A Sermon preached at the ACK St. James’ Church – Buruburu on Sunday 22nd April, 2018 during the English Service.
Texts:
- 2 Kings 5:1-10
- 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Introduction
Literally, a thorn or kudho (I don’t know what you call it in your mother tongue), a sharp-pointed woody projection on the stem or other part of a plant. So, kudho is something very sharp, and painful when it gets into your flesh. When I was a shepherd boy of some stubborn cows, which used to run around getting into neighbours’ farms, thorns / kuthe were constant unwelcomed-visitors in my bare feet. Those days, shoes were a preserve of Christmas day only and not anything you wore any day.
Whenever the thorns pricked me, there were two outcomes depending on the strength of the thorn: either the very sharp point of the thorn will break and remain in my flesh or the thorn would prick and come out whole, leaving a painful ‘hole’. Since safety pins sometimes were rare, I would use a stronger thorn to remove the portion that remained in my flesh. In some cases, the thorn and the hole in my flesh, with time would cause my flesh to swell with pus. Again, I would use a stronger thorn to prick the swollen part and press hard for the pus plus the portion of the thorn in my flesh to come out. This would give me a great relief and during the night, would sleep peacefully.
Friends, a thorn could be anything, either a person or a circumstance that causes / creates a discomfort. A person may be a spouse, a parent, a family member, a workmate, a team-mate, a neighbour, a chama member, who makes life unbearable for you. A circumstance can be a sickness / disease, a job, poverty, singlehood, not being able to conceive or have children, being unproductive, joblessness, backsliding, a recurring event, a destructive habit (kihere-here), etc. which has caused you a constant discomfort.
A thorn deprives one of his / her peace. A thorn is not easy to live with. Kudho is not something you happily settle down with because it constantly reminds you of its presence in your flesh.
- Moses was a great leader, a man who spoke with God face to face as a man speaks to a man face to face BUT he was a stammerer and hot-tempered (Exodus 4:10) – This thorn in my flesh
- Samson was set apart as a Nazirite from birth and filled with the God’s power to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Philistines BUT he was immoral (Judges 13:1ff) – This thorn in my flesh
- Hannah was loved by her husband Elkanah but she had no children (1 Samuel 1:1-10) – This thorn in my flesh
- David was a man after God’s own heart BUT he was immoral (2 Samuel 11) – This thorn in my flesh
- Naaman was a valiant soldier but he had leprosy ( 2 Kings 5:1-10) – This thorn in my flesh
- Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and he wanted to see Jesus but he was a short man (Luke 19:1-10) – This thorn in my flesh
Kudho can also be an obvious, an open and an embarrassing short-coming.
“This thorn in my flesh” is calling us this morning to do a retrospective, to have a look at ourselves and to focus on our personal thorns and not someone else thorn; it is calling each one of us to spare a minute and correlate our thorns in light of Spiritual Transformation.
Paul’s Second Epistle to the Corinthians
2 Corinthians, differs from 1 Corinthians in that it deals with personal matters rather than doctrinal issues or ecclesiastical matters. In this epistle, the humanness is much evident. In this epistle, Paul’s feelings, desires, dislikes, ambitions and obligations are all spread before his readers. The purpose of this epistle seems to be Paul’s defence of himself and his ministry against those at Corinth who doubted his spiritual and apostolic authority.
Concerning Paul’s thorn, there are various opinions as to what this thorn was. The view quite generally held, and which seems most likely to be correct, is that it was a chronic ophthalmic; a disease of the eyes, which was not extremely painful, but at times made Paul repulsive in appearance:
Galatians 4:15 “What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.”
Galatians 6:11 “See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!”
However, there are three things to learn from Paul’s transformative experience with the thorn in his flesh:
- There is a Reason for “This Thorn in My Flesh”
“This thorn in my flesh” is not an accident. As much as some of the “… thorn in my flesh” could be as a result of my mistake or my own making, from God’s perspective, there is a reason for it. Looking at Paul’s spiritual status and experience, we may see the thorn factor as a discrepancy. Paul was a man who had seen visions and had had revelations; Paul was a spiritual hero who had touched many lives; led many to Christ Jesus, planted churches, healed the sick and even brought back to life the dead. However, the thorn seemed to have been an anti-climax in his spiritual experience and ministry:
2 Corinthians 12:7 “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”
Paul gives us a transformative understanding of “This thorn in my flesh” that the thorn is not an accident but it has a purpose – there is a reason for it. Even though Paul describes the thorn as a messenger of Satan, there is a positive reason for it.
In verse 7, Paul gives us the reason why he was given the thorn in his flesh. The thorn was to keep Paul from:
- Boasting
- Self-exaltation
- Getting out of God’s love
Friends, the thorn in our flesh, however, discomforting, may be expressing God’s love; beyond being …a messenger of Satan, there could be a silver lining in the thorn if God is in it. Whenever you have a thorn, in your flesh, thank God because he loves you. Therefore you can say “For this thorn in my flesh, I thank you God, because of it, you show your love to me.”
Friends, whatever the circumstance you are experiencing this morning – Could it be a thorn? If it is, focus on the silver lining beneath it.
- It is “This Thorn in My Flesh” that Transforms Weakness
Whenever we are experiencing “This thorn in my flesh”, we always grapple with the question: can it be removed? Can it be healed? Can it be transformed?
From Paul, we can learn that “This thorn in my flesh” is able to transform our weaknesses. They point us to God, the all-powerful One.
2 Corinthians 12:8 “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me...”
Paul was at discomfort; just like many of us might be feeling this morning through “This thorn in my flesh”. We have tried everything within our power and we have made every prayer and fasting to ensure that our thorns are dealt with. But they have stubbornly persisted with their torment.
Paul, who had been a spiritual success; a spiritual giant has been reduced to helplessness, to defeat and to “weakness”. “This thorn in my flesh” sometimes would make you feel deflated like a balloon. It is like after being on the Mountain of Transfiguration and waking up at the foot of the Mountain – after enjoying spiritual breakthrough only to be met with a season of spiritual dryness and a hot desert.
It is “This thorn in my flesh” that brings us back to reality after great success; it moderates success with some failure; it tampers victory with weakness lest we glory in our strength and forget that we still need more transformation.
Weakness does not mean defeat but letting God take pre-eminence; letting God handle the thorns. Weakness is a means by which God’s power triumphs. Weakness is a testimony of a miracle. Weakness is but a reminder of the need for transformation.
2 Chronicles 20:1-13 “1After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. 5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said:
“O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9 ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ 10 “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.”
The enemies of Israel were a thorn in their flesh and it made them weak and helpless. However, this pointed them to God. For me, Verses 12 and 13 are really moving: O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.” 13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.”
- God’s Truth is Re-Discovered through “This Thorn in My Flesh”
Opportunities for learning experiences are sometimes availed through “This thorn in my flesh”. In the midst of thorns, we receive new visions and revelations of God’s will. Through “This thorn in my flesh”, one is carried to a new level of understanding; understanding spiritual and Biblical truths so that we can accept the realities and the practicalities of life.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 “8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Throughout the years, men / women of God have re-discovered God’s truth and God’s will in the midst of “This thorn in my flesh”:
Testimonies:
I have had several people testify or confess that:
- When my husband/wife/child/mum/dad died, God taught me… or I came to learn… or The Scripture became real… or the way I received the support from friends, the church, I felt cared for…
- Through this accident or sickness, I have learned patient or I felt God’s presence…
Through “This thorn in my flesh” new truths of God’s word or God’s will is rediscovered.
Conclusion
What is this thorn in your flesh today? Is it your husband, wife, child, parents, teacher, boss, junior, workmates, job, etc.? Is it someone who does things that really irritate you?
Yes, we may cry and complain about our thorns; we may pray and fast about our thorns and we may even attend counselling sessions for our thorns as Paul did but “This thorn in my flesh” at times persist and so what we need is God’s support; God’s grace in bearing the thorn. Listen to what God answered Paul for his prayers:
2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you…””
Friends, at times, God is not so much interested in removing the thorn from your flesh but to give you the grace to bear the thorn and come forth a truly Spiritually Transformed Christian!
Job 23:10 “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
The critical issue now is not an immediate miracle, nor immediate removal of the thorn nor the salvation of the husband, parents, wife, and child, getting a job or removal of a dictatorial leader / boss but God’s grace to go through the situation. God’s priority for the moment may not be the removal of the thorn but to give you His grace to bear the thorn.
I know that as a pastor, I feel with my / our parishioners whose thorns sometimes seems to overwhelm them. I feel with them, I cry with them, sometimes I pray with them and just wish that I was in the place of God to remove the thorn from their flesh instantly…even after praying with them, I still go home mourning about the thorns in their flesh, asking God to intervene.
So, to all of us this morning, who are struggling with “This thorn in my flesh”, I dedicate this song:
He knows what He is doing by Jason Crabb
- It hurts to see you this way
I’m lost for words
There’s so much I am wanting to say
Though I don’t understand
I’ll hold your hand x2
If I have it my way
I’d take this from you
But God, He knows what He’s doing
So here while our hearts break
We have to believe
That God, He knows what He’s doing
Our God, He knows what He’s doing
- He’s never failed us before
He has shown us
His Goodness, His Love will endure
His Ways are higher than our own
Whatever the road x2
- One day we will see
One day we will find
All the answers to the question why
If I had it my way
I’d take this from you
But God, He knows what He’s doing
So here while our hearts break
We have to believe
That God, He knows what He’s doing
If I had it my way
I’d take this from you
But God, He knows what He’s doing
So here while our hearts break
We have to believe
That God, He knows what He’s doing
Yes, our God, He knows what He’s doing
Oh yeah
By:
The Rev. Simon J. Oriedo
4th Sunday after Easter, 2018