“Satan’s Messenger Not Sickness”

Contents

Paul's Thorn In The Flesh

1    Weakness—Not Sickness

2    Thorn—Not Sickness

3    God Is Making Sons—Not Worms

4    Jesus Our Saviour Not Our Servant

5    Sons—Not Bees

6    Paul, The Overcomer

Paul's Thorn In The Flesh

The misunderstanding of Paul's thorn in the flesh has created a thorn in the flesh to the entire church for many years. The use of this text out of its context has caused great weakness to come upon the church and much unnecessary sickness to believers.

Satan has had a field day. He has had poor, mistaken children of God rejoicing in their sicknesses. They mistakenly claim that they have received their sicknesses from God so that they will not be exalted out of measure, or that they can bear their sickness graciously, thus bringing glory to God.

This reasoning is totally without scriptural basis. Such thoughts find their roots in the so-called 'wisdom of man', which God aptly calls foolishness. This erroneous teaching so permeates the minds of mistaken Christians today that you can immediately predetermine their conversations when they start down this pathway of error.

They usually begin with words like, "I think that my sickness glorifies God."

You don't have to hear much more to know where the conversation is headed. One of the next things they will mention is Paul's thorn in the flesh. They'll say, "I believe God gave Paul a terrible eye disease that caused pus to run out of his eyes and it made him very grotesque looking." They erroneously contend that God gave him

this, or some other terrible sickness, so that he would not be exalted above measure.

Let's not settle for such perversions of God's Word, but let's go to the scripture, where the truth will be established.

Please turn with me to 2 Corinthians 12:4-10.

(4)    How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

(5)    Of such a one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

(6)    For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

(7)    And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

(8)    For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

(9)    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

(10)    Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong."

What we have here is a true account of Paul's statement to the Corinthians, but the traditional interpretation of it is a fairy tale. You will be amazed when you see the reckless manner in which these verses are misinterpreted by the opponents of the Full Gospel teaching. I remember when I first realized the true interpretation of these verses. I could not believe what I was reading. As the truth came forth from the page, it was so powerful that it brought me to my feet with a shout of victory.

Chapter 1

Weakness—Not Sickness

When the Scripture talks about infirmities, it is not necessarily talking about sicknesses. Many people have in mind that because sick people go to the infirmary, then they must have an infirmity. This is why they get the mistaken idea that this word 'infirmity' means sickness. But upon closer investigation we find that it does not necessarily mean sickness at all. We will find that infirmity is better translated weakness than sickness.

GODS POWER-NOT OURS

The understanding that we are becoming the manifested sons of God and that we have the ability to do all the things that Jesus did and even more, can cause us to lose touch with reality. We may forget that the power to do these mighty works does not lie in ourselves. We are weak, but in Christ Jesus we are strong. When we are in Him, we are very strong-even to the pulling down of strongholds (II Cor.: 10:4-6). We actually become a terror to the spirit world if we recognize that we, in ourselves, have no personal strength, but in Christ we have the power of God operating in and through us to the point that we can do all things.

The confusing of our strength with Christ's strength is the reason that we do not see more people manifesting the power of God. We find that, many times when people begin to learn how to operate in faith, they forget who their faith must be in. They think they are operating in their own maturity in Christ rather than in the power of the name of Jesus. Without Christ we are weak — but with Him we are invincible.

THE HIDDEN MEANING OF THE WORD INFIRMITY

Something interesting comes to view when we begin to study these Scriptures. We come to find that the same Greek word is interpreted several different ways in this particular section of Scripture.

Look at the fifth verse (2 Cor. 12). "Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. "

The same Greek word translated 'infirmities' is used in the ninth verse, but there it is translated 'weaknesses'. When we read 'infirmities' in one place and then read 'weakness' in another place, it causes us to think that the writer is conveying two different thoughts. The English meaning for the word 'infirmities' has some connotations that the word 'weakness' does not have. The Greek word translated 'infirmities' and the Greek word translated 'weakness' are the same word and is more correctly translated 'weakness' than 'infirmity'.

If you have a Strong's Concordance [an accepted standard), you will find that whenever it deals with a questionable rendering of a word from the King James translation, there will be an asterisk before the word number. Interestingly, every place that the word 'infirmities' is used in the King James Version of the Bible, the Strong's Concordance places an asterisk by its word number to warn us that the word is being interpreted with a questionable interpretation.

Let's see this word used further in our text. In II Cor. 12:5, we find the word 'infirmities'; in the ninth verse the word 'weakness'; in the second half of the ninth verse the word 'infirmities'; and then in the first sentence of the tenth verse, the word 'infirmities' is used again. Paul says, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak ..." — the word 'weak' is once again the identical root word that is translated 'infirmities' and 'weakness' in verses 5, 9, 10 in this particular text. If you replace those words 'infirmities' (or infirmity) with the word 'weakness' (or weak) you will begin to see the light.

Paul makes a statement. He says, "when I am weak, then am I strong." What Paul is saying is, "When I recognize my personal weakness, then the power of God can move through me."

Chapter 2

Thorn—Not Sickness

Now, hold in your mind the ray of light that you received in Chapter One, as we move further into the unraveling of the errors of man from this discourse.

The word 'thorn' is used in several other places in the Scripture, but in not one instance in Scripture does it ever refer to sickness. Quite to the contrary, each time the word 'thorn' is used it has to do with some individual or group of individuals that are creating a problem for God's children.

In Numbers 33:51-53, 55 we read:

(51)    Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;

(52)    Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land (Canaanites) from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places.

(53)    And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.

(55) But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

We find that 'thorns', as used here, are individuals who, if not handled properly, will become a problem to the child of God — a thorn in his side if you please. These thorns are definitely not sicknesses. They are Canaanites!

The next place that the word 'thorn' appears is in Joshua 23:13. Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations (Canaanites) from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given to you.

Once again we see that the reference to 'thorns' does not refer to sickness, but to an individual, or a group of individuals (Canaanites).

Look now at 2 Samuel 23:6, 7.

(6)    But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands.

(7)    But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear, and they s h a l l b e u tterly burned with fi r e i n t h e s a m e p l a c e .

The disruptive messenger of Satan.

Again, this is not speaking of sickness. This is referring to individuals (sons of Belial) who become a hindrance to the child of God.

THE MESSENGER OF SATAN-NOT OF GOD

Let us go back to 2 Cor. 12; 6-7. The text very plainly tells us that this is not a sickness sent to Paul by God. On its face, it denies that. Looking at the sixth verse he says,

"For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now J forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

(7a) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan . . . "

There are good people who unwittingly turn this verse of Scripture from its clearly stated meaning and teach that God sent sickness to Paul and that sickness dogged his steps most of the time so that he would not be exalted above measure.

If you look at the verse literally it tells you who sent the messenger. This was not a messenger from God sent to Paul. This was a messenger from Satan sent to Paul.

FEARFUL MINISTERS

Sometimes preachers of non-Charismatic churches become concerned when the power of the Holy Spirit moves in their community. They are threatened by the fact that some of their members have encountered a Full Gospel preacher. These men sometimes fear that healing, speaking in tongues, and miracles are going to manifest themselves in their church and cause them personal embarrassment. Rather than allow the Holy Spirit to move in the power and dimension that He chooses, they subvert portions of the Word of God to try to stop the flow of the Holy Spirit in their midst. Often, this stems from fear that their congregation will discover that they are not Spirit filled and are ignorant of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I enjoy the special insight I have been given in this matter, because I know most of those tricks. I used them when I, too, was a non-Charismatic preacher. I have sat in council with preachers who are anti-Charismatic and talked about how to stop the move of the Spirit from happening in the church. I know this kind of activity first hand, and I know it is hellish and is not of God. It is not the Holy Spirit that moves in men who oppose the Holy

Subverting portions of the Word.

Spirit of God. It is the spirits of this world: the spirit of denominationalism and the spirit of sectarianism, as well as the spirit of anti-Christ that is at work in the world.

This is what happens when men decide how God should operate and put down parameters for God to operate in. They receive what scripture calls a seducing spirit, and that spirit will cause them to go to the Word of God and no longer see what the Word is saying, but instead, see the Word in the light of what they want it to say.

Our text is very clear. If you take it for examination to an impartial group of judges and let them look at it, they will tell you that it speaks not of a messenger that is sent from God to Paul, but plainly declares it was a messenger sent from Satan to Paul.

A DISEASE WITH BOXING GLOVES

Notice the word 'buffet' (2 Cor. 12:7). In the Greek language this word means to punch, beat, strike, harass, or trouble. It is an athletic term from the boxing match. Most certainly the Holy Spirit had a better grasp of the Greek language than to say that sickness would come upon you like a boxer and punch you and buffet you about. There are words, in the Greek language, much better suited to describe the effects of sickness — if the Holy Spirit were describing a sickness.

Chapter 3

God Is Making Sons—Not Worms

There is a false idea in the minds of persons who struggle with the fullness of the Holy Spirit and who struggle with the truth of the new creation man. They have a false sense of humility. It is firmly lodged in their heads that God wants to abase all Christians and have them crawling around like worms. Poor, miserable, sick saint of God, pay attention! It is the devil who doesn't want the Christian exalted. In all of God's attributes you won't find the attribute of Him being a fool. God is in a life and death battle, locked in mortal combat with the devil. He is going to throw him in the lake of fire one day and torment him forever. He is NOT playing games with him. God allows us every legal and righteous advantage in this battle. Remember, God wants us to have a more abundant life and to always triumph in every situation.

THE HUMBLE SHALL BE EXALTED

Look at Matthew 23:11, (11) But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. How does Paul continuously refer to himself? He says he is the bond servant of Christ Jesus. He says, "I glory in my weakness because now that I recognize my weakness the power of God can move through me and make me strong." (12) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Paul recognized his weakness. That does not mean that everywhere he went he broadcast his weakness saying — "I'm weak! I'm weak! I'm weak!" He recognized his weakness and he humbled himself, and when he humbled himself God said, He that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

God was not trying to stop Paul from being exalted. In our text He did, however, tell Paul that in His grace there is a sufficiency to overcome every problem.

THE TWISTED TRUTHS

We come to find that the erroneous interpretation of our text continues. Although many try to teach that God was knocking Paul down and trying to keep him from being overly exalted, they should read what is said to the Hebrews in the 12th chapter. (1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set b e fo r e u s .

God certainly would not have told Paul to remove every weight if he had wanted him to be sick. Instead, God exalted Paul to the point that, 2,000 years later, every preacher who knows what he is talking about mentions Paul's name at least once in every sermon he preaches! Talk about exaltation! It was the devil who was trying to stop Paul from being exalted.

Look with me at 1 Peter 5:5-6. (5) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. God wanted Paul exalted not abased.

The Pastors who decide they don't want the fullness of the Holy Spirit in their churches and decide they don't want to have the gift of the Spirit and healing go beyond the first century, take the Word of God and teach whatever is convenient for their doctrinal stand. They try to make 2 Cor. 12:5-10 say that God made Paul sick so he would not be exalted above measure.

Break free from man's doctrines.

Friend, let me tell you, when Paul was on planet Earth preaching and teaching, every angel in heaven, every saint of God that was in heaven—God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit were cheering and saying, "Go Paul! Get 'em! Get 'em! Get 'em! Take every advantage you can get! " God most definitely wanted Paul exalted and He wants you exalted if you will move in His power with true humility.

HEAR HIS MESSAGE

If you are not careful, the devil will send you a strong delusion. He will send you seducing spirits. Seducing spirits are spirits that are specially sent to preachers. When I preached before I knew the power of the Holy Spirit, those spirits would be looking out of my collar! They'd be trying to make the Word line up with my denomination's doctrinal statement. I rejoice in the fact that God set me free from the confusion of denominationalism and man's creeds and doctrines. When I preach now, I can preach what God is saying instead of what my denomination said.

Look at II Cor. 12:7. And lest I should be exalted above measure . . . The false teachers say God didn't want Paul exalted above measure. Brother, that's a lie straight out of the pit. God wanted Paul exalted to a point that the whole world might hear His message! He wanted everybody to hear the message.

The same holds true today. The next thing we'll be hearing is that God doesn't want Jim Bakker to be on television—lest he be exalted above measure; or Jerry Falwell to build a college; or Rex Humbard to preach the Gospel to 50,000 at a time in his rallies; or Oral Roberts to build his hospital—lest these men be exalted above measure.

THE PERSONAL PRONOUN TELLS THE STORY

Paul's infirmity (weakness) is not sickness. It can be proven not to be sickness. The context here is not about sickness.

Keep in mind that the King James writers are vague in some of their translations relating to personal pronouns, but notice some clearer translations. In the Rotterdam translation, a true interpretation is made when it comes to the part about buffeting. Notice the King James says, 2Cor. 12:7 . . . the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted... Now notice the Rotterdam translation . . . that he might be buffeting me.

The Weymouth translation says, I besought the Lord rid me of him, H-I-M. Notice the personal pronoun. The Concordant Literal New Testament, which is believed by many to be the most literal translation of the Greek New Testament that we have in our possession today says, that he might be buffeting me—giving the personal pronoun once again for the 'thorn'.

Nowhere do we find the personal pronoun being given to sickness. Can you imagine someone saying, "How are you doing?" You answer, "Well, I'm not doing too well, but my chicken pox, he's doing pretty good." Or, "I'm having a small flare up from 'Mr. Goiter.' He is buffeting me with his boxing gloves." Only the most desperate of men would so subvert God's Word to satisfy their own doctrinal position, thereby claiming that God gets glory from sickness and by that making the power of God of non-effect to the innocent who hear them.

Let us see what the Scripture says. Notice 2 Cor. 12:8. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me. Why would Paul who was familiar with healing, when he needed healing say, "Depart from me", rather than saying "Heal me"?

I am convinced that if his infirmity was sickness Paul would have simply said, "Thrice I entreated the Lord that He might heal me." The only conclusion is that the thorn was a spirit sent from Satan to buffet Paul, to stop him from being exalted, for Satan knew that for Paul — to live was Christ. (Phil. 1:21).

Chapter 4

Jesus Our Saviour Not Our Servant

Now we are down to the moment of truth. Why didn't Jesus remove this messenger of Satan for Paul? How could Paul the Apostle go to Jesus three times and say, "I want to be rid of this thorn in my flesh" and not have the Lord take the thorn in the flesh away? I think we are about to find the primary difference between the truth of God and the lie of Satan.

Listen to how people approach God as they pray, (and I have even heard myself pray this way before I knew better.) They pray, "Lord, do this. Lord, do that. God, take care of this. Oh God, get rid of these demons." Most prayer that goes up today is of this sort. "Oh Lord, get busy and get rid of my problems."

Now, take special notice of what the Lord said. Look closely at 2 Cor. 12:9. And he said unto me. My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness . . . What the Lord was saying to Paul was, "Paul, you are standing in grace and therefore, you're in the new creation man and I don't have to be taking care of Satan for you. You can do it — through My Name that I left you. (Jn. 16:23, Mk. 11:23, 24.} Now you handle him. Teach him that you are his master and joint-heir and co-ruler with me."

In Peter 2:24; Col. 2:15, we learn that Jesus gained dominion of the planet when He died on Calvary. There He took away the keys of death (oppression, sickness and fear) and Hell from Satan. When Adam fell, he gave dominion of the planet to Satan. We, being in the second Adam (Jesus), are made more than Conquerors (Rom. 8:37) and have regained total dominion of the planet through Jesus' death and resurrection.

COME INTO MATURITY

Look at Hebrews 10:12-13. But this man [Jesus], after he had offered one sacrifice for sin forever, got down from the throne of the right hand of God the Father, went down to Earth and beat up demons.

Is that what the Word says? NO! It says, (12) "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. "

Notice God the Father sat down in the beginning. The book of Genesis records his Sabbath. As soon as He finished creating the heavens and the Earth, He rested. Jesus came and died on the cross, and after He made the sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, He didn't come down to be a nursemaid to us, but He sat down on the right hand of God the Father and He said, "Children, I'm waiting for you to come into adulthood and I am expecting you to make the devil and his crowd my footstool." (See Psalms 110:1).

He said, "Paul, my grace is sufficient for you. You've declared that you are physically weak and that you need me as Saviour. Now you're My brother and God is your Father. Become a partaker of My divine nature, (II Peter 1: 4), and YOU do something about your 'thorn.' You want the 'thorn' out, YOU get the 'thorn' out. I am not operating a nursery. I am running a planet, with sons and daughters who are coming into maturity, who are standing up in the full stature of Christ, and taking dominion over the devil!'

Look at Luke 10:19. Behold, I give you power . . . That word 'power' is the Greek word 'exousia', which is better interpreted 'authority'. ... I give you (authority) to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power . . . The word 'power' here is not 'exousia'. It is the Greek word 'dunamis', which means 'ability'. He says . . . I give you (authority) to tread on serpents and (authority) to tread on scorpions and I give you (authority) over all the (ability) of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Chapter 5

Sons—Not Bees

Paul was not a full grown Christian when he sought God three times to remove the thorn. There is only one creature, to my knowledge, in all of God's creation that is born full grown. It is the bee. But he can sting only one time. Then he dies. Thank God we are not born full grown. Wouldn't you hate to be able to sting (be effective for God) only one time and then fall over dead? I thank God that we are growing up even as the Word says . . . from glory to glory, we are being changed into His marvelous image ...—into the maturity of God. With this maturity we will be able to sting a hundred times . . . a thousand ... ten thousand times . Remember, Paul was not born full grown. He, too, had to grow—and grow he did into a great inspiration for all of us.

NOT WORKING FOR US-BUT WITH US

Please look with me at Mark 16:15-20.

(15)    And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

(16)    He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

(1 7) . . . in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

(18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.

(19)    So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

(20)    And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Read it carefully. It does not say that the Lord was working for them. It says that the Lord was working with them. What the average Christian today cannot understand is that when Paul was being addressed by the Lord after he'd asked Him three times to do something about the thorn in his flesh, Jesus said, "Not on your life, Paul. I'm not working for you, but I will work with you. My grace is sufficient. In my name you'll cast out that thorn." The restoration of dominion of planet Earth to His children is paramount to God's plan to return to Earth. God cannot establish His righteous reign on planet Earth until His people begin to walk in the victory He purchased for them on Calvary. The casting out of demons and evil messengers is our responsibility, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 6

Paul, The Overcomer

Well, did Paul ever get the power over Satan's messengers? Look at Acts 13. We now see the mature Paul. In verses six through twelve the Scripture says,

(6)    And when they had gone through the isle of Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus;

(7)    Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

(8)    But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

(9)    Then Saul, (who is also called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

(10)    And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil (messenger of Satan), thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

(11)    And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

(1 2) Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Now we see that Paul wasn't having quite the 'thorn' problems he used to have. Paul, in the process of becoming a mature saint, had learned to use the power of God over Satan's messengers.

FINDING PERFECTION IN WEAKNESS

In the grace of God there was the sufficiency that Paul needed. In 2 Cor. 12:9, we find beautiful verses of guiding words. (9a) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness . . . He is saying. "Paul, if you'll recognize that you can't handle your problems in your own strength, and you'll realize that you and I together can easily handle them, we'll get the job done nicely." (9b) . . . Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities . . . Paul said, Look out devil and your messengers, because I've found the name of Jesus, and with it, I am strong. Notice he said . .. that the power of Christ may rest upon me. That power is in His name ((Jn. 16:23, 24; Mk. 11:23).

Paul said, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities . . . " In other words, "I'm glad I'm not strong in my own strength. I'm glad that in me there is weakness . . . so now when reproaches come, I know how to handle them. I step fully into the grace of God and I say, Satan, I cannot do one thing about this reproach in my own power, but as His legal representative on planet Earth — in the name of Jesus, stop." —and he must stop.

In necessities Paul says, "Lord, we are out of money and out of food and Lord, I can't do anything about it. At this point it is evident that I am weak. But in the name of Jesus I speak an end to this want."

With persecution ... look with me please, at 1 Cor. 15:32. (Talk about trouble! Here we find Paul fighting with wild animals in the arena!) If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.

The statement, 'let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die' was the common saying of the gladiators of Paul's day. By this we know, or can be quite certain, that Paul was in the arena with wild beasts that were prepared to kill him. Can you imagine sitting in the arena of that day? There is Paul, center arena — live lions walking about. Then the official of the game says, "All right, you Christian man! What are you going to do with this lion? Paul looks the lion straight in the eye and says, "In my own strength, I don't have a chance against you Mr. Lion, but in the name of Jesus you don't have a chance against me — So, in the name of Jesus, lie down!" Down goes the lion, into a sound sleep. Gladiators didn't handle lions that way. They had to take the lion by the throat and kill it, or be killed themselves. They had to operate in their own power. But Paul handled the lion in the power of the new creation man and that man's power is in the name of Jesus. The answer to the problem of the lions that Paul had to face is explained in 2 Cor. 1:8-10.

(8) For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.

Paul tells more of the story of his encounter with the lions at Ephesus. But notice he says (verse 9), We had the sentence of death in ourselves . . . The Greek word 'sentence' is better interpreted 'answer'. Paul's 'answer' to death was simply that he was already dead. (Gal. 2:20). Paul says to the lions, "Do you think you can kill me, lions? I am standing in the power of the name of Jesus and I am already dead, as I have been crucified with Christ. In that name and power and in that new creature, I say STOP!"

Paul says that we have the sentence (answer) of death in ourselves; that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead. God said, "In your weakness will my strength be made perfect." So Paul says he takes pleasure in his weakness. Not that he spent hours on end bragging about any little ache or pain he had, but that he was glad that he knew his own inability so that he could put the ability of God to work in his life.

STOP THE MOUTH OF THE GAINSAYERS

The next time someone tries to tell you how sick Paul was, take the Word and show them that this was not the case at all. There is a powerful warning given in the Scripture to those who would attribute to the devil the works of the Holy Spirit. It stands to reason that the opposite, attributing to the Holy Spirit the work of the devil, would bring just as great a recompense. This is exactly what the mistaken do when they say that Paul's thorn was inflicted by God. The Bible very plainly says that the messenger was from Satan and not from God.

Paul was strong in that he recognized his human weakness and in the name of Jesus took dominion over every demon and the devil. And he had total victory. This is my hope for you.

Right now I hope you are saying, "I am going to become everything that God wants me to be. Satan does not have dominion over me. I have dominion over him." I want every man and woman, every boy and girl who reads these words to say,

"I recognize that in my flesh I am weak, but I will not recognize that I am hopeless. I recognize that in my flesh I am weak, but I will not recognize that I am destitute. In the name of Jesus, I plan to start living the life of the overcomer! I will take dominion over the devil. Satan will NOT rule me! I will rule HIM!"

God doesn't get any glory from sickness—God doesn't send satanic messengers to His children. Begin to say out loud, "Look devil! I know who I am and I know that in the name of Jesus I have dominion over you."

At this very moment, I am impressed that you are realizing that the sickness you have is not God's will for you. Dear friend, immediately speak to that sickness in the name of Jesus, command it to go — and claim your healing.

God bless you as you face life now strong with the truth of His Word, knowing that the truth will set you free.

Write and tell me of your victory over Satan.

Brother John was horn in Paramaribo, Surinam, South America, in 1936. He was raised and educated in Texas, USA, and received his doctorate degree in philosophy from Baptist Christian University, Shreveport, Louisiana. Brother John now resides with his wife Pat and son David (one of their five children; the others are now married and living away from home) in Fort Worth, Texas, where he is the Director of His Image Ministries.

Brother John’s television program, Principles of Biblical Economics, is aired five times per day, seven days per week, by more than 550 television stations from coast to coast. Brother John speaks nationally and internationally in conferences and seminars every week. His tape and book ministry is worldwide, and many of his vibrant teachings are now available in tape and book form. Brother John is an extraordinary teacher of the Word of God, bringing forth many of the present truths that God is using in these days to prepare the body of Christ for His triumphant return.

Table of Contents

Paul's Thorn In The Flesh

1 Weakness—Not Sickness

2 Thorn—Not Sickness

3 God Is Making Sons—Not Worms

4 Jesus Our Saviour Not Our Servant

5 Sons—Not Bees

6 Paul, The Overcomer