul was using the words as a parody to mock those who were opposing him. Do you think it is important for us to know the manifestation of the messenger from Satan that Paul described? There has been a tremendous amount of time and energy spent on the mystery or speculation about the nature of the thorn in Paul s flesh. Many people have found support for various theories and, in fact, there are reasonable points to be made for many positions in this particular debate. It is clear from the text itself that Paul considered the thorn to be a messenger from Satan but he did not clearly define its manifestation or whether it was a demonic spirit without additional other manifestation. o The word used for messenger is the same word used most often translated angel. Whether there was another manifestation or not, Paul was clear that the source of his torment was a messenger or angel from Satan. The Bible has other references to thorns, particularly in the Old Testament, which would have been familiar to both Paul and his audience. These references most often use thorn to refer to people.
o But if you will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those that you let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land in which you dwell. Furthermore it shall come to pass, that I shall do to you, as I thought to do to them. (Numbers 33:55-56) o Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love Yahweh your God, Else if you do in any way go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you; Know for a certainty that Yahweh your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you. (Joshua 23:11-13) o And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall throw down their altars: but you have not obeyed my voice: why have you done this? Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their Gods shall be a snare to you. (Judges 2:2-3) o And there shall be no more a pricking brier to the house of Israel, nor any of grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord Yahweh. (Ezekiel 24:28) While it is interesting to think about the thorn and the details of the thorn, the answer to the question is not material to the understanding the message that Paul is trying to convey. o In this chapter and the one that precedes it, Paul is detailing various attacks and persecutions that he has endured for the sake of the gospel. o With regard to the thorn, he recognizes that it keeps him from becoming prideful and conceited as a result of the surpassingly great revelations he has received. This is a
man who wrote 13 of the books in the New Testament. It is easy to see how the blessing of that much revelation, in addition to the visions and encounters that Paul had, could cause one to fall into conceit. But Paul was aware that this thorn served a positive purpose in his life it kept him from falling into the trap of pride and conceit. o So perhaps it matters less about the specifics or manifestation of the thorn and more that God is so creative that he can use even a messenger from Satan for our good. Leader s Guide: 4. What is important for us to understand about the thorn in Paul s flesh? We are not promised a carefree life as a Christian. In fact, we are told the opposite is true. o In John 16:33, Jesus said I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. o Jesus also prayed three times for His cup to pass from Him but ultimately submitted to the will of the Father. o Jesus was betrayed by one of His followers. In fact, Luke 22:3 says: Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. In this way, Judas was a used as messenger from Satan. o If Jesus, being perfect and in perfect communion with the Father was not free from a messenger from Satan, can we reasonably expect that we could always be free from messengers from Satan? o But God used Judas s betrayal for an amazingly good purpose it was a catalyst that led to the crucifixion that brought salvation to the world.
But Paul also recognized that Christ s strength was made perfect in Paul s weakness. This is reminiscent of dying to the flesh so that Christ can live through us. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20) The blessing of the Christian life is not that we are free from trouble in this world; it is that we are free in the one who has overcome the world. o In Romans 8:28, we are promised that in ALL things God works for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. All means all. So regardless of the origin, God will turn it for our good. We can all recognize times that has happened in the silver lining moments of our lives. Paul s thorn was a silver lining that kept him from conceit. Had he fallen into pride and conceit, he would have been damaged in his relationship with God, in his ministry, and perhaps unable to accomplish the things that God set before him to do. The important thing to understand about the thorn in Paul s flesh, is that God worked it for good and used it for Paul s benefit and the benefit of the Kingdom. Application 5. How can we separate and even be thankful for something that God might allow to happen in our lives from something that the Devil is seeking to inflict on us that we do not need to accept?
We learn from Paul to be thankful, even for the challenges that we face. And to rest content knowing that God will use them for our good. There are many passages in the Bible that promise blessings for those who are persecuted or face temptation or trial. o "Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12) o "Blessed is the man that endures temptation" (James 1:12) o "And if you suffer for righteousness sake, happy are you" (1 Peter 3:14) o "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial1 which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy. If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of glory and God rests upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." (1 Peter 4:12-14) God is just. When we endure unfairness or injustice, particularly in His name, he has a way of blessing that surpasses any suffering. Remember that Paul s thorn followed surpassingly great revelations and also kept him from conceit. Don t you think that, given the choice to keep the thorn but have the revelations or give up the revelations and be free from the thorn, Paul would have chosen the revelations and the thorn? Like Jesus in the garden or Paul with the thorn, our task is yielding to the will of God, to what he is doing for his purpose and his plan. And to have faith and joy knowing that, in all things, God works for our good and that he can use even a thorn to benefit us.
It is right for us to be joyful in God s will and whatever he is doing, even if there are aspects of his work that are not pleasant. Paul received great benefit that was accompanied by the suffering of the thorn. He received incredible revelations. He was kept from falling into the sin of pride and conceit. But we need to be careful that we do not believe the lie that God intends us to suffer (particularly for the sake of suffering) and thus allow the devil to beat us up. Christ has overcome the world and given us the authority that he has in this world. Although Paul willingly endured the thorn once he gained understanding about it, such willing endurance of a messenger from Satan is the exception and not the rule. Before we decide that we are meant to endure something negative in our lives, we need to make sure that it lines up with the Bible, with wise counsel, and with understanding from God. o Pray. Paul prayed about the thorn and got a clear answer from God that God would not remove the thorn but that God s grace was sufficient for Paul to endure the thorn. o Seek understanding and look for the fruit. Paul sought understanding from God and gained the understanding that the thorn kept him from pride and conceit. Sometimes it is hard to see the fruit when we are walking through a situation. But in all things, God works for our good. The fruit of his work is good. o Be discerning and seek wise counsel. Before you decide that you are supposed to endure a thorn, seek counsel with church leadership and intercessors. Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. (Proverbs 19:20-21). o Read the Word and remember God s promises. God promises great power over then enemy. He promises Christ has overcome the world. Read, remember, and apply his promises.
o Submission to God and his will is the key. Paul prayed for the thorn to be removed but he ultimately submitted to God s will. Jesus prayed for the cup to pass from him but said Not my will but your will be done. (Matthew 26:39). God promises that when we submit to him and resist the devil, the devil will flee. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7). Our expectation is that if we are submitted and we resist, the devil will flee. But submission comes first. It is interesting to note James 4:6, particularly since Paul says that the thorn kept him from conceit (pride) in view of the extraordinary revelations he had received and that God told him that God s grace is sufficient: But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. (James 4:6) Ultimately, be thankful. Be thankful in particular for every manifestation of Christ in your life and every demonstration of God s grace and glory. o Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)