The Armor of God - Day 11 (The Helmet of Salvation - Session 7 - Part 2E-2)

[Rev. Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

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II. The Whole Armor of God – Sessions 3-8 – Parts 2A-1 to 2F

E.  The Helmet of Salvation – Sessions 7 – Parts 2E-1 to 2E-3:

*Session 7 – Part 2E-2 – Let’s take a closer look at Paul's thorn in the flesh. II Corinthians 12:7 says, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through 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." What was Paul's thorn in the flesh? The verse says plainly that it was a "messenger of Satan." The Greek word is translated "angel" 179 times and "messenger" seven times. It's never translated "disease" or "physical infirmity." Such an interpretation would be wrong. An angel of Satan, one of the spirit beings that followed him when God threw him out of heaven, buffeted Paul, tempting him with self-exaltation. That spirit wanted Paul to exalt himself; watch out – that’s what Satan try to get us to do today. In II Corinthians 11:23-27 Paul lists some of the ordeals caused by this evil angel that kept him humble. There is not a disease in the entire list. Paul's thorn must be understood in the same sense as Numbers 33:55; Ezekiel 28:24; and Hosea 2:6 where the same Greek word for thorn is found in the Septuagint. In these passages, the giants were called thorns in the sides of the Israelites. The giants resulted from the union of fallen angels with human women (Genesis 6:4; Jude 6; II Peter 2:4). They weren't diseases and plagues, bad eyes or a heart condition; they did cause suffering and war.

Paul asked three times for the thorn to be removed and God refused. He refused because the thorn was an evil spirit that was tempting Paul. It is not yet time for Satan and his demons to be removed from the world. That will happen in God's timing which is the Day of Vengeance, the Second Coming of Christ.

In truth each and every believer has the same thorn. We are all tempted and buffeted by Satan, and this will continue until Jesus put Satan away forever. God made many promises to each of us. I Corinthians 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

He has promised us a way of escape from the devil's wiles. This is a message of love, hope, and peace. Still, we cannot be ignorant of his devices. We must know the entire truth, seek forgiveness and obey God's Word. Then we will receive peace. Satan's thorns will still be thrown at us, but we will deflect and defeat them.

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May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds ALWAYS!!!

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks

 

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