THE LESSON OF THORNS.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I KNEW A LADY NAMED LENA HYDE that carried a great testimony that THROUGH SUFFERING GOD IS GOD. I graduated high school and was considering college? Lena Hyde gave me good advice. She said I could come out of college with a stronger faith than I entered. Once I had been mortally wounded by the behavior of some in a church business meeting. I promised to never attend church again. Linda suggested we go to Exeter Avenue and visit Lena on our way home. We had a good visit but I never mentioned my hurt. As we were walking out of her house she said: MARTIN, I HAVE A WORD FOR YOU:
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Lena Hyde’s word sustained me through a storm. I was in church Sunday. In all Lena’s life she probably suffered more than anyone I knew. She was crippled and her pain was intense. In her wisdom, I found life. I visited her in the hospital, she was dying. I never knew her, she was just skin and bones, but she had Jesus.
DO WE UNDERSTAND PAUL’S JOURNEY?
2 Corinthians 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
DO WE UNDERSTAND PHILIPPIANS WAS WRITTEN WHILE PAUL WAS IN PRISON?
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
NOTHING CREATES MORE DEEP SEATED ANXIETIES THAN THE FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT LIFE SHOULD BE FREE FROM ANXIETIES.
2 Corinthians 12:6 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.
11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE THORN PAUL CARRIED?
We often think of the thorns on a rose bush. The thorn that hurt Paul was probably more like A STAKE on which people were impaled. The thorns that Paul carried were much more than an annoyance. Paul’s thorns suggest he carried these for many years. The thorn was a deep lesson in staying humble and submitted to God’s will.
PLEASE GOD, PLEASE REMOVE THIS THORN.
PAUL SOUGHT GOD TO EXEMPT HIM FROM THE PAIN OF THE THORN. PAUL WAS A MAN THAT KNEW THE AUTHORITY OF PRAYER. HE PRAYED NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE BUT THREE TIMES.
How surprising to modern day teaching that THE THORN WILL BIRTH IN PAUL A GREAT POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
2 Corinthians 12:8 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.
It appears this thorn will limit and slow Paul’s work for the Lord. THE LESSON IS CLEAR, LEAVE THE THORN AND LEARN GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT. The GRACE OF GOD IS AMAZING. GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT… MORE THAN ENOUGH. Paul had to learn GOD’S GRACE keeps one CALM IN TERRIBLE STORMS. Paul learned the fact that GOD’S GRACE will undergird and support him through beatings and dark nights. While I appear weak, GOD’S GRACE IS STRONG AND WILL RELEASE DIVINE POWER IN MY WEAKNESS. GOD’S GRACE will overcome every weakness, every obstacle, every doubt, all fear… IN GOD’S GRACE DEFEAT AND FAILURE ARE NOT TERMS WE HAVE TO YIELD TO.
IN GOD’S GRACE WE UNDERSTAND NOT TO HIDE IN OUR WEAKNESSES OF TRIALS AND PROBLEMS. God’s word does God’s work. Our calling is not in human reasoning and human understanding… GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICENT.
LOVE IS ALWAYS EFFECTIVE: HURT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE. TRY LOVE!
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Hurt? That is how pain patterns get passed on from generation to generation after generation. We must BREAK THE CHAIN OF HURT TODAY. LET US MEET ANGER WITH SYMPATHY, CONTEMPT WITH COMPASSION, AND CRUELTY WITH KINDNESS. WHEN WE MEET SAD FACES WE MUST SMILE. FORGIVE AND FORGET WITHOUT FINDING FAULT. LOVE NEVER FAILS. LOVE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPON KNOWN. (unknown)
HOW WILL WE FACE THE THORNS IN LIFE?
WILL ALLEN DROMGOOLE, 1860 TO 1934. She wrote over 7,500 poems and 5,000 essays. Her works are recorded in 13 books. My Dad, Wade M. Hughes (1931) committed this poem to memory and would often use it when speaking to leaders. I love this poem.
***THE BRIDGE BUILDER
AN OLD MAN, GOING DOWN A LONE HIGHWAY CAME AT THE EVENING, COLD AND GRAY.
TO A CHASM VAST AND WIDE, THROUGH WHICH WAS FLOWING A SWOLLEN TIDE.
THE OLD MAN CROSSED IN THE TWILIGHT DIM, THE SWOLLEN TIDE HAD NO FEAR FOR HIM.
BUT HE TURNED WHEN SAFE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND BUILT A BRIDGE TO SPAN THE TIDE.
“OLD MAN,” SAID A FELLOW PILGRIM NEAR; “YOU ARE WASTING YOUR STRENGTH IN BUILDING HERE,
YOUR JOURNEY WILL END WITH THE CLOSING OF THE DAY, YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN PASS THIS WAY.
YOU HAVE CROSSED THE CHASM DEEP AND WIDE, WHY BUILD YOU THIS BRIDGE AT EVENING TIDE.”
THE BUILDER LIFTED HIS OLD, GRAY HEAD: “GOOD FRIEND, IN THE PATH THAT I HAVE COME”
HE SAID, “THERE FOLLOWED AFTER ME TODAY, A FAIR HAIRED YOUTH,
WHOSE FEET MUST PASS THIS WAY, THE CHASM THAT HAS BEEN NAUGHT TO ME,
TO THAT FAIR HAIRED YOUTH MAY A PIT FALL BE.
HE TOO MUST CROSS IN THE TWILIGHT DIM,
GOOD FRIEND, I AM BUILDING THIS BRIDGE FOR HIM.
***OH, NO --- NOT THERE!
(Unknown)
MASTER, WHERE SHALL I WORK TODAY?
AND MY LOVE FLOWED WARM AND FREE.
AND HE POINTED OUT A TINY PLOT
AND HE SAID: “TEND THAT FOR ME!”
BUT I ANSWERED QUICKLY,
“OH, NO! NOT THERE; NOT ANYONE CAN SEE,
NO MATTER HOW WELL MY TASK IS DONE.
NOT THAT! NOT THAT LITTLE PLACE FOR ME!”
AND HIS VOICE, WHEN HE SPOKE WAS NOT STERN,
BUT KIND AND HE ANSWERED ME TENDERLY,
“FRIEND, SEARCH THAT HEART OF THINE!
ARE YOU WORKING FOR YOU, THEM OR ME?
NAZARETH WAS JUST A LITTLE PLACE,
AND SO WAS CALVARY!”
CONCLUSION: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND DEATH? IS THIS THE HILL THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DIE ON? WHAT MATTERS? WHAT IS IMPORTANT? WHAT IS IMPORTANT PHYSICALLY? WHAT IS IMPORTANT WITH ETERNAL VALUES?
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
I have pastored 46 years. I have learned: God is God when the answers to our prayers are good. We have learned GOD IS GOD when the answers to our prayers are what we dreaded. I have known the diagnosis of stage four cancer. I have known the pain of chemo and radiation. I lost all my hair. I learned hair is vanity. I have cried. I have laughed. I am surprised by those that stood with me. I was very surprised by those that did not even call. I have learned that GOD IS FAITHFUL THROUGH IT ALL. We trust the PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING will come and rest over you. This trial is really a blessing in disguise!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
