2 Corinthians - Lesson 11C

• This morning, we are going to pick back up with 2 Corinthians the 11th chapter, where last week our focus section of verses was Chapter 11:7-11. In that section of scripture, we gained a little more insight into Paul’s personality, and more specifically his humanity, which was interesting to read about.

  • And so, I would like to bring it back up one more time for context as we move forward into today’s teaching. And of course, as I so often do, I want to back up a re-read that section as a segway into today’s teaching. So, follow with me if you will, 2 Cor. 11: 7-11, and here’s what Paul wrote:

2 Cor. 11:7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge?
2 Cor. 11:8 I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;
2 Cor. 11:9 and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.
2 Cor. 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
2 Cor. 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

• Last week as I paraphrased this entire section for you, I didn’t want you to forget that Paul was writing 2 Corinthians in an effort to regain his rightful position in the eyes of this church. A church he founded and one that had begun falling to the wayside. Losing their focus.

  • And in its place begun listening to some man who was working overtime trying to discredit Paul’s position and his calling in ministry. As I thought about this situation, it reminded me of something that happened to me when I was just 21 years old.

  • Daffney and I were deeply involved in a church here in town, and our Pastor, the man I was saved under, he made a decision to resign and take another church in another part of the state. And so, as all churches do when the Pastor leaves, they formed a search committee and began looking for his replacement.

  • Eventually they found a man, and that man became our new Pastor. Within a few weeks of our new Pastor assuming his new position, he latched on to me (primarily because I had surrendered to the ministry), and I guess he wanted to guide and coach me. Guide and coach me on how ‘real ministry’ was done,

  • You see, our new Pastor had come from a much larger church where he was an associate pastor, and his goal was for us to become as big as the church he had come from, which, let me say wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, at least on the surface. But the problem was his method of getting everyone on board with his vision wasn’t the greatest.

    • You see, our old Pastor had done an amazing job, and this new Pastor was filling some pretty big shoes to say the least. And instead of celebrating where the church currently was, and from where it had come, this new pastor decided to throw off on, or downplay, our former Pastor.

    • He would say things to me like, “Well Greg, you know the old Pastor was at the end of his rope. He had nothing left in the tank, nothing more that he could do and that’s why he left. But I’m here now, and because I know how big churches work, we’re going to take this thing to the next level. A level by the way, that the old Pastor couldn’t take you guys to.”

    • I specifically remember him telling me, the first thing we have to do is go after people with money, because if we don’t have money we can’t grow the church. Which of course totally lines up with scripture, where God says the first you need to do in order to grow the church is go after people with money. Pretty sure that’s not what it says.

    • But anyway, now ironically enough, our old Pastor took a church that had been on a 20-year decline and God used him to lead those people, and eventually they grew to roughly 2800 in Sunday School, which is neither here nor there other than to say, the new Pastor was obviously wrong about our previous Pastor’s ability to take us to the next level.

• My point is, one of the glaring signs of a weak leader is when they throw off on their predecessor. If an individual ever assumes a position replacing someone else, and that man or woman’s ‘go-to move’ is to run their predecessor into the ground, whomever they are leading is in trouble.

  • And why? Because it shows weakness in that person. A strong leader will focus on what he or she can do and not worry about what the other person did or did not do. Many years ago, I hired a consultant to help me in business. A great man, especially in the areas of leadership, and he gave me a quote the other day. A quote that I think is fitting for what I am trying to convey this morning.

  • It's not scriptural per se, but it’s still fitting. He read me a quote by Eleanor Rosevelt. It said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people”. And this is a true statement.

  • I say it a little differently though. Small minds discuss people and problems, and great minds discuss solutions.

    • This is what Paul is dealing with in writing to the church at Corinth. Just like the Pastor who tried to downplay my former Pastor, this gentleman is doing the same thing. He is running Paul in the ground. But I wonder why do people do that? Because they are insecure. Because they can’t solve the problem.

    • And so, if you can’t solve it, then why not default to talking about the problem. That’s exactly what small-minded people do, they talk about it and talk about it and talk about it, over and over and over again.

• It’s really simple. Great leaders spend the majority of their time solving problems rather than talking about them. And so, Paul is in a fight for this church, his ministry and his Apostleship, and this gentleman is doing his dead-level best to convince this Corinthian fellowship that he’s really not that special. Talking about his appearance and his speaking ability.

  • And then using that as proof that he is not an Apostle, because you know God would never call an unattractive person into the ministry, especially one that couldn’t speak well. No way. God wouldn’t do that. But that’s exactly what God does, and as we’ve learned, with God everything is reverse of what we think or do.

  • And why is that the case? Because God will never allow any man to receive the credit for the work that He is doing inside His creation. Which is why God Himself chooses who will and who won’t carry out and accomplish His will. And this (God’s method of choosing) is on full display all throughout the scriptures.

  • But regardless of all that, Paul is still in a fight to regain the confidence of this fellowship, and in verses 7-11 of Chapter 11, he (as I stated earlier) shows us his humanity as he begins using hyperbole and sarcasm in his writings. Just listen to verses 10-11 one more time:

2 Cor. 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia.
2 Cor. 11:11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

• In other words, Paul is saying why do you think that I have done what I have done for you, why? Because I don’t love you? Of course not. On the contrary. That’s why I do what I do, and I do it for free. As a matter of fact, I even have taken funds from other churches just so I didn’t have to burden you, which has allowed me to work for you and to never ask you for anything.

  • This is all pretty sad really when you stop to think about it, but it is what it is, and Paul has to deal with it. And guess what, if he has to deal with stuff like this then so do we. We are not exempt; we are simply an extension of Paul along with all the other great men and women of the Bible.

  • Moving on, let’s pick back up with Chapter 11:12-15:

2 Cor. 11:12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.
2 Cor. 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
2 Cor. 11:14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2 Cor. 11:15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

• Hmmm, so speaking of Paul’s humanity, how about those words? This is interesting, because up until this point Paul has been fairly cordial and somewhat easy with his words. But not here in verses 12-15. He doesn’t hold back. As a matter of fact, I would say he moves in for the kill.

  • Now this set of verses got me to thinking, which sometimes isn’t good. It got me to thinking about why now? Why is he just now calling this man out? Why didn’t he begin this whole thing by hammering this gentleman? Why didn’t he say, “Listen here folks, God called me to Corinth. I established your church. I helped ground it and move it forward. How dare you question me. Have you forgotten who I am?

  • I would say that’s probably what most people would have done, wouldn’t you? But he doesn’t, instead, he spends 11 Chapters addressing the issue (and not just this issue), but it’s the primary issue for sure. He spends most of the letter addressing this issue, but waits until the end before he crosses over, tips the scales, calling an ace an ace or a spade a spade.

    • And so, it just made me wonder why? Why now? Well, first of all, let me say, he’s human. I can certainly align with that. And with that thought in mind, let me digress for just a minute. Have you ever had to have a hard conversation with someone, and you knew the person you would be talking to probably wasn’t going to receive it very well?

    • In those situations what do we usually do? You ease into the water, right? Tippy toe around the issues a little, start out by garnering some synergy on the matter, try to find common ground, or unite on some aspect of the issue at hand. And so, you begin the conversation in a very amicable way, but after a while, when you realize you are getting nowhere, many times you begin to give up, and before you know it, you just decide to call it what it is.

  • I feel like that is some of what’s happening here. Now, let me also say that is not what the scripture tells us here in 2 Cor. 11. It doesn’t say that, so don’t walk out of here and go tell someone that Pastor Greg said this or that. This is simply conjecture based on the study of this letter for over a year.

  • Having said that, I don’t think you can study 2 Corinthians and not arrive at a similar conclusion. I’m pretty sure we would all agree that Paul is very frustrated, even though that’s not what it says. It is just me speculating, but I certainly don’t think it’s a far stretch.

• Now, just for a minute let’s examine what he says one more time, because (as I said earlier), he says something in verse 12 that I find interesting, when he says,

2 Cor. 11:12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 

• Paraphrasing here, he’s saying I am doing what I am doing and will continue to do what I do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded in the matter about which they are boasting.

  • Now, believe it or not, this isn’t just Paul spouting off at the mouth trying to throw shots at this man. There is actually more to it than that, and the substance behind his statement actually applies to all of us sitting here today. And so, what might that be? Well, as always, I am glad you asked.

    • Before explaining what I mean, let me make a statement, a statement that may give you a hint as to what I am about to say. Here’s the statement. Apostles were men who were directly appointed by Jesus or God Himself, which means whoever this man was, he was not an Apostle.

    • But how does that apply to those of us sitting here today? Well, it’s not just applicable to us, it applies to all Christians. You see, as you and I sit here today, there are men and women who call themselves Apostles. Even in our day and age. There are also churches who say they have Apostolic powers. Powers like healing and raising folks from the dead.

    • And they say these powers also give them a little something extra when it comes to matters of prayer, but if it’s true that Apostles can only be men who were appointed directly by God or Jesus themselves, then Houston we have a problem, because anyone who says they are an Apostle today is obviously lying and must be confused, or maybe worse, they may be a False Prophet.

• Now, I have a question for you. Who was the only Apostle not to be appointed directly by Jesus Himself while he lived on earth? Paul. Remember, Paul was struck down on the road to Damascus and God called him out and blinded him for three days. So, when Paul says:

2 Cor. 11:12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 

• He knows this man is not an Apostle, even though he is boasting about being one, which then leads Paul to say that he will continue doing what he is doing, because what he does proves who he and the others are, which are true disciples of Jesus Christ. Whereas this man, on the other hand, well, he doesn’t possess the ability to do what Paul and the others do because he is not a true Apostle.

  • Next, in verse 12, Paul then moves in for the kill, sort of speaking, when he says:

2 Cor. 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
2 Cor. 11:14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2 Cor. 11:15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

• Guys, Paul’s words should make you stand up and take notice, because what he did was tell us that this man is indeed a false prophet, which is no surprise. But then he says he was a deceitful worker, disguising himself as an Apostle of Christ. Paul’s words are obviously disturbing, because imagine a person infiltrating a church and disguising himself as an Apostle or Godly man. And the church buying into it. That’s pretty scary.

  • But what Paul says in verses 14-15 is even scarier, when he says, no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, and therefore, it’s no surprise that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

    • Here’s a word for you. If you didn’t know it, Satan and his servants disguise themselves as angels of light and servants of righteousness. Which means, right now, today, there are men and women who walk among us, inside our churches, who are involved in ministry, who have disguised themselves and are actively working for the enemy.

    • And because they are in disguise, and not just any disguise (I might add), they are disguised as Angels of Light, as Servants of Righteousness. Which means they are really hard to detect, or maybe not. They are for some Christians and maybe not so much for others.

  • The question is could you detect them? Do you know how to detect them? Better yet, do you want to know how to detect them? Yes – no – can I buy a vowel? The only way you can detect them is by listening very closely to what they say, and more than that, watching what they do and then lining that back up against the word of God.

  • Remember, a hawk and a dove don’t lite on the same line, and light and darkness don’t inhabit the same space. So, knowing God, which comes by way of knowing His word, is the primary way you can detect this person.

    • But there is another way. You can also detect them through discernment, which, by definition is ‘the ability to judge well’. But that’s not a given, because even that is based on some level of how educated you are when it comes to the character of God. Which once again comes by way of studying your Bible.

• Now, having said that, I will say, many times women are better equipped on identifying these people. Better than men because they have a keener sense of discernment. Which means men should listen to their wives. But back to the question. How do we know who these spies of the enemy are?

  • As I said, just listen to them, watch them, observe them. Because as good as they are at counterfeiting the work of the Holy Spirit, at the end of the day they will always reveal their true colors. They can’t stay true to their disguise forever.

• Next, Paul begins closing out this chapter by showing us a little more of his frustration and humanity through the use of sarcasm one more time. I am going to read this next section, and just lightly touch on it as we close. And next week we will break it apart as we move into Chapter 12. Here’s what Paul wrote,

2 Cor. 11:16 Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. 
2 Cor. 11:17 What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 
2 Cor. 11:18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also. 
2 Cor. 11:19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. 
2 Cor. 11:20 For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face. 
2 Cor. 11:21 To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison.
      But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I speak in foolishness—I am just as bold myself.
2 Cor. 11:22  Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 
2 Cor. 11:23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
2 Cor. 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
2 Cor. 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 
2 Cor. 11:26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 
2 Cor. 11:27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 

• And then his next statement is interesting, where he says this in verse 28:

2 Cor. 11:28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 
2 Cor. 11:29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
2 Cor. 11:30  If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.
2 Cor. 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 
2 Cor. 11:32 In Damascus the ethnarch (Eth-knock) under Aretas (Aaa-rea-tas) the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes (da’-muh-seen) in order to seize me, 
2 Cor. 11:33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and so escaped his hands.

• As I said, we will close with this section, and we will break it down next week. Having said that, I want to encourage everyone to study this section of scripture for yourself and see what you come up with. But before we close today, let me say, if this last section of scripture left us wondering if Paul was frustrated, this section kind of closes the door on doubting that theory, because obviously he is really put out.

  • Notice once again, he uses sarcasm to show his frustration when he says:

2 Cor. 11:16 Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. 
2 Cor. 11:17 What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 
2 Cor. 11:18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also. 
2 Cor. 11:19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. 

• Essentially, what he is saying is, evidently you guys (speaking of the church at Corinth), evidently you guys respond well to foolishness. You respond well to boasting, especially as it relates to things that don’t matter. Things of the flesh, which is opposite of things of the Lord.

  • So, since that’s the case, let me boast a little from my flesh as well. And I love where he goes next. He says, and bear with me I am going to paraphrase and freewheel here for just a minute. He says, far be it from me to compare my resume to this gentleman’s. I mean seriously, how could I possibly compare my experiences to what all this man had experienced.

  • Please forgive my foolishness for not boasting in my flesh. Meaning, this church obviously valued foolishness over Godliness, especially when it came to proving who Paul was. Paul said forgive me for not doing the same, because obviously what I experienced in the flesh is nothing compared to him. I mean, I was just beaten multiple times. Too many times to name, imprisoned…

2 Cor. 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
2 Cor. 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
2 Cor. 11:26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
2 Cor. 11:27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 

• And so, as I said, we see Paul’s humanity on full display here. He was just a man, and as a man he got frustrated with the church. But what’s most interesting is when he said, I experienced all these horrific things as a result of my calling as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. And on top of all that, he says in verse 28:

2 Cor. 11:28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 

• Paul was saying, and on top of all that, on top of all that I have endured, I also have to worry (on a daily basis I might add), I also have to worry about all the churches I started that may be led astray.

  • And so, what’s the biggest take away from today’s lesson? I think there are several, but for me it lies in verses 14-15, where he says:

2 Cor. 11:14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
2 Cor. 11:15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

• Remember this, folks, everything you hear, everything you’re taught, and everything you read outside of the Bible itself must be questioned. Questioned and lined back up against the Word of God.

  • Because Satan is the great counterfeiter, and he disguises himself and his demons as Angels of Light and Servants of Righteousness, and unless you know God, who He truly is, His character, if you’re not careful you can easily be led astray. I’ll leave you with a scripture that I think best speaks to what I am trying to say, and it’s in 1 John 4:1:

1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.