Summary: WHEN GOD ALLOWS OR CAUSES US TO GO THROUGH PAINFUL THINGS THAT ACTUALLY BENEFIT US MORE IN THE LONG RUN THAN THE GOOD THINGS.

THE MINISTRY OF THORNS VS.

THE MINISTRY OF THRONES

*** The Gospel and the gift of God are structured so wonderfully that the very enemies and forces that are marshaled to fight against us actually help pave our way to success.

*** Those forces can be used the same way an eagle uses the fierce winds of a storm to soar to the sky.

*** If you have ever seen a storm on a mountain, you know it to be an awesome experience. ( My first was Pikes Peak in Colorado).

*** At first he sits perfectly still, calmly watching the sky as it fills with darkness and as the lightning strikes all around him.

*** Yet he never moves until he feels the burst of the storm, and then with a screech he dives toward the winds, using them to carry him ever higher.

2 Cor 12:7-10

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.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

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.

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.

(KJV)

1325 didomi (did’-o-mee); Given…

a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an altern. in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):

KJV-- adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+with the hand), strike (+with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.

2852 kolaphizo (kol-af-id’-zo); Buffet…

from a derivative of the base of 2849; to rap with the fist:

KJV-- buffet.

5485 charis (khar’-ece); Grace…

from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):

KJV-- acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

714 arkeo (ar-keh’-o);Sufficient

apparently a primary verb [but probably akin to 142 through the idea of raising a barrier]; properly, to ward off, i.e. (by implication) to avail (figuratively, be satisfactory):

KJV-- be content, be enough, suffice, be sufficient.

1411 dunamis (doo’-nam-is);Power

from 1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):

KJV-- ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

5048 teleioo (tel-i-o’-o); Perfect…

from 5046; to complete, i.e. (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character):

KJV-- consecrate, finish, fulfil, make) perfect.

THORN

-The ground cursed with

.Hedges formed of

-FIGURATIVE

.Of afflictions

.Of the adversities of the wicked

.Of the evils that spring from the heart to choke the truth

(Outline from Nave’s Topical Bible)

THORN

Figurative. "A painful thorn" should be rendered a smarting sting, figurative of the hurts of paganism. "The most upright like a thorn hedge" refers to the corruption of the nation, which was so great that even the most upright injured all who came in contact with him. From want of energy "the way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns" , i.e., full of almost insurmountable obstacles (cf. <22:5>). To be overgrown with thorns is a figure of desolation (cf. <24:31>).The wicked are often compared to thorns <2 Sam. 23:6; Nah. 1:10>. Thorns and thistles are symbolic of the false prophets .

(from New Unger’s Bible Dictionary)

(originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (C) 1988.)

Ps 34:19

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

(KJV)

1Thes 3:3

3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

(KJV)

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*** When Dr. Moon of Brighton, England, was suddenly struck with blindness, he said, “ Lord I accept this “talent” of blindness from you. Help me to use it for your glory so that when you return, you may receive it back with interest. Then God enabled him to invent the Moon alphabet for the blind, through which thousands of blind people were enabled to read the word of God and thereby come to the glorious saving knowledge of Christ.

*** God did not remove Paul’s “ thorn in the flesh” He did something much better –He conquered it and made it Paul’s servant.

*** The ministry of thorns has often been a greater service to humankind than the ministry of thrones.

min•is•try (m¹n“¹-str¶) n., pl. min•is•tries. 1.a. The act of serving; ministration. b. One that serves as a means; an instrumentality. 2.a. The profession, duties, and services of a minister.

*** MINISTER…

1. To attend to the wants and needs of others: See Synonyms at tend2. 2. To perform the functions of a cleric. --tr. To administer or dispense, as a sacrament. [Middle English, from Old French ministre, from Latin minister, servant.

2 Chr 33:10-13

10 And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.

11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.

12 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

(KJV)

Hosea 2:6-7

6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.

7 And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.

(KJV)

Mark 15:17-19

17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

CROWN OF THORNS

(thornz) (akdnthinos stephanos): Three of the four evangelists mention the crown of thorns, wherewith the rude Roman soldiers derided the captive Christ . All speak of the akanthine (Acanthus) crown, but there is no certainty about the peculiar plant, from the branches of which this crown of cruel mockery was plaited. The rabbinical books. mention no less than twenty-two words in the Bible signifying thorny plants, and the word akantha in the New Testament Greek is a generic and not a specific term. And this word or its adjective is used in the three Gospels, quoted above. Some point to the Spina Christi… Its botanical name is Zizyphus Spina Christi, It is very common in the East. Its spines are small and sharp, its branches soft, round and pliable, and the leaves look like ivy, with a dark, shiny green color, making them therefore very adaptable to the purpose of the soldiers. Both Geikie (Life of Christ, 549) and Farrar (Life of Christ, note 625) point to the Nubk (Zizyphus lotus). Says the latter, "The Nubk struck me, as it has all travelers in Palestine, as being most suitable both for mockery and pain, since its leaves are bright and its thorns singularly strong.

HENRY E. DOSKER

(from International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (C) 1996 by Biblesoft)

2 Tim 1:8

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

(KJV)

1 Pet 5:9

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

(KJV)

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 PP8

[1.] The good-will of God towards us, and this is enough to enlighten and enliven us, sufficient to strengthen and comfort us, to support our souls and cheer up our spirits, in all afflictions and distresses.

[2.] the good work of God in us, the grace we receive from the fulness that is in Christ our head; and from him there shall be communicated that which is suitable and seasonable, and sufficient for his members. Christ Jesus understands our case, and knows our need, and will proportion the remedy to our malady, and not only strengthen us, but glorify himself. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Thus his grace is manifested and magnified; he ordains his praise out of the mouths of babes and sucklings.

(from Matthew Henry’s Commentary)

*** The point of the whole thing is to develop, to build His kingdom, and according to Lk.17:21 the kingdom is within us. Sooo.. He has to develop us to build His kingdom.

***BUILD

1. (n.) Physical makeup or structure:

• constitution

• physique

• configuration

• formation

• construction

• composition

• texture

2. (v.) To increase in size, quantity, or scope:

• augment

• accrue

• rack up (colloquial)

• accumulate

• burgeon

• enlarge

• expand

• heighten

• explode

• gain

• grow

• inflate

• mount

• multiply

• mushroom

• puff up

• proliferate

• rise

• run up

• snowball

• swell

• upsurge

• wax

• decrease (antonym)

• reduce (antonym)

• diminish (antonym)

• lessen (antonym)

3. (v.) To increase in magnitude or intensity:

• intensify

• develop

• heighten

• magnify

• strengthen

• reduce (antonym)

• diminish (antonym)

• lessen (antonym)

4. (v.) To create by shaping, adapting, or putting elements together:

• make

• construct

• fabricate

• fashion

• forge

• form

• frame

• model

• manufacture

• mold

*** But see He is not just going to let us go build with anything we want, He is sovereign, and in control, so He gives us specific instructions and a materials list.

*** Its in 1 Chr. 23:6-19…..

*** Gold-Divinity; Revelation of God in Christ…

*** Silver-Redemption; Plan of Salvation…

*** Brass-Judgment; Holiness & Separation…

*** Iron-Strength; Praise, worship, and prayer…

*** Wood-Humanity; our message and evangelism.

NOTICE!!! The wood was always covered with gold or silver!

*** Representative of humanity needing to be baptized with the spirit of God.

*** That’s why Job said “when He hath tried me I shall come forth as pure gold.”

1 Cor. 3:1-17

1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

(KJV)