Word of Salvation – Vol. 27 No. 41 – July 1982

 

Healing And Paul’s Thorn In The Flesh

 

Sermon by Rev. John Westendorp on 2Corinthians 12:7-10

Reading: Genesis 32:22-32

Psalter Hymnal: 159; 246; 60; 172:6; 317

 

Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

There are two reasons why we want to deal with this text today.

First of all, because I want to present a series of sermons
            on the subject of sickness and healing.
              In doing that we want to look at this passage FIRST.

By studying this passage first of all we will be able to keep one very important perspective at the back of our minds as we think about sickness and healing:
            There are some things more important than healing.

You see we could also have done things another way:
First of all we could look at some other aspects of healing
                        and then after that look at this text under the heading:
            “What about when God does not heal?”

It is surely more appropriate for us to look at this text first so that we can keep a proper perspective on the whole matter of healing…
            to teach us that no matter how important our health might be
            there are some things even more important than that.

In the second place we want to study this subject
  because sometimes our members suffer from physical ailments
            and others suffer from serious disorders for which there is no medical remedy.
At times like that we are often under pressure from well-meaning folk
            to go to some “faith healer” in some other church or
               who just happens to be visiting our area.

Now I am not suggesting that this is wrong.
  I want to leave open the fact that the Lord may indeed give to some people,
    also today, some very special gifts…
  and we would certainly want to recognise that God still does miracles today.
But there are also some problems in this area.

Among some Christians there is far too much emphasis on physical healing.
  They give the impression that it is even more important than salvation.
  It at least SEEMS that way in some Christian circles.
  Some teach that a Christian has the right to CLAIM healing.
  That in faith you may always claim God’s healing power.

And so we want to deal with this passage in which there is no healing.
  Where Paul makes it quite clear…
             that there are some things that are more important
                        than healing and our physical wellbeing.

 

A]        SUFFERING AS A COUNTER TO SPIRITUAL PRIDE.

a)         We need to note firstly something about the context of these verses.

False apostles had come to Corinth during Paul’s absence.
They had boasted about their abilities and had put Paul down.
So Paul had had to defend himself and his ministry.

I’ve got something to boast about too… if I want to.
Look at all I’ve achieved for the Lord.
There’s my successful ministry.
I’ve even had special revelations from God.
In fact God has even given me a glimpse into heaven.
Yes, I could easily boast – I could become quite proud.

So I also want to tell you about something else.
God has also given me a handicap… a thorn in the flesh.
And when I prayed for that to be removed, God said “No!”

This raises some question:  Why didn’t God take this thorn away?
  Why didn’t the Lord give healing as His faithful servant asked?

If some Christians were consistent at this point they should say:
            “The problem is that Paul didn’t really pray in faith.”
            “God didn’t do it because there was secret sin in Paul’s life.”

After all Jesus did promise, did He not:
            “Whatever you ask in prayer
             believe that you have received it and it will be yours.”

It is because Paul did not CLAIM his healing.

However there is no ground for any of that.

Instead Paul himself gives us the reason why God didn’t heal.
            He tells us in vs.7 that this came to him to keep him becoming too conceited.
            It was so that Paul wouldn’t be too proud.

Let’s face it – that’s a serious temptation for every Christian:
            Pride… spiritual pride.
            Well of course we don’t go around saying how spiritual we are.
              That doesn’t go down too well with people… that’s too obvious.
              So our pride comes in much more subtle ways.

  –  I think and act as though I’m a little better than others.
     I talk about how the Lord has so richly blessed me.
     But I give the impression that the blessings come
            because of my faithfulness… my good living.

  –  I talk about my church work and my Christian activities.
     And then in such a way that everyone will be impressed.
            What a temptation – especially for pastors… for leaders.

What a temptation for Paul to boast too.
            Look at all the churches he had founded.
            All the converts he had been instrumental in bringing to Jesus.
            And his writings – already highly regarded in the churches.

And so Paul tells us that this problem that bothered him
  was to stop him from becoming too conceited… to keep him humble.
            So that Paul might walk humbly with His God.

It reminds me of that story of Jacob coming to meet brother Esau.
            Just look at all his possessions:
                        Cattle and herds… wives and children… what great riches.

And when Jacob asks for further blessing
            then God puts Jacob’s hip out of joint… to keep him humble.

b)         Right away this passage highlights
                        that there is something more important than our physical well-being.
            And that is our spiritual well-being… our relationship with God.
            That we learn to walk humbly with our God.

I think that it’s good that Paul didn’t tell us his problem.

Over the years people have tried to guess what it exactly was.
            Eye problems? Speech impediment?
            But Paul is silent about its exact nature.

Maybe the Lord saw to it that Paul didn’t spell it out
            that so that we can the easier apply it to ourselves today.
                        Here is a lesson not only for Paul… but for us too.

We need the reminder:
       there are more important things in life than our physical health.
            It’s more important that with a bad back
                        you live as a humble Christian
               than that with the body of a superman
                        you go your proud way apart from God.
            It’s more important that with constant pain
                        you live in quiet dependence on God
               than that with the utmost fitness
                        you begin to grow away from your God and Father.

There are more important things in life than our physical health.

I don’t want to be misunderstood so let me make two things clear.

FIRST: We are not saying that we should welcome pain and suffering.
            Or that it is wrong to pray for pain and sickness to be removed.

Of course we should ask God in prayer.
  Paul certainly did that… several times in fact.
            Maybe even more often than those three specific instances he mentions
               when he specifically wrestled with God about this matter.

God never said to Paul:  Paul, it’s wrong for you to pray that way.
Yet God did say; No!  And God showed Paul the reason.
That there are things more important than having physical ailments taken away.

SECOND: Even when God does says ‘No’,
            that doesn’t mean that we should not seek relief from pain.
                        That it is wrong to consult a doctor or take medicine.

Just because there are things more important than physical health
   does not mean that we can neglect bodily health.
On the contrary, we are to look after the Holy Spirit’s temple.
   And to do that in the best way possible.

Let’s not forget that one of Paul’s travelling companions was a doctor.
            Doctor Luke, the author of the gospel and the book of Acts.
            No doubt doctor Luke did all he could for Paul’s thorn in the flesh.

The Bible insists we pray for physical things: Give us our daily Bread.
That implies asking also for the health to enjoy that daily bread.
  We may pray about our health.
  And of course we may seek medical advice.
            And probably in that order and not the other way around.

Yet we must do that in the consciousness of this:
   That for our spiritual well-being illness may be preferable.
   That for our humility pain may be better.
And when God says “No!” to His children
             then we can be sure that He knows what’s best for us.

You may say: It’s easy for you to talk that way, you’re healthy and well.
But me?         My back is killing me!  My arthritis is agony at times.
                        My nervous problem is driving me to distraction.

Let’s not think that Paul’s problem wasn’t serious.

Paul said he had a “thorn in the flesh”.  That can be painful.
Have you ever pruned a rose bush?  Thorns can be agonising.

Actually “thorn in the flesh” could even do an injustice to the Greek.
In the original language it is literally a STAKE in the flesh.

It’s as though Paul is saying: I feel as though I’m impaled on a garden stake.
That is why Paul cries out for deliverance.
This really is a messenger from Satan.  The evil one is doing it.

And yet God comes to Paul and says:
            Paul, there is something better for you than healing.
            Your relationship with me is far more important than your pain.
            God does not always heal in answer to prayer
             – and we must remember that as we proceed with these studies on healing.

 

B]        WEAKNESS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD’S GRACE.

b)         There is a second perspective on healing this passage offers us.

When God does NOT heal then it may ultimately be
            for an even more important reason than our spiritual well-being…
                        and that is… the glory of God.

Paul no doubt saw his physical problem as a hindrance.
            No doubt especially a hindrance to his work of ministry.
            Therefore also – indirectly – a hindrance to God’s work.

It is very easy to see illness and handicaps in those terms.
            – Lord, if only I didn’t have this health problem…
                        how much better I’d be able to serve you.
            – Father, if I didn’t have this handicap…
                        how much more effective would be my work for you.
      Lord, please take this thorn in the flesh away from me.

But the Lord says: No!
  And then not only because that is better for Paul.
  But also because it is for the greater glory of God.

Actually the Lord says TWO things to Paul.

FIRST: My grace is sufficient for you.
            IOW – don’t think that you can’t serve me effectively without healing.
            And don’t think life isn’t worth living with your problem.
            My grace… my favour… my help is all you need.

SECOND: God tells Paul, “My strength is made perfect in weakness”.
            IOW – don’t just look at your own feeble strength and handicaps, Paul.
            And don’t think your strength is what achieves my purposes.
            But it is my strength that is completed… perfected in human weakness.

So God’s answer to Paul is not really a negative answer.
It is a very positive one.

It is true that the Lord says, “No!” to Paul’s request for healing.
But God says that in order to give something better.
He gives Himself to Paul in all His power and graciousness.

In this way Paul’s life will actually be a picture of the gospel.
            The gospel is not the story of human achievement.
            It isn’t a message about human power and ability.
            Rather it is God’s grace and power
                        coming into our brokenness and weakness.

Jesus has come and His grace is sufficient for our greatest need.
And His strength more than enough for our inability.
And now Paul has to live in harmony with that gospel he preaches.
Trusting day by day in the grace and power of Jesus Christ.

b)         There is much one-sidedness in talk about faith-healing among Christians.

Today it is often said: Illness and handicaps are never God’s will.
People talk as though it is all the devil’s doing.

Well of course the evil one is in there too somewhere.
            Paul called his problem “a messenger from Satan”.
            Something the adversary wanted to use to undermine Paul’s faith.

But if that is all… then maybe Paul should have kept praying.
To do what some suggest and actually CLAIM his healing by faith.

But then God’s “No!” becomes a problem for us.
Because why shouldn’t God end Satan’s work of opposition?

Yet in these verses we see that there is another side to it.
Paul makes it abundantly clear that God is in there too somewhere.

God allowed this to happen.  God was directing also this part of Paul’s life.
God was using this messenger of Satan for His own cause and glory.
In fact for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
            As a visible reminder that we are not only saved by grace.
            We also live by grace.
            A reminder that God’s power is seen not only in forgiveness.
            It is also seen in strength for living with our problems.
                        God’s glory in Jesus is more important than my health.

Sometimes the suffering of Christians has been a powerful witness.
Some have even come to know Jesus Christ thru that.

Over the years I have seen it happen many times.
  –  A man suffering greatly in an ICU of a large hospital.
            Burns over the greater part of his body.
            But testifying to hospital staff of his joy in the Lord.
  –  An elderly lady suffering from terminal cancer
            Asking her children not to pray anymore for recovery.
            Telling her family of her peace in the Lord.
  –  Or Joni Erickson Tada with her broken neck and life in a wheelchair.
            And what an impact she has had on people around the world.
            Her drawings and the film have affected many lives.

People like this have found God’s grace to be sufficient.
God’s power was seen in them – even in hospital beds and wheel-chairs.
And the cause of Jesus was furthered through their witness.

God’s power is not always seen so clearly when we are fit and capable.
His grace isn’t always so obvious where the work is done by strong people.
But it is seen especially where much is done and much is endured
            by people who are weak and frail in themselves…
            but who live out of the grace and power of the cross of Christ.

Actually the Bible is full of stories like that.
  –  A weakling of a shepherd boy stands against a mighty giant.
            But God’s strength is perfected in the weakness of a slingshot.
  –  An insecure farmer with four-hundred men oppose a Midianite horde.
            But God in grace triumph’s thru Gideon’s small band.
  –  And the ultimate story is the weakness and foolishness of the cross.
            But it is God’s gracious power for the salvation of all believers.

Why does God sometimes say “No!” to our requests for healing?

Because God’s glory and His kingdom is more important than our health.

 

C]        THE RESPONSE OF GRATITUDE AND PRAISE.

a)         The big question we are left with is this:
            What will be our response when this happens to us?

When that moment comes and God says: No! My grace is sufficient…
How will we react?

All of us ARE going to face that moment at some time or other.
  We will face it when an incurable illness strikes.
  And we’ll all have to face it at the moment of death.
  It may be a long drawn out problem of many years.
  It may be a brief period of trouble and trial.

How will your respond when God, in effect, says to you:
            “My grace is sufficient for you.  My power is made perfect in weakness.”

When there is healing for our sick we respond with joy and praise.

When God withholds healing for our spiritual improvement…
            and for His glory… should our response be any different?

Yet often we’re more inclined to raise our fist to heaven.
  To cry out:  Why me, Lord?
Or we grimly resign ourselves to fate – Ah well, that’s life!

It is helpful to note Paul’s response.
  Paul does not do any of those things.  Paul is pleased.

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly…”  But boast about what?
“Boast about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
 That is why for Christ’s sake I DELIGHT in weakness, in insults
 in hardship, in persecutions, in difficulties.
 For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

b)         Paul not only boasts about this, he delights in it.

The apostle knows that where there is human pride and human strength.
            There we so often find little room for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul delights in the fact that he is kept humble… dependant.
            So that Christ’s power may rest upon him.

Actually the original language here paints a beautiful picture.

Paul tells us that he will boast of his weakness
            SO THAT THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST
             MAY SPREAD ITS TENT OVER ME.

Paul desires the saving and rescuing power of the risen Lord.
Not just to gain forgiveness and heaven.
But as the power for living in the whole of his life.

That strength of Christ is there for all who walk humbly with God.

Paul adds one more reason for rejoicing.  In this way God is glorified.
Glorified in human weakness.
            When I am weak… then I am strong.

When we trust and rejoice in our own strength and well-being
            then the Lord is not glorified.
                        All we have then is our own feeble strength.

When we boast about our weaknesses and inabilities
            then we must, at the same time, trust in God’s strength.

So if Paul is going to boast at all then only of weakness.
Because then there is no room for human might and glory.
But instead Jesus receives all the glory and praise.

Then even absence of healing can lead to joy and gratitude.

Amen!

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, we thank you for the gospel message of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus our Saviour.  We thank you that the gospel is also a message of great comfort when we are troubled and in pain.  Father, We thank you for Him who spreads His power over our lives giving us strength in weakness.

Father, we pray this morning/evening especially for those to whom you have said, “No!”  Help them to cope with their ‘thorn in the flesh’ so that also in their lives there may be joy and gratitude through your grace.

Amen

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Note to readers of these four sermons on ‘Healing’ in public worship services.

Throughout this series of four sermons on healing the personal pronoun “I” is often used.  Readers may feel more comfortable by substituting “we” instead of “I“.

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