OUT OF WEAKNESS…STRENGTH - Paul: “The Thorns Really Hurt”
2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (p. 808) October 1, 2017
Introduction:
Have you ever wondered why God put thorns on roses?
Well, here’s the scientific answer from a Harvard professor:
“Roses really don’t have thorns…thorns are woody branches deeply embedded in a plant structure…Roses have “prickles.” Prickles are sharp pointed hairs that contain epidermal and sub-epidermal tissues. A thorn is a short, sharp modified stem. Roses use “prickles” to ward off predators…prickles help extend the roses life.”
But I’m thinking when Brett Michaels, from the band Poison, wrote and sang the power ballad “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn,” using the word “prickle” wouldn’t have been as effective. So, we’re gonna call them thorns.
The theory of evolution would teach that the rose plant miraculously sensed that it didn’t want to get eaten and so over millions of years “thorns,” excuse me “prickles” evolved to protect its beautiful blooms from being munched upon by “critters.”
But those of us who have a biblical world view would say that God designed the rose’s beauty and put the thorns there for its protection…without the thorns it just wouldn’t last as long.
Hmmmm. It seems there could be a spiritual application to this truth.
That application? God gives us thorns so we can be protected by His grace…and in our weakness we can trust His power.
Let’s ask some questions today about thorns…
I. DO YOU REMEMBER PAUL’S PAST?
Paul says, “I was a violent man, I was a blasphemer, I was someone who persecuted believers…I was the worst sinner who ever lived.” (1 Timothy 1:13)
Those were his words to describe his life before his conversion.
And you remember that conversion don’t you? Headed to Damascus to do some of that violent persecution…Being struck down in the dirt blind in an encounter with a risen Jesus…being led by the hand to Damascus…where Ananias is sent by God to restore Paul’s sight.
Here’s what God tells Ananias…And what happens:
ACTS 9:13-19 (p. 765)
God calls you…miraculously saves you and then gives you this message:
“I will show him how much he must suffer in my name.”
Wow!!! Something to look forward to, huh?
But I often say, “God will not call us to something without supplying us with everything.”
And Paul’s suffering would be intense…The thorns would hurt.
[Five times I received from the Jews the 40 lashes minus one, three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones (usually it only takes once), three times I was shipwrecked…I spent a night and a day in the open sea…I’ve had to constantly be on the move…I’ve been in danger from rivers, bandits, my countrymen and the Gentiles…I’ve been in danger in every possible location and in danger from unbelievers…I’ve worked hard, gone without sleep, I’ve been hungry and thirsty, cold and naked…and I feel a burden daily for the people I love in the church.”]
He’s gone through all this “For the sake of the call.” His calling to make disciples for Christ to preach the good news of salvation.
I never read that he prays for the persecution to stop…or that he ever belly aches about it.
But, he does pray 3 times for one thorn to be removed…it’s one in his flesh. It’s physical…it’s painful…The Greek word used here for thorn is “skolops.” And it literally means “A stake driven into my flesh.” And it seems he’s dealt with it for 14 years or so. 3 times he has begged God to take it away…And God said, “No!”
Have you ever begged God for something? “Please God, I can’t function with this…Take it away…PLEASE GOD…PLEASE!!!”
And God says, “No…keep it…and trust me.”
Folks, I’m not God so I don’t know all the whys for Him not removing it…but Paul tells us what he discovered in the “no” of God.
“To keep me from being conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations I was given this thorn in the flesh.” He hates it so much he calls it “A messenger of Satan to torment me.”
The thorn and the revelation were both used by God to supply what Paul needed for his calling.
The revelation happened 14 years before this letter to the Corinthians… “God gives Paul a glimpse of why his calling is worth it…“Caught up into Paradise” (the same place Jesus promises to be with the thief on the cross). He hears things so powerful he’s not even permitted to talk about them.
Paul doesn’t know if he was dead or alive when this happens…many believe this mystical experience happened when he was stoned and left for dead…the timing is right. But regardless, in this revelation from God he sees and hears Paradise. He knows that suffering and death are worth it.
He knows his past…and now God has shown him his future…for the sake of the call. That’s some kind of fuel for a spiritual gas tank.
No wonder Paul would declare… “Anyone who is in Christ Jesus is a brand new creation…and the old things are gone and new things have come. (2 Cor. 5:17)
Does God meet everyone on the Damascus road and strike them blind? Does He give everyone a glimpse of heaven? No, but He does exactly what needs to be done for our calling…He decides the measure of grace that’s needed…it’s always sufficient.
Mystical things aren’t stupid or frivolous…but Paul hadn’t told anyone this for 14 years, nor does he mention it again…he’s been accused of boasting being a braggart…so why does he do this here…in defense of his ministry? Because for Him it’s one of the most powerful reinforcements of God’s teaching in his life and he doesn’t care if anyone else believes him. What God has done to call and convince Paul, the former blasphemous, violent and aggressive, arrogant sinner constantly rattles around in his heart. The dog rescued from the pound is always grateful.
[I remember a “mystical” part of my conversion…there were several, but the one that continually convinces me of God’s pursuit has to do with a car…and 7 starters…I’ve shared this with very close friends and family, but I don’t think I’ve ever shared it from the pulpit…during the later part of my rebellious life when God began to convict me of my sin and also put Godly people in my life I was torn between surrender and selfishness…I hadn’t completely chosen to turn my life over to God…I had this car…a Fiat. I hadn’t gone back to school yet and was still working at KFC until the start of the New Year…and for a 2 month time period it drove perfect when I was going to work or to youth group or a church activity…but it wouldn’t start when I got into it to go and get high or head to a party…I put 7 starters on that car in 2 months…and after I gave my life to Christ I never had to put a starter on it again.]
Was that a miracle…a mystical miracle…it was for me and it’s not something I share very easily because of how personally powerful it is to me and how mysterious it is.
It was a revelation of God to me…and like the Apostle Paul it was what I needed for the sake of my call…It made my past fade away and set me on the right road for ministry…it was a starter revelation.
Let me end today with one last question:
II. WHY DO THORNS EXIST IN THE LIVES OF COMMITTED FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST?
I think God’s Word teaches us 3 reasons here in 2 Corinthians 12:
1. TO KEEP A CHECK ON OUR PRIDE
Pride is our constant enemy…Especially when God begins to use us for ministry…it’s easy to start feeling “you’re all that and a bag of chips.” Whether you’re teaching, serving, giving, or helping others…You start to feel good…and if we’re not careful we start to think we’re good. Thorns are reminders of our weakness…It’s really hard to be conceited with scars. When that thorn pierces your flesh and you realize how much you need God’s grace…and His help…you begin to grow in a faith that understands God’s power is made perfect in weakness.
He didn’t choose us because we’re good…He called us because He’s good…even when the thorns hurt.
It’s been 14 years in Paul’s journey with the thorn and Paul didn’t learn these truths immediately.
The second reason God allows thorns in a committed believer’s life is:
2. WE LEARN TO TRUST GOD’S GRACE TO BE SUFFICIENT
How much grace is enough grace for any circumstance? I don’t know. There’s different kinds of pain…I'd rather you cut off my arm than bury my wife.
But the real issue is a matter of trust…it’s a matter of faith…I don’t get to choose, nor does God need my advice in the process. My nature would choose comfort in every circumstance…my nature would prefer that I’d never have to deal with pain and suffering…my nature would rather be independent and self sufficient. Thorns have a tendency to bring us to a place where we can’t do it on our own and become God sufficient instead.
Anyone who tells you that God will not allow anything in your life that is harder than you can bear is a liar…He often will allow thorns we don’t believe we can bear…Thorns we even beg to have removed…And His answer…“It’s not too big for me…TRUST ME…My grace is sufficient for whatever you endure.”
Like the silver, the smith alloys to be put in the flame God’s goal is not to destroy us. His goal is to purify us, make us holy, shape us into the very image of His son…and sometimes that reassures me to go through the flames…maybe even literally.
ROMANS 8:28-29 (p. 787)
God doesn’t allow the thorns so that we are destroyed…he allows the thorns so that in our brokenness and surrender to His grace He can shape us to be like His Son, Jesus.
By the way, this promise is only true for those who have accepted His call, been buried in Christ and raised to new life as adopted sons and daughters.
The final reason for thorns:
3. THORNS ALLOW US TO SHOW THE WORLD GOD’S POWER
Not only is His power made perfect in our weakness. His power is most clearly displayed when we say to the world with our faith: “This is too big for me to handle…but It’s not too big for MY GOD!!!”
It’s faith that allows us to turn thorns into ministry…It’s my belief that those who allow scars to become a way to minister to those who are hurting…like you did or do…are showing God’s power in our weakness.
It takes faith to take the most painful thing you’ve ever experienced and say: “God you helped me with this…now let me be used by you to help someone else.”
Thorns leave scars…but those scars can be amazing testimonies of God’s sufficient grace.
My daughter told me that she was in the 3rd grade before she even realized I had scars. One of her friends said, “What happened to your dad?” and she didn’t know what they were talking about. I thought everybody’s father had one leg until I was 5 years old. The people that dearly love us don’t see the scars…because of the love they become invisible. The scars aren’t who we are. They are visible witnesses of God’s grace and every single person here today has scars…some you can even see!
