Introduction  

I.         This is one of those passages of scripture that is so fascinating that we often completely miss the point.

A.        More attention is given to figuring out what the thorn in the flesh was than the lesson taught by it.

B.        Most believe it was some physical ailment.

C.       What we can know is that God ordained it to keep Paul humble.

II.        There are several lessons here for us.

III.       Let’s consider some of what we can learn from Paul’s thorn in the flesh.

 

Text

 

I.         The Reason For It (2 Corinthians 12:7).

A.        Paul said it was “lest he should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations.”

B.        It would seem likely that Paul would struggle with pride.

1.        He had been a Pharisee, a very prideful group.

2.        He’d been singled out by Christ (Acts 9:15).

3.        Here he adds “…the abundance of revelations.”

II.        The Identity Of It (2 Corinthians 12:7).

A.        It was “a messenger of Satan sent to buffet” him.

1.        Paul did not say that it was the Lord’s doing.

2.        Certainly God allowed it.

3.        Satan can do nothing beyond what God permits.

4.        God will use what Satan does and turn it around for good.

B.        It could have been a sickness (2 Corinthians 12:9; 4:13-15).

C.       Another possibility is persecution.

1.        In the context here Paul identified a number of persecutions he’d gone through (2 Corinthians 12:11).

2.        He told of being stoned and left for dead.

3.        Persecution marked his life (Acts 9:15-16).

III.      Paul Had To Keep It.

A.        Jesus became a curse for us (Galatians 3:13-14).

B.        Our natural tendency and desire is to remove afflictions.

1.        No doubt, the natural mind of Paul first thought something along the line of:

2.        God’s people always grow stronger through hard times.

3.        So God allows and uses disfavor and hardship as He works out the good for us (Romans 8:28).

C.       So Paul said he would “gladly…boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

 

Conclusion

 

I.         Do you have a thorn in your flesh?

A.        Certainly we all do, be it illness, persecution, or economic hardship.

B.        Everyone faces some form of difficulty.

II.        A more telling question is where it is taking us.

A.        It may actually move us away from God.

B.        Paul remembered that it was about Jesus, not Paul.

III.       Jesus bore our sins, not our sickness and persecution.