The Real Deal
Matters of the Heart • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro:
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
Tonight as we continue our series on 2 Corinthians, entitled, [Matters of the Heart], I want to speak on the subject of [The Real Deal].
In 2013, our family took a trip to Washington D.C. I contacted the office of our Congressman and they helped us get tours different places. The first place we went was the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
We walked through to see how they make our money. I’d love to tell you it was the most thrilling part of our trip, it wasn’t. It looked like a high powered copier. They put in the paper, printed the information, and cut it into bills.
The money we saw wasn’t even considered currency because it hadn’t been through the a final process that took place after we left.
But I did leave the tour with an interesting fact. There was discussion about counterfeit money. It is easy to assume that they would study counterfeit money to distinguish it and protect us.
However, there was not a counterfeit bill in sight, but they could tell a real bill from a fake. Why? Because they spend hours studying real money.
They go over every detail, learning and understanding what makes money real. Then, should a counterfeit bill show up, they automatically know it to be fake, because they studied the real.
One of the problems in Corinth was their fascination with false teachers. They were quick to be deceived and follow the false doctrine of those who acted as wolves in sheep’s clothing.
To combat this, Paul did something that was uncomfortable. He showed them how to distinguish the real from the fake. The part that made it uncomfortable, he used himself as the example.
In our text we read that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light. Likewise, the false apostles have transformed themselves into apostles of Christ.
What took place in Paul’s day happens in ours. We live in a time where many Christians have been deceived by false teaching. The spirit of the antichrist is working overtime to get followers of Christ distracted with false doctrine.
How do we combat this problem? We could spend hours studying false doctrine. We could listen to teaching by false teachers. We could even live the lifestyle that we know is wrong, just so we really understand why we shouldn’t do what they do.
OR, we can look to Jesus. We can study scripture. We can live the way God wants us to live.
We distinguish fact from fiction by studying, praying to, learning from, and serving THE REAL DEAL!
The more we know Jesus the less susceptible we are to the false teaching and deception of the enemy.
I want to look at three parts to this problem: [The Art of Deception], [The Gift of Discernment], and [The Need for Devotion].
Let’s begin
1. The Art of Deception
1. The Art of Deception
1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
At the end of chapter ten, Paul encouraged the reader, if you are to glory in anything or anyone, GLORY IN THE LORD. Paul felt foolish to discuss what he did for God.
However, he was worried about the Corinthians. He was jealous for them and concerned that they would be deceived, just as Eve was deceived.
Who is the deceiver? Satan. Something we must know about Satan, he does not come and say, “I am Satan, I am here to deceive you, what I say is not true, but I hope that you will be confused and follow me.”
If he did that, we would turn and run immediately. Instead, he works through people who are willing to be deceived by him. The false teachers and false apostles in Corinth preached a false gospel.
They were skilled in the art of deception. How did they accomplish this? They were skilled orators, living a flashy lifestyle, attracting the Corinthians to what they had to say.
Paul wanted them to know, even though what they say sounds good, their gospel is different from what God planned for His church.
They preached about a Jesus who placed intense restrictions on His followers, requiring them to keep the law. While others taught that Jesus was all spirit and no flesh, so there is no way we could follow His earthly example.
After this explanation, Paul compares and contrasts the deception of the false teachers with his ministry.
5 For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. 7 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! 12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
5 For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. 7 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! 12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.
In verses five through seven, Paul goes back to his physical appearance. He did not look or sound the part. The false teachers looked perfect.
They bragged about their accomplishments and backed it up with skilled rhetoric and speech. Furthermore, the false teachers appeared wealthy.
In those days, people would give speeches for money. Those who made more were considered more successful. Paul on the other hand took no money from the Corinthians.
He did not make money during his time, instead, he depended on the offerings of other churches and he made tents. Therefore, the false teachers deceived the people, telling them Paul was inept because of refusal to take any money.
Because Paul was a humble man, the false teachers deceived others into believing he was weak, ineffective, and unskilled in his work for God.
Were the false teachers entirely to blame? No, they were being used by the one who was skilled in the art of deception.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
They were being used by the spirit of the antichrist. Satan used them to deceive the church. The results?
Instead of unity, the created division.
Instead of truth, they taught falsehood.
Instead of peace, they brought turmoil.
How can we, mere mortals, overcome the art of Satan’s deception?
2. The Gift of Discernment
2. The Gift of Discernment
16 I say again, let no one think me a fool. If otherwise, at least receive me as a fool, that I also may boast a little. 17 What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19 For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! 20 For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. 21 To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.
Paul knew it was unbefitting for a Christian to boast, but he had no choice. He used a little bit of reverse psychology.
I used to try this on my siblings, I might say, you don’t want to give me your candy. Sometimes their stubbornness would get the better of them and they would give me what I wanted just to prove me wrong.
The Corinthians were attracted to the false teachers. Remember, Corinth was a wealthy city. Now these false apostles came in looking the part and acting the part of the wealthy.
The Corinthian Christians foolishly followed them. These men were arrogant and boastful. Paul chose to get their attention doing what was contrary to his nature.
Why did Paul do this? To help them discern the true from the false.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
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22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
Paul continued to share his credentials in comparison with the false teachers. They were Hebrew, so was he. They were Israelites, so was he. They were descendants of Abraham, so was he.
What was a major difference? They claimed to be servants of Christ, but Paul really served Christ.
They did not have sincere devotion to the Lord. They looked great on the outside, but they did not know how to stay faithful in the face of suffering.
Paul then shares all he faced in his devotion to the Lord:
The Outline Bible Section Outline Eleven (2 Corinthians 11)
A. He was imprisoned often (11:23a).
B. He was whipped times without number (11:23b).
1. He received 39 lashes from the Jews on five occasions (11:24).
2. He was beaten with rods on three occasions (11:25a).
C. He faced death time and again (11:23c).
1. He faced danger from flooded rivers (11:26b).
2. He faced danger from robbers (11:26c).
3. He faced danger from both Jewish and Gentile mobs (11:26d).
D. He was stoned once (11:25b).
E. He was shipwrecked three times (11:25c).
F. He spent a terror-filled night and day on the open sea (11:25d).
G. He traveled many weary miles (11:26a).
H. He spent sleepless nights (11:27a).
I. He knew constant hunger and thirst (11:27b).
J. He was often cold and ill-clothed (11:27c).
K. He experienced harrowing escapes (11:32–33).
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
These were the external turmoils he faced, but what really separated him from the false teachers was his deep concern for the churches.
The false teachers used the churches for personal gain, but Paul prayed for them. He worked with them. He never gave up on them. He did not use or abuse them. He gave up so much for them, yet he did not count the cost.
Therefore, he was concerned for them as they were led astray and grew weak in their faith. Paul did what was uncomfortable to help them discern between the real and the fake.
They had been led astray by those who mastered the art of deception, so Paul taught them how to value the gift of discernment. He concluded his thoughts in this chapter by showing...
3. The Need for Devotion
3. The Need for Devotion
30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
After boasting in what he did, he showed them the way a Christian should boast. We boast not in all the great things we have done, instead we boast in our weakness and our infirmity.
We boast in the fact that God is great and we are not.
We boast in the fact that His ways are higher than our ways.
We boast in the fact that He leads and we follow.
We boast in the fact that we are nothing without Him.
We boast in the fact that He knows it all and we get to walk in faith, trusting and believing Him.
Everything Paul faced, both positive and negative, was are result of His submission to God the Father. There had been good days and bad days, but he never detoured in his devotion.
What kept Paul following God? Why could Paul be described as the real deal?
He looked back at the time when he was saved. Right after Paul was saved in , he began to preach the truth. He started testifying of Jesus as the Savior.
Instead of people accepting his message, the leaders of the city wanted to kill Paul. Think about that. When Paul neared the city of Damascus he had legal authority. He was welcomed.
But when he surrendered his old life and began to follow Christ, people began to despise him. So much that he had to sneak out of town in the middle of the night in a basket.
That should have been a warning for the rest of his life. But Paul was undeterred. He could have left the Lord, but he became even more devoted to the Lord!
His devotion to God carried him through every season of live. And he wanted to Corinthians to have this same type of devotion!
Close:
As uncomfortable as it was for Paul, he wanted the Corinthians to know, he was the real deal. The false teachers came, lied about Paul, and deceived many of the Corinthians.
Paul knew they needed discernment if they were to make it as followers of Christ. If they lacked discernment, they would not be totally devoted to the Lord.
The problems that the Corinthians faced are not that different than what we face. We live in a day where deception runs rampant.
But we have the upper hand. One of the gifts of the Spirit is the discerning of spirits. Notice, it is not the gift of discernment, per se, it is the ability to know if something or someone is from God or not.
I believe the Lord wants us to desire to operate in the discerning of spirits, be it in the big or little spiritual battles of life.
I remember on a trip to Costa Rica in 2014, I preached at a church called the House of Prayer. On the last night of the meeting, at the very end of the altar service, they called the interpreter and me to pray for a girl who was laying on the floor.
I will make a long story short, but as we walked close to her, she began to manifest a demon. I won’t go into to detail of all that happened, the demon did all it could to deceive and distract.
We continued to take authority and declare the name of Jesus. We prayed for over thirty minutes. Suddenly, the girl began laughing uncontrollably. I couldn’t tell why she laughed.
We continued to take authority and declare the name of Jesus.
I asked the Lord, God is this you or the enemy. Immediately peace filled my heart. I was able to discern she was laughing with a joy of the Spirit.
She stood up completely delivered. Her mother told us after the service, six months before that service, this girls father died. He had sexually abused her and his death pushed her into a deep depression.
She got involved in demonic things and did not smile for six months. But that night the Lord delivered her. I was back five months later and saw the girl and she was still set free.
As I thought of discernment and deception, the Lord reminded me of that story. So many are bound in deception, and God is looking for people of discernment.
Let me add, discernment is not just for big events like a someone being demon possessed. We need discernment on a daily basis.
The enemy can come and try to discourage us through something someone said or did.
The enemy can deceive us by an opportunity that looks good, but is not of God.
There may be a decision we have to make and do not know what to do, we need God’s help to discern His will!
How does this happen?
It comes through our devotion to God. It happens as we stay committed to the Lord and depend on Him and Him alone!
I do not know about you, but as a Christian, I want to be the real deal. I want people to be able to look at my life and say, that is the picture of a true Christian!
It happens when we increase our devotion to Him!
The enemy knows the art of deception, but we can have the gift of discernment, but we need to stay devoted to Him!
We can become the real deal, by looking to Jesus, who will teach us His way!