Your Thorn In The Flesh

[soldierundercommand]

In 2 Corinthians Paul tells us about God allowing a messenger form satan to buffet him with a thorn in the flesh that Paul would never get prideful and exalt himself.

Are you able to identify your thorn in the flesh? Since it is never really divulged what it may be, it seems it could be a physical infirmity, but not only because everyone doesn't have a physical issue. It can be fleshly temptation because we know from Romans 7 that Paul struggled with sin. Or it can be of persecution and opposition. I guess I see mine being of temptation.

Where are others on this issue? How does the thorn in the flesh look in your life?

 

[wayfaring man]

It stands out that Paul's thorn was that "messenger" bringing up his past indiscretions, reminding him of his transgressions against the body of Christ when he was yet Saul.

This is supported by his bemoaning -

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. <-----> 1st Corinthians 15:9

But also was used to help lead him to grasp all the more firmly -

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. <-----> Philippians 3:13-15

Thus fulfilling what The Lord said to him regarding the "thorn" -

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.... <---> 2nd Corinthians 12:9

May The Lord Be Praised !

wm

 

[kevind]

I think my thorn is sins of the flesh... I am doing my best and failing alot... when temptation hits it will hit a hundred different ways.

 

[ezeric]

The Thorn in the flesh, is people.

You usually heard it said like this; "so and so, is a thorn in my side"
or a 'thorn in my flesh'.

Scripture backs that up because if you look at the first time it was used
it is the book of Numbers. Where GOD warns the children of Israel, to remove
the wicked people from their lands or they would become thorns in your side.

'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. Numbers 33:55

So they are still people.

But what people were Paul's thorn?

If you remember from your studies of Paul's life, it seemed that everywhere
he went, there were revivals and revolts. There were an on going group of what the
Bible calls 'judaizers', who constantly followed Paul around and questioned and
water down the GOSPEL. See Galatians 2:11-21

Its always people that are 'thorns in our flesh'.
And being a thorn, its a small thing (or small group) but making a big
stink, a big problem.


-eric

The Exchanged Life

 

[janny108]

The Thorn in the flesh, is people.

You usually heard it said like this; "so and so, is a thorn in my side"
or a 'thorn in my flesh'.

Scripture backs that up because if you look at the first time it was used
it is the book of Numbers. Where GOD warns the children of Israel, to remove
the wicked people from their lands or they would become thorns in your side.

'But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. Numbers 33:55

So they are still people.

But what people were Paul's thorn?

If you remember from your studies of Paul's life, it seemed that everywhere
he went, there were revivals and revolts. There were an on going group of what the
Bible calls 'judaizers', who constantly followed Paul around and questioned and
water down the GOSPEL. See Galatians 2:11-21

Its always people that are 'thorns in our flesh'.
And being a thorn, its a small thing (or small group) but making a big
stink, a big problem.


-eric

The Exchanged Life

I totally agree a thorn in the flesh is people.

 

[plmarquette]

Harpy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Greek Mythology pest oppressive

a messenger of satan.....specified.... a devil or demon, assigned to shadow and afflict Paul at every step of his ministry, to interfere, to block, to complicate, to oppose...

we all do not have a thorn in the flesh....we all have oppositiion to our sharing the gospel message...

 

[Mr Sinclair]

Also Sins and tempations.

Specialy tempations which is human nature, which usually i cannot stop

 

[ezeric]

Although I do believe that the 'thorn in the flesh' is people as already stated.

I don't believe (not trying to cause any offense here on the topic) it is not
the devil/ demons directly or sin because we have authority over all those things.

We do NOT have authority over people.
I am not talking about a normal parent over children, or any type of leader, but that
we dont' control people, we love them - we dont manipulate them or use
authority over them - we can't.

We can overcome sin and temptation and demons though.

-eric

 

[lutherangerman]

I could imagine it was a demon that was given some freedom to torment Paul sometimes. I have had to endure demonic attacks as well, and it kind of forces you away from pride because that never works out and leads to sin. Basically, you're confronted with pride all the time and so you become steeled in this fire and learn to resist your own pride. The result of this is good, but it can be painful so I can sympathize with Paul calling it a thorn in his flesh. But I can also testify, like Paul, that God's grace is sufficient ... God has helped and consoled me many times and I know that once I will be free of the demonic problem, maybe even in this life, when I have really overcome my personal pride.