Post by Zac Loh on Dec 8, 2006 13:20:05 GMT -5
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. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
It is clear that this thorn was in Paul’s flesh i.e. his body.
The original Greek word for `weakness’ and `infirmities’ is the same… which is astheneia.
According to James Strong, this word denotes `feebleness (of body and mind); by implication malady; frailty:- disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.
Quoting W. E. Vine on this word: `want of strength,’ `weakness,’ indicating inability to produce results; in Luke 13:11 the phrase `a spirit of infirmity’ attributes her curvature directly to satanic agency. The connected phraseology is indicative of trained medical knowledge on the part of the writer.
Spiros Zodhiates defines it as weakness, sickness. He continued: In the New Testament, this word and related words, asthenes, weak, sick, and astheneo, to be sick or weak, are the most common expressions for illness and are used in the comprehensive sense of the whole man. However, it can also refer to a special form of bodily weakness or sickness.
Examples Of The Word Used In The Gospels
and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities(astheneia)- (Luke 8:2a)
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity(astheneia) thirty-eight years. (John 5:5)
Examples Of Paul’s Usage Of The Word
You know that because of physical infirmity(astheneia) I preached the gospel to you at the first. (Galatians 4:13)
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities(astheneia). (1 Timothy 5:23)
Thus, we are now able to safely arrive that there is a high possibility that Paul’s thorn was a bodily weakness or sickness inflicted by a demonic spirit at periodic times under the permission of God.
BUT WHAT ARE WE LEARNING HERE?
1. Paul Did Not Embrace His Sickness, But Rather The Dealing Of God In His Life
Look at Paul’s attitude towards sickness. He fought it and prayed for his healing, until of course God directly, specifically, revealed to him something else. I believe he could have rebuked the demon at least a few times. It is God’s nature to heal the sick.
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “ He Himself took our infirmities(astheneia) And bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16-17)
‘How do I know if it is God’s will to heal me?’ You have to ask yourself: `did God directly, specifically, reveal to me that it is NOT His will to heal me?’ The notion `I think’ is never a good enough reason to be sick. Evidently, Paul’s case was an exception to the rule. He did ask God to heal him.
2. The Sickness Did Not Hamper Paul From Fulfilling God’s Plan For His Life, But Rather It Enhanced The Fulfillment
Paul was able to say, near to the end of his life: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:6-7)
If Paul had fallen for his pride, it is obvious that he wouldn’t have been able to walk fully in the higher purpose and plan of God for his life – due to lost time and recovery period. To God, prevention was better than cure (pun unintended).
It brings back into memory another, more contemporary man of God: Smith Wigglesworth. This evangelist and `apostle of faith’ who was mightily used of God in the healing ministry – bled and rolled on the floor in excruciating pain – passing small little stones through his urinary tract intermittently - for a duration of 6 years. Many times, this happened right before a healing evangelistic meeting. While praying for the sick, and seeing many healed, he used to say to the Lord, ‘why don’t you go right-on healing me.’
Just maybe, the Lord’s strength was made perfect in Smith’s weakness. It was a humbling thing to minister so powerfully and see so many others healed, while he continued to be sick himself. It was certainly a death blow to his religious pride!
It is clear that this thorn was in Paul’s flesh i.e. his body.
The original Greek word for `weakness’ and `infirmities’ is the same… which is astheneia.
According to James Strong, this word denotes `feebleness (of body and mind); by implication malady; frailty:- disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness.
Quoting W. E. Vine on this word: `want of strength,’ `weakness,’ indicating inability to produce results; in Luke 13:11 the phrase `a spirit of infirmity’ attributes her curvature directly to satanic agency. The connected phraseology is indicative of trained medical knowledge on the part of the writer.
Spiros Zodhiates defines it as weakness, sickness. He continued: In the New Testament, this word and related words, asthenes, weak, sick, and astheneo, to be sick or weak, are the most common expressions for illness and are used in the comprehensive sense of the whole man. However, it can also refer to a special form of bodily weakness or sickness.
Examples Of The Word Used In The Gospels
and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities(astheneia)- (Luke 8:2a)
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity(astheneia) thirty-eight years. (John 5:5)
Examples Of Paul’s Usage Of The Word
You know that because of physical infirmity(astheneia) I preached the gospel to you at the first. (Galatians 4:13)
No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities(astheneia). (1 Timothy 5:23)
Thus, we are now able to safely arrive that there is a high possibility that Paul’s thorn was a bodily weakness or sickness inflicted by a demonic spirit at periodic times under the permission of God.
BUT WHAT ARE WE LEARNING HERE?
1. Paul Did Not Embrace His Sickness, But Rather The Dealing Of God In His Life
Look at Paul’s attitude towards sickness. He fought it and prayed for his healing, until of course God directly, specifically, revealed to him something else. I believe he could have rebuked the demon at least a few times. It is God’s nature to heal the sick.
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “ He Himself took our infirmities(astheneia) And bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16-17)
‘How do I know if it is God’s will to heal me?’ You have to ask yourself: `did God directly, specifically, reveal to me that it is NOT His will to heal me?’ The notion `I think’ is never a good enough reason to be sick. Evidently, Paul’s case was an exception to the rule. He did ask God to heal him.
2. The Sickness Did Not Hamper Paul From Fulfilling God’s Plan For His Life, But Rather It Enhanced The Fulfillment
Paul was able to say, near to the end of his life: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:6-7)
If Paul had fallen for his pride, it is obvious that he wouldn’t have been able to walk fully in the higher purpose and plan of God for his life – due to lost time and recovery period. To God, prevention was better than cure (pun unintended).
It brings back into memory another, more contemporary man of God: Smith Wigglesworth. This evangelist and `apostle of faith’ who was mightily used of God in the healing ministry – bled and rolled on the floor in excruciating pain – passing small little stones through his urinary tract intermittently - for a duration of 6 years. Many times, this happened right before a healing evangelistic meeting. While praying for the sick, and seeing many healed, he used to say to the Lord, ‘why don’t you go right-on healing me.’
Just maybe, the Lord’s strength was made perfect in Smith’s weakness. It was a humbling thing to minister so powerfully and see so many others healed, while he continued to be sick himself. It was certainly a death blow to his religious pride!