The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-06-21
GODS OPPORTUNITY.
It Is Most Perfectly Realized Dur
ing Mans Extremity.
Sermon by the "Highway and Byway"
Preacher on One of the Profound
est Secrets of q Happy and Sue
cessful Christian Life.


Copyright. 1902. by AIN. kellogg Newspa-
per Coz
Chicago. June 10. 1902.
Text.-My grace is sufficient for thee: for
My strength is made perfect in weakness
IL. Cor. 1873.
Paul's 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 few
verses farther on plunging down to
the depths of human misery and weak
ness, as for time the infirmity 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 subduing,
softening influence on his life. 1t is
to be no longer a thorn of sorrow,
but a fragrant rose of gladness, and
his heart breaks forth into song as he
exclaims: "Most gladly, therefore,
will I 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 understanding the ex-
perience and learning its lesson. lam
| 90 ha mi
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
left the nature of the thorn indefinite
in order that the followers of Jesus
Christ might realize that theirinfirm-
ity, their thorn in the flesh, whatever
It mightbe, 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 a monopoly of this blessed
experience, and "Me and Paul" would
be his theme, and many poor, dis
couraged brother with different kim
of thorn would go sadly away bear
ing his unchanged thorn with him
A thorn is thorn whether you find
on a rosebush or thistle, and tn
same hand can turn the point of bot
from piercing the tender flesh. So tn
Lord can deal with all thorns in tn
flesh and transform them into minis
tering influences.
Paul's undoubtedly was despel
ate case; his thorn of such a stut
born nature as to tax the utmost pow
err of Christ to help him bear 1t. A
Paul, under the direct inspiration @
the Holy Spirit, was made to declar
himself the chiefest of sinners in orde
that he might become the great exam
pie of the saving power of Jesus Chris
so in his thorn he gives encouragement
to all similarly afflicted. II the Lor
was able to transform his thorn,
His grace was sufficient to soothe til
decorations made by it's lancet poin
then there is hope for you and m,
and we can "come with holiness to tn
throne of grace and obtain mercy, an
find grace to help in time of need"
} These thorns are present in ever
; life to a greater or less degree.
thorn in the flesh is an irritating il
, fiuence or circumstance in life, an
bodily infirmity, any weakness, an
hurtful lust or desire. These may b
classified under two divisions: Thorn
of a permanent character, such a
physical deformity or weakness, an
the temporary thorns of daily trials
difficulties, burdens, perplexities, mis-
fortunes, prosecutions, etc. Paul
thorn was undoubtedly of a permanen
character, but his experience has II
application no less to the temporary
petty thorns of the daily life. 1t
7 the little foxes that spoil the vine!
and It is not 30 often the great thor
which wrecks the life and destroy
, its peace of mind and its usefulness
! as IL is the many little thorns. 70
: may have in your life the permaner
thorn. You know what it Is. Yo
I most certainly have the little thorr
!, piercing your weary feet day by da
, and pricking and irritating the bus
Z hands. This experience of Paul is fc
you, and II you will but learn his secr'
= you too can rejoice with him becau'
the power Of Christ can rest upon yo
, and make that thorn, big or little,
. means Of grace and the stepping-stor
: to more consecrated, efficient servic
. Persistent Prayer.-with his thor
goading him to madness, Paul flint
| T. x~..>~ h. Ia cts,