“The Splendid Splinter”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
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. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And 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. 10Therefore 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.
We know very little about what happened to Paul after his Damascus Road conversion and his introduction to the church in Jerusalem. He alludes to a retreat into Arabia in Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Concerning these three years, Warren Wiersbe writes – “Paul gave himself to study, prayer, and meditation, and met with the Lord alone.” Many believe that this was Paul’s three years with the Lord, even as the other apostles had spent three with Christ while He was here on earth.
I believe that Paul spent these three years being taught by the Holy Spirit and it was during this Arabian retreat that he learned the great spiritual truths that he would later share with the world in his preaching and writing which brings us to our text this morning. The first thing I want us to examine this morning is Paul’s confidence in:
I. The Providence of the Sovereign
PROVIDENCE
The word 'Providence' is made up of two words: * "Pro" means "Before" and "Video" means "to see"; * The word 'Providence' simply means "to see before" * So when we talk about the providence of God; * We mean that God 'sees before' and plans accordingly.
Gordan Curley
a. Paul’s confidence
Paul had an unshakable confidence in the providential arrangement of his life from his early career to the Damascus Road, to Arabia, to Jerusalem, the missionary journeys and finally his martyrdom in Rome. Throughout it all he could see God’s hand at work leading, guiding, regulating and controlling. This would also include what he relates in chapter 12 and his “thorn” in the flesh.
"We cannot but admit that not even the least thing takes place unless it is ordered by God. For who have ever been so concerned and curious as to find out how much hair he has on his head? There is no one. God, however, knows the number. Indeed, nothing is too small in us or in any other creature, not to be ordered by the all-knowing and all-powerful providence of God."
Zwingli, Huldryrch
A belief in the providence of God leads us to the realization that there are no accidents or fate but everything is a divine appointment, ordered by our all-knowing, all powerful creator God.
Illustration: A missionary was passing out Gospel of John’s in the Central provinces of India. One man took the Gospel of John and when he realized it was Christian literature, he tore it in pieces and threw them on the ground. In the providence of God, another man shortly came by that same place and picked up a piece of the torn paper to see what it was. He read words in his own language, “…the bread of life…” He did not know what it meant and asked some of his friends if they knew the meaning of this phrase. One told him, “I can tell you that these are words from the Christian Book. You must not read it or you will be defiled.” The man thought to himself, “A phrase as beautiful as this cannot defile.” He bought a copy of the New Testament and read it until he found the statement, “I am the bread of life.” As he read and studied the passage, the light of the God’s Word flooded his heart and he trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior. That same man became a preacher of the Gospel in the central provinces of India. That little piece of torn paper became the Bread of Life to him.
Anonymous
Just an accident you say or a happenstance? Not at all for the child of God. The One who counts the hairs of our heads neither sleeps nor slumbers but is providentially arranging every aspect of our lives in the smallest detail.
A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
In intense turmoil, Luther wrote his greatest hymn. It was the worst of times -1527-one of the most trying years of Luther’s life.
On April 22, a dizzy spell forced Luther to stop preaching in the middle of his sermon. For ten years, since publishing his 95 Theses against the abuse of indulgences, Luther had been buffeted by political and theological storms; at times his life had been in danger. He was suffering severe depression.
Sometime that year, Luther wrote the hymn he is most famous for: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." This verse, translated by Frederick Hedge in 1853:
And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God has willed his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure, for lo His doom is sure. One little Word shall fell him.
Martin Luther--The Later Years and Legacy," Christian History, Issue 39.
II. The Prayers of the Servant
a. Paul’s concern
It was Paul’s firmly held conviction that because of the abundance of revelation that he had received and the great danger of conceit, pride and self-exaltation that he was “given” this thorn in his flesh to “buffet” him. Now lest we think that this was just a minor irritation, the word buffet is translated to hit or strike with a clenched fist, literally a powerful “body blow”! Most of us do not, would not pray over a minor irritation but we would and are often driven to our knees by the “body blows” that happen in life.
Paul speaks of a “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Corinthians 12:7. He calls it “a messenger of Satan” that had a purpose of “torment.” Many explanations have been put forward, but whether Paul is referring to a physical, spiritual, or emotional affliction—or something else entirely—has never been answered with satisfaction. Since he was not talking of a literal thorn, he must have been speaking metaphorically. Some of the more popular theories of the thorn’s interpretation include temptation, a chronic eye problem, malaria, migraines, epilepsy, and a speech disability. Some even say that the thorn refers to a person, such as Alexander the coppersmith, who did Paul “a great deal of harm” (2 Timothy 4:14). No one can say for sure what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was, but it was a source of real pain in the apostle’s life.
Paul clues us in concerning the thorn’s purpose: “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations.” So, God’s goal in allowing the thorn in the flesh was to keep Paul humble. Anyone who had encountered Jesus and was commissioned personally by Him (Acts 9:2-8) would, in his natural state, become “puffed up.” Add to that the fact that Paul was moved by the Holy Spirit to write much of the New Testament, and it is easy to see how Paul could become “haughty” (KJV) or “exalted above measure” (NKJV) or “too proud” (NCV).
Paul also says that the affliction came from or by a “messenger of Satan.” Messenger is “angelos” or angel and indicates that a demon was sent to deliver these “body blows” to Paul. Just as God allowed Satan to torment Job (Job 1:1-12), God allowed Satan to torment Paul for God’s own good purpose.
No one likes to live in pain. Paul sought the Lord three times to remove this source of pain from him (2 Corinthians 12:8). He probably had many good reasons why he should be pain-free: he could have a more effective ministry; he could reach more people with the gospel; he could glorify God even more! But the Lord was more concerned with building Paul’s character and preventing pride. Instead of removing the problem, whatever it was, God gave Paul more overwhelming grace and more compensating strength. Paul learned that God’s “power is made perfect in weakness” (verse 9).
The exact nature of Paul’s thorn in the flesh is uncertain. There is probably a good reason that we don’t know. God likely wanted Paul’s difficulty to be described in general enough terms to apply to any difficulty we may face now. Whether the “thorn” we struggle with today is physical, emotional, or spiritual, we can know that God has a purpose and that His grace is all-sufficient.”
Got Questions
III. The Provision for the Suffering
a. Paul’s comfort
God did not choose to remove the “thorn” but instead He gave Paul something infinitely better. Let’s look and the answer to Paul’s prayer. What do we find when we consider the phrase, “My Grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness?”
This is the paradox before us. Paul was given a “thorn” but he was also given all-sufficient grace! I believe a proper understanding of this statement from God in answer to Paul’s prayer is one of the most important issues in the life of faith. Let me explain:
Many embrace the truth that God’s grace is sufficient, that it is sufficient to save the world, that it is sufficient to save others but the difficulty is when they think of applying this truth to themselves. Martin Luther, John Wesley, and countless others have found that not only is God’s grace sufficient for others but it is also sufficient for them personally and that is what God is saying to us today. His grace is sufficient now and it will be tomorrow and every day after.
IV. The Praise in the Situation
a. Paul’s consolation
He would surrender to God’s will for his life knowing that through, and in spite of his infirmities the “power of Christ would rest upon him.” In verse 10 we read
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.
Paul is no masochist; when he received a body blow he felt it; it was painful but God’s grace gave him not only the strength to bear it but to look at his “thorn” as a splendid splinter! He would use the pain as a stepping stone to praise God from Whom all blessings flow! Where can this grace be found? How can we access it? Read Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
There s a place to go:
This verse tells us first of all that we have a place we can go in time of need. That place is God's throne of grace.
Beloved Christian, are you acquainted with this place? When did you last appear before the throne of grace? Our text says, "Let us come." I have been to that place many times, sometimes on my knees, at other times when lying in bed, driving my automobile, walking, or traveling in a plane or train. I am thankful that I have a place where I can go in time of need.
There is a purpose in going:
Hebrews 4:16 also teaches that there is a purpose for our coming to the throne of grace. And what is that purpose? "…that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
The apostle Paul appeared before the throne of grace when he was suffering from his thorn in the flesh. Three times he asked God to remove this infirmity. But that was not what he needed. If he was suffering pain at that moment, it was perfectly natural for him to pray for relief from the discomfort. But at that moment of need he received this assuring word from the Lord: "My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Lord did not heal Paul, nor did He remove his discomfort at that time. But it was there--at the throne of grace--that he discovered the infinite, inexhaustible resource of God's grace. There he found grace for timely help. And that grace is available to you and me. "Let us therefore come boldly."
There is a person to go to:
Then too, we learn from Hebrews 4:16 that a Person is waiting to meet and greet us at the throne of grace. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to redeem us from the guilt and penalty of our sins. He meets our need through His prayers. In his epistle to the Romans, the apostle Paul asked: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:34). Christ is not condemning us; He is interceding for us. The author of Hebrews wrote, "He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). Therefore, let us come.
None but the Son of God Himself would qualify to be the great High Priest over the house of God.
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession.
If you are in need, come to Him now. No problem is too tough, no petition too trifling, and no power too transcendent for Him to handle. Let there be no lack of confidence between you and your great High Priest. He knows you. He loves you. He is waiting now for you to come to Him in your time of need.
The truth of this text is working for us right now. It will work for you. Do not delay in coming to God's throne of grace.
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