Page 75 - The Divine Quest

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could get in by coming to false conclusions. How many saints today have been taught
that Tertius was the author of the book of Romans? If we took this verse by itself, we
could certainly conclude this was true. However, Tertius was not the author, he was
merely the scribe. Paul dictated and Tertius wrote. This again is owing to Paul’s poor
eyesight. Paul did not even pen the book to the church in Corinth. He dictated it, and
the only part he actually wrote was the greeting.

I Corinthians 16:21
The greeting is in my own hand -- Paul.

So we see from these words that Paul was troubled by poor eyesight that today would
have been as bad as many who are considered legally blind. One can imagine how
such a malady could be used to keep Paul humble. He could have the same reproach
hurled at him that the Jews used to insult the Messiah, “He healed others, let him
heal himself.” Perhaps he even had to be led around by the hand when he met with
the saints, in the same way that he had to be led to Damascus when he first
encountered Christ.

Acts 9:8
Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing;
and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.

This would certainly be a humbling thing. Consider then, whether I have correctly
identified Paul’s thorn or not, that Paul prayed three times for this thorn in his flesh
to be removed, yet God did not remove it. This messes up the conceive it and believe
it doctrine that is very popular today. Are we to accuse Paul of lacking faith to believe
he would be healed? We know a lack of faith was not the reason, for Paul has
declared that God spoke to him regarding this matter. God told him that it was His
will for Paul to bear this infirmity to keep him from being exalted.

There must be more to godly prayer then than just asking and believing. Some have
gone a bit further and have added one more verse to their understanding.

I John 5:14
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything
according to His will, He hears us.

Now we are making some real progress in coming to discern what constitutes the
true prayer of faith. It must be according to the will of God. In the previous chapter
called “Faith Comes by Hearing” we saw that all faith arises out of a word from God.
We must have a word to stand upon. We must know God’s will in a matter. When we