Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

This post is a response to one of comments I received for my earlier post (1 Peter 3:15):

youth pastor has left a new comment on your post "Healed": 

Interested post, but I disagree that God promises will never be sick if we walk in His divine truth. Jesus promised us that in this world "We would have troubles..." The Apostle Paul prayed for a "thorn in the flesh" to be removed and many believe this to be a health malady. There are times in our lives that God allows illness so that His glory might be revealed. We are learning that now, as my 9 year old has cancer.

I am writing this post because I feel great compassion for this pastor's daughter and I believe that God has already healed her. This post is not to condemn you but to enlighten you, that you may rejoice and thank God for the healing that he has already provided through Christ. (Isaiah 53:4-5)

Many might share the above views but like the Bereans it is important we study the scriptures and find out if our views are true. (Acts 17:11).

In the earlier post titled "Healed", I spoke of how healing and health are your inheritance and you need to take possession of it. God has already given you healing by his grace and you need to respond positively by acting on your faith to take possession of it.

A common response to teaching like this is: But what about trials that God allows so that his glory might be revealed? And a common reference is given to Paul's thorn in the flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

I pray that the Spirit reveal to you these truths as we proceed on. (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). Paul's thorn in the flesh was not a sickness but a messenger of Satan to buffet him. (1 Corinthians 12:7). Wherever Paul went to preach the Gospel, the jews would create a lot trouble for him. (Acts 13:45) (Acts 13:50) (Acts 14:2) (Acts 14:5) (Acts 14:19) (Acts 16:22-24) (Acts 17:5) (Acts 17:10) (Acts 18:6) (Acts 19:9). In some towns they would sent letters in advance, before Paul arrived urging the people not to listen to him. This was Paul's thorn in the flesh, messengers of Satan who were preventing him from preaching the Gospel in peace. So Paul prayed to God about this thorn, three times and the Lord said: My grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9). Even Jesus spoke of the persecution that would follow his people. He said: in this world you will have troubles... (John 15:20-21) (Matthew 5:10) (Matthew 5:11-12) (John 16:33). And when you are persecuted that is when you need remember the words of Paul: When I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) . 

It is not the will of God for you to go through sickness for his glory. Like I said, in the earlier post, God has already healed you and the only reason you are sick is because you do not believe and therefore have not taken possession of your inheritance of healing and health. (3 John 1:2) It is like one preacher says: God allows what you allow. If you allow sickness and embrace it as a thorn from God, Satan will take advantage of that (1 Peter 5:8-9) and God cannot do anything about it. Even Jesus could not heal the people in his home town because of their unbelief even though healing and health were their inheritance. (Mark 6:5)

Does God allow Sickness to test us and make us better?

So does he? Not at all. God is a good God. The only person who tests and tempts is Satan. In the wilderness, it was Satan who tempted and tested Jesus. (Matthew 4:1-11) (Luke 4:1-13). So we will face trials not to make us better but to prove Satan wrong. (James 1:2-4) And when we do, it does contribute to our maturity. Not that trials are God's will but God is able to make all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28). That is why James tells us to rejoice when trials come our way. (James 1:2) Trials are an opportunity to put our faith into action. You need to be ready like Jesus with the scriptures, say "it is written" and triumph over Satan. 

But let no man say when trials come that it is God who tempts him. The Bible says: God cannot be tempted nor does he tempt anyone. (James 1:13-15). You know a lot of Christians violate this scripture by saying: Everything that happens is the will of God. Many call Natural calamities: Acts of God, like God is the one sending Tsunamis and Earthquakes from heaven. It is important we realize that the world is in a fallen state, with a lot of evil and there are a lot of other things that make these natural calamities, sicknesses and other evils happen but it is definitely not God. 

God does not need trials to teach us patience or equip us for every good work, rather He uses the scriptures. (Romans 15:4) (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

We have more control over Our life than you think

Have you ever heard people say: the days that we are to live and written on our forehead? God decides when we will die. The Bible says: honor your father and mother, that you may live long... (Deuteronomy 5:16). If you want to live long, honor your parents.

God also told the Israelites: I set before you life and death, choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19). I like how God not only gives the question, but he also gives you the answer: Choose Life. Isn't God good? 

God does give Man choices. The Bible also speaks about how we need to resist the devil and not give him a foothold. (James 4:7) (Ephesians 4:27) So there are definitely a lot of things in your life that are not in God's control but yours. Although God is able to do everything, he will not violate his own Words. If God says: Resist the devil, then you need to resist the Devil and he will not do it for you. 

When you fall sick, you shouldn't embrace it because God has already healed you. Healing and health is your inheritance. The right approach is to look at it as Satan trying to steal your inheritance. So you need to do what you have to do, to take possession of it. That is why I urge you to read the earlier post again...