Bible Reading: Isaiah 53:1-7
Memory verses: 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, “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.”
The devil lies to us that God may put sickness on us to teach us a lesson. This lie can be worded differently by the deceiver, but the whole idea is for us to accept sickness and not fight it. We have been told several times from the pulpit that based on the scripture above, it happened to Paul (eye problem), and can happen to us too.
To understand the meaning of thorn in the flesh, we need to look at the situations surrounding the times it was used in the Bible. Genesis 3:17-19; Numbers 33:55; and Joshua 23:13 talk about thorns, and they are from the devil, not from God. Paul called it a messenger of Satan, messengers run errands for people. If they are from Satan, they are false and evil, causing trouble. Paul faced a lot of agents of the devil who caused him great trouble everywhere he went. This was through the lies they told about him and the false messages they preached. However, God always delivered and strengthened him. God’s grace was sufficient for him. By the stripes of Jesus, we were healed, period! Stand up against sickness; it is from the pit of hell. God has no hand in sickness; He loves you and wants you well. He does not take pleasure in your suffering.