Pastor Cho's Sermon Outline - Yoido Full
Gospel Church - Seoul, KoreaThe Thorn and Grace 2 Corinthians 12:1 ~ 12:10 2002-09-29
In our Christian lives, there are some trials we must bear. But we don't need to bear the problems of sin, disease, the curse, and hell, because Jesus has already redeemed us from such trouble through His suffering on the Cross. Yet, we should expect the trials mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 such as the apostle Paul experienced. Otherwise, we would not grow as mature Christians.
Paul and his thorn. Paul went to the third heaven and received surpassingly great revelations (2 Corinthians 12:2-4,7). In order to humble Paul, God gave him a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan that constantly gave him trouble. Three times Paul pleaded with the Lord to take away this annoyance, but He didn't take it away. Instead, the Lord told him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness?(2 Corinthians 12:9,10). Paul humbled himself, became totally dependent on God, and delighted in his weaknesses and difficulties, because then he could receive the grace and blessings of God (1 Corinthians 15:10).
Our lives and the thorn. To become mature during a time of suffering, God feeds us with the Word and makes us experience the work of the Holy Spirit. In Numbers 33:55, the Israelites were told to drive out the inhabitants of the land because if they remained, the inhabitants would become "barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides."The thorns that God wants us to cast out today are the impurities and bad attitudes we have in our relationships with our spouses, children, brothers and sisters, parents, neighbors, and with those in our jobs. God wants us to eliminate our pride, obstinacy, disobedience, and unbelief (Proverbs 18:12). Thorns are for our benefit-to make us repent and be blessed (2 Corinthians 7:10), to make us realize our weaknesses and depend on God (1 Peter 1:24,25; 5:10). Thorns will make us good (Ephesians 4:13).
When the thorn causes pain. The purpose of a thorn is to inflict pain-not to massage us. We should not resist the thorn or we will receive more thorns. God wants us to change-not complain. If we humble ourselves, repent, and let the Holy Spirit change our attitudes, the thorn will become a foundation of blessing in all of our relationships (1 Peter 4:12,14; James 4:6). When we have success, money, power, health, and youth, it is easy to become proud and ignore God. When we are humble and depend on Him, then His grace and power rests upon us. Paul didn't complain or resent the thorn; he rejoiced and thanked God for it (Philippians 4:11-13). When we realize that one way God takes care of us is by using thorns, we will be relieved, joyful, and have hope.
Heavenly Father, we face a lot of thorns in our relationships. Let us rejoice in these thorns, be changed by You, and give You glory.
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