Key Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7
2 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV) 7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
2 Corinthians 12:7 (KJV) 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.
2 Corinthians 12:7 (NASB95) 7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!
2 Corinthians 12:7 (AMP) 7 And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.
Main Outline – Message:
I. Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:7
II. Definition of “Thorn In The Flesh”
a. What It Is Not
i. No Biblical Precedence for Physical Ailment or Disability
b. Concise Oxford English Dictionary Thorn
1 a stiff, sharp-pointed woody projection on the stem or other part of a plant.
2 a thorny bush, shrub, or tree, especially a hawthorn.
3 an Old English and Icelandic runic letter, þ or Þ, representing the dental fricatives // and //, eventually superseded by the digraph th.
– PHRASES
a thorn in someone’s side (or flesh) a source of continual annoyance or trouble.
c. Biblical Definition
i. Concerning Literal Hedges & Thorns (51 of the 56)
ii. Concerning People (5 of the 56)
1. Numbers 33:55
a. Numbers 33:55 (NIV) 55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.
2. Joshua 23:13
a. Joshua 23:13 (NIV) 13 then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the LORD your God has given you.
3. Judges 2:3
a. Judges 2:3 (NIV) 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.”
4. Ezekiel 2:6
a. Ezekiel 2:6 (NIV) 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.
5. Ezekiel 28:24
a. Ezekiel 28:24 (NIV) 24 ”‘No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.
III. What Do We Do With The Thorns (The Rebellious Towards God)?
a. Drive Them Out (Compare to Num 33:55, Josh 23:13, and Judges 2:3)
b. Use Gloves & Handle Them Wisely
Dealing With Thorns (from the World Wide Internet)
Dealing with thorns is a common problem when you are working in a garden. Your garden first aid kit needs to include a magnifying glass, tweezers, and an antiseptic cream Antiseptic and bandages need to be handy for cuts and scrapes.
Wearing gloves will help lessen the chance of thorns affecting your gardening experience. Gloves need to be tough enough to withstand thorns, but supple enough to be able to use your fingers and feel.
If a thorn prick, cut, or scratch doesn’t improve within a day or two, you should see your doctor. http://www.emsaonline.com/mediacenter/articles/00000152.html
The magnifying glass so that we can inspect and see more clearly. (Compare to the Word of God)
The tweezers the remove the object gently. (Compare to the power of the Holy Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives.)
The antiseptic to help the healing process. (Compare to God’s healing balm in our lives.)
(Note: We cannot ignore the damage done by a thorn (object/person) because it will sooner or later have to be dealt with.)
i. Speak God’s Word To Them (Ezekiel 2:7)
1. Ezekiel 2:6-7 (NIV) 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.
ii. Do Not Rebel As They Did [Are] (Ezekiel 2:8)
1. Ezekiel 2:8 (NIV) 8 But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
a. Open your mouth and eat (and speak)
c. What Do We Speak? (Ezekiel 2:9-3:3)
i. Ezekiel 2:9-3:3 (NIV) 9 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe. 1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. 3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
1. Ezekiel 2:8-3:4 – Ezekiel was to open his mouth and eat what God gave him. He was to be receptive and responsive.
2. The specific word from God was given to him on a scroll.
3. The message consisted of words of lament, mourning, and woe (the contents of Ezekiel 4-32). But this message does not reflect the latter part of the book where the prophet spoke of Israel’s restoration. The content of the message changed drastically after his message of woe was fulfilled. Remember, the Word of God does not return void, but it goes forth to do what God has prepared for it to do.
4. God told him to eat what He gave him (2:8). And after he ate what was given to him he was to go and speak it to the house of Israel.
5. The scroll tasted as sweet as honey as he ate because it was God’s Word. It didn’t matter that it was a message of judgment. The sweetness came because it was God’s Word. There is a major difference between the source and the content but the motive behind it comes from the heart of the source – and that is love and restoration. We can see the same thing when we read from David (Psalms 19:10), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 15:16), and John (Revelation 10:9-11).
6. We must remember that the message was to the whole of the house of Israel. This refers to those still in Palestine and those who were in exile in Babylon.
d. How Do We Speak?
i. With Great Patience & Careful Instruction (2 Timothy 4:2)
1. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV) 2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
ii. In Love (1 Corinthians 4:21; 16:14; Ephesians 4:15)
1. 1 Corinthians 4:21 (NIV) 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
2. 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV) 14 Do everything in love.
3. Ephesians 4:15 (NIV) 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
IV. Summary
