Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh”

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.

People have been telling me for years that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was sickness. Some say it was an eye disease that God gave him to keep him humble. But that explanation twists the Scriptures.

How was Paul exalted beyond measure? He received visions and revelations from the Lord. God revealed to him great mysteries, which those who walked and talked with Jesus for three years didn’t yet understand. Paul was also in the process of writing two-thirds of the New Testament, which we live by today.

Paul said, “There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet me.” Well, God wouldn’t have sent a messenger of Satan to Paul. And God certainly wasn’t going to exalt Paul by giving him visions and revelations just to make him sick and to keep him from being exalted!

The word messenger in the original Greek is the word “angelos.” It refers to an angel or “one sent.” In this case, it refers to a demon spirit that Satan sent to harass Paul. Satan wanted to hinder Paul any way he could because he knew that those who read Paul’s letters would follow his Holy Spirit-inspired instructions and walk in victory. So let’s defeat Satan’s purpose and start walking in God’s victory today!

CONFESSION:

God didn’t send sickness to humble Paul, and He doesn’t send sickness to humble me. I rebuke sickness and disease, for they have no part in God's plan or His will for me. I receive God’s will of healing now.

From: A Devotional for Divine Health Prescription for a Miracle, Mark Brazee, 1999