1. PHYSICAL BOTHERS & SPIRITUAL BUFFETING

In 2 Corinthians 12:7, the Apostle Paul talks about his spiritual adversary taking advantage of a physical aliment to assault and assail him. According to Paul, demons—“messengers of Satan”—attempt to slap us around—“buffet” us—over our physical afflictions—“thorns in the flesh.” 

This same Greek word Paul uses for “buffet” in 2 Corinthians 12:7, as well as in 1 Corinthians 4:11, is used in Matthew 26:67, Mark 14:65, John 18:22 and 19:3 for the slapping around of our Savior by His antagonist during the mockery of His trail. Of course, this was prophesied long before by the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 50:6). Interestingly, the same Hebrew word translated “smiters” in Isaiah 50:6 is translated “snare” in Hosea 5:1 and “yoke” in Hosea 11:4. 

When we add all of this Scripture together we come up with a most enlightening spiritual sum. A common modus operandi of the devil in our lives is to try to slap us around spiritually over physical sicknesses so as to ensnare us and yoke us with fear and anxiety. Contrary to popular opinion, debilitating fear is demonic (Romans 8:15; 2 Timothy 1:7). It is far more than an emotion, it is an enslaving “spirit.” 

Like the Apostle Paul, we can always turn to God for deliverance from our physical infirmities and their accompanying and buffeting messengers of Satan. However, if, as in Paul’s case, it is God’s will to use a physical sickness for our greater spiritual good, we must then trust God for sufficient grace to bear up under our physical affliction, as well as our adversary’s spiritual assault. By doing so, we will not only prevent Satan from ensnaring us, but also permit God to perfect His spiritual strength in our lives through our physical weaknesses. Consequently, we will end up like the Apostle Paul, who rejoiced in his spiritually strengthening physical infirmities (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), and like the Psalmist, who delightedly declared, “It was good for me to be afflicted” (Pslam 119:71).

BACK TO DEEPER TRUTHS PAGE