What about Paul's thorn? Whenever you talk about healing with a person that isn't quite sure about the whole thing ... the first thing they bring up is, "What about Paul's thorn?" It's amazing that people that know very little about the Bible seem to know about Paul's thorn. Sadly, this story being misrepresented has robbed many people of faith to be healed. Let's look at it.
The Bible commands every believer to "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, but rightly dividing the Word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) What is this verse telling us? We must study. We must learn. It's something we must take the initiative on. It also tells us that it's possible to "wrongly divie the Word of truth." It's our responsibility to study and properly the Word.
Think about this: Based upon the length of time you have been a Christian and based upon how much you have given yourself to the Word of God, if you were to stand before God and give an account of your stewardship of His Word, would you be approved? Would you be ashamed? We will give an account to God and let Him know what type of workman we have been regarding His Word. I don't want to be ashamed, do you? I don't want to be like the people described in Hosea 4:6 when I get to heaven and find out that my lack of knowledge of God's Word had caused destruction in my life. I don't want to be viewed as a spiritual retard because I lacked initiative to obey and study His Word. How about you?
An Example of Knowledge
For example, let's say an eighteen year old young person stands before you to give an account of his/her school studies up until now. Would you be impressed with an 18-year old who did not know basic phonics? A student who couldn't spell remedial vocabulary words? Would you think it was cute for an 18-year old to lack knowledge of the basic rules of addition or subtraction or multiplication?
Absolutely not! You would expect any normal, mature, well-grounded 18-year old to have a working knowledge on many subjects and perhaps even be an expert in a few areas. You would be appalled and disgusted with a lazy, ill-equipped, apathetic, unmotivated, slob of a student. You would definitely not approve! How do you think God views a normal, "mature," well-grounded believer of several years or decades who has not obtained a working knowledge of His Word in various areas? Does He approve?
Notice, in 2 Timothy 2, we are told to study or learn the Bible! This is a directive for every Christian. It's not optional. As believer's we are expected to be students of the Word. Don't wimp out and excuse your lack of Bible study or your lack of knowledge of God's Word by using poor excuses. Many times Christians who have not taken time to study the Word as God said to do, will say inappropriate and unbiblical things like, "I just trust the Lord He knows best and He will never give me more than I can handle ..." (Yes, but He's told us in His Word that there are some things we are to accept by faith as well as things we are to reject by faith. Are you accepting under the guise of "trust" things He's told you to reject?)
Or, "God knows what I need and I am just waiting on Him ..." (Yes, but He's told us that although the Father knows the things we have need of, we are to ask Him for them. Are you "waiting" when you should be "asking"?) Or "God is sovereign and it's all in His hands ..." (Yes, God is absolutely Sovereign! However, in His Sovereignty He has given us His Word which describes the spheres of authority He's given to us as believers through His Name and Word. Are we fatalistically leaning on God's Sovereignty when we are supposed to be faithfully exercising our authority as believers?)
Can you see that although these common phrases, sound noble, spiritual, and even humble, in many cases they are actually examples of a lack of knowledge posing as doubt, unbelief and false humility. We have a responsibility as Christians to know what God has already revealed in His Word—about Himself, about His will, about what He will and won't do, and about our responsibilities. We must study the Word to gain the knowledge of His will.
Again, we are told to rightly divide the Word of truth. "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, but rightly dividing the Word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) Just look at the multitude of religions, denominations, sects and doctrines and you can see that somebody is "wrongly" dividing the Word of God.
Rightly Dividing the Word of God
The secret to rightly dividing the Word is to let the Word divide itself! By that I mean, through studying the Word in context, from Genesis to Revelation and comparing Scriptures with Scriptures, you will be able to rightly divide the Word. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day because they trusted in the traditions of men, and nullified the Word of God. They did not rightly divide the Word and Jesus wasn't pleased!
"You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. And he said to them: You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." (Mark 7:8-13)
To read Part Two, click here.
For further study, I recommend my book, "Getting a Grip on the Basics of Health and Healing."
Copyright © 2007 Beth Jones Ministries All rights reserved.
