And I will admit there is a sickness unto death. And that’s why prophetic gifts are in the church to know these things. But to say that our Father, that a man had rheumatism, arthritis, say, “Yes, Lord. I’m just glad to have it. Glad You give it to me. I embrace it. I love it. I glory in tribulation.” Paul’s thorn in the flesh, that was no more disease than nothing else. If it wasn’t healing, he got well, and he said, “The messenger of the devil that buffet me.” What does the word “buffet” mean? “Blow after blow.” See? Then He healed him; he got well. He—He—He healed him again. He got sick. And He healed him. He got sick, blow after blow. He said, “A messenger of Satan,” not an infirmity, as he meant, as he said there, but as people try to interpret. I will let Brother Baxter take that thorn in the flesh for you some afternoon, or some of these teachers.

Experiences, 1952-07-25, Zion, IL, §6