I will pray for you now. Also know that Jesus is interceding for you always, He is your ever present help in times of trouble. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Emanuel my friend.
My heart was crying out with yearning once I saw how my "thorns" could be put to use to glorify Jesus. We don't know one another Pastor John but please pray that my walk with Christ shames Satan through my personal crown of thorns. My name is Matt. Praise Jesus for the great work the Holy Spirit is doing through you.
A thorn in the flesh was given to me. I pleaded with the Lord so many times I lost count. One day I cried out for Him to take this from me and He answered me saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Praise God! He is at work! After this experience, I found this video. God is so good!!!
This sermon put me to tears. Healing tears. Tears of Thanksgiving. Tears that I can from now on boast of. God is so good. So deeply good. And I pray that I am made worthy to be a theatre of revelation and pain. Pastor John Piper, may God bless you, your work and your ministry. From my heart, thank you giving yourself completely to God and His greater glory.
I too have been through an unparalleled demonic harassment since 18 months old until now (poliomyelitis, severe dextro lumbar scoliosis, cholera el tor, 2 ruptured brain aneurysms - 1993; 2019; cancer 2011) but miraculously, by the grace of God, I am still able to preach, teach and build a church building project for the Igorot Tribes. My body is so broken and have asked God several times to take me home, and, like Paul, want to be with the Lord which is much beneficial for me...but, not the Igorot Tribes I am reaching out as a missionary. Through your sermon, I realize that I am so far from Paul who magnified His body until the end. May God grant me the miracle to be most glad and pleased until I hear God's "Well done..." I thank God also for your book "90 Minutes..."
Dear one, that's quite a lot of hardships indeed! And still you serve the Lord... You are so brave and with such a deep love for God. It touches me, when I think of the many tears you must have shed. But none was lost. When we are greeted by HIM in his glory, then we may see what it was all for. Until then: may God's gracious presence embalm your soul, ease your burdens and guide you on the winding road home.
I AM DEADDDDDD!!!!!! Woah!!!! I am literally crying rn from how good this was and I feel so spiritually connected to St. Paul and John through this teaching. This is so wonderful. I have been trying to improve in this bc I am not a “fake it til you make it” person. I am painfully real to a fault. However I have been doing better lately and I know it is God helping me and working in me. I do have many thorns but I know God is so GOOD!
I don't like the whole philosophy of "fake it til you make it" either! The majority of church-goers seem to follow it, and people are always shocked when I'm real.
Becoming a Prayer Warrior ... Prophet Jeremiah dude.... some people are meant to be real. I have learned and am still learning how to be loving when speaking truth. It is imperative that we support and love on people if we are correcting them.
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I'm having trouble differentiating between the "fake it till you make it" and the opposite of that. So 2 questions... what is the opposite of that? And which one is the way to go? ( You seemed like you understood the sermon, I would really appreciate knowing your insight :)
@@priyankaalexander6873 the opposite of “fake it till you make it” would be the Miracle; where a believer is genuinely boasting gladly in their suffering, rather than pretending to be okay with it , and faking it “till they make it”
I've been struggling with pride and conceit for so long. My flesh uses smaller sins, like lust and anxiety, to keep me from seeing thaf conceit is the greater enemy, hiding underneath it all. But I can say with a glad heart that the moments in which I enjoyed the greatest fellowship with the Lord, when the Scriptures would shine in the brighest manner, when the atributtes of God and his doctrines of great would be the most might boggling to me were all the moments in which I would experience the biggest suffering of my life, when I would see my dreams being destroyed by the Lord's sovereign hands. Now I can finally understand: the thornes of God, even when it's Satan the one who hurts us with them, are really lovely thornes. But my pride is still here, and it hurts me and kills my joy. I need to find the courage to begg the Lord for a few thornes.
Gabriel Fernandes, you've touched me brother, I suffer from the same thorns. Let us praise God for them and finish the race to attain Christ. A Dios sea today la Gloria!
Don't ask for thorns (which sounds like needless suffering). Ask God to do the least amount of pain necessary to destroy your pride so that you can be set free. Ask God to help you experience His presence while your pride is being destroyed, so that you can bear it. On the other side of the trial, you will be a much better person, and it will be worth it!
Prayers for brokenness are the best! Truly the best prayers I pray. Pride needs to be crushed so we can become like Jesus and be complete, mature, lacking nothing as James says in James 1. ! Trials are the way but God promises to work all things together for good. Hurts indeed but it bears fruit and makes us humble and poor in spirit. God be praised! “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” - Isaiah 57:15 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" - Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:3, 8) LOVE THIS OLD HYMN! YES LORD!! "O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer; This is my constant longing and prayer; Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness; Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. O to be like Thee! full of compassion, Loving, forgiving, tender and kind, Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, Seeking the wand'ring sinners to find. O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit, Holy and harmless, patient and brave; Meekly enduring cruel reproaches, Willing to suffer, others to save. O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming, Now to receive th' anointing divine; All that I am and have I am bringing; Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine. O to be like Thee! While I am pleading Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love. Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling, Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve." GOD BLESS !!!
May the Lord bless you, pastor John, I'm a young Italian believer who attends a small Evangelical church that has a humble pastor just like you. Your such an inspiration, life is never easy with thorns, but now I see that God uses those bad things to get me closer to him. Greetings from Italy
Kathy Russell thank you sister, right I'm in a Christian camp, we are talking about God's grace, we pray and worship every day. It's a such a joy. God bless you, too
Bless the Lord!!! It makes perfect sense. The more you know about God the more power you posses. The more power we have through knowledge of the word of God the more we need the humbling of the spirit of God.
For those who are experiencing a thorn in the flesh season, (as I currently am) just know that despite the pain, Christ has us in the perfect balance between sharing in his testimony whilst here on earth along with participating in his glory, which is manifested in him revealing knowledge to us of who he is. Family of God we are blessed.🙏🏾
When I’d been saved for 3 months, the preacher put me teaching the older adult Sunday school class. I was 35, they were 50-75. I should have been humbled by their wisdom, but NO! I puffed right up. Same principle, we are blinded in an instant. I’m still battling that, and have had constant humiliation since. Thank you Br. Piper for some perspective. I responded unlike Paul. I will pray that others will do better.
God’s Grace is sufficient to keep you. Additionally, it’s in this time of pain that God wants to reveal himself to you. I’m going through the same season of pain but weirdly it has been an awesome time of communion with the Lord.
Right! God in His infinite wisdom uses Satan’s own aggression to destroy him and foil him. Satan must have strutted when they started to nail Christ to the cross. He had no clue he was getting on his own home turf (earth)
Father God forgive me again for being out of control ! Father God even though you bless me with a wonderful gift I wouldn't though I would have the world looking at me and seeing my every move , please give me strength cause I need it right now!!
God uses the demons and thorns against the devil...brings to mind this scripture in the Gospel of Matthew 12:25, KJV: 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto him, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: ...
Listen what I went through.Once I was in my living room standing there.And I closed my eyes and was in a place like a Royal Mansion and I was dressed in a white robe.And there were men kneeling down and I was kneeling down and was young again.I knelt down to place a crown down.I saw a brilliant light yellow Gold and white and shining from a Crown where a throne was from the center of the crown.And finally I was seeing this light moving around all over this mansion.On the walls and ceiling and floor and brilliant.Then what happened was from the light walked a man whom led me to rooms in corridors.And all of a sudden finally I was shown men in rooms in white robes and he pointed to them.And pointed back down.All of a sudden I opened my eyes and was back in my living room.
Adding my prayer for you KImber Justice. Seek someone who can listen and give you solid scriptural support. Don't just rely on your view of your situation.
Kimber Justice. Mike, you're halfway there, brother. Do not give up. One day at a time. One minute at a time, if need be. I am praying for an intercession for you! God will not give up on you. Please do not give up on God!
Kimber Justice. Hi Mike, it's me again, thinking of another video of Pastor John's on prayer, might be helpful to you. Listen to this, link below, Mike. I pray you receive a spiritual break-through, in Jesus Name, Amen! God loves you, Mike. Do not doubt it! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9J5nIBoIOjg.html
Kimber Justice I’m not sure if I should take your comment as you’re losing custody or you’re suicidal, but no matter, Jesus is right there with you. It might not always feel like it, but He is. And He loves you and his desire for you is to live and truly Live. Nothing on earth compares to His love and the lightened heart /carefree feeling of a clean conscience! Seriously ! 💕 you
Just to let you know it the crown with the center light was shining on the throne was someone sitting there.I believe that Jesus is brilliant light.I could barely make out the image.
Jonathan Hutchinson check the description box. It’s a ceremonial gown reflecting his highest educational level reached and possibly what discipline it was in.
Michael Savchuk when Jesus met Saul...he blinded him. When then Paul was left a impairment of sight...so he needed others to help him to write...so that he never forget that it was God's Words...not Paul's. A reminder. Paul was powerful and educated...zealous in doing his work for the church...but God called him to do His work...knowing Saul was used to being revered and honored...God protected him so that God shown through Paul. Just wanted to protect His servant from a sin He knows we all have the ability to do...boast, take credit for...God knows us...really knows us.
I always thought it was some sort of sin that he couldn't conquer that kept him humble, that he knew that it was only God working in him,and not himself that deserved the lower and glory. The thorn in our lives would be the struggle, the thing we can't get rid of that helps us see that we are sinners in need of a savior.
Michael Savchuk. That is a great question. Scholars have different opinions on what it could mean. Some think it refers to sickness - maybe his eyes as Dea Christiancatlady says; others think it may refer to the hardships he had to endure; others think it could've been a nagging sin in the apostle's life. In the present day I would say we could apply it in our own lifes as any of those - sickness, disability, hardships, ridicule, temptation, sin. Anything in your life that may make you weak in your flesh but would be a great chance to magnify the faithfulness, power and existence of the one true living God.
all christian are men of sorrows, counted as dead ,heted by the world jet this is our blessing and joy and rich live , my understanding is that as being explain here our joy override this temporary sorrow [converting this sorrow in joy] and we are able to see we are fulfilling glory to God in our life of obedience like Christ did on the cross with joy ,knowing he will bring many to life.[ to know him ]
another found sheep every good and perfect gift come from the Lord and is without pain or hardship. Google for bible verse. I know from my experience, this world that I am trying to stay positive in is not without tribulations. May we all stay in prayers 24/7 for Christians' believers hardships. BLESSINGS BE WITH U. ✌.
7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:7-15 ESV)
I've heard one interpretation that this thorn in the flesh was to keep Paul from being exalted by God in the eyes of the people but the text does not bear this out. The plain meaning of the text was that its purpose was so that Paul himself "would not be exalted" through the great revelations given to him. I believe the thorn was an unimaginable level of persecution that utterly frustrated Paul because outside of his relationship w God, preaching the Gospel was his greatest passion.
For me it's Just as simple as believing I was created by God for God, and however he chooses to do things who am I to question them? I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him so he can do whatever he wants. Probably not the answer you are looking for but it's what I believe.
I respectfully disagree with the (well some) description of the video. I respect it however, because it is by and large, mostly true. If God wants to restore someone out of pain and suffering and weakness, or prevent it for his own glory, he can do that too, and make it just as glorifying to him as someone who suffers more. This doesn't cheapen the person who's suffering, it merely highlights that Jesus Christ is humble and elevates him. The fact that people who are blessed deserve Hell without Jesus Christ's atonement on the Cross, but are instead not only saved but blessed highlights that Jesus is humble. Jesus deserves to get his revenge, but the very message of the Gospel is that he loves us.
HE GAVE EN TOOK AWAY BLESSED BE HIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the ONLY ONE who is above good en evil both savior en destroyer of life en creator of heaven en hell YAH/YHWH ALONE IS GOD en decides it all !
If God is using satan then why are we commanded to resist the devil in James 5 ? If we have been given power and authority over the enemy how do we know when to use our authority if God is using satan? This is a dangerous message to believers. Paul was not conceited. If you read his words you will know he was humble. I believe he was being exalted by God because so many were being saved.
What happened with Job? God said to satan have you thought of my servant Job and satan says I can’t do nothing to him because you have put a hedge around him God said do what you want just don’t kill him. What would you say that is?
@@saved6655 the old covenant. We have a new covenant, a better covenant with better promises. Through faith in Jesus God gave man his authority back, over satan that was lost in the garden.
You are correct. We are commanded to resist the devil. How are we doing in this? When God allows our adversary to challenge us, do we resist? Do we call on the name of the Lord and walk as He walked? If not, you can bet we'll get to take the "test" again until we walk in obedience and it becomes a "test-imony" we can share and boast in the Lord's for His glory.
Then I closed my eyes And a lady came towards me from above and she had a crown of stars on her head and was pure and fair skin.Had a pink robe on.And a green stem red rose and held it out to me and I reached for it and she pulled the rose back to her and was gone.
We know for sure none of this was his thorn 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
