God had “given” Paul the “thorn,” so he would not exalt himself after the great revelations God had given him. The thorn, was compared to a weapon of wood that was sharpened down at one end with the goal to impale someone.

This was no “rose thorn” this was a serious “thorn!” He also says he was “buffeted” the word speaks of “knuckles and a closed fist.” Paul was saying this “thorn” and “buffet, torment” was hammering him and pummeling him!

He wanted it gone. What did he do? He prays, “I entreated, implored.” The word used in the Gospels for appeals of someone who was sick, pleading to God who alone could help. Pleading, calling for Him to come aside and help, crying out to God.

HERE IS A SIMPLE POINT, BUT IS HUGE. IT IS FUNDAMENTAL, YOU UNDERSTAND AND PRACTICE!

When tough times come to you, immediately take it to the LORD in prayer. Run to Jesus. Talk to Him. Tell Him your troubles and requests. How often when difficulties come into our life we run to others, or to food to comfort. Or somewhere else. We fail to take it to Jesus. We stress. We are restless, sometimes irritable. We fail to run to Jesus in prayer, and leave it with Him! We fail to immediately take our trouble to Jesus and pray to Him. Speak to Him about it. This is to be the first thing- Take it to the LORD in prayer!

 

GOD HURT’S  TO HELP!

Troubles are to be a springboard for us to talk to Jesus! Anything “bad” that happens we often blame the devil. But God was behind the thorn for Paul, not to do him harm but to help him. The “thorn,” was not for punishment but for prevention, BUT TO HELP him…

• Help him that he would not fall to spiritual pride.

• Help him so that he would look to Jesus in prayer.

• Help him to understand that the Lord had said to him, “my grace is sufficient for you, power is made perfect in weakness.”

• Help him to know Jesus would give him Himself.

• Help him to pour grace into his life. That favor, kindness bestowed upon him to influence his life.

• Help to know that Paul’s weakness was not the way it would end, but that Jesus would supply power for weakness. Paul was helped greatly through his hurt.

 

“FOR CHRIST SAKE.”

He was helped to such an extent he said he would glory in his weakness… he was content “with weakness, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties” {v10}. Why? He endured, he gloried, he was content with each of these why? “For Christ sake.”

He suffered and knew he could because Jesus was his helper, his power, his boast, his contentment, and he concluded this wonderful statement of faith, “when I am weak then I am strong.” His awareness of weakness led him to run to the One who could strengthen him supernaturally, not only to clarify the purpose of the “thorn” and accept the “thorn,” but also to glory in his circumstance, because of the Lord Jesus! Wow- only God could do this, and do it He did.

  GRACE INFLUENCES.

Grace is His favor, kindness, that influences the soul to turn to Jesus for salvation, strengthening, sustaining, satisfying the soul and influencing the soul to desire Godly traits and the power to work them out in life. He is Amazing Grace. His grace is influential! He enables a soul to endure not somehow but humbly with a heart of confidence, contentment glorying in Jesus Christ!

His motivation and his end was in the trial which he ever kept before him and it was all for one glorious purpose – “for Christ sake!” {v 10}

Run to Jesus- Receive from Jesus- Rejoice in Jesus – Rest in Jesus -Keep Jesus before you and know it will work out for your spiritual gain and His glory and the benefit of others. Jesus can be trusted!

 When troubles come, do the first thing, take it to the LORD in prayer!

Do you have troubles? Have you taken it to Him in prayer. Paul did, you can too. He is the Answer!

THE FIRST THING TO DO IN TROUBLE? TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER!