A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day (August 3, 2016)
And He said unto me, “My grace is sufficent for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I glory rather in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
One of the greatest examples in the Bible of God’s grace in action is in Paul’s life and the thorn in his flesh.
“To keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted” (2 Corinthians. 12:7 AMP).
The Word is very clear that Paul’s thorn was from Satan (not from God). It says “…there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan…” (vs. 7). It was Satan (not God) who was trying to keep Paul from being too highly exalted by the awesomeness of what had been revealed to him!
At this point, I think we need to clarify a misconception that has been taught in the church for centuries. Satan knew because of Paul’s dramatic conversion, healing, revelation knowledge, and the anointing that was so powerful on his life, that Paul was a major threat to the kingdom of darkness. Satan knew that he must use all of his resources to destroy this man and his ministry. According to 2 Corinthians 12:7, Satan sent and assigned a messenger (fallen angel, demonic spirit) to torment Paul continually. Satan did not want Paul to be exalted in the ministry that laid the foundation for the church.
“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me” (2 Corinthians 2:8).
Three different times Paul pleaded and begged God to make the thorn go away. God didn’t ignore Paul. He just answered him and said: “My grace is enough for you; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in your weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP).
God knew that if He just took away the thorn (the messenger from Satan), then Paul would not understand and experience the concept of the power of grace working through him to strengthen him to do the supernatural. God also knew that when Paul overcame the thorn through God’s grace and by God’s strength, that the thorn would no longer have any effect on Paul.
If God took the messenger from Satan away, then Paul would have had to petition God every time he was attacked. If God empowered Paul to resist the devil by grace, then Paul would be continuously empowered and protected. Through this, Paul was strengthened in grace and authority.
When you are facing a situation you don’t want to face and the only solution you can see is for God to just take it away, then realize that God’s grace is there to enable you to overcome the situation, so that it no longer can affect you negatively. It will have no power over you. God’s grace and strength empowers you to overcome the evil one and his attacks:
“So you, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1 AMP).
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)
