By: Robert Serreyn

Question? In your opinion what was the Apostle Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh?

Answer:

The Thorn in the Flesh mentioned by the Apostle Paul is recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:7 which states…

(2 Corinthians 12:7) 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.

The bible DOES NOT say what that Thorn was. Some HAVE THOUGHT it could be…

– Eye Trouble, such as bad eye sight.

(Galatians 4:14,15, 6:11) And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. (15) Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. (6:11) Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

– Epilepsy.

– Malaria.

And others have even considered it to be…

– Temptations from the devil.

– Opposition from his enemies.

or

– Some intense bodily pain.

Whatever it was we are simply NOT TOLD, but the Lord used it to keep Paul MINDFUL of his need for him in ALL THINGS.

The Bible states in…

(2 Corinthians 12:8-10) 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 thee: 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.

(Philippians 4:11-13) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

The lesson here for us is that the Lord MOST TIMES uses…

– Hardships.

– Trials.

– difficulties in life.

For the VERY PURPOSE of keeping us humble and mindful of OUR NEED of him in ALL THINGS just like the Lord did with Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh.

It is just human nature(our sin nature) when things are going good, we as christians, have a tendency to forget about the Lord and we get lax in our…

– Prayer Life.

– Service to the Lord.

– Witnessing.

– Putting the Lord first in our life, etc,etc….

The Lord KNOWS THIS, So HE USES hardships, trials, and difficulties in life for our benefit NOT TO make us weak but to make us strong the faith, Satan, on the other hand, will try to convince us otherwise but we MUST REMEMBER what Jesus said about him in John 8:44…

(John 8:44) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

In Conclusion:

If you are going through some tough times or you think that the Lord has laid a Physical, Mental, or a Spiritual burden upon you that you think that you cannot bear, just remember the the Lord NEVER GIVES us anything that we cannot handle even though it might seem to be that way it just MIGHT BE OUR Thorn in the Flesh the Lord is using to make us stronger in our faith.

CONSIDER what the bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell, but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH