The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1902-06-20
GODS OPPORTUNITY.
It Is Most Perfectly Realized Dur
ing Mans Extremity.
Sermon by the "Hfghway and Byway"
Preacher on One of the Profound
est Secrets of n Happy and Sue
cessful Christian Life.
Copyright, 1902. by A. N Kellogg Newspa-
per Coz

PauIs EXperience.-Here in this
twelfth chapter of second Corinthians
we touch the extremes in PauPs life,
and from the third Heaven in Paradise
where his soul was in such transports
of celestial joy that he knew not
whether he was in the body or out OF
the body, and where he heard things
which never mortal ear heard him
speak-they were so sacred; from that
glorious height to which God by spe-
cial favor raised him, we find him a few
verses farther on plunging down to
the depths of human misery and weak
ness, as for a time the infrmity of
the flesh, whatever it was, obscured
the blessed face of his Lord and shut
out all the joy from his Christian ex-
perience. This thorn in the flesh, this
messenger of Satan, was the one
plague-spot of his life, the fly of cor
ruption in the ointment of his frag-
rant Christian life. Down on his
knees in the dust goes Paul, and he
beseeches God, not once nor twice,
but thrice, that it might depart from
him. Then, like the rift in the dark
cloud through which the golden glor-
les of the splendid sun come stream
ing, illuminating and Transforming
that which has been dark and forbid
ding into a glowing, glistening noun
tain peak of heavenly beauty-then,
Paul finds in the marvellous love and
wisdom of God his thorn in the flesh
is to become all aglow with the glory
and power of Christ; that, instead of
being removed according to his agon-
lied and repeated petition, it is to be
transformed and become a subduing,
softening influence on his life. 1t is
10 be no longer thorn of sorrow,
but a fragrant rose of gladness, and
his heart breaks forth into song as he
exclaims: Most gladly, therefore.
will l glory in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon mel"
His thorn has become Gods golden-tip-
ped goad to better service.
The Thorn in the Flesh.-Perhaps
there has been no incident in the life
of Paul over which there has been
more speculation than this thorn in
the flesh, and the curiosity to know
just what that thorn was. As though
exact knowledge in this respect would
aid in better unders landing the ex-
decidedly of the opinion that Paul
under the aspiration of the Holy Spirit
left the nature of the thorn indefinite
in order that the followers of Jesus
Christ might realize that their infrm-
ity, their thorn in the flesh, whatever
it might be, could be treated in the same
way as that of Paul, and become glor-
iOusly transformed even as was his.
You see if Paul had been explicit, the
brother with similar thorn would
be claiming monopoly of this blessed
experience, and me and Paul" would
be his theme. and many poor, dis
brother with a different kind
Of thorn would go sadly away bear
ng his unchanged thorn with him.
thorn is thorn whether you find it
On a rosebush or a thistle, and the !
same hand can turn the point of both !
from piercing the tender flesh. So the |
Lord can deal with all thorns in the |
iesh and transform them into minis
ering influences.
Paul's undoubtedly was a desper- |
tie case; his thorn of such a stub |
BORN nature as to tax the utmost pow
IT of Christ to help him bear it. AS |
Paul. under the direct inspiration of |
he Holy Spirit, was made to declare |
himself the chiefest of sinners in order |
hat he might become the great exam
Die of the saving power of Jesus Christ,
20 in his thorn he gives encouragement |
% all similarly afflicted. If the Lord |
vas able to transform his thorn, if
lis grace was sufficient to soothe the
acerations made by its lancet point,
hen there is hope for you and me,
md we can "come with bOldness to the
hrone of grace and obtain mercy. and
ind grace to help in time of need
These tborns are present in every
ife to a greater or less degree. A
horn in the flesh is an irritating in
luence or circumstance in life, any
'odily infrmity, any weakness, any
lurtful lust or desire. These may be
lassified under two divisions: Thorns
# a permanent character, such as
hysical deformity or weakness, and
he temporary thorns of daily trials,
burdens, perplexities, mis-
ortunes, prosecutions, etc. Paul's
horn was undoubtedly of a permanent
haracter, but his experience has its
pplication no less to the temporary,
city thorns of the daily life. 1t is
he little foxes that spoil the vines,
nd it is not so often the great thorn
yhich wrecks the life and destroys
s peace of mind and its usefulness.
S it is the many little thorns. You
lay have in your life the permanent
horn. You know what it is. You
lost certainly have the little thorns
iercing your weary feet day by day
nd pricking and irritating the busy
ands. This experience of Paul is for
on, and if you will but learn his secret
GU too can rejoice with him because
lie power of Christ can rest upon YOU
nd make that thorn, big or little,
leans of grace and the stepping-stone
D more consecrated. efficient service
our thorn may be boorish, selfish
lember of your home, an unapprecia-
We, eXacting employer in the office,
rude jostler on the street, but what
yer it is or wherever it is met with,
here can be blessedly manifested the
over of Christ which is made perfect
/ your weakness.
Persistent Prayer.-With his thorn
oading him to madness. Paul finds
afuge in prayer, the Christians sure
aven in the time of darkness, doubt
nd difficulty. Three times he goes to
he Lord and pleads his case. How
lany hours and days of agony and
arkRess are included in the three
mes that Paul sought the presence
the Lord, he does not say; certain it
that Paul's was no hastily-uttered
rayer, no rushing into the presence
tho Lord and .