Is it possible to
exalt ourselves above measure- to think more highly of ourselves than we
should? I don't want to confuse this with the self-depreciation many take on in
their lives outside of their relationship with Christ- I'm talk about exalting
ourselves in our relationship with Christ. Paul knew that he would have exalted
himself above measure if he hadn't been given his thorn in the flesh. Only,
Paul comprehended this after he asked not once, not twice, but three times for
it to be taken from him. Now Paul was used to healing people of their ailments
in the name of the Savior. I can imagine He was used to healing all sorts of
diseases and infirmities, you name it and he was most likely responsible for
someone being healed. Remember this--
Act 19:11 And
God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Act 19:12 So
that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the
diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
GOD wrought SPECIAL
MIRACLES by the hands of Paul- so no, it wasn't PAUL healing these people it
was GOD, but He was using Paul as His instrument of healing. Paul witnessed the power of God's healing and
knew God could heal to the uttermost when it was God's will to do so, to allow
healing. I imagine God allowed so much healing because people needed to
comprehend the full love of God through Jesus Christ His Only Begotten
Son. They needed to hear the plan of
salvation in Christ, they needed to know they could gain eternal life in
Christ. God did not heal without a
purpose. He wanted His love known. So does this mean when the healing doesn’t
come we don’t see His love? No. If that were the case, Paul would be lamenting
the loss of God's love for him. Paul knew there was a REASON for no healing, a
reason that was meant for his own good. He wanted the ailment, the THORN in his
FLESH taken away but he had to accept the thorn and TRUST in God that it was
all a part of God's plan. Every single person who suffers, all who are put to
death because of their belief in our Savior, are ultimately working out their
own salvation through their trust in God's plan, not their own. People have to know that it is Satan
buffeting them, but comprehend that in that buffeting they are safe in God's
hands, safe in their eternal life.
Please Lord, please
help us to know, to trust, to believe, to have faith in our SAVIOR'S love in
ALL the tragedy we go through, or witness others - our loved ones going
through.
All in our Savior's
name, all in Jesus Christ our LORD now and forever!
2Co 12:7 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.
2Co 12:8 For
this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 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.
2Co 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in
persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I
strong.
'… the Lord is still
for the body. If we offer ours to Him, acknowledging Him as Lord of everything
and claiming His promise by faith, we shall see how the Lord can deliver us
from ourselves. Irrespective of how we physiologically are made, even possessing
special weaknesses, we can overcome our sins through the Lord.' Excerpt- The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee.
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