So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (ESV)
Does God have the power to heal all deceases? Absolutely, but does He heal them all? No. This may not be the answer that a charismatic old-fashioned Pentecostal wants to hear, but Paul made it very clear that he had a thorn in his flesh. The word Thorn is the Greek word, skólops; meaning “Something pointed, sharp, as a stake, the point of a hook, a thorn, prickle (Sept.: Hos. 2:6). In 2 Cor. 12:7, “a thorn in the flesh,” something which causes severe pain or constant irritation, probably some bodily infirmity, equal to asthéneia (769), sickness, weakness.”[1] Verse 7 tells us that the thorn was not in the soul or the spirit, but in the flesh.
By the definition of thorn, we can conclude that whatever it was, it was very severe; it was very painful. We also learn that it was a messenger from Satan causing this pain. It was not a demon, but a fallen angel causing the pain. Demons and fallen angels are not the same.
In Genesis 6 we see fallen angels having sex with the women; that union produced giants. The flood was designed to kill these giants; however, they do show up all through the story of Israel.[2] We can say that some forms of these hybrids are amongst us even today; it is not obvious because they look like you and I. Jude tells us,
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—Jude 1:1-4 (ESV)
It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. Jude 1:14-16 (ESV)
We learn in the Book of the Watchers by the Prophet Enoch that “…the giants, who are produced from the spirits and flesh, shall be called evil spirits upon the earth, and on the earth shall be their dwelling.”[3] Those original angels in Genesis 6 who had sex with the daughters of men were 200 according to Enock. We know that those angels according to Jude are “…in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.” However, because giants showed up after that we don’t have an exact number of these angels who produced Nephilim. We know that the Promise Land promised to Abraham, Moses and Joshua was filled with these giants all the way to the times of David. The giants are dead, but their spirits (unclean spirits or demons) are still on this earth. We have been given authority to cast them out. Mathew 10:1 tells us,
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. (ESV)
So, back to Paul, he prayed three times against the thorn in his flesh and received no healing. God himself told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” We know that the lack of faith is a reason not to receive healing; however, faith was not an issue with Paul. From 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 we learned that essentially there are two reasons for healing to be denied by God: 1) To us becoming conceited; in other words, to keep us humble and, 2) for God’s power to be made perfect in our weakness; in other words, for God to get the glory, not us.
Now, one thing that we need to make clear is that not receiving a healing does not mean inability for us to do all that God has call us to do; it is not feeling sorry about ourselves and be dependent on meds or the government. God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you…” The word Sufficient is the Greek word, arkéō; meaning “To suffice, be sufficient, satisfy, and by implication to be strong and able to assist someone.”[4]
The word Grace is the Greek word cháris; meaning “That which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude. A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.”[5]
So, we conclude that God’s grace is stronger than any fallen angels, any demon, any sickness, or any pain of any kind. God has given us the ability, through HIS GRACE for us to do all that we are called to do despite us or despite whatever obstacle is in front of us. We as believers are not victims, we are more than overcomers.
God’s grace has given us the ability to do and be all that we are called to do and be. Yes, we will suffer at times, yes, we will cry at times, yes, we will fail and will fall at times, nevertheless, by God’s grace we are unstoppable, by God’s grace our destiny will be fulfilled. The Apostle Paul confirms my words when he says,
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
[1] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).
[2] https://www.openbible.info/topics/nephilim
[3] The Complete Book of Enock, Standard English Version by Dr. Jay Winter (Winter Publications, 2015) p. 19
[4] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).
[5] Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000).
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