"It Is Good For Me That I Have Been Afflicted..."

Paul basically said such a thing also in a different way in Romans 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

“ALL THINGS” includes the good and the bad.

But it is difficult sometimes to understand IT IS GOOD THAT WE ARE AFFLICTED WITH THESE THINGS!!!

But while we cannot see the GOOD does not mean that God CANNOT!!!

For example when the Apostle Paul was given a THORN IN THE FLESH he must have felt this way.

He prayed three times for God to deliver him and each time God said, NO, PAUL I HAVE A PURPOSE IN YOU GOING THROUGH THIS.

Why did God give Paul a THORN IN THE FLESH?

For two reasons…

(1)Because of the special revelations God gave Him.

Look at 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 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. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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.

Why did God give him a THORN IN THE FLESH…?

Notice Verse 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations God had given him when he was caught up to the third heaven.

With this ABUNDANCE OF REVELATIONS he had received he was in danger of spiritual pride.

Paul was naturally a proud man before he was saved.

Illus: He was a member of the Sanhedrin Court in which the high priest and 71 members made major decisions for the Jewish race.

Illus: To be a member of the Sanhedrin court would be the same as to being a member of our Supreme Court.

But there is another reason God gave Paul a THORN IN THE FLESH…

(2)His conversion

In Acts 26 was a pivotal point in Church history when Paul was converted from a persecutor to one of the most influential Bible character in the New Testament

None of the other apostle had a conversion such as his.

Look at Acts 9:3-6 and as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me? And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said I am Jesus whom thou persecutes: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

With these two extraordinary blessings there was the temptation for him to become PROUD.

To keep him humble God gave him a thorn in the flesh.

WHAT IS PRIDE?

• Pride is taking credit for something God has done.

• Pride is taking glory for something God has done.

This is why God cannot use someone that is PROUD!!!

So when he became a Christian, therefore, one of his besetting sins could become pride.

But God had plans to use Paul to write 14 books of the New Testament with this knowledge God had given him.

Too much who has been given much is required!!!

Paul could not have been used by God if he was proud and wanted to take credit for this knowledge he was given.

None of the other apostle could boast of these super natural experiences.

So gave him a THORN IN THE FLESH to keep him humble.

Illus: We all know how painful a thorn can be in the flesh. Once we receive it we want it out as soon as possible.

Paul prayed THREE TIMES FOR GOD TO REMOVE IT, BUT GOD TOLD HIM NO AND IT WAS TO TEACH HIM HUMILITY.

There has been a lot of speculation as to what that THORN IN THE FLESH was.

Many suggest Paul’s thorn had:

An eye disorder.

• In Galatians 4:15, Paul references the Galatians’ willingness to gouge out their eyes and give them to him if possible, implying he suffered from serious eye issues.

• Also, in Galatians 6:11, he notes using “large letters,” which some read as further support of an eye affliction.

No one knows what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, but we can safely assume it was something that others could see that kept him humble.