December 14, 2008
Evening Service

II Cor. 11:16-33

 

Review:

• False teachers, and Apostles.

 

2Co 11:16-33  I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.  (17)  That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 

• I want to build this evening on the idea of boasting confidently.  We will look at what the Apostle boasts of, and let me assure you we cannot match up with him.
• I think we will find that our boasting is only in what the Lord has done for mankind.

(18)  Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.  (19)  For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 

• Paul made the statement “1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom” :  And again; Act 17:21  (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

• Corinth was just across the water from Athens, so the same culture would have been there.

(20)  For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.  (21)  I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak.

• Paul is describing true Christianity.  Jesus taught these very things in Matt. 5-7.  We are to be a yielded people.  A people of servants.  Meek, and lowly, submissive to said authorities.
• It is one thing to be a true servant of God, and another to allow someone to just blatantly take advantage of you.
• Our Government system, which was constructed on the knowledge of Bible principles, has grown so corrupt, and ungodly that the saying to the church in Laodicea is very fitting.  “You make Me sick, and I will vomit you out of my mouth.”   It was suppose to be like this;  Rom 13:3-4  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:  (4)  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
• As we see in the news, and have known for sometime, corruption in politics is everywhere.  You have heard it said, “If a man is not corrupt when going into office, he will be when leaving office.”
• Our responsibility;  pray for you leaders, and those in authority, God will do the rest.

I would like for you to try and visualize the things that have happened to Paul.

 

Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, I (speak foolishly,) I am bold also.  (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 frequent, in deaths oft.  (24)  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  (25)  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  (26)  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  (27)  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  (28)  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

• There may be a few missionaries able to boast like this, but certainly none here in the USA.
• I used to get tickled at some of the Ministers in different places we worshipped, to hear them receive the call to minister in Barbados, or some tropical paradise.  Not very often in the desolate parts of the world.

 

 

(29)  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 

• Do you think that wrong doings don’t bother me?  Think again.

(30)  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 

• God speaking to Ananias concerning Paul; Act 9:16  For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
• Can we really imagine even a portion of the sufferings that Paul and the rest of the Apostles went through?  I don’t think so.  However we can read about them in the Bible, and the early church writings.  Foxes book of Martyrs is a good book to read.
• We have an open door, with all the wealth on the other side that we will ever need, and we can’t get people to go through the door, and enjoy the presence of God.
• Most Christians I know that have had a powerful conversion, came to God because they were suffering torments of life, and wanted the peace of God that only He can give.
• Living for the world, and it’s pleasures only brings sufferings, and heartaches.  Only living close to God gives you the peace that all mankind truly wants. 
• Sin will still rob you of your peace of mind, but turning to the Lord, and becoming His disciple will set you free.  You will no longer be “bound by the fear of death”, but Christ Jesus will set you free, from all fear, and torment.

(31)  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed forevermore, knoweth that I lie not. 

• Paul gives on last example of persecution.

(32)  In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:  (33)  And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

 

WE CANNOT COMPARE WITH THE APOSTLES IN WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH.  HOWEVER, WE SUFFER OUR OWN TORMENTS, AND PERSECUTIONS.  THEY USUALLY ARE BROUGHT ON BY OUR OWN FOOLISH DECISIONS IN LIFE.

 

OUR PRAYER THIS EVENING WOULD BE “LORD HELP US TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS THAT WOULD BRING US CLOSER TO YOU”.    AMEN.