THE THORNS OF LIFE
2 CORINTHIANS 12:1-10
Introduction: God often allows trouble and trials to come into the life of His children. God could have kept Daniel out of the lions’ den. He could have kept Job from Satan’s assault. He could have kept the three Hebrew children out of the fiery furnace. However, God had a purpose for each of the trials they endured. The life of Paul provides us with great insight into dealing with the thorns of life.
I. The Privilege of Relationship – verses 7
A. God blessed Paul in his relationship with Jesus Christ by giving him many revelations and insights. Theses were supernatural things revealed to his spiritual eye and divine truths revealed to his human spirit.
B. “abundance of revelations”
C. A benevolent person gave a man a large some of money to dispense to a poor minister a bit at a time, thinking it was too much to send him all at once. The man forwarded a small portion of the money in a letter, with only these words within the envelope, "More to follow." In a few days’ time, the minister received another letter; this second correspondence contained the same amount, with the same motto, "And more to follow." A day or two after came a third and a fourth, and still the same promise, "And more to follow." Until the whole sum had been received, the astonished minister was made familiar with the cheering words, "And more to follow." Every blessing that comes from God is sent with the same message, "And more to follow." "I forgive you your sins, but there’s more to follow." "I justify you in the righteousness of Christ, but there’s more to follow." "I adopt you into my family, but there’s more to follow." "I educated you for heaven, but there’s more to follow." "I give you grace upon grace, but there’s more to follow." "I have helped you even to old age, but there’s still more to follow." "I will uphold you in the hour of death, and as you are passing from this life, my mercy shall still continue with you, and when you land in the world to come there shall still be more to follow." – Spurgeon
D. Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
E. 1 Corinthians 2:9 ISV “But as it is written, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.’"
II. The Purpose of Suffering – verse 7
A. “Thorn in the flesh” – It was used to refer to a stake for a post or for impaling; a surgical instrument; the point of a fishhook. Paul used it to speak of adversity, which troubled him, that was more painful any thorn sticking in the flesh. By divine permission, Satan had a hand in inflicting Paul.
B. Exactly what Paul’s infirmity was is unknown. Some suggest it was cataracts, or epileptic seizures, malaria, sciatica, rheumatism, recurring nightmares, and a myriad of other possibilities.
C. The reality is very few individuals ever go through life without any thorns or speed bumps on the highway of life.
D. Paul clearly states that the purpose of his suffering was to protect him from the sin of pride. – 2 Corinthians 12:7 ISV “To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. It was Satan’s messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.”
E. Sometimes God has to send a speed bump in life in ord er to overcome or PREVENT pride, independence, self-reliance, or other sin in our life. However, God ALWAYS uses the thorns of life to place us where it is best for us.
F. Romans 8:28 Darby “But we *do* know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to purpose.”
G. For two years, scientists sequestered themselves in an artificial environment called Biosphere 2. Inside their self-sustaining community, the Biospherians created a number of mini-environments, including a desert, rain forest, even an ocean. Nearly every weather condition could be simulated except one, wind. Over time, the effects of their windless environment became apparent. A number of acacia trees bent over and even snapped. Without the stress of wind to strengthen the wood, the trunks grew weak and could not hold up their own weight. Though our culture shuns hardship, we would do well to remember that God uses it "for our good, that we may share in his holiness" (Heb. 12:10). - Jay Akkerman in Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Baker), from the editors of Leadership.
III. The Power of Submission
A. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NAB “Three times I begged the Lord about this that it might leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.”
B. Paul pleaded for God to remove the thorn from his life.
C. Pain is pain and sorrow is sorrow. It hurts. It limits. It impoverishes. It isolates. It restrains. It works devastation deep within the personality. It circumscribes in a thousand different ways. There is nothing good about it in and of itself. But the gifts God can give with it are the richest the human spirit can know. – Margaret Clarkson in "The Banner" (Nov. 19, 1984), Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 18.
D. Hebrews 12:11 ISV “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, for those who have been trained by it, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace.”
E. A young pastor had been through the trial of his life. He asked a friend, "What do you do when God doesn’t say yes--doesn’t give it, doesn’t make it happen?" Then he answered his own question: "Through agony I’ve gotten to know God better; I love him more. ..." He keeps a piece of paper in his wallet. It says, "Look to his face, not to his hand." – adapted from Anne Ortlund, My Heart Sings. Christianity Today.
F. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’”
G. God’s purposes are not to destroy but to refine.
H. Jeremiah 29:11 MKJV “For I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I. God’s people are not without trial nor without their God amid the trial. Many times God sends the storms to prove He is the only real shelter. When God puts his children in the furnace, he goes with them.
J. When one submits to God under times of trial or trouble God provides the power and the grace to endure.
K. Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
L. The Lord answered Paul’s prayer, not by removing the thorn, but by giving grace to bear it, and by the assurance that Paul’s sense of weakness, caused by the thorn, fitted him to receive the divine strength.
M. Ephesians 3:16 “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”
IV. The Perspective of Faith
A. 2 Corinthians 12:9b-10 MKJV “…Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me. Therefore I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am powerful.”
B. “Therefore, I am content”
C. Acceptance says, "True, this is my situation at the moment. I’ll look unblinkingly at the reality of it. But I’ll also open my hands to accept willingly whatever a loving Father sends." – Catherine Wood Marshall (1914-1983).
D. Fanny Crosby wrote: O what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be; How many blessings I enjoy That other people don’t! To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot, and I won’t. – Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)
E. Philippians 4:11 “…I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in.”
F. "Trust In God" by Tom Lascoe & Larry Holder
Trust the Lord, come what may, Though the dark hide the way,
For He’s there, every step by your side.
Now by faith, not by sight, We can walk in the Light.
Never fear, never doubt, Trust in God!
Trust the Lord, He is near, When you call, He will hear,
For He cares for the sheep of His fold.
Yes, our Shepherd will lead, As we trust and believe.
Never fear, never doubt, Trust in God!
Through the night, through the day, As our Lord leads the way,
There is peace from above As we journey on.
By ourselves, we would fail, But in Him, we prevail.
In His infinite love, Fear is gone!
Trust the Lord, hold His hand; By His grace we will stand,
Though the storms bring the wind and the rain.
One day we’ll rise above, To the Lord that we love.
’Til that Day, have no fear, Trust in God!
Trust His grace, Trust His pow’r, Trust in God! – Copyright 1999 Tom Lascoe & Larry Holder
G. An old fable says the gold objected to the heat of the furnace and asked how long it should be expected to endure such heat. The answer was, "As soon as the refiner’s purpose is accomplished." "And when will that be?" asked the gold. The answer was, "When the refiner can see his own face in you." – Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997)
