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PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH

26/8/2016

We have all heard so much about the thorn in Paul's flesh, as being a physical sickness from God, to teach him a lesson. Many cessationalists (people that believe miracles, signs and wonders ceased) are using this as an excuse that God does not want us healed. But what are the actual verses saying that are quoted to support this mindset?

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

There is so much to debate on this subject, but because this article is linked with the message, Jesus Healed Them All - I will make only a few brief comments.

The word for “infirmities” used here comes from the word “as-then-ace” and as a negative particle “sthenoo” - meaning “strength-less.” It truly could mean sickness but also means “without strength” which is certainly more in keeping with what Paul was saying.

Paul's suffering was caused by the abundance of revelations that God showed him. Let us not forget that Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, wrote 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament.

"The thorn" was a messenger of Satan, so it was not God that sent it. Paul never mentioned any physical sickness that he suffered of, nor in the following verses or elsewhere. In "2 Corinthians 11:23-30" - when he lists the sufferings he went through during his ministry years; physical illness is not listed. He ends the list calling them "all" as his "infirmity." Everything read here is persecution for preaching the gospel of Christ. We may conclude that the demon sent by Satan was using people in almost every city where Paul was ministering to persecute Paul. Perhaps the motivation behind the persecution was that those who heard the good news of the Gospel and saw the miracles performed through Paul, to be afraid to come to Christ, to not suffer the same persecution as Paul.

On four occasions, Paul asked the churches to pray for his ministry as co-laborers, but he never asked for prayer for physical healing even once. Maybe because he was never really sick?

Galatians 4:13-15 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.

Paul wrote to the Galatians, that "... that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first." Let us remember that the cities of Lystra and Derbe are located in the province of Galatia. (Acts 14). In Lystra, the arrival of the Jews from Iconium and Antioch stirred up the crowd against Paul where they stoned him; even to death. When they considered him dead, they dragged his body out of the city. The disciples surrounded him (surely, they prayed for him) and Paul rose up and entered into the city. The next day, he went to Derbe and then to other cities of Galatia preaching the gospel and making more disciples. How would Paul have looked, after being hit with all kinds of stones, thrown by an angry crowd that wanted to kill him? It's very likely that he had a swollen and bruised head and an entire body of cuts and bruises and only the Lord knows what else... It could not have been pleasant to see. But Paul reminds the Galatians about the great love they were showing him, in spite of his looks after being stoned (probably to death).

Next consider the verse that is commonly used to demonstrate that Paul was suffering from a common disease in those times, that was affecting the eyes - “For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me." In reality, Paul was saying that the church appreciated and loved him so much, that they would haven given him their most valuable possession: their eyes. It was an expression of the day.

We are all familiar with expressions which say that the one person is the "apple of their eye" to another. This shows that one person is more valuable to another. Hebrews used to have the same expressions. But the use of it would not necessarily mean that Paul literally needed their eyes, because his were incurably ill ( as many say this was the disease that Paul named as the thorn that God didn't want to remove from him). In chapter 16 of Acts, we read that Paul returns to visit the churches of Galatia, yet he plainly states that only the first time have physical health problems. His second visit was at an interval between one to three years from the first visit and he was healthy.

This next verse is often misconstrued:

Galatians 6:11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!

The above verse is also used as alleged proof of Paul's alleged eye condition. Opinions are divided on how to translate the Greek term for "letter" which can equally be "a letter" of the alphabet or letter as an epistle. Paul could actually have been saying that he wrote a letter in great length, or that he wanted to emphasize the importance of what he wrote and ensure that his readers would pay serious attention to his warnings.

Do you think that a great man of God who looked sickly and aroused pity by being led around from a condition that he could not hide (eyes being the most visible and glasses have not yet been invented) would cause crowds of sick people to come to him to be healed? Who would want to follow Paul's God, if he was so sick? I think we all know the answer.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

So when Paul speaks about suffering, it was due to persecution, including his physical infirmity from Galatia, which was the effect of being stoned as unto death. Paul came to realize that suffering persecution is inevitable for Christians after he asked the Lord three times to remove the persecution from him and the Lord explained to him why He didn't. The second Epistle to Timothy was the last letter written by Paul, before his martyrdom, and the Galatians was second he wrote, after the epistles for the Thessalonians.

C. Pușcaș

For more information on Paul's thorn, see the article: Paul's Thorn In The Flesh.

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"WALKING ON WATER"

23/8/2016

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Matthew 14:27-31 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Jesus was not surprised by the disciples' cry of terror. He knew they wouldn't believe that He is the one who walks on the water as on solid ground. His gentle and loving voice calmed them so much that Peter not only believed that He is, but he was ready to do what his Lord was doing. At first, Peter believed that he could walk on water to get to where Jesus was. Therefore, he asked the Lord to call him. After the Lord gave him the "green light," he continued to be positive and excited.

Peter relied on the "Come," calling and stepped out on the Word of Jesus, walking on the water and as long as he did not doubt, he remained on top of the water, living the miracle. Unfortunately, too soon he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the circumstances (the wind and the waves). Instantly, his logic and fear took over and as he lost his support base, he began to sink.

It's easy to have faith to resolve the serious problems that we are going through, as long as we are surrounded by brothers full of faith and we are where the Lord's presence is strong. But what happens when we are alone and begin to think logically, considering our troubles from every angle, and remembering the failures of the past? If we do not stop these thoughts, doubt and unbelief will take control and will cause us to sink into the very problem we are fighting with.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

God has provided spiritual weapons, strengthened by Him, so that they are really effective. The Bible, prayer, praise and worship, keeping a pure heart, without sin are a few of them. The Bible's promises are for those who live in obedience to God and the Christian authority in spiritual warfare is rooted in Jesus, who lives in the heart that is sincerely and completely surrendered to Him.

It is not easy to forget it all and all the real troubles we are going through, but it is not impossible. God does not ask us to do what He does not equip us to do. We can take the thoughts of doubt captive, by proclaiming the truth of God's Word. The more we repeat the truth, the more real it will become for our mind and spirit. By doing so, we will strengthen our faith.

The thoughts that we let to roam free in our minds are those that nourish our faith. Faith in what God can do to solve our problems or fear that we can't get out of the pit we are in.

By focusing on failure and disaster, we are paving our road to destruction.

Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

How many blessings and wonderful gifts are not received, because of not having the faith for them?

Their lack of faith that “Jesus is the Christ' - deprived the people of Nazareth of the miracles that the Lord could have done for them. Around that city, only a few believed and were healed.

Matthew 13:54-56 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?

What “they thought they knew” in their minds as a result of the physical reality that they thought they knew, canceled all that Holy Spirit showed them during Jesus' ministry. By “reasoning” - they stepped away from the presence of God that had touched them in the synagogue while Jesus taught them. Afterward they chose to doubt Him.

We are called to "walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

The Holy Spirit is always ready to help us, once we recognize that we need His help and call on Him!

John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Carmen Pușcaș

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WHATEVER IS TRUE...

5/8/2016

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Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

In Greek, "think about” means to consider, take account, weigh, meditate on a thing, with a view to obtaining it. We know that when we do that on all that is mentioned in the verse above, we can live joyful and fulfilled lives.

The original term for "think about such things" in Greek, is "logizesthe" (the root of the English terms "logic, logical") and means to consider, take account, weigh, meditate on: (Thayer's Greek Lexicon Strongs NT - 3049: λογίζομαι).

So, Paul, being led of the Holy Spirit, urges us to meditate and focus on all the good things; which enables us to not only live happy and fulfilled lives, but also to inherit eternal life.

Why would it help us to think only about what is true?

Jesus tells us that the devil is:

John 8:44 "a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Jesus is "the truth." His words on the pages of the Bible are all believable and powerful.

John 14: 6 Jesus said,"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me."

When we think or speak a lie, we agree with the devil and give him the right to hurt us. Every lie is followed by consequences. The truth, instead, even if it costs us in the short term, brings us long-term benefits and our Lord will help to solve the difficult situations we face.

As we live, focusing on truth, we change and grow in the Lord becoming more like Jesus. All that Paul listed in Philippians 4:8, shows that everything that is worthy to be honored, all that is pure and all that deserves to be loved and received are really intrinsic parts of the truth. We do ourselves a huge favor by concentrating on all these. The mind that is centered on truth, justice, purity, goodness, love, dedication, will produce pure thoughts, in obedience to God is a blessed place.

Believing and knowing the truth are essential aspects of the Christian life. How can we agree with what God's Word says if we don't know it? How can we make the right decisions if we don't know what is right? How do we distinguish between thoughts that are from our Lord, our carnal nature or from the devil, if we don't know what the Scripture says?

Truth leads us and reveals God to us. It opens our spiritual ears to hear what the Holy Spirit tells us. It guides us through the vast delusions and lies of this world. Knowing the truth, makes us truly free, because we no longer believe the devil's lies that would bind us and keep us bound.

Dear Lord, please give us more hunger for reading and studying Your Word, so we can become more like You and can accomplish all that You want us to do! Amen.

C. Pușcaș

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there is strength in jesus christ!

PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH

"WALKING ON WATER"

WHATEVER IS TRUE...

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there is strength in jesus christ!

PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH

"WALKING ON WATER"

WHATEVER IS TRUE...

Authors

Archives

​​Dacă doriți să vă abonați la Newsletter cu noutăți, vă rugăm să completați adresa de e-mail. / ​To Sign Up for Updates please add ​your e-mail address.

Dacă doriți să vă abonați la Newsletter cu noutăți, vă rugăm să completați adresa de e-mail. / To Sign Up for Updates please add your e-mail address.