I DEMAND YOU REMOVE THIS THORN NOW!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
THORNS HAVE A PURPOSE, FEW EVER LEARN OR UNDERSTAND
THE PLAN OF THE THORN...
2 Corinthians 12:5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but
in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I
will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that
which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
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.
8 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.
Life has many Big Questions -- with few answers --
Have you ever notice, few real questions, ever get real answers?
We probably don’t know more than we do know.
Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I
return thither: The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name
of the Lord. 22: In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
PLEASE NO SUFFERING!
Dad called, Mom was dying. I drove our Oldsmobile to Frankfort,
I looked heavenward through the sky roof ... and I quietly prayed:
God all I ask is that My Mom does not have to suffer....
In my stillness the Holy Spirit asked me:
Is that fair? God never exempted His Only Son from suffering, yet you want all you
know to be exempt from suffering.
TWO KINDS OF SUFFERING?
Job’s name is associated with suffering.
Job disapproves and strongly objects to his having to suffer...
Two kinds of suffering in the Human eye?
Bad Boy Reward Suffering - JUSTICE
1 Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not
kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now
would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after
his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people,
because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
2 Samuel 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house;
because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be
thy wife. 11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine
own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy
neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it
secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
You've done wrong, you deserve what you get.
Spanking, punishment ... you earned it for bad choices.
Discipline can correct because we are wrong
THERE IS SUFFERING THE WORLD WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND.
CALL IT: Unfair Suffering
Do good - unappreciated, unnoticed, un applauded, blinde sided...confusion, complaining.
We suffer, we fuss and argue.
WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE SUFFER?
This is a really good question, but I cannot find any really good answers?
God looks at suffering a lot different from man does?
SUFFERING IS REALLY BAD, WHEN THOSE THAT LOVE YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND
THE SUFFERING, AND THUS ENLARGE YOUR SUFFERING.
When those close TO OUR HEART, don't understand our suffering, they may hurt
us even more by not understanding the real scope of suffering. Maybe at times
suffering is not eternal suffering, it can be a keystone or a building block?
JOB’S PRECIOUS WIFE SPEAKS OUT OF SUFFERING TO THE SUFFERING AND CAUSES
MORE SUFFERING?
Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Doest thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God
and die.
Why does God not get rid of suffering?
Job does not attack the one that does not understand his suffering ...
Job 2:10 but Job said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.
Job can't explain to his precious wife why they are suffering?
Seems we love and accept God, when we see good, but we ponder God making mistakes
when there is pain, trials, darkness, and suffering in our eyes...CAN THIS BE GOD?
SUFFERING CAN DRAW NUTS OFF THE FRUIT TREES ALL AROUND YOU!
As a buzzard - As a Vulture to Road Kill... some people like to see others suffer.
Don't forget the friends.
Some don't understand the key to suffering, and they bring a great offering that
proves they have more words than compassion, they have more answers than they
have wisdom.
Out of love friends will start showing up, their intentions are good, but their lack
of compassionate wisdom will pile on more suffering?
They have their plan as to why you are suffering?
They have a plan as to why you are suffering, they have their plan on how you
can do better?
Seems the know the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law.
They use God’s words very loosely.
THERE LURKS IN THE HEART A "I KNOW WHY?" AND "I CAN FIX IT FOR YOU!"
We grow attitudes like I CAN FIX your problems mentality ---
We have great diagnosis/prescription abilities.
We don't want to see friends suffer.
We have hope and want to give hope, so we presume for God.
People seem to feel better after they speak their mind regardless of how the victim feels...
We want to simplify Gospel to explain with words so positive spin.
WE GROW MECHANICALLY CORRECT BUT COMPASSIONATELY WRONG!
We mechanically know the whys of suffering --- and we can get out a BIGGER HAMMER!
Legalism - strict interpretation
The Friends knew all answers that put Job down.
No compassion, not sympathetic
Criticize without solution, fault finding and no alleviation of the problems?
John 6:63 It is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth nothing, the worst that
I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Rom. 8:5-6 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they
that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
11 Cor. 3:6 For also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter,
but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life..
GOD VALUES PEOPLE MORE THAN RULES AND FORMS AND
TRADITIONS!
David was hungry, he and his men had battles to fight, and they were growing
weaker by the hour.All there was to eat as the priests’ food, and David was not qualified
to eat THE SHEWBREAD! Let the warriors starve? No, those doing the work of God were
allowed to partake. Mechanically right would have allow David to starve to death.
Compassionately right saw the need, and offered a solution.
Jesus and his men were hungry? They stopped and started eating corn out of the field.
Those mechanically right jumped on Jesus. Those that really understood knew there are
exceptions and exceptions to be COMPASSIONATELY right.
The seemed to be some sick on the Sabbath, Healing vs. Sabbath argument?
The Sabbath debaters were mechanically correct, those that saw the opportunity to
help those suffering knew man was more important than the day of the week.
The letter of the law can bring death, but the SPIRIT OF THE LAWS ALWAYS YIELDS
TO LIFE. Seems THAT WE DON'T know don’t know they don’t know!
When we consider what we don’t know, it might be best to yield to compassion,
understanding, and listening with the mouth closed.
LET ME SELL YOU SOME SNAKE OIL?
Favorite People Opinions are often mechanically correct, but differ from the compassionate
understanding of the language of LOVE!
If you have a close relationship to God you will be prosperous, with a new car,
new house, pain free, little trials ... sounds so good, but this can’t be true in a real world.
111 John 2 - Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
EVEN AS THY SOUL PROSPERETH.
We must see beyond "POSITIVE THINKING," faith is much more than positive thinking!
Spiritual Gimmicks for sale/profit/ crowd pleasing ....
mechanical schemes of Manipulation of those weak in the word.
It is our scheme to avoid all suffering/fix it now, but God has a BETTER IDEA!
We as a third party think we can easily solve and bring change ...
there is Divine timing, and growth plans for God’s children.
Moses suffered 40 years of menial desert life as God’s people were dying in slavery,
God had a plan even when man could not see it.
OF ALL THE QUESTIONS JOB AND HIS FRIENDS OFFER, WHEN GOD COMES ON
THE SCENE, GOD DOES NOT ANSWER ONE OF THEM. GOD ASK EVEN MORE QUESTIONS.
God does not answer one question, not one? Why not answer a few God?
God knew the lesson of Job was complete TRUST! Faith! Patience, and more patience!
GOD HAS A COMPLETE OVERVIEW OF YOUR CASE.
God’s view of suffering may differ from yours....
Finite - human limits
Infinite-immeasurable, extended
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED AT EVERY BIG FOOTBALL GAME THERE IS A COACH HIGH
IN THE STANDS WITH A HEADSET AND A MIKE TO THE COACH ON THE GROUND?
Why? Because, things can look differ, and you can see better when you can see
the bigger picture?
As we look at suffering, we can’t see the forrest for the trees?
We know in part
1 Cor. 13:12 For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am know.
13: And now abides faith, hope, love...But the greatest of these is love.
Maybe we don’t know it all? You cannot guarantee the answer...we are nearsighted...
no quick fix. See the bigger picture?
SUFFERING DOES NOT TEST GOD AND WHAT HE KNOWS, SUFFERING AND
TRUSTING TEST HUMAN VISION.
The real revelation of suffering... CANNOT BE REVEALED BY MAN OR MAN’S WORDS!
Suffering is not Questioning God, but our vision.
You do not suffer alone...
Suffering has a lesson...
Suffering has time frame...
Job 42:10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends,
and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Conclusion: THIS THORN HAS A PURPOSE.
The real revelation of suffering ... God has a plan and a purpose.
Suffering can reveal the heart OF MAN, not just the heart of God.
Suffering can be a door to Presence of God.
Suffering can be fertilizer for love, praise, when we see the revelation.
Only God can make His revelation on pain, suffering, and trials, TO YOU...
God give us a "Compassion Attitude" on suffering!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
