GodB4Us What to you is more important?? What a person thinks about you, or what they know about you?
The truth here is about how we are nothing as Paul testified on several occasions when it comes to God ministering through him or others.
1 Corinthians 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
From there, I expounded on it that God can use any one for His ministry because Paul testified that He is able to make us able ministers.
2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
So when God causes the increase, it is not to give credit to whomever the Lord uses but to give hanks to the father in Jesus's name for the word received.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
As God can use a donkey to speak, so can He use any one for why people should not judge the person but what is being said for God may be speaking through to them. Only God can confirm the word in you thru the Holy Spirit in you.
Since Jesus himself taught Paul (Acts 9:15-16, Acts 22:14-15, Gal 1:12-16) I sure cannot fathom Paul having any kind of mental illness as his thorn. And having power from on high in healing and miracles it would look pretty stupid to people if they even thought he had a mental illness.
Paul testified that he gloried in his infirmity and it was a thorn in the flesh described as a Messenger of Satan that buffeted him in the flesh as this was given to him to prevent others from thinking higher of him than they ought to think because of all the visions and revelations coming from Paul.
So I take comfort in Paul's infirmity in the flesh because this proves God can help me live with this infirmity in the flesh as He can with others too.
NO, to me Paul was the only human ever created by God himself to ever represent Jesus as a LIVING presence after his death and resurrection. Hence why when I preach, I follow in his Word instruction, there by receiving the very same result EVERYTIME!!! (Matt 10:7-8!) To hear about me is one thing, but to know me is quite another. Hehe I never boast in self, I boast in Christ Jesus whom I will always serve!
I am a disciple as are many here, I know my place in his Kingdom. (Rom 12:3) The measure of faith given to all people is the ability to believe in our Jesus, but it becomes our choice as to how far that belief shall take us in his service. That's just the way I look at this brother. Blessing always to you!
I leave the ministering to God as I am sure you do too, but thank you for sharing your concern. One can always pray for others that God will minister to them as well.
