“A Thorn in the Flesh, A Messenger of Satan…”

{11/29/11

I wrote this post almost two years ago, and I notice people have been reading it again. So I thought I would post it anew. The other reason for posting it again is that I am horribly convicted by what I wrote in faith then. I must admit that, at the moment, I have fallen horribly short of this truth from the Lord! Father, help me to turn and see your Truth here, in all of its fullness, once again. Amen.}

This is the follow-up post to Suffering, Enduring & Overcoming: “…Some Strange Thing Happening…”. So you might want to read that post first, if you so choose.

The Apostle Paul speaks of his life-altering revelations from the Lord: the first of which was on the road to Damascus (Acts 22: 1-21), and the second when Paul was caught up to the third heaven.

Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ (Paul himself) who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to MY WEAKNESSES. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, A MESSENGER (angel) OF SATAN to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord THREE TIMES that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for POWER IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12)

Most theologians, and “churches”, teach that the “thorn in the flesh” was some form of illness which effected either Paul’s eyesight, or caused him to have seizures (epilepsy). But in reading a book by G.H. Pember, I have come to believe that most theologians, and “churches”, are mistaken, since they seem to ignore the last part of this verse: …a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from exulting myself. Here is what Pember has to say about Paul’s thorn in the flesh:

…We shall then see that the thorn in the flesh was no mere disease or infirmity, but precisely what it is said to have been, that is, an angel of Satan sent to buffet the Apostle. This ever active foe would be perpetually assailing him with the many hindrances and annoyances, which are so well known to the true servant of Christ; would often be whispering in his ear incongruent, evil, and even foul thoughts, certain, should he fail to cast them off before they became his own, to check the inflow of spiritual power from the Holy Ghost; would sometimes draw over him a feeling of nervous lassitude, a weakness and feebleness of body and mind, just at the critical moment when it was necessary that he should be strong; would bring about disconcerting incidents, craftily devised to shake his faith, or to irritate his temper; and, in short, would baffle and thwart him at every turn, taking the fullest advantage of any circumstance that could be used for his discomfort and discouragement. Henceforth, then, this dread spirit would be ever hovering near the Apostle, who would be able to do the work for which he had been sent forth, only by dint of ceaseless prayer and a humble walk before his God–a life of peril and danger, of creeping ever, as it were, along the brink of a precipice, which must have powerfully counteracted any tendency to undue elation.

Thus a comprehension of this instructive incident throws much light upon the hindering and damaging influence which Satan is able to exercise against true believers…

(The Great Prophecies of the Centuries Concerning the Church: pages 175-76)

Lucifer: The Fallen "Morning Star" (Isaiah 14: 12)

The nominal “church” seems to stay away from anything dealing with Satan, the Devil. The nominal “church” appears to be fearful of being accused of “political-incorrectness”, especially when it comes to acknowledging the presence, and evil power, of Satan and his minions; even though the Word of God makes clear that the father of lies exists and seeks to devour those who belong to the Christ:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle IS NOT against flesh and blood, BUT AGAINST the RULERS, against the POWERS, against the WORLD FORCES OF THIS DARKNESS, against THE SPIRITUAL FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. (Ephesians 6)

8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5)

So it isn’t surprising that the clergy would ignore, or stay away from, the “messenger of Satan” portion of this scripture: after all, the “church” can’t afford to alienate the apostate “Christian” who supports her.

I believe that Pember’s description of Paul’s thorn, the messenger, is probably much closer to the truth than these other, more accepted, theological explanations. Whatever this thorn was, it had to be beyond the normal suffering that comes from some form of illness; since Paul suffered many things that most human beings will never experience:

But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I speak in foolishness—I am just as bold myself. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? (2 Corinthians 11)

It seems to me, with all of this constant turmoil, danger, and pain, in the Apostle’s life, that bad eyesight, or even an occasional seizure (as bad as that might have been), would not have been enough to make Paul plead (implore) with the Lord, three times, that IT might leave him.

Paul states,

Concerning this I implored the Lord THREE TIMES that IT (the THORN, the MESSENGER OF SATAN) might leave me…

Why would we assume that Paul has implored the Lord to remove an illness, when no illness is described (poor eyesight and epilepsy are conjecture) or even mentioned? Wouldn’t the Apostle have, in the case of sickness, implored the Lord to HEAL his illness, if “IT” truly was an illness plaguing him, as opposed to requesting “IT” might leave him? In other words, it seems that Paul is referring to an evil entity that is attacking him, an evil entity much like the one Pember describes!

{Yes, I know that because Paul used the term “thorn” to describe this particular misery, that “IT” refers to the “thorn”. But that still doesn’t explain the second part of the verse: “a messenger of Satan”, or “an Angel of Satan”. A messenger, or angel, in the word of God, is always a spiritual entity!}

Also, Paul ends the verse with this statement:

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul says, then, that he is well content with Weaknesses, Insults, Distresses, Persecutions, Difficulties: these afflictions seem to be pointing at more than just suffering from a single form of disease. It seems to me that these afflictions are describing what the THORN, the MESSENGER, was delivering, almost constantly, to the Apostle.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you..." (John 14: 27)

In conclusion: if we are truly seeking the Lord and His Way, His Truth, and His Life, and we find ourselves wondering about the fiery ordeal that surrounds us, as if some strange thing were happening, then we might want to remember the Apostle’s thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, and what our response should be to this fiery ordeal: enduring, praying, resting, and maintaining our Faith in the Lord. The Lord promises us that we will have tribulation in this life, but He also promises He will be with us throughout all of our trials and tribulations:

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)

“Though He slay me,
I will hope in Him. (Job 13: 15)

So whether we believe Paul’s thorn was an angel of Satan assigned to him or merely a disease, we should, at the least, discern that suffering and enduring will be a portion of our walk with the Lord. Suffering and enduring are an essential portion of our sojourn in this life, because our WEAKNESSES (our brokenness, our contrite heart) can help keep us from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life: an idolatrous love for this world system of Satan, which will ultimately drive the Spirit away from us (grieving the Spirit). In our utter WEAKNESS (dependence on Him), then, the Lord can work His perfect will and purpose in, and through, our lives: His Power is Perfected In Our WEAKNESS, not our fleshly strength!

“What if….”

A brother in Christ, who is suffering through a great trial at the moment, sent me the following you-tube song. So I thought I would share it with all who are suffering in great pain out there. I thought I’d share it with all, who like me, find themselves calling out to the Lord, more often than not these days, “Why, Father, Why”

Yes indeed, “WHAT IF” there is an eternal purpose for our pain and suffering, right here and right now?

Americans Love Character Assassination (For Certain People, That Is!)

Joe Paterno: The latest victim of the Godless and greed-driven media!

If there is any one thing modern Americans love even more than their rights, greed, war, and sex, it’s the tearing down of traditional icons by the media of both political sides. America has become a nation, because of its Godlessness and well deserved GUILT, that loves to see anyone torn to pieces for making a mistake. But, in particular, America loves to see a traditional icon (or anything traditional, for that matter) torn to pieces. In my opinion, this societal illness is tantamount to the Roman citizenry of two thousand years ago salivating over gladiators killing each other in the coliseum.

{Note: by traditional icons, I mean men and women who have and will stand for the good, those who will stand for something other than their own self interests and gratification. By traditional icons, I mean those who still hold to the notion that the wellbeing of others is more important than their own, whether they be of Christ or not. Sadly, the few people left in the world like this are becoming more and more the targets of the low-life and self-absorbed (“self-actualized”) multitudes who slither about on this earth, and who make life a living hell for everyone but themselves! You know who you are!}

Does anyone out there ever notice how worthless idiots like Lindsay Lohan can break the law time after time and no one in the x and y generations is appalled at all? Lohan even thumbs her nose at the California judges and all she gets for her blatant disregard for “the law” is another legal pat on the wrist, while Hollywood, mindless and moral deviates make apologies for poor little, drunk and stoned Lindsay.

And have you ever noticed how molestation of children by gays is almost totally ignored: The Man-Boy Association, for instance, while heterosexual men, in particular, are tried, found guilty, and executed by the press and public opinion? And all of this travesty of justice happens before the first court date has even been set. Then the judges, who are elected (not appointed, as they should be), and, therefore, must kowtow to the voters like any other politician, are forced to make judgments based on their reelection strategies, as opposed to the evidence, their judgment and true justice!

Yes, sir, just let anyone who doesn’t partake of this Hollywood/Darwinian/atheist/feminist/sodomite culture make a mistake, and the media crap will immediately hit the politically-correct fan. Such is the case with Coach Joe Paterno of Penn State University. Coach Paterno has been teaching and coaching at Penn State since I have been sucking wind, and I am almost 62 years old.

Yesterday, my reason for writing this post became even more evident. Bur first, let me give the background of what is really troubling me. As you’ve probably heard, since it is on every sports and news broadcast, a former coach at Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, has been arrested and charged with sexual assault on a number of young boys. It seems that a graduate assistant even witnessed one of these attacks, some years back (2002, I believe?), and reported it to Coach Paterno the next day. Coach Paterno then turned the matter over to his immediate supervisor, the athletic director, which was Paterno’s only real responsibility in the matter.

I worked in a school system and at a major corporation, and, in both cases, there was a “chain of command,” a “chain of responsibility.” If I witnessed a wrong doing, I was to report it to my superior, and then it was their responsibility to get it to the right people in the chain of command, not mine. And, in particular, I was never to go to anyone else, in particular, the police or any other form of authority. That was the responsibility of those higher up in the chain of command. My only duty was to report what I had seen or heard, if there was any wrongdoing of any kind. This is exactly what Coach Paterno did in this situation! When the graduate assistant reported to him, Coach Paterno reported to his athletic director immediately. It was then the responsibility of the athletic director and those above him to handle the situation, not Coach Paterno. Coach Paterno’s responsibility, after reporting the incident, was to do what he was being paid to do, coach the football team!

This is what administrators are paid for, they are there to handle these kinds of situations. That is why there is a “chain of command” to begin with. But in Penn State’s case, the chain of command failed miserably, and Coach Paterno has taken the fall for Sandusky and the administration at Penn State!

Yesterday, November 9th, 2011, the board of trustees at Penn State University fired Coach Joe Paterno. They openly admitted, during a press conference last night, that they didn’t have all the information on the “sex-abuse scandal.” But their lack of information wasn’t enough to stop them from offering up Coach Paterno as a sacrifice, a scapegoat!

Coach Paterno has dedicated his life to this university, and what did Coach Paterno get for his sixty years of dedicated service to the students of Penn State University? A telephone call telling him he was fired! And the coach had even tendered his resignation. All Coach Paterno wanted was to finish the season (3 games, and post-season), and retire, but that wouldn’t have taken the heat off of the board of directors and administration, who, by the way, are the ones totally accountable for this mess, beyond Jerry Sandusky.

If I hadn’t known what had happened at Penn State over the past thirteen years, I would have believed, from what I heard on the news and sports shows yesterday, that Coach Paterno had been arrested on sexual assault charges. Jerry Sandusky, the ALLEGED (not convicted) perpetrator of these crimes against children, was only mentioned in passing, as was the administration, athletic director and student assistant. It was evident the media machine was out to do away with Coach Paterno, and the media machine, as usual, had its way!

Coach Jim Tressel: One More Scapegoat!

A similar thing happened to Ohio State’s coach, Jim Tressel, although the situation was not as dire, and no one was physically harmed. Coach Tressel found himself caught up in a mess with five of his student athletes. They had broken an NCAA rule by selling their sports memorabilia and awards to get tattoos. Coach Tressel did fail, but his failure was a lack of judgment, which was due to his desire to protect his players from an outdated and asinine NCAA rule. But, just like Coach Paterno, Coach Tressel was sacrificed so the board and administrators would not be bothered by the press, and Ohio State would not be badmouthed by ESPN, and the like, any further.

It’s the lowlife scum at ESPN, Fox Sports Ohio (The Dan Patrick Show), and the major cable news-channels, who set out to destroy both of these fine coaches, and they had their way! They knew if they went after Jerry Sandusky that no viewer, after a few days, would pay any attention, since few people even know who Jerry Sandusky is. But Joe Paterno (and Jim Tressel) is a well known name in college sports, so, needless to say, Paterno was their target, even though he was not the perpetrator of the crimes against children, and fulfilled his responsibly by reporting what he had heard to his superior.

These modern-day sportscasters are mindless, thick-necked idiots who would sell their own children for a juicy story that might just bring them some more notoriety and a few more bucks. These men, for the most part, were failures in college and pro sports, so they now take out their warped revenge on those who have been successful, like Coach Paterno and Coach tressel! These sportscasters are the type of “men” (vermin) who now make this sick world go around every day. We can see them in the state, local and federal government, and on Wall Street, and in corporate headquarters, and on the pulpits on Sunday mornings. But, thank the Lord, there will be a day, sometime, when this type of man will be held accountable for his actions! I long for that day!

Whatever happened to loyalty? Where are the true men in this world? If there are any true men of God in this world, then where are they? I watched the Penn State board members last night and I was sickened: a bunch of nerdy, self-actualized, girly-men afraid of bad press. Gutless wonders, every last one!!

What happened to Coach Paterno and Coach Tressel is just a symptom of a much larger disease. And that disease is the Lack of the Lord in this world, which is leading to there being no men of character, integrity and guts to run this country or the world! There ain’t much hope, except in the Lord and the next life!

P.S.

11/12/2011

Finally, after the feeding frenzy of the mass-media, which has been going on now for the last three days, I heard an official from the State of Pennsylvania state what I had stated above.

According to this official, Joe Paterno, by reporting what he had heard to his superior (the athletic director), was not only following the right procedure according to Penn State University, but was also adhering to a Pennsylvania law!

But was there any apology coming from CNN, the channel where I heard this report? Absolutely NONE! Nor will there be! We live in a world where those in the wrong never have to backtrack and apologize for being wrong, especially in the warped world of broadcast and print journalists. Joe Paterno was suppose to grovel, and for no less than doing the right thing and even obeying the law of his state, but “reporters”, sports and news, are evidently above reproach, above an apology and admitting to rushing to judgment?

Does anyone but me, and Franco Harris, a former football player at Penn State (Pittsburgh Steeler), see that the Penn State board of trustees used the press to prosecute, judge, sentence and execute Joe Paterno’s character as a coach, teacher and human being? And many of us, the largest majority, allowed them to do this.

Why are most Americans so anxious to see a person who does good in this evil world brought down? Why has this kind of character assassination become such a perverted form of entertainment in the “good old US of A?

Here is what the Word has to say about man’s (not the Lord’s) judgment on others:

1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5“YOU HYPOCRITE, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7)

American’s Nonexistent Conscience: “Woe to You, Hypocrites!”

The Truth Hurt?

I am always somewhat amused and irritated when I see Americans frothing at the mouth over “sex-crimes.” I am certain that the stench from American’s hypocritical protestations about “sex-crimes” nauseates our Lord in heaven! After all, Americans, of all the peoples on earth, should be very quiet when it comes to anything about sexual perversion, and “sex-crimes” in particular: child molestation. etc.

The Lord said to the self-righteous, and blood guilt ravaged, hypocrites who led Israel,

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, HYPOCRITES…”

Perhaps the Lord is now saying to Americans, “Woe to you, hypocrites!”
Why would the Lord be saying this to the new chosen people on earth (what a joke)?

Well let’s see, Americans are appalled at anyone having sex with a child, as they should be. And yet, Americans (American women, in particular) not only turn a blind eye to other atrocities American’s commit against children, but they even openly support these atrocities; just like the feminists are doing in the jpeg above.

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, BUT ALSO GIVE HEARTY APPROVAL TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEM. (Romans 1)

These people speak of the stolen innocence of children who have been molested, and that this loss of innocence will last a lifetime. But at least a molested child has a life to live, even with lost innocence, whereas an aborted baby has neither life nor innocence. Thank the Lord that these murdered-in-their-mother’s-womb babies are with the Lord in heaven. But they were still robbed of this life, and by their own mothers. And life, unless I’m totally confused, is more precious than innocence; which will be lost, over time, by a child living in this world anyway. This hypocritical notion that innocence is more precious than life can be attributed to one thing, and one thing only, evolution/natural-selection, which devalues human life.

Hitler is alive and well! He has returned as the American Feminist Movement!

When it comes to American’s personal rights, in particular sodomites and feminists, then their overwhelming concern for children seems to be completely nonexistent! “Woe to you, hypocrites!”

Do you find this jpeg horrible and nauseating? So do I! You know why it is horrible and nauseating to us? Because these babies (children) were alive and well in their mother’s wombs, until they were brutally murdered! But the constitution and the “law of the land” come before the Law of our Lord and the right to LIFE of an unborn child!!
American men and women have sex like animals, and when the woman gets pregnant (another life in her womb), then, by law, she can commit murder (genocide), and on her own unborn child. I find this to be much more appalling than molestation of a child. In other words, when a woman becomes inconvenienced (because of her, and her partner’s, harlotry), by an “unwanted pregnancy,” then she simply has a “hit” put out on her own child! She, and her partner, if he is even made aware, become murderers in the eyes of our Lord. “Woe to you, Hypocrites!”

A mother murdering her own child is more perverse and demented than any act of sodomy or pedophilia, in my opinion. You talk about “unnatural” and “betrayal”, there is nothing so unnatural as a mother who not only doesn’t protect her child, but murders him or her in her own womb. There is no betrayal a human being can perpetrate on another that is worse than abortion! NONE!!!

Lastly, America is a warring nation. A nation that cares little for the civilian populations it destroys in the name of freedom (democracy), not God! So I guess Americans have no problem with blowing up children, just as long as their genitalia wasn’t touched. “Woe to you, Hypocrites!”

I despise injustice and hypocrisy, and this country is filled with hypocrites, and most Americans wouldn’t know justice if they were smacked in the head with it. And when American feminists go on and on about pedophilia, I literally have daggers in my mind and heart. Most, not all, pedophiles are mentally and emotionally ill. These sick people, men and women, have little control over themselves, they aren’t committing these horrendous acts because it’s their right. They, unlike American feminists, are not in control of their faculties. The American feminist and their Nazi-like doctors know exactly what they are perpetrating on alive children in the womb, so they are without any excuse! “Woe to you, Hypocrites!”

I heard a song the other day, and it was referring to this country as “God’s country.” If I were this songwriter, I would sit down, take a good look around, and reconsider the words I had written! This country is a hypocritical mess that is on its way out! It is anything but God’s country!!