Lisa’s response to questions about Paul’s Thorn
The first half of this post talks specifically about Paul’s Thorn. If you are short on time, focus on this. The second half focuses on why it is so important to rightly understand Paul’s thorn, I believe this will be helpful for those wanting to go deeper but you can skip it if you are short on time or prefer the shorter more to the point answer:)
2 Corinthians 12… Questions to ask.
- Why guess or add to scripture what is not clearly spelled out? What answer is given in scripture as to what the thorn in Paul’s flesh was?
- What was God’s answer word for word when Paul asked Him to take away the thorn? Did God actually say no?
- Why did Paul say he was given this thorn? Does that apply to you and your life?
- Paul shares in detail the infirmities and weaknesses he experienced…. if you take these verses in context, he actually spelled them out in detail in 2 Corinthians 11 … What did these include and what did they exclude?
- Context… Check out a timeline for Paul’s travels.. What did Paul experience right before walking to Derbe? (this is reference to the verse in Galatians about how they would have plucked out their eyes to give them to him due to his condition)
THE SCRIPTURE ITSELF
2 Corinthians 12 (New Living Translation)
Paul’s Vision and His Thorn in the Flesh
1 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I[a] was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up[b] to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses*, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles* that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak*, then I am strong.
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
11 You have made me act like a fool—boasting like this. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all. 12 When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 13 The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!
14 Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. 15 I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
16 Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. 17 But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? 18 When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.
19 Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
2 Corinthians 11
“23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.8 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 9 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.”
What stands out about all that Paul suffered? Various forms of persecution are described in detail.
Acts 9:13-18 (KJV)“13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. 17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”
Other Biblical references to thorns
NB thorn thorn Strong’s Concordance # G4647 (this is the only spot in the Bible that the original greek work is used, so all other references have a different Greek or Hebrew word)
Joshua 23:12-14 (New Living Translation)
12 “But if you turn away from him and cling to the customs of the survivors of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry with them, 13 then know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive them out of your land. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap to you, a whip for your backs and thorny brambles in your eyes, and you will vanish from this good land the Lord your God has given you.
Judges 2:2-3
“For your part, you were not to make any covenants with the people living in this land; instead, you were to destroy their altars. But you disobeyed my command. Why did you do this? 3 So now I declare that I will no longer drive out the people living in your land. They will be thorns in your sides,[a] and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.”
Matthew 13:22
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
Even in today’s language, a thorn in the flesh, usually indicates a person or a people group.
If this passage does refer to Paul having a sickness or disease, then this passage is rather unique in that it would be the only passage in the New Testament giving an example of God saying no to someone who was seeking healing….
God’s answer to Paul
2 Cor 7:9 “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
from the Strong’s Concordance Grace=G5485. 2nd definition is that grace is an empowering force in the life of a christian to live in a godly way.
2) good will, loving-kindness, favour
- a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
My Thoughts: God’s answer “My grace is sufficient for you” does this actually mean “no”. God’s grace is sufficient to overcome the grave, sickness, sin, Satan, well everything… God’s Grace doesn’t give us the ability just to tolerate, survive, subsist, God’s grace gives us the ability to overcome. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. Jesus came in fact to destroy all the works of the devil. Sickness, disease, infirmity etc, were non-existent in Eden before the fall and non-existent in heaven… they are fruit/consequence of the fall and are included among the works that Jesus came to destroy. Scripture also tells us that the disciples were given the authority to heal all diseases and cast out all demons… So Paul had been abundantly equipped to deal with any disease he might have been suffering from.
James 4:6 (AMP)
6But He gives us more and more grace ([a]power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).
1 John 3:8
“But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.”Luke 9:1 “One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.”
What if Paul’s thorn really was a person/persecution, and not a sickness?
Mark 10:29-31 (ESV)
29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
2 Timothy 3:10-13 (ESV) “ You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”
Paul plainly tells us not to read between the lines. What he has said is plain and simply spoken. Bottom line, is that we are NOT told the exact and specific nature of Paul’s thorn. What we can plainly see is that Paul calls it a messenger from Satan.
2 Corinthians 1:12-14 New Living Translation (NLT)
12 We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness[a] and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 13 Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 14 even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus[b] returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.
Luke 10:19 New King James Version (NKJV)
19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Yet Paul had authority over all the power of the enemy given to him directly fro the Lord. He actually had the CAPACITY to deal with any messenger of Satan from a position of absolute authority.
This is further confirmed by these verses confirming Paul was set free from the power of darkness (other translations say dominion):
Colossians 1:12-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
So then why did Paul not use this authority?
Well, if the thorn was in fact persecution, yes, God promised him that was something he would have to face in great measure and he was not given authority to stop the persecution that came at him through man.
If this were the case, Paul was asking God to remove something that God had promised him he would experience as part of the cost of being his apostle. In this case, God’s answer makes perfect sense. My grace is sufficient for you to stand in spite of these constant afflictions brought on by man.
If the oppression was spiritual in nature, did Paul have authority to stop it. I believe scripture says yes!!! Are there any other examples of Paul having authority but not using it. YES!!!!
Acts 16 (Berean Study Bible) “One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met 0by a slave girl with a spirit of clairvoyance, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” 18She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment…”
What stood out to me was that Paul had the authority the entire time this girl was following him but it took him a few days to actually get frustrated enough to act. In this case it was not praying to God and having God remove the thorn, it was Paul using the authority he had. Scripture clearly tells us that the thorn was a messenger from SATAN… scripture also tells us that Paul was annointed by God to cast out all demons. So Paul already had from God what he needed to deal with any messenger from Satan
What about Paul’s bodily dailment mentioned in the book of Galatians?
If you track this on a map, you will plainly see that Paul was stoned, got up and went to the town of Derbe in Galatia. If you follow this on a timeline of his travels, you will discover that the letter to the Galatians was a follow up to this visit.
Galatians 4:13-16 (ESV)
“13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
When Paul first arrived, think about this, he had the day before been stoned to what the people believed was dead. Scripture simply records that he rose up and went back to the city and then on to Derbe. We have a very clear biblical explanation here for why Paul arrived in a woeful and distressing state and that the condition he would have been in distressing.
Bottom line: Is what we believe about Paul’s thorn actually plainly spelled out in scripture? At worst, what Paul’s thorn is remains ambiguous… but I believe that we consider the full counsel of God, even this picture becomes much more clear. As always, be Berean, ask God for eyes to see and ears to hear and the ability to understand what is really in His Word without the human additions and traditions clouding the truth. And go back to the verses and discover for yourself the PURE truth found in the Word itself. BLESSINGS.
Why is it so important to rightly understand Paul’s thorn?
A common block to healing in the church today
It is used as an argument to say that it is not always God’s will to heal. IF Paul’s thorn was a sickness and IF God said no I will not heal you. THEN we could say there is a scriptural example of God saying no to a sick person which might mean it is not always God’s will to heal everyone.
Consider this:
Matthew 13:14-16 NIV 14In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
Matthew 13:53-58
When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country. 54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?” 55 Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?” 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.
I also believe that scripture specifically calls us to the work of routing all unbelief out and being full on committed to the work of believing in Christ and His Word. Note here also that the fact that they were “deeply offended” motivated them to shut themselves down to even hearing Jesus. So many are offended today and shut down and refuse to listen to anything that has to do with the scriptural healing. This just jumped out to me for the very first time. WOW. Stirring up offense is an intentional and effect way to harden a person’s heart towards God.
John 6:29
“Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
Can we believe bigger “more good” better than what God wants to give?
What is the potential negative of believing 100% that it is God’s will to heal?
What is the potential negative of believing that if might not be God’s will to heal?
Paul was like this (tight I mean really close to God) and heard him very clearly. Do we have the ability to hear from God this clearly? Even if we have heard clearly, can our prayers and actions change things?
Consider this verse about King Hezekiah:
2 Kings 20:1-5
“About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” 2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 “Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. 4 But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the Lord: 5 “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord.”
Consistently, the Lord encourages us to persist, keep knocking, keep asking until we receive…. Knock and the door will be open. The story of the persistent widow. Scriptures on waiting confidently for the Word and promise of God to be fulfilled.
So in our lack of being able to clearly hear from the Lord, and knowing that it is possible to change the outcome through our persistence, I have landed in the camp that it’s better persist even until the day we or those we are praying for die.
Of course, all of creation points to God, all suffering directs us back to Him and realizing our need for Him in our lives in greater and greater measure. Every place of groaning and pain drives us to our knees in prayer that he would return soon and His Kingdom established on earth as it is in heaven. God longs to be merciful and spare us from pain and hardship, even when we fully deserve it based on our rebellions and sin issues. If you click on this link, it will take you to a bunch of Proverbs that direct us to value and seek out instruction. https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=KJV&quicksearch=instruction&begin=24&end=24 God would much rather we learn as the wise do, by instruction, rather than as the fools do, with a rod to their back. Our God is a God of deep compassion. There are so many verses about His compassion. We must never lose sight of His kindness and goodness. Here are two verses to illustrate this point:
Matthew 15:31-35 King James Version (KJV)” 31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. 32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.”
Luke 13:11-20 King James Version (KJV) “11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.”
If I believe that it isn’t God’s will to heal me, when in fact it is his will to do so instantly, or even if He could have been swayed by intercession or persistence, than by not believing I actually block God by my unbelief from receiving what he wanted to give me. The scriptures further warn that the unbelief and misdirected ways of those ministering to others can prevent the healing from happening.
Matthew 17:14-20 KJV 14And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15LORD, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
If on the other hand, I believe it is God’s will and that I am confident that if I keep searching for him, drawing closer to him and learning to hear his voice etc better, what is the downside? After all the point of God being able to use suffering to develop things in us is ultimately that he uses it to show us where things aren’t quite hitting his mark in our lives and renew our thoughts, spirits and attitudes to walk in closer and closer relationship with him and to become servants who can serve powerfully, joyfully and according to God’s will and ways.
James 1:5-7 (New Living Translation)
“ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”
I love this next scripture, it reflects my own heart, limitations, understanding of the Lord so perfectly…. In this verse we actually see the presence of both belief and unbelief. I want to believe the Lord, but part of me struggles to really believe it 100%… His provision is just so beautiful, so perfect…
Mark 9:23-27
What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil[a] spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” 26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
Unbelief prevented Jesus Christ himself from doing miracles in Nazareth, do we really want to so readily come into agreement with it and dismiss the promises of God on the possibility that interpreting one scripture one way when so many other interpretations are possible, even probable?
My’s Thoughts : Jesus Christ alone is our role model, each of the disciples carried out their anointing to the best of their ability and of course struggling with ongoing battles with sin issues. This is why we can be so thankful and praise God for those elders and brethren in the body of Christ who minister to the sick to the best of their ability today. The Bible is very clear that Jesus was the only one since Adam who was sin free. Jesus Christ suffered from persecution, from physical abuse but not from sickness and disease. God tells us we are co-heirs with Jesus Christ, that the blessings poured on him are available to us. We know God was able to use them powerfully due to their righteousness (not because of their perfection). If I was to use the patriarch’s and the disciples as my role models and to accept their sin issues and imperfections as the best God has for me, the list would be quite significant. Paul shares that he struggled with pride and that God allowed this messenger from Satan to buffet him to keep him humble. If all things are possible for God, couldn’t he have delivered Paul from this pride issue to and then the need for a thorn would fall away. Leviticus 26 again states the blessings and curses for obedience vs disobedience. Notice God’s attempting to get our attention through these things.
Matthew 8:12-13 (New King James Version) “ But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.”
My thoughts: The general problem in scripture is not believing God, not so much over-believing or over-expecting from God but simply unbelief. Jesus himself was prevented from doing miracles due to the unbelief of people…. Notice that in place of belief was offense and a refusal to believe (there is perhaps a warning for us here too). I refer fairly often to unbelief as a wet blanket that is often thrown on top of the “measure of faith/gift of faith” that is our inheritance from the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, Satan does not have the power to extinguish our faith, all he can do is cover neutralized it by throwing something of the opposite nature on top of it. We all have faith, we just need to get the unbelief out so that His faith in us can produce in us all that God has sent for it to do. Remembering from Mark 6:5, that Jesus could do no mighty miracles because of the unbelief of man.
Context is so IMPORTANT:
Acts 14 ESV “Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.[a] 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, 6 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.” 8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,[b] 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them. But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
So knowing that offense can shut down our hearing, understanding that unbelief can block healing that God fully wants and wills, knowing that God can be swayed, understanding that we are generally not able to hear consistently the way Jesus did exactly what the Father wills and how He wills it to happen, are we presently in a position to say with absolutely certainty that it is not God’s will to heal this one right now?
If handled with love and grace and mercy and scriptural knowledge, I believe there is no downside to persisting and pursuing health for all who are sick and ailing
2 Corinthians 6:2 “Hear what God says: “When the time came for me to show you favor, I heard you; when the day arrived for me to save you, I helped you.” Listen! This is the hour to receive God’s favor; today is the day to be saved! .” Good New Translation
Check out the link to see what the word saved means. Blessings.
http://www.blbclassic.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4991&t=KJV
Healing and Discipleship 