Thorns

2 Corinthians 12

Ours is the time of the – person who is than adequate.

Three Kinds Of People Appear To Have It All Together.

1^st Highly

2^nd Highly

3^rd Highly

For who considers you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
1 Corinthians 4:7

This verse should bring us to .

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
James 1:17

How Does God Deal With Our Tendency Toward –?

The Bible puts forth basic “” of the universe:

, ,

– levels

I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
2 Corinthians 12:2-4

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”
Revelations 4:1

Paul had a spiritual experience years prior – when he was taken to . (12:1-4)

Notice: Paul writes in the person.

nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus. Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him for fifteen days.
Galatians 1:17-18

Notice how quickly Paul moves to his .

In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses. For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.  Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!
2 Corinthians 12:5-7

A “thorn” is something or someone that painfully or one’s humanity on a continuous basis.

What was Paul’s ?

1. 4.)
2. 5.)
3. 6.)

Paul tells us several things about his thorn:

1^st 4^th

2^nd 5^th

3^rd

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

“Perfected” = or !

How Can This Help Us?

• We all have !
• We can grow to them.
• Look !
• Be careful what you call .
• God remove it, but He may well it.
• Instead of at the thorns – focus on the .
• To do this – look .