2 Corinthian 12: 7-10 International Bible Baptist Church Bangkok, Thailand 152 Intharaphithak, Soi 1, Bangyeerua, Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand 10600 Contact Numbers: +6633374820 and +66846529839 email: lepagoluke@yahoo.com Facebook Page and Group: International Bible Baptist Church Bangkok, Thailand LINE: ruth lepago WhatsApp: +66846529839

1. The Thorn in the Flesh

2. 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.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that
it might depart from me.

3. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
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.

4. I. The Messenger of Satan

5. A. The Purpose.

6. Vs.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.

7. 1. Paul was blinded on the Damascus Road
by the brightness of the glorified Christ.

8. Acts 9:3
And as he journeyed, he came near
Damascus: and suddenly there shined
round about him a light from heaven.

9. Acts 22:6
And it came to pass, that, as I made
my journey, and was come nigh unto
Damascus about noon, suddenly
there shone from heaven a great
light round about me.

10. 2. Paul had seen a vision in which he was
instructed to go preach to the Gentiles.

11. Acts 22:17-21
And it came to pass, that, when I was
come again to Jerusalem, even while I
prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make
haste, and get thee quickly out of
Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy
testimony concerning me.

12. Acts 22:17-21
19 And I said, Lord, they know that I
imprisoned and beat in every synagogue
them that believed on thee:
20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen
was shed, I also was standing by, and
consenting unto his death, and kept the
raiment of them that slew him.

13. Acts 22:17-21
21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I
will send thee far hence unto the
Gentiles.

14. 3. It was through a vision that Paul was called to
go preach the Gospel in Macedonia.

15. Acts 16:9
And a vision appeared to Paul in
the night; There stood a man of
Macedonia, and prayed him,
saying, come over to Macedonia
and help us.

16. 4. Paul was taken up into paradise, where
he heard unspeakable words.

17. 2 Corinthians 12: 2-4
I knew a man in Christ above
fourteen years ago, (whether in the
body, I cannot tell; or whether out of
the body, I cannot tell: God
knoweth;) such an one caught up to
the third heaven.

18. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the
body, or out of the body, I cannot tell:
God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into
paradise, and heard unspeakable words,
which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

19. 5. Paul received the revelation of divine truth
concerning the mystery of Christ and His Church.

20. Eph.3:3-4
How that by revelation he made known
unto me the mystery, (as I wrote afore
in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may
understand my knowledge in the
mystery of Christ)

21. “Christians sometimes fail to
understand that Satan will use good
things to corrupt our lives.”
“If we don’t stay alert, Satan will turn
a blessing from God into boasting in
the flesh.”

22. B. The Damage.

23. 1. It was painful.

24. 2 Cor.12: 7b
“…a thorn in the flesh, the
messenger of Satan to buffet me…”

25. Thorn
-refers to a sharp stick used for
torturing or piercing someone.

26. Buffet
– to strike as with the hand or fist,
to strike against or push repeatedly.
it also implies pain.

27. 2 Cor.12:10
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.

28. “Satan wants to smash us with
the trials and difficulties of life,
while God wants to smoothen and
sanctify us with them.”

29. 2. It was physical.

30. 2 Cor.12: 7b
“…in the flesh…”

31. C. The origin.

32. 2 Cor.12: 7b
“…the messenger of Satan…”

33. “Though Satan or his cohorts
cannot touch God’s children at
will, God may sometimes use
Satan and his messengers, to
accomplish His divine purposes.”

34. II. The Prayer of Paul

35. 2 Cor.12: 8
For this thing I besought the Lord
thrice, that it might depart from
me.

36. Besought
- to beg eagerly for, to make
urgent appeal, plead, call upon

37. Paul thought he needed
physical deliverance; but God
knew that what he really
needed was spiritual
development.

38. God is not much concerned
with the quantity of one’s
labour, but He is much
concerned with the quality of
one’s life.

39. Rom.8: 28-29
And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who
are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren.

40. A. Difficulties Sometimes Come Into Our
Lives Because of Sin.

41. Ps.119: 67
Before I was afflicted I went
astray: but now have I kept thy
word.

42. 1 John 1: 9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

43. B. Difficulties Sometimes Come Into Our
Lives so we will listen to what God says.

44. Ps.119: 71
It is good for me that I have been
afflicted; that I might learn thy
statutes.

45. Ps.119: 105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.

46. Ps.119: 9
Wherewithal shall a young man
cleanse his way? By taking heed
thereto according to thy word.

47. “A young man is easily tempted by
worldly desires and enticed away
from God, He needs therefore to fill
his mind with God’s instruction in
order to internalize it.”

48. C. Difficulties Sometimes Come Into Our
Lives to Reveal God’s Steadfast Love For us.

49. Ps.119: 75
I know, O Lord, that thy
judgments are right, and that
thou in faithfulness hast afflicted
me.

50. Prov.3: 11-12
My son, despise not the chastening of
the Lord; neither be weary of his
correction:
12 For whom the Lord loveth he
correcteth; even as a father the son
in whom he delighteth.

51. The chastening of the Lord often
involves an instructional aspect.
Anytime God permits difficulties
to come into your life, they are
not without purpose.

52. If there is no known sin in your
life at the time, then God may be
teaching you some aspect of His
character, or training you how to
deal with certain spiritual issues
in your life.

53. III. The Answer of God

54. A. Sufficient grace.

55. 2 Cor.12: 9
And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in
weakness…

56. Our difficulties not only reveal our
natural weakness, but if we respond
properly, they provide us with an
opportunity to see God’s awesome
power demonstrated in our behalf.

57. 1 Cor.1: 27
But God hath chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the
wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the
things which are mighty;

58. 1 Cor.1: 27
28 And base things of the world, and
things which are despised, hath God
chosen, yea, and things which are not,
to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his
presence.

59. God sometimes brings His
children into a situation
where they are totally
helpless and insufficient, so
He can prove Himself to be
the All Sufficient One.

60. 2 Cor.9:8
And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye,
always having all sufficiency in all
things, may abound to every good
work:

61. B. Sustaining Power

62. 2 Cor.12: 9b
…Most gladly therefore will I rather
glory in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me.

63. C. Strength in our weaknesses.

64. 2 Cor.12:10
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.

65. When Paul was weak, then
Christ, by His strength, could
make him spiritually strong.
It was through the weakness
of Paul that the wonder of
Christ was seen.

66. Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of
want: for I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therewith
to be content.

67. “Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there.”