Paul's Sufferings
Lessons From 2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
It is good to be back looking at 2 Corinthians with you this evening after being sick two weeks ago and gone last week to the lectureship.
We pick up where we left off from 2 Corinthians 10, wherein Paul, through inspiration of God, found it necessary to defend his apostleship.
Remember some were proclaiming that Paul was a “keyboard warrior” as they say today, being bold in letter but humble when face to face.
Paul corrects this by saying the reason he was so bold in his letter was because he did not want to be bold when face to face with them, not that he couldn’t or wouldn’t be (2 Corinthians 10:2).
They also had those that were “boasting about accomplishments” and saying they were more accomplished than the apostle Paul.
Paul of course set the record straight that “it wasn’t the one who commends himself who is approved but the one the Lord commends” (2 Corinthians 10:18).
Instead of getting upset at this foolish talk he simply says “My only hope is in your salvation and that you will help me help others find salvation as well.”
However, in our text for this evening, 2 Corinthians 11, we find Paul must become more bold due to a particular sin.
It is one thing to mock Paul for telling them the truth, which one certainly shouldn’t do, but it was something altogether different to receive someone “who was a false teacher.”
In our text Paul boldly points out the dangers of false teachers and then demonstrates the foolishness of their arrogant accomplishment based doctrine of faith.
So, with this in mind lets look at our lesson for this evening.
False Apostles
False Apostles
They Lead Away From Christ.
They Lead Away From Christ.
Paul felt a special connection to the church in Corinth because he was there when they “first believed.”
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
However, after Paul left Corinth, Satan’s servants crept in an through cunning had deceived some away from Christ.
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Satan and his servants were deceiving these brethren through a number of different means.
Satan’s servants were deceiving by claiming to be a preacher for a different Jesus.
2 Corinthians 11:4 (ESV)
4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed…
False teachers are not anything new and they seek to devour the sheep of righteousness.
Matthew 7:15–16 (ESV)
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
The Jesus that is proclaimed today in the world is not the same Jesus of the bible.
The Jesus that is proclaimed today by the majority of those that proclaim Christianity have never actually read the scriptures throughly concerning the real Jesus of the bible and as such they believe in a false Jesus.
This is evident by the number of people who will seek out a preacher that will preach “what they want to hear” instead of what God’s word actually says.
Satan’s servants were deceiving by claiming to be lead by a different spirit.
2 Corinthians 11:4 (ESV)
4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received…
This again is an effective ploy of Satan and his servants.
If Satan and his servants can get people to “feel” that the Holy Spirit is leading them in this direction or that direction, even though it contradicts God’s actual word, they are then completely deceived.
Throughout history Satan has employed this tactic, no better than when the Southern Kingdom of Judah was going to parish if they didn’t repent, and yet they were told they had no need to.
14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.
10 Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash,
Satan gets people to believe…
Women can both be preachers and not be preachers and the Holy Spirit lead each group to their conclusion.
God saves people “once and for all” and that God does not save people “once and for all” and both are right according to the Holy Spirit.
Premillennialism is right, Amillenialism is right, and every other “ism” in between is right and that the Holy Spirit lead each one of them to that conclusion.
Satan has become so effective at getting people to believe they are led by the Spirit without any verification in the Scripture that then majority of people saying they are led have no idea what the actual word of God even says.
Satan’s servants were deceiving by claiming to have a different gospel.
2 Corinthians 11:4 (ESV)
4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
Most would rather seek the “church of their choice” instead of the “church that belongs to Christ.”
Denominationalism proves this very thing.
Satan’s servants will seek to deceive and devour our souls one allows it by any means possible.
This is why Paul points out that…
Truth Should Be Highly Valued.
Truth Should Be Highly Valued.
Paul states that what he preached to the church in Corinth for the 18 months that he was there he preached to them the truth which is always verifiable.
How could this be verified?
It could be verified by the fact that Paul was not inferior to any other apostle.
5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
It could be verified by the fact that Paul was not dumb in the scriptures but full of knowledge which was plain from his preaching and teaching.
6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
It could be verified by the fact that Paul understood their spiritual weaknesses such as supplying Paul’s financial needs even though he was working for them those 18 months.
2 Corinthians 11:7–9 (ESV)
7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
It could be verified by the fact that no one would do such without a sincere love for them.
2 Corinthians 11:10–11 (ESV)
10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. 11 And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
Summary
Summary
Paul ends this section at verse 15 by saying what everyone knows, “one’s fruit bears them out.”
Unlike the false apostles and deceitful workmen who disguise themselves Paul’s actions and words are out there for proof of the truth and his love for them.
If this wasn’t enough proof Paul then determines to demonstrate the foolishness of these false teacher’s boasting in accomplishments by mocking them with his far superior accomplishments.
Paul’s Godly Persecutions
Paul’s Godly Persecutions
Paul Mocks Boasting In Accomplishments.
Paul Mocks Boasting In Accomplishments.
In 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 Paul begins to mock the false teachers and those that believe in them.
16 I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17 What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not as the Lord would but as a fool.
21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.
28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
It is in this master piece on how to mock the foolishness of earthly wisdom that we find…
Paul’s Suffering For Christ.
Paul’s Suffering For Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 we read…
24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;
26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
I know Paul is simply mentioning these things to prove the foolishness of those seeking validation based on their accomplishments, but man is this a list.
Oh, to be found faithful enough by our heavenly Father, to be put through such trials!!!
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Summary
Summary
…
Conclusion
Conclusion
In 2 Corinthians 10 the apostle Paul graciously taught us how to handle those that have gotten caught up in the servants of Satan’s lies.
We are, in gentleness and meekness, convey the truth in love.
In 2 Corinthians 11 the apostle Paul boldly demonstrates how false teachers and those leading the sheep astray ought to be handled.
We are, in toughness and boldness, dismantle their arrogance with truth.
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.