The Thorn in the flesh

2 Corinthians 12:7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a angel of Satan to buffet me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul said the thorn in the flesh was an angel of Satan, the result of this angel working against him was weakness of mind, insults, distresses, persecutions, difficulties.

He cried out to God three times and the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. I have given you dynamis, miracle working power.

It was like Moses crying out to God, and the Lord said “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. You have the power, you divide the sea use your staff

Exodus 14: 13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. 14 The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land.

Paul used the power that he had in Christ, and took authority over that fallen angel that was buffeting him and then later he taught the Ephesians that they were already seated in heavenly places and they took authority over that angel in heavenly places  over Ephesus, who was called Diana or Artemis.

Acts 10: 23 About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; 25 these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. 26 You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. 27 Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”28 When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians

 And there was a great revival in Ephesus which was the capital of the chief province of Asia because that angle was displaced that was blinding their minds so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks-Acts 10:10

Paul taught the Ephesians the authority they had in Christ, and they learned how to intercede, according to the Christian tradition, the first bishop of Ephesus was Apostle Timothy, student of the Apostle Paul. Until the 4th century AD, Christianity and Paganism co-existed in the city, but Christianity became the dominant religion in Ephesus in the course of time.

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