WHY GOD PERMITS EVIL

The Tip Of The Iceberg

I have often wondered why that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan was permitted to come to the Garden of Eden to cunningly deceive. Or, one may also wonder why the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was put in the garden in the first place.

Adam and Eve lived in the age of innocence and knew nothing of evil until Adam ate the forbidden fruit and both their eyes were opened.

At the beginning of Job’s trials, Satan came before the Lord and the Lord asked him. “Where have you come from?” Satan replied, “From going back and forth on the earth, and walking up and down in it.” In the same way that he deceived Eve in the garden, he does this around the world. The apostle Peter warned us to be careful of our adversary the devil who walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

But God had made a hedge around Job, and his household, and all he owned so that Satan was not able to touch him. Job was surrounded by God’s protection until He lifted the hedge and permitted Satan to attack Job, with the restriction that Satan could not take Job’s life.

The accuser of the brethren said that if God permitted this attack on Job, that he would curse God to His face. But Job did not, proving that his love for God was genuine. At the end of Job’s trials, God restored the hedge and Job’s losses, giving him twice as much as he had before, and a long life to enjoy them.

God has given all of mankind freedom to choose good or to choose evil. We all have a conscience and the ability to choose which path we are going to take. God is not interested in robots and prisoners. He wants genuine love in His relationship with mankind, therefore, we're given the ability to make choices.

We humans are free moral agents with our own choice to be in a relationship with God, or not. Even the angels had a choice. This is why a third of heaven’s angels were cast out because they chose rebellion.

We experience wickedness in this world because of the choices people make. The deceiver beguiles, and people fall into temptation to commit sexual immorality, murder, selfish ambition, idolatry, drunkenness, lying, stealing, oppression, and all kinds of other human atrocities, indignities, and tragedies.

In the movie, The Shack, Heavenly Father (whom they called PaPa) is having a conversation with Mack Phillips who lost his little girl to sexual molestation and a cruel murder. Mack is angry with God because He permitted this horrible thing. God said to Mack that He does not plan these tragedies but He does use them to bring good out of them, if and when they occur.

Mack asked PaPa where He was while his little girl endured this murderous tragedy. PaPa replied, “Mack when all you can see is your pain then you lose sight of Me.”

Mack reminded PaPa that even Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” PaPa replied, “Mack, you misunderstand the mystery.” PaPa showed Mack His hands that also bore the nail prints from the cross, and said, “Don’t ever think that what My Son chose to do, didn’t cost us both dearly. We were there together. I never left Him. I never left you, and I never left your little girl.”

So, this brings me full circle back to my original question of why God permitted that old serpent to come into the Garden of Eden and deceive Eve in the first place. Why was he given autonomy to screw this thing up? Or why will God permit him to be released from the bottomless pit after the thousand-year millennial reign of Christ? Satan will be permitted to go north, south, east, and west to deceive the nations once again. The Lord’s response to me was…

“What you know of the evil world you inhabit is only the tip of the iceberg. Submerged 90% beneath the surface of the visible world, are mysteries too vast for you to comprehend. If you could only see how close I am to you and how constantly I work on your behalf, you would never again doubt that I am wonderfully caring for you. This is why you must live by faith, not merely by sight, touch, taste, hear, and smell… trusting in My mysterious, majestic presence, trusting in My goodness, trusting in My mercy, grace, and lovingkindness.”

God cannot completely restrain evil without violating our free will to choose, and eliminating the possibility of a real relationship with Him anchored in genuine love, not robotic obedience. Therefore, evil remains in our world, for now. However, He does give His angels charge over us to safely keep us from hurt, harm, and danger.

To prove the love of those that survive the millennial reign, God will permit Satan to be released back into the world to test the hearts of mankind, like gold is tested. As Job declared, “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” Also, in the same way that Abraham was tested when he was told to sacrifice his son Isaac, as a burnt offering. Before Abraham could slay Isaac, God said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Abraham’s love for God was proven to be genuine, even to himself.

Evil runs rampant in this world because the heart of mankind is inherently evil. In the days of Noah, the Bible says that the wickedness of man was great on the earth and that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. It got so bad that it grieved the Lord that He had made man so He destroyed everything and everyone, except Noah and his family and started over.

The psalmist David said that we are born in sin and shaped in iniquity. The apostle Paul in the sixth chapter of Romans labeled us as slaves of sin, until we come to Christ and are freed from this captivity. He cried out, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!” That was the whole reason for the cross of Calvary… to turn our captivity to sin around and free us from its grip. Therefore, if the Son of God makes you free, you are free indeed.

The bottom line is, our knowledge right now is partial and incomplete, and even gifts of prophecy reveal only part of the whole picture (not the complete submerged iceberg). But when the time of perfection comes at the end of this age, these partial things will be completely known. Right now, we see only the tip of the iceberg, but on that day, we will see everything with perfect clarity.

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes (Jesus' return), these partial things will become useless. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 12 NLT)

Whatever tragedies you have faced or may be facing at this time, please know that God loves you and He is with you even in your darkest hour. In that movie, The Shack, God said to Mack, “I want to heal that wound that’s growing in your heart and creating a gulf between you and Me.” Sometimes our misunderstanding can create a separation in our relationship with the Lord, but He is here to heal the wounds in our souls and restore us completely. Go in peace.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

I WENT OFF ON A COWORKER

It was May 17, 2019. Part of my job was to relieve the receptionist so she could take her breaks. She accused me of deleting a file off of her computer because she could not locate it. I went off on this coworker, loudly and angrily. I was not having a bad day, nor was this the first conflict I had faced as her backup.

Later in the day, we talked it out. I told her that as a devout Christian I would not intentionally, nor unintentionally sabotage even someone I hated, and certainly not someone that I like and respected as her. She had the IT department locate her lost file, and we let bygones be bygones.

I do not feel bad about going off on this coworker. I think she had it coming. My anger was justified and well placed. Anger is not a sin. It is how we deal with our anger that can be critical. Don’t seek vengeance. Be the peacemaker.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THE FIGHT IS ON

I was on my morning walk (7/23/22)... as I was about to pass this house, a ferocious dog behind a fence started barking at me, and leaping up and down trying to jump over the fence. He barked so viciously at me as I was approaching that it made me stop and consider going in the street to pass by. I decided to stay on the sidewalk and kept moving briskly past him.

On my way back, remembering the dog, I did decide to walk in the street by the curb. That same dog that barked at me so viciously as I was going, had gotten out of the fence and came charging at me. I raised my little one pound weights and told that dog to "Come on!!!" He turned and ran away. Then he came at me a second time, barking ferociously. I got louder, "Come on!!!" In that moment, all fear left me and I was prepared to beat the snot out of that dog with my weights. He turned and ran away again, this time he was looking for a way to get back inside that fence. I was somewhat surprised myself by my reaction to the dog... inviting him to a fight, instead of running away screaming.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

HEAVENLY MINDED

I STRONGLY DISagree.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good." I disagree. I think some people are so carnal minded that they are no heavenly good.

Romans 8:6 (NKJV) To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Can a true Christian be carnal? In answering this question, let’s first define the term “carnal.” The word “carnal” is translated from the Greek word sarkikos, which literally means “fleshly” - as opposed to spiritually. The key thing to understand about carnality is that a Christian can be carnal for a period of time, but a true Christian will not remain carnal for a lifetime. We are being transformed into the image of Christ, that means we should be steadily decreasing in carnality and increasing in spirituality.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Romans 8:7 NKJV Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (That's what it means to walk in darkness. The unbeliever does not have the Holy Spirit in them to help them live righteously.)

Colossians 3:2 NKJV Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

Luke 12:34 NKJV For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The question is not whether a person who claims to be a Christian, but lives carnally, has lost his salvation, but the question is whether that person was ever truly saved in the first place (1 John 2:19).

1 John 2:19 NKJV They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

Jesus will say to them on judgment day, "I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matt.7:23)

God disciplines His loved ones when we are stubborn to conform to His ways.

Hebrews 12:5-6 NKJV And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives."

It is not possible for a person to come to faith in Christ Jesus and then proceed to live the rest of their lives in a completely carnal manner, without any evidence of being a born again Christian. It's not possible! A tree is known by the fruit it bears.

We need to become more heavenly minded.

Once again...

Romans 8:6 (NKJV) To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Go in peace.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

TRUE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

What differentiates a Christian’s life from that of a non-Christian? Our ability to overcome the struggle against sin. My former pastor who's gone to heaven used to call that struggle "the can't help its". A true Christian will always repent and return to God, and will always resist the struggle against "the can't help its". The Bible gives no support to the idea that a person who perpetually and unrepentantly engage in sin can possibly be a Christian believer. The apostle Paul paints a picture in 1 Corinthians of those who identifies themselves as unrighteous and not redeemed by Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. BUT you were washed, BUT you were sanctified, BUT you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Christians come out of all kinds of different backgrounds, including those Paul listed in the previous paragraph. BUT when we come to Christ, we are washed, sanctified, and justified by the Holy Spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes and lives in us and brings with Him the fruit of the Spirit, and the power to overcome sin. He can deliver us from "the can't help its".

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; BUT God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, BUT with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

A few years after the Lord saved me (in early 2000s), I was sitting in my home office and the Lord spoke to me and said, "I am the great artist of your soul. You are My workmanship, BUT you keep ruining My work." I was reminded of that passage in the book of Jeremiah where he talks about the Potter and the clay. Jeremiah said that the vessel the Potter was making did not turn out as he had hoped so he crushed it into a lump of clay again, and started over. The lump of clay that's writing this blogpost, had to come into agreement with the Potter and great artist of my soul and let Him mold me into the vessel He had purposed me for.

Joshua said in Joshua 24:15 ,"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... BUT as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

WHEN SOMEONE ANNOYS YOU

I used to work in Downtown Dallas and I was asked to come in an hour early to work on a project. I was walking to the building from the parking lot. It was still dark outside and traffic was light, so I decided to jaywalk in the middle of the block instead of crossing at the corner as I usually did. I was walking with a spring in my step and singing out loud that last song that was playing on my car radio. As I stepped up onto the curb, the front of my sandal caught on the curb and caused me to body slam downward onto the concrete pavement. OUCH!

Humiliated, I jumped back up and dusted myself off, grabbed my purse and continued down the sidewalk. I arrived ten minutes early and had time to fix coffee and meet my teammates at the assigned time, but no one showed up. I was the only one that came in for the project. Imagine my dismay and my disappointment.

I had not been given any specifics for the project, which were to be outlined that same morning, so I dived in using my own best judgments as I proceeded. An hour and twenty minutes later, my teammates rambled in after I had progressed well into the project. The person that had the lead on the project began to walk back most of my progress by changing the decisions I had made.

This had been one of “those” mornings. I had fallen victim to the concrete pavement and to annoying and untrustworthy teammates. Now, I’m having to retrace my steps at no fault of my own. I’ll be honest, I was visibly disturbed, but I kept my mouth shut.

She had no way of knowing that I was having a bad morning prior to her intrusion, and the part she had played in it by being an hour and twenty minutes late.

I am one of those people that try to choose my battles wisely. I think if I had said anything, instead of keeping my mouth shut, it may not have come out the way I intended.

Later in the day, after I’d recovered, I did let her know that I was having a Murphy’s Law kind of morning, and the reasons I totally disagreed with her changes. I was able to forgive all the team members that left me high and dry there before the crack of dawn.

I pride myself on being an employee with integrity and have very little patience for those whose apathy effects my ability to do my job well. But there are so many personality types in the workplace, and no two are alike. It is imperative that we learn to watch our step with others who may not think, nor act just like us.

So, how should we respond when dealing with annoying people? The psalmist that wrote Psalm 121 said it best. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills... From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. The LORD is my keeper; the LORD is the shade at my right hand. The LORD shall preserve my going out and my coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”

It is my opinion, that the wise thing to do is to get to know those who labor among us, using wisdom and counsel from the LORD in our dealings with them for the good of all… because we cannot change everybody. The lesson I learned in dealing with that particular coworker, was if I was going to be involved in a project with her, it was necessary to get all the information I needed up front, then I would not have to depend on her input to complete it.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

LORD HELP ME WITH PEOPLE

An introvert is an individual who often feels more comfortable and energized in solitary or low-stimulus environments. They tend to prefer deep, one-on-one interactions over large group settings, and often seeks balance with moments of solitude following social engagements.

Those with the introvert personality trait are often introspective and realistic about their own flaws, and critical about the flaws of others. They tend to gravitate toward a small number of solid friendships rather than surrounding themselves with a bunch of acquaintances. They tend to enjoy creative aspects of self-expression such as art, writing, and music.

Prayer, meditation, and waiting upon God often require long periods of stillness to be effective. Introverts are often better at meditation, studying, and writing because it complements their natural tendencies. God created us with varying strengths and personality types. He can use anyone who submits to Him, and He is often most glorified through our weaknesses because His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

When introverts have totally submitted their lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ, they can be mighty prayer warriors, mentors, and teachers. Spirit-filled introverts use their God-given nature for the glory of God and relish long, fruitful times of worship, soul-searching, and Bible study.

There are a few things that can hinder an introvert’s service to God. When their natural tendencies of introversion are threatened, introverts often withdraw from people. They may refuse to engage with others as instructed in Scripture. This kind of solitude limits them spiritually. Introspection can also lead to a critical spirit. A healthy self-image is one in which we see ourselves as God does: no better and no worse. We are to see ourselves as “God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10).

Whether introverted or extroverted, Christians need to remember that their temperaments are gifts from God to be used for His glory.

Excerpt from:  

https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-introvert.html

I sincerely want to foster good, healthy relationships with fellow Christians… so I break agreement with the idea that my introvert personality type causes me to withdraw from people. I come into agreement with the word of God that says, “He who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.” (1 John 2:10)

Let brotherly love continue. (Hebrews 13:1)

Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. (1 John 4:21)

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME. 🛐

 

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

MY SIN AND GOD'S GRACE

The same year that I came to Christ (1999) was the same year that I married my first husband. We were together 8 years when we split up. We were legally separated, but not divorced.

Two years after we split up, I was re-acquainted with a former boyfriend from 20 years earlier. Then I moved in with him and we shacked up for 3½ years. During that 3½ years, I did not work for 17 months. We struggled financially, so I was not able to afford a divorce. But I kept praying to God about this predicament, that He would bless me with the resources to resolve it.

Thankfully, my relationship with the Lord was not strained. The Lord never left me. He did not seem to be unhappy with me at all. But I prayed about it continually because I did not want to be living in sin. To add insult to injury, my then common-law husband was not even in church.

So, let's add this all up. I was legally married to one man and still going by his last name… shacking up with another man who was not even in church… and, I was teaching Sunday School at my church most of that time.

Now that's messy!

Throughout all that time, and in all my praying... I continued to feel the presence of the Lord. He anointed my teaching and elevated my studies. He told me to accept His grace for His grace was sufficient to cover my frailties.

My first husband graciously paid for our divorce himself, and my common-law husband and I went to the courthouse and got legally married. And we have been a happily married couple since 2014.

Think what you may about my shameful actions, but you cannot take away my experiences with God. He loved me through it all, and never dismissed me, nor turned His back on me, even though I was caught up in blatant sin for an extended period of time.

In conclusion, God's gift to mankind is His love. And His love never fails. Prophecies may fail, tongues will cease, knowledge will vanish away... but God's love will never, ever fail.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THE WAY OF GRACE

I saw a commercial of a man and his wife driving down the road following the GPS (Global Positioning System) on their way to someone’s wedding. The wife stated that she did not want to be late, so the husband veered off the road that GPS was directing them on, and took a fork in the road that led to a quicker way. He said that the GPS coordinates did not know that back road. He knew the back roads (the narrow path) that GPS did not use.

The wide gate is the entrance that engages other world religions, while the narrow gate is faith in Jesus that leads to eternal life when we pass away. Jesus is the Savior (or narrow way) that leads to life after death. The road is difficult (strait, narrow, hard, and small) because many will find it hard to believe that Jesus is the only entrance to life after death. They continue down the broad path and miss heaven completely.

Many people would rather create their own religions and design their own gods. So, it was in sorrow (not discrimination), that Jesus declared that the road to eternal life is narrow… and unfortunately, only a few find it. Their GPS coordinates is leading them down the broad path instead of the narrow way.

Related Scriptures

Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

John 8:32 NKJV And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 10:7 NKJV Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:9 NKJV I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

John 14:6 NKJV Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Acts 4:12 NKJV Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Romans 5:1-2 NKJV Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:18 NKJV For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

MY SONG OF DELIVERANCE

When Moses and the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea,

they broke into songs of deliverance glorifying God. (Exodus 15)

I also wrote a Song of Deliverance. Wanna see it? Here it is!

My Song of Deliverance

It feels good to be

Healthy and wealthy

Healthy and wealthy

Healthy and wealthy

It feels good to be

Healthy and wealthy

And living in the

Presence of God.

I will sing to the Lord

I will praise Him today

He has brought me deliverance

And took oppression away.

Thanks be to God

For the battle is won

His name is Christ Jesus

Through Him it was done.

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

SPEAK TO THE MOUNTAIN

In the name of Jesus I speak to the mountain of mess in my life and command it to be removed from here to someplace else. In its place I welcome righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Then rain on that the abundant living that Christ Jesus came to provide for us, for we are seated together with Him in the heavenly places far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in the world to come. Amen.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

ACTING ON YOUR PRAYERS

When Elijah was praying for the 3½ year drought to end, he went to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed down to the ground with his face between his knees. He prayed for rain, then sent his servant to go look toward the sea for any sign of rain. The servant returned and said, “There’s nothing.” Elijah kept praying and sent the servant back again, and he returned with the same news. They repeated this errand seven times. Then on the seventh time, the servant returned and said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” The sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy downpour.

To be proactive means taking initiative or acting in anticipation.

Elijah proactively prayed when he acted in faith and anticipation, by having his servant continue to look for signs of rain. He prayed with persistence until his servant saw a small cloud rising up into the sky. He then acted on that knowledge notifying King Ahab that the drought had ended.

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

ACTING IN FAITH

Don't pray for a bushel,

and carry only a cup.☕

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

I'M COMING OUT

I was watching TV yesterday and an ad popped up about Joyce Meyer’s book called Blessed In The Mess, which teaches how to live life victoriously while things are messy. It’s about discovering God’s strength and His blessings in the midst of life’s difficulties.

As much as I LOVE Joyce Meyer and her teachings, I am not motivated to read this book because quite frankly… I don’t want the mess anymore. I’m done with mess! I want order in my life, and peace, and quiet, and comfort, and rest, and calm. I want my surroundings to be Blessed in His Rest Instead of the Mess. I want the Lord to clean out the culvert of my life and bring me the peace that passes understanding.

I want the Lord to still the storm with a great calm.

I want that New Day to manifest that the Lord promised me a while ago.

I want to live in a clean, organized house where the sun bursts through the windows everyday.

I want to see the word of God fulfilled in my life where Jesus said, “Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

I want to see the word of God fulfilled that says my God shall supply ALL my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

I want to see His word fulfilled that says the gates of hell shall not prevail against His church.

I want to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

I want the good seed of His word to fall on the soil of my heart and bear good fruit.

I want to walk in the light as He is in the light with access to all that Christ has made available in the spiritual realm.

I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in victory everyday.

I DON’T want to live my life with the mentality that it could be worse. I want to live knowing that it couldn’t get any better because I’m living my best life.

I want to live in the overflow… underneath the windows of heaven where the Lord is pouring out blessings that I don’t have enough room to receive.

I want my life to be a blessing.

I want to dwell in the secret place of the Most High God, right there under the shadow of His wing… not worried about tomorrow, but thoroughly enjoying today.

I want to live under the favor of Almighty God who holds the power of the world in His hands.

I want to stir up the gifts that God placed on my life and pursue godliness with all my heart.

I want to stand in faith and full assurance that Christ Jesus is my Lord and my Savior, whom I have confessed with my mouth and believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead and He is right now seated on the throne at the right hand of our heavenly Father.

I’m coming out… because He’s bringing me out… into a life of abundance.

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly, to the fullest, until it overflows.”

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THE THORN IN PAUL'S FLESH

The Truth About the Apostle Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

2 Corinthians 12:7 (NKJV)
And lest I should be exalted above measure
by the abundance of the revelations,

a thorn in the flesh was given to me,

a messenger of Satan to buffet me,

lest I be exalted above measure.

The apostle Paul was constantly up against false teachers who tried to discredit his ministry by bringing confusion, divisiveness, and turmoil into the mix.

Paul was not a proud man. He said in Ephesians 3:8, “Even though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, He graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about Christ.” God did not need to permit a thorn in the flesh to keep the apostle meek and humble. On the contrary, Satan’s messenger was the thorn in Paul’s flesh, sent to keep the exaltation of Paul’s ministry from expanding beyond measure. False apostles were sent to buffet (or strike) Paul and discredit his ministry, in an attempt to overthrow the faith of those that had been won to Christ through him.

Back up two chapters and you’ll see where Paul goes into greater detail about the limitations of his authority being challenged by these false teachers.

2 Corinthians 10:12-17 (NKJV) For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere (or domain) which God appointed us—a sphere (or domain) which especially includes you. For we are not over extending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere (or domain), to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere (or domain) of accomplishment. But he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.

Paul pleaded with the Lord about these attacks three times, but God seemed to have a greater purpose for it, and allowed it telling Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul also demonstrated his humility by refusing to boast of his own accomplishments, and even about his ascension into the Paradise of Heaven where he had seen and heard magnificent things. He spoke of his experience in the third person so as not to stick his chest out or appear to be show-boating his experiences.

2 Corinthians 12:1-6 (NKJV) It is doubtless not profitable (necessary, though not profitable) for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

Paul’s ministry had the capacity and the capability of going world-wide because of the abundance of the revelations that he received from God. That is what Paul meant by "being exalted above measure." He spoke of the exaltation of his ministry beyond the borders of Asia Minor. Satan attacked Paul trying to limit his impact. This had nothing to do with malaria, epilepsy, eye disease, or some chronic and debilitating illness.

The apostle went on to write a significant portion of the New Testament documenting many of the revelations he received from God, and completed three missionary journeys throughout the Roman empire, and was named the apostle to the Gentiles. Satan was unable to limit Paul’s impact, for we now have the inspired word of God given through Paul equipping us for every good work.

Fight the good fight, and keep the faith!

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NLT) May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove