In 2 Corinthians 12:7, the Apostle Paul writes about “a thorn in the flesh” which he struggles against. He says that he asked the Lord three times that it might depart, but the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” What exactly was this thorn in Paul’s flesh?

The traditional explanation is that the thorn was some sort of vision problem that Paul had, most likely as result of his conversion experience. Paul did have a vision problem in his later years (see Galatians 6:11), but this was probably the common far-sightedness that most of us develop in our forties or fifties. There were no corrective lenses available to Paul and so he had to dictate his letters or write in very large letters.

Acts 9 records Paul's conversion. It also states that his vision was restored when Ananias laid his hands on Paul. There is no indication here or anywhere else that his eyesight was not restored to what it had been prior to his conversion. Indeed, if it had not been so restored, it would appear that the experience of God's grace and the miracle done would be lacking completeness.

Where did Paul pick up the phrase "thorn in the flesh?" It is an expression used often in the Old Testament. In Numbers 33:55, Israel is warned that the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, if not driven out, would become "pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides." In Judges 2:3, the inhabitants of the land are likewise called "thorns in your sides." Joshua 23:13 labels the enemy nations of Israel "scourges in your sides and thorns in your eyes." 2 Samuel 23:6 calls the sons of Belial (Satan) thorns.

Paul himself identifies his thorn in the flesh for us. He says (right there in 2 Corinthians 12:7) that the thorn in the flesh is "the messenger of Satan." The Greek term translated "messenger" is the word "angelos," the same word elsewhere translated as "angel." Paul uses the term "thorn in the flesh" consistently with how it was always used in the Hebrew scripture. It always referred to a being, either human or spirit. The thorn that bothered (buffeted) Paul was an angel of Satan, a fallen angel, a demon.

Both the Rotherham and Weymouth translations pick up on this by referring to the thorn as a "he." Rotherham: "that he might be buffeting me" and Weymouth: "three times I besought the Lord to rid me of him."

Satan is now seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8) just as surely as he sent one of his fallen angels to attack Paul. But just as it was for Paul, God's grace is sufficient. It is totally sufficient. It is sufficient for us to resist Satan's attacks and stand steadfast in our faith. We are over-comers because (1 John 4:4) greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world! We belong to God!

A man was strolling along the beach one day when he spotted a bottle washed up on the shore. He went over and picked it up, and noticed a message in the bottle. He popped the cork out and inside was a weathered treasure map indicating that there was buried treasure to be found in the shallow waters below. But the man thought it was a hoax, so he slipped the map back in and threw the bottle back into the ocean.

A little later, another man was walking along the beach and the bottle had washed upon the shore. He also picked up the bottle, popped out the cork, and found the treasure map. This man, however, was curious enough to wade into the water and hoped it was buried shallow enough to find. But once the cold ocean waters reached up to his thighs, he decided to quit. "This is not worth it!" he thought to himself. So he scrambled back to shore and chucked the bottle back into the ocean.

A third man was walking by the beach and noticed the bottle washed up on the shore. He went over, opened the bottle and found the map. The map looked authentic enough, and promised great treasure. So he got himself a small raft and set out into the ocean to claim the treasure. He rowed out far enough into the ocean where the "X" on the map was and to his surprise, he saw the glint of something shining in the waters below. He dove into the ocean and swam towards the shining object below. He could see that there was something that looked like a treasure chest, but he couldn't quite reach it and the deeper he went, the greater the cold and pressure became on his body and his mind. He thought to himself “I am about to lose my breath, and the longer I take, my raft might be swept away!” So the man decided to give up the hunt so he could ensure his own life and safety. When he reached the shore once more, he took the bottle from the raft and tossed it back into the ocean.

Finally, one more man was walking along the beach. He noticed the bottle, went over, popped it open, and was excited to find a map promising great treasure. He noticed someone had left a raft by the water's edge, so he took it and paddled out. He too, got far enough to where the "X" marked the spot, and squinted into the waters and saw the shadow and glint of the treasure below. He took a deep breath and plunged into the waters. Like the man before him, the cold, darkness and pressure upon his senses increased as he got closer. He also realized that if he kept swimming, he might lose his breath, the raft, and even his own life! But this treasure could be worth all the risk and so he persisted. Just as he was about to give up, he grabbed the long chain that was binding the chest and pulled it up as he struggled back to the surface. He broke the surface of the water gasping and exhausted, with the treasure chest firmly in his grasp! He slowly paddled back to the safety of the shore. When he opened the treasure chest he found exactly what the map had promised, the gold, precious diamonds and jewels that would make him secure for the rest of his life.

This story reminded me of the “Parable of the Sower”. I’m sure if you think about it you will see the similarity. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is a similar treasure hunt, but the treasure we seek is much greater and more precious than any gold or silver. People hear the same message, but the way they receive it and react to it will determine the reward they will be given. Eternal life is waiting for all those who are willing to struggle and take that risk to follow Jesus all the way to the "X" (the Cross), where we find love, forgiveness and life everlasting for all eternity.

Viewpoints
by Joe Funari

Breathe Deep

What comes to mind when you hear or speak of inspiration? By definition, inspiration is the condition of being emotionally, intellectually, or artistically stimulated by an enlivening force or agency. In art and poetry the animating source of creative inspiration is called the “muse.”

But this isn’t what we readily think of when we consider inspiration, is it? When inspiration is mentioned, my thoughts immediately, almost automatically turn to the spiritual application. Theologically, inspiration reminds us that God has reached into the thoughts and expressions of a person. In the event of Divine inspiration, the Holy Spirit of God profoundly and pervasively affects human knowledge and perception. Literally, inspiration indicates that God has “breathed into” the thoughts and expression of a human being. So, implicit in the concept of Divine inspiration is the notion that human beings possess the capacity to be inspired.

Scripture depicts that human life itself is a matter of inspiration, of the in-breathing of God’s spirit (Gen. 2:7). After His resurrection, Jesus inspired the disciples when committing to them “the ministry of reconciliation”, breathing into them the Holy Spirit. (John 10:21-23). Most of my own thoughts of Divine inspiration have been confined strictly to the apostles and prophets, who worked miracles and witnessed to kings and emperors and who wrote the passages of testaments, Old and New. The apostle Paul’s thoughts of inspiration are quite different, however. In 1 Cor. 12:3 he writes, “no man can sat that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.” Confession of Christ as Lord is no less than the result of the in-breathing of God’s spirit.

Does the spirit’s inspiring effect cease after one confesses Christ? Apparently not. Some of the noblest examples of inspiration are those linked to trial and suffering. Consider Stephen in his brave confession of Christ (Acts 6:10-7:60). And consider Jesus words in Mark 13:11. In warning His disciples of future persecution, Christ both cautions and reassures them with the promise of inspiration.

The inherent capacity for us, ALL OF US, to be inspired has never been withdrawn. However, since the Word of God is written and the plan of salvation commenced, we tend to think of inspiration as the privilege of the ancients. Or, we might consider ourselves too sinful to presume to ask for His inspiration. There may be need to confess our sin and ask Him to remove the obstacle to His inspiration. He is faithful and will not hesitate to forgive and will not withhold His spirit from those who seek it.

However, always bear in mind that the capacity to be inspired is not the result of, or enhanced by our own achievement and righteousness but is measured as our receptivity to Divine breath. In a more subtle way, the routine practice of religion can easily dull our sensitivity to His breath. True religion is more a state of the heart than state of the art. Absent our affection for Him, our tradition, habits, ritual, preferences, etc. all too often supplant the adventurous, spontaneous dynamic of inspiration. It’s not that Christians no longer believe in inspiration. It’s just that we don’t expect it and look for it. I confess this is often the case with me. The neglect of God’s word is as sure an obstacle to being inspired as sin. If we will not attend to that which He has already revealed through inspiration, what would make us think we should receive more? The inspiration would be well wasted. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Neglect of the word will only result in a faith and receptivity so diminished that it wouldn’t recognize inspiration if it hit him in the face. It reminds me of an e-mail I received recently. A man is driving in a hurry, sweating to make it to an important meeting. When he arrives at the location, he circles the block, looking for a parking space. He’s not having any success. In desperation, he looks to heaven, and prays, “Lord, take pity on me. If You provide me a parking space, I promise, I will attend church every Sunday for the rest of my life and I’ll give up drinking.” Miraculously, a parking space appeared. The man looked to heaven again and said, “Never mind, I found one.”

Feast on what has already been inspired. Learn the effects of the spirit’s in-breathing on those to whom it was given. This is important because God will not inspire us to do or say anything contrary to what He’s already inspired.

The end is this. Look for His inspiration, His in-breathing in your study. You’ll need it to discern the things pertaining to the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:14) in your prayer and meditation. Paul knew, the truest prayer is one in which the Spirit does the praying (Rom. 8:26). With His inspiration, sighs and groanings too deep for words will not simply fade into dark silence. Look for it in your gathering together. In worship and in sermon. In song and in testimony. Look to be inspired. Pray for those who serve, who speak, who sing. Pray that they be inspired.

By His breath, even a dying faith and a wheezing hope can be revived and filled with the life and wonder of the Divine Word. By His breath, even a conqueror becomes something more. Without inspiration we would suffocate. Watch for it. Pray for it. Pray to feel His breath upon your face. When you feel it, breathe deep.

Ebenezers
The Process of Understanding
John 12: 9 - 47

John 12:16, “These things his disciples did not understand at first.” Our verses begin with the chief priests conspiring to put both Jesus and Lazarus to death. These strutting peacocks saw their people leaving them because Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and they had no such power. These whited sepulchres’ only real power came from their titles and fancy clothes. Oh, yes, they wanted to kill the power of Jesus by making him as dead as a doornail!

Zechariah prophesied that the King of Israel would come sitting on a donkey’s colt, and that’s exactly how Jesus entered Jerusalem. The people cried, “Hosanna, Blessed is the King of Israel!” as they hailed him with palm branches. Then, people who witnessed Lazarus rising from the dead testified to what they saw. Consequently, the Israelites came to Jesus in droves. Even Greeks wished to see the one who could raise the dead. The chief priests and Pharisees were quickly becoming irrelevant, and they didn’t like it one bit.

It was like Jesus had lit a fire that was building into quite a blaze, but Jesus understood that it wasn’t time for a blaze and threw water on it by saying, “Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains alone: but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” In other words, it wasn’t time for a fire, it was time to plant a seed and watch it grow.

Personally, I’ve learned much from my backyard garden. Planting itty-bitty seeds and watching them grow large to bear fruit brings peace and understanding to my soul. A big lesson my garden has taught me is seasons. There really is a time for every purpose under heaven. To understand the time you are in is incredibly significant. Jesus understood that his hour had come, and now, as always, was the time to do the will of his father.

Of course, the people wanted a blaze to burn out the Romans for starters, and they responded to Jesus by saying that the law declares, “Christ abideth forever.” Therefore, you cannot be the Christ if you die. These people relied on their understanding of law to cast the miracle worker away as the Christ. In reality, they cast Jesus away because they lacked real understanding. They would not see with their eyes, or understand with their heart: therefore they believed not.

Still, there were some who believed, but fear of the strutting peacocks and their Pharisee henchmen kept them very quiet. You see, they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Isaiah says of the time that God blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, that they should not see or understand. It was the time, indeed, the very hour, for the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world to do what he was sent to do. The Lamb understood the time was at hand.

It was at this crucial moment in time that Jesus cried, “Those who see me sees him that sent me. I am come a light into the world that those who believe on me should not live in darkness; and if anyone hear my words and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”

The apostle John picks up on this by declaring, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” It was God who sent this light into the world, that those who believe should not live in darkness. To live in darkness is to blindly grasp at straws, because that’s all you have. To live and walk in the light is to see, and when you can see you have the ability to truly understand.

To believe on Jesus begins the process of understanding. Sometimes, disciples will “not understand at first,” or second, or third, but persistence is a virtue, and the diligent will be rewarded with understanding. So, don’t give up, we need not live in darkness!