Paul writes about the thorn he had in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). This wasn’t an actual thorn, but it was something that caused him suffering. Theologians over the years have wondered what this thorn was, speculating that it might have been bad eyesight, a disease, a stutter, or maybe even a difficult wife.
But Paul clearly tells us what the thorn in the flesh is. He says the thorn in the flesh was an angel of Satan. The word “messenger” is literally “angel” in Greek (2 Corinthians 12:7). Paul had a fallen angel that regularly attacked him. We wrestle against principalities and powers— against fallen angels (Ephesians 6:12).
This fallen angel attacked Paul by stirring up people to persecute him wherever he went, causing him great suffering.
Here are some examples of these attacks:
Acts 9:29 Some people that Paul was arguing with about spiritual things tried to kill him.
Acts 13:50 Paul was kicked out of a city.
Acts 14:5 Leaders plotted to stone Paul to death.
Acts 14:19 Paul was stoned and left for dead.
Acts 16:22 Paul was stripped naked and beaten with rods.
Acts 21:36 A mob attacked Paul and shouted out to kill him.
Acts 23:10 Paul was attacked by a mob and almost torn in pieces.
Paul said he wasn’t fighting against people, but against fallen angels (Ephesians 6:12). The thorn in his flesh was a specific fallen angel that stirred people up against him, opposing his ministry.
Paul did not fight back against these people because he knew that he was facing a spiritual problem.
The Bible doesn’t say that Paul rebuked the fallen angel directly, commanding it to leave. Instead, he prayed and asked God to take this fallen angel away from him. Why didn’t Paul rebuke this fallen angel directly? This is because fallen angels have to be dealt with by God. We see this from an example about Michael the archangel. Michael is a very powerful angel, but when he fought with the devil (a fallen angel) he did not rebuke Satan directly, but he said “the Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9). If Michael needed God to intervene in a battle against a fallen angel, how much more do we? While we have power to rebuke and cast out demons in the name of Jesus, fallen angels are different than demons. Fallen angels have bodies, but demons seek to inhabit bodies. Fallen angels are more powerful than demons, and to defeat them we require the direct intervention of God.
In response to Paul’s prayer, God did not take away the fallen angel. Instead, God told Paul that divine strength made perfect in his life when Paul was weak.
As a result of this revelation, Paul got a new perspective. He began to take pleasure in these sufferings. These struggles were not fun, but they gave Paul an opportunity to do battle and win. They increased the power of God operating in his life. It’s like Paul was going to the spiritual gym and picking up spiritual barbells. When someone lifts weights, he doesn’t rejoice when the barbell sits on his chest and suffocates him. Instead, he rejoices when he bench presses it and lifts it, because that causes his muscles to grow. Paul was growing his spiritual muscles by facing these problems, and he was overcoming them by the power of God. He rejoiced in this.
We are not to take pleasure in suffering for suffering’s sake. The goal is not pain and suffering, the goal is growth, strength, power, and maturity. Suffering is a means to that end. We are not to be like medieval monks, beating ourselves for no purpose or to pay for our sins. This is pointless. Jesus already paid for our sins. But when we go through challenges for Christ, we are undergoing spiritual training so that his power can operate in our lives.
Like Paul, we can take pleasure in suffering FOR CHRIST because when we overcome challenges by the power of God, we become spiritually strong. We are not reveling in weakness and defeat. We are enjoying the possibility of winning. It’s about using spiritual challenges to become stronger. Strength is the goal (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Facing trouble for Christ is spiritual training. It causes us to grow in the ability and power to reign in life through Jesus Christ. Enjoying trouble when going through training may sound a bit crazy. But for a person who is serious about improvements, training is important.
For example, some people like running. They really look forward to getting up early in the morning and running 5 miles. To some people this sounds crazy, but to the runner, he looks forward to exhausting himself in this way and becoming weak at the end of his run, because this training will ultimately make him faster, stronger, and healthier. Some people like going to the gym and lifting iron weights, pulling on heavy machines, tugging tires around the parking lot, and jogging on conveyor belts. At the end of this they are weak, but they know they are training to ultimately get stronger. To some people this frenzy of activity sounds crazy, but the weightlifters know it will ultimately help them.
Many people enjoy physical training.
Paul liked spiritual training.
Paul enjoyed facing problems because he knew that God would give him victories and answers through divine operations of the Holy Spirit. This would cause him to grow spiritually and become more powerful in God. Then he could be more effective for his kingdom.
Paul described the spiritual training that he went through (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). He buffeted his body and led it captive. He did not want his flesh dominating his life; he wanted the Holy Spirit to dominate his life. He knew that if he didn’t control his flesh, he might be disqualified from the race. The Christian life is like a race, and to run in this race, we must run according to the rules. We are to run in order to win. The prize at the end of this race is full maturity (Philippians 3:12). No one has won this race yet, for no Christian has reached full maturity. But we are to press toward the goal. Someday, this goal will be reached, and then it will be the end of the age.
To run the Christian life well, we must be willing to undergo spiritual training like Paul did.
James had the same mindset Paul did regarding troubles. James told us to be happy when we fall into various trials (James 1:2). These troubles test our faith and strengthen us in the Lord. This spiritual training is essential to becoming spiritually capable.
In eternity in heaven, there is no trouble. There will be no problems. Eternity will be wonderful! At the same time, it also means that in eternity there will be no opportunities to grow through sufferings. Whatever position we have attained on this earth spiritually will be reflected by our eternal state. Our life on the earth is the only opportunity we will have to lay up treasure in heaven. It’s our only chance to lay up eternal rewards. Someday we will stand before God, and we’ll get a new body. This glorified body will reflect our level of dedication to the Lord on this earth (2 Corinthians 4:17). Whatever tests we go through now will be worth it in light of eternity. We are saved by grace through faith. But we lay up rewards in heaven as we obey God in this life.
What kind of Christianity is never tested? It’s a lukewarm Christianity that is merely existing and floating along with the stream of life. Many Christians who are just coasting along will be vomited out of the Lord’s mouth (Revelation 3:16). This is the church of Laodicea. They thought they were rich and prosperous, but they didn’t recognize their miserable spiritual condition.
What if a person never exercises physically? They’ll become unhealthy and sick.
What if a person never exercises spiritually? They will become weak and spiritually unhealthy.
Paul rejoiced in suffering for Christ, even when it involved facing severe opposition as a result of a fallen angel. This was because these challenges were opportunities for him to overcome by the power of God, and they made him stronger in Christ.
May God open our eyes to see this life in a new way, and understand that the challenges we face can have a larger purpose, as we allow Christ to carry us through. When we are weak in ourselves, God is strong in us. Let’s be willing to undergo spiritual training. This type of training is the most important, for it will have eternal results.
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