THERE ARE NO UNANSWERED PRAYERS!

{The FRUIT OF Paul’s Thorn}

 It may seem it takes such a long time- to get “the” answer! And often that is part of our false concept. We pray and are looking for “THE” answer, which we want, which we expect and if we are honest which at times our selfish hearts, “demand,” of God! We determine the outcome of what “THE” answer should be. God does answer prayers. But “THE” answer  may not be what we thought should be. Think about the man who has such a difficult scenario, that was so, so painful and he plead with the LORD to remove it and God answered! Told you= There are no unanswered prayers. But, He did answer, just not in the way  as He was requested, even though  He had the power to do so!

God does answer prayers but not always as we seem to think, demand He should. It was Paul who asked three times for the “thorn” to be removed. By the way, the “thorn” was not some little sliver that gets under the skin that you can see and easily get out. No it was not a little irritation but extremely painful. The word, “THORN”  was used to “IMPALE” someone! Paul asked for it to be removed, not once, not twice, but three times and the answer He got back from the LORD was, “My grace is sufficient for you.” That wasn’t the answer he asked for! Maybe God was punishing him? Surely their had to be something “wrong” with him. How about his “faith,” maybe he didn’t have enough “faith.” If he would “just believe” a little more, then God would “have to act” and take away the “thorn!” Paul would be freed, God would be glorified and what a great testimony that would be, right? Wrong! God is God. He does as He pleases for His glory. It is all about…H-I-M! We tend to forget that in our ego-centric thinking. Paul had this thorn for years after years! {2 Cor 12:2-6} .

The “Thorn” was given Paul…

1.- TO PROTECT HIM FROM SPIRITUAL PRIDE! “Because of the greatness of the revelations, FOR THIS REASON, to keep me from EXALTING MYSELF, there was Given me a THORN in the flesh….to KEEP me from EXALTING MYSELF.” Note the phrase used twice,”…to keep me from EXALTING MYSELF.” V7 –  The “THORN, ” – was,”God used the thorn to keep Paul humble!!! Who saw that one coming! But also…

 2. – GRACE TO DEPEND ON JESUS -“…when I am WEAK then I am strong.”- V10 . God uses the “thorn” to cause Paul to lean in on Jesus. Instead of being self sufficient he was Christ dependent! Dependent upon Him. His weakness did not turn him away from Jesus but reminded him where true strength comes from-Jesus Christ!

 3. -THE POWER OF CHRIST DISPLAYED THROUGH THE WEAKNESS OF A MAN – “My…POWER is perfected in weakness…”- v 9

 

PAUL’S RESPONSE- TO GOD BEING GOD AND ANSWERING PRAYER THE WAY HE WANTS WAS…

A. – CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST- ” And He said to me, “MY grace is sufficient for you. for {MY} power is perfected in weakness” -V9

B. – CELEBRATION BECAUSE OF CHRIST-  “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather BOAST about my weakness, SO THAT the power of Christ may dwell in me .” – V9

C. – CONTENTMENT WITH CHRIST- ” Therefore I am WELL CONTENT with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE; for when I am weak then I am strong.” – V10.

D. – CHRIST HIMSELF- his Motivation!– He was the reason amidst great pain, conflict, hurt that he could go through it all, insults, distresses, persecutions, difficulties -be CONFIDENT, CELEBRATE AND CONTENTMENT WITH CHRIST –

 

Paul’s Motivation was to keep before him was …- FOR CHRIST’S SAKE! JESUS CHRIST WAS THE REASON TO GO THROUGH WHAT HE WENT THROUGH! 

 As the psalmist said, “I have set the LORD before me , because He is at my right hand I shall not be shaken.” To look to Christ, do all for Christ and Interpose Christ between you and what you go through is safety for your heart! Some erroneously believe that to come to Christ you will be kept from hurt, pain, but this is not the testimony of the Scriptures or as we see Paul’s life. But in the hardship, Christ is the difference. To focus on Him. He through you will magnify Himself to others!

 

THERE ARE NO UNANSWERED PRAYERS! They just may not be what you asked for!

 

But because Paul was CHRIST CENTERED… his response to being told that The LORD was  going to do something different than was asked concerning the “thorn,” was not to crawl up in a ball and be bitter because God did not do what was expected, demanded of Him , but acted as GOD and what was best for Paul’s sake and CHRIST’S GLORY! Let us not take out the human element here. Paul was  made of flesh and blood just like you and me. He knew great hardships, He knew depression {2 Cor 7:6}. He knew fear {Acts 18:9}. He was no “super hero” who was immune whether to physical or emotional pain. He was a man whom Christ converted and indeed had said of him, “I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name’s sake.”  Jesus was not punishing him, for on the cross Jesus bore his punishment. But in this fallen world there are hurts, there are spiritual foes, there are purposes far greater than our own well being that may be of great benefit to others{2 Cor 1:4} and to the Kingdom of God. God uses broken people, weak people, frail people, people of all ages and in dependence upon Him God uses them for the furtherance of His Gospel {Phil 1:12}. It is easy to read the passage about his “thorn” and forget this is a human being who is in pain, yet his confidence is in the One “…who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” is on display. {Gal 2:20}. He trusted the Love of Christ and the response shows his core being was CHRIST Magnified! Our faith is tested and tempered in the furnace of affliction. Let us deal gently with those in the fire. Let us seek to assist them. Let us seek to pray for them. Let us seek to love them and remember they are as you and me, human beings with all the frailties of humanity.

Paul’s response was one which produced CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST,CELEBRATION BECAUSE OF CHRIST, CONTENTMENT WITH CHRIST!

Wow! Think about it a “thorn” given as prevention from spiritual pride.

Looking from the outside we could as I said earlier, look and “wonder” why won’t God DELIEVER him? Is it because of some sin? Is it because he doesn’t have enough “faith?” Is he a bit of an embarrassment to the LORD, for what “good” could come out of this? Hmmm… we have been all there looking at life through our own “value” system and “evaluation” of how we think God should behave and when He doesn’t, we look for a “reason” that SATISFIES us! But if anything from Paul’s life teaches us it is this- THERE ARE NO UNANSWERED PRAYERS- {THEY JUST MAY NOT BE AS YOU DESIRED}.

Look again at Paul’s Response- “WITH A PAINFUL “THORN!” that he had for years… We CHOOSE our RESPONSES. We alone are responsible for our responses…

Paul CHOSE HIS RESPONSE… CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST, CELEBRATION BECAUSE OF CHRIST, CONTENTMENT WITH CHRIST!

Now what a response that is, as a result of accepting Christ’s reasons and answer to his prayer! Because Jesus Christ was his life. He said, “for me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” -{Phil 1:21}

There is Purpose in the “THORN’S” God entrusts us with. We are never on our own but He is with us in it and He PRODUCES spiritual fruit for the individual and THROUGH the individual to give perspective, and the ability to CHOOSE Place your CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST and to CELEBRATE CHRIST and be CONTENT BECAUSE OF CHRIST.

Keep praying by all means for the “thorn” to be removed, but note God is working and is producing a trophy of grace and spiritual character and fruit through you. He may remove the “thorn,” He may choose otherwise, but with it will be the giving of Himself. His sufficiency, His power to live CHRIST Conscious, CHRIST Centered, CHRIST exalted. Like Paul, some of us would never choose certain things,” But God..” is working out His master plan and using you as part of it for His glory and your eternal good. and OTHERS benefitting from your life now!

Paul did not STOP sharing and Spreading the Gospel because of the “thorn,” he continued to seek to make CHRIST KNOWN! You can too!

Christ Centered THINKING yields to CHRIST MAGNIFIED,”…in my body whether by life or by death.”{Phil 1:20}. The difference is in our thinking. Thinking what will this mean to Christ and for Christ, or what will this mean to me.

 Christ centered focus produces Christ centered fruit!