Week # Paul's "Thorn"—Persecution
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. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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. —2 Corinthians 12:7-9
The subject of Paul's thorn is a common argument against healing. Many have taught Paul's thorn was a disease in his body. But in context, you can see that Paul was talking about persecutions: Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 2 Corinthians 11:24-25,27 Unquestionably, there were many persecutions in one form or another. Every place Paul went, there was a spirit stirring people up to persecute him. But Paul never said anything to indicate his thorn in the flesh was even remotely connected to disease. However, Paul did say the thorn was a messenger of Satan, not a messenger of God: "There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me." So we see that Paul's thorn wasn't disease and it wasn't from God.
Confession: Paul's thorn wasn't from God and neither are diseases that attack me. I overcome the devil in every situation, and I'm the healed of the Lord.
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