A Thorn In My Side

A Thorn In My Side

2021 Summer Series / 2 Corinthians 12:2–10

• [VIDEO]

• [IMAGE] Sand spurs. Bane of kid existence.

• Sometimes we look and feel like we’ve been rolling around in a field of thorns.

• We can be “thorny people.”

• We get to the point where we say, “I just can’t take it any more!”

• Paul tells us that’s really a good thing because NOW we’re in a place where God can work.

• He wants us to understand that we must not identify ourselves by our thorns but by Christ who shines thru our thorns.

• Context of the passage:

• Paul is, in part, defending his actions and rights as an apostle.

• At the same time, he is using his own experiences to teach a lesson.

Reasons for Thorns

2 Corinthians 12:1–4 NLT

1 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.

• Paul choses to reveal an amazing spiritual experience that no one else could match - including the “super-apostles” who are criticizing him.

• It’s so easy to respond to criticism, complaints, aggression, with trying make ourselves look better, stronger, etc.

• Sometimes we’re guilty of the “humble brag.”

• Paul doesn’t want to do that and explains why.

Trouble With a Purpose

2 Corinthians 12:5–7 NLT

5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

• Thorns are “trouble with a purpose."

• This puts some of our struggles in context.

• Not every calamity or problem in life is a thorn.

• It takes some discernment to figure out when we’re being guided or disciplined toward a new purpose by our thorns.

• Here’s some hints from Paul:

• Paul didn’t want to talk about his spiritual “highs” too much. He really didn’t want to boast.

• What topic do we keep coming back to over and over? Perhaps a point of pride?

• Thorn - “spike, thorn, splinter.” What irritates or bothers you constantly? It could be physical, emotional, mental.

• Torment - “torture, jab over and over.”

• God’s goal in leaving these thorns in place to reorient our thinking. (too proud.)

• In a seeming paradox, the thorns are where we find our greatest strength.

True Strength

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 (NLT)

8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• It’s natural to want pain to go away.

• Paul even prayed fervently 3x for his thorn to go away.

• Eventually he got the concept that the thorn’s purpose was to cause him to quit relying on himself and fully depend on Christ’s power.

Mark 8:35 NLT

35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

• Paul’s mind and purpose were reoriented toward maturing in Christ in everything he did.

• Weakness = frailty.

• Resting in Jesus’ grace and power means “let him shelter you.”

Philippians 2:6–11 NLT

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.