The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1902-06-21
GODS OPPORTUNITY.
1t Is Most Perfectly Realized Dur
ing Mans Extremity.
Sermon by the "Highway and Byway,,
Preacher on One Of the Profound
est Secrets of n Happy and Sue
cessful Christian Life.

per Coz
Chicago, ls02.
Text.-My grace is sufficient for thee: for
My strength is made perfect in Weakness
III. Cor. 1873.
PauFs Experience.-Here in this
twelfth chapter Of second Corinthians
we touch the extremes in Paul's 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.
clal favor raised him, we find him a few
verses farther on plunging down to
h depths of human misery and weak
ness, as for a 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 o 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
to be no longer a thorn of sorrow,
but a fragrant rose of gladness, and
his heart breaks forth into song as he
exclaims: mos gladly, therefore.
will | glory in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon mei'
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
decidedly of the opinion that Paul
under theinspiration of the Holy Spirit
left the nature of the thorn indefinite
in order that the followers of Jesus
Christ might realize that their infirm-
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 ever as was his.
You see if Paul had been explicit, the
brother with a similar thorn would
be claiming a monopoly of this blessed
experience, and "Me and Paul" would
be his theme, and many a poor, dis
couraged brother with a different kind
of a thorn would go sadly away bear
ing his unchanged thorn with him.
A thorn is a thorn whether you find II
IN a rosebush or a thistle, and the
same hand can turn the point of both
from piercing the tender flesh. So the
flesh and transform them into minis
tering influences.
Paul's undoubtedly was a desper-
ate case; his thorn Of such a stub
born nature as to tax the utmost pow
er of Christ to help him bear it.. As
Paul, under the direct inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, was made to declare
himself the chiefest of sinners in order
that he might become the great exam
pie of the saving power of Jesus Christ.
SO in his thorn he gives encouragement
to all similarly afflicted. If the Lord
was able to transform his thorn, if
His grace was sufficient to soothe the
decorations made by its lancet point,
then there is hope for you and me,
and we can "come with boldness to the
throne of grace and obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need"
These thorns are present in every
life to a greater or less degree. A
thorn in the flesh is an irritating in
1uence or circumstance in life, any
bodily infirmity, any weakness, any
hurtful lust or desire. These may be
classified under two divisions: Thorns
Of a permanent character. such as
physical deformity or weakness, and
the temporary thorns of daily trials,
difficulties, burdens, perplexities, mis-
fortunes, prosecutions, etc. Paul's
thorn was undoubtedly of a permanent
character, but his experience has it's
application nc less to the temporary,
petty thorns of the daily life. 1t is
the little foxes that spoil the vines.
and it is not so often the great thorn
which wrecks the life and destroys
its peace of mind and it's usefulness,
as 1t is the many little thorns. You
may have in your life the permanent
thorn. You know what it is. You
most certainly have the little thorns
piercing your weary feet day by day
and pricking and irritating the busy
hands. This experience of Paul is for
you, and if you will but learn his secret
you too can rejoice with him because
the power of Christ can rest upon you
and make that thorn, big or little, a
H.