2 Corinthians - Lesson 11D

• Good morning, guys, and welcome back to our study of Paul’s second recorded letter to the Corinthian Church. We are nearing the end of the letter, with just two more chapters to go, and for the last several weeks we have been knee-deep following Paul through his writings.

  • And honestly, watching Paul as he has kind of come to an end (of sorts), an end specifically as it relates to defending his position and authority as an Apostle. Defending himself against this individual, this man, or men at this point, who have made their way into the church and have garnered the attention and respect (evidently) of this fellowship.

  • I say he’s at his end because of how his writing has shifted. He’s moved from explaining who he is from a place of fact and logic, backed with proof based on his life, to now almost saying if you can’t beat them, join them. And to further explain what I mean, let’s back up and re-read last week’s focus verses for context.

    • Here’s what Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 11:16-33. This is a bit lengthy compared to our normal reading, but it’s important to read it this way because there is really no break. Just listen to what he 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. 

• Now, let me pause here for a moment and explain what Paul is saying or what he is writing about here. No doubt he is frustrated, and I am going to go off script for just a minute. He’s saying to this church, obviously what you people value has nothing to do with the things of the Spirit.

  • That’s what he means when he mentions boasting by the way. Boasting is an act of pride, which is a derivative of the flesh. And so, what he’s trying to say is, hey guys, you are listening to this man, or men, but what he, or they are boasting about are things of the flesh, and they have nothing to do with the spirit, and they certainly don’t validate this man, or men, as Apostles.

• Now let me say, we don’t know everything this man or men have been telling this church, but we do get a little hint or insight into the substance of what they are saying when we back up and re-read Chapter 10:10 and then Chapter 10:17-18. Listen to it one more time:

2 Cor. 10:10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” 

• Then in verses 17-18 of Chapter 10 he says,

2 Cor. 10:17 But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD.
2 Cor. 10:18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.

• And then of course, we have what we just read in verse 18, which said:

2 Cor. 10:18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also. 

• So, if you study Chapters 10 and 11, you will clearly see that what I am saying is the case. Paul is fighting back, trying desperately to re-gain the confidence of this church. And it’s apparent that the thing they (the Church of Corinth) value the most is things of the flesh and not of the spirit.

  • Paul makes a shift in his defense, and says, paraphrasing here, if what you value the most is appearance and someone’s speaking ability, things they consider to be their strengths, but are really nothing more than strengths in the flesh. If that’s what you value the most, then by all means let’s compare notes. Let’s compare experiences.

    • And that’s what Paul does, but in a very different way. Let me show you what I mean, because I find what Paul does absolutely fascinating (speaking of his approach to boasting in the flesh). And what does he do? Well, he lists most of the hardships he has experienced in ministry, which by all accounts, most people wouldn’t consider strengths, but weaknesses.

  • Follow me here for a moment. This man, as previously stated, these men are boasting about things of the flesh and not of the spirit, and so when Paul decides to meet them where they are (to compare his experiences in the flesh with theirs), he lists (as I said) his hardships, which would appear to be weaknesses of the flesh and not strengths.

    • Kind of odd don’t you think? I mean, these men boast in the flesh of their strength, their appearance, their speaking ability, etc. And Paul’s way of ‘joining in on their boasting’ is to compare their strengths to his hardships. Listen to it one more time:

2 Cor. 10:18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.
2 Cor. 10:19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. 

• So let me stop here. Real quick, Paul says, the things this man, or men, are using as their defense as Apostles (remember, they are saying they are Apostles as well), so, the things they are using as proof are fleshly things, not Spiritual things. And then in verse 19 he says:

2 Cor. 10:19 For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. 

• In other words, you guys are obviously really smart, and yet you tolerate the foolish gladly. And then he says in verses 20-21:

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.

• Paul is saying, you guys tolerate foolishness so much so that you will allow someone to enslave you, devour you, take advantage of you, from those who exalt themselves. As a matter of fact, even if they hit you in the face you will put up with it.

  • Now, we don’t know for sure if these men were actually hitting them in the face, and I wouldn’t think this would be the case. As a matter of fact, I think after studying it a little more closely I would say a better interpretation would be that this man or men are not hitting them in the face, literally, but rather spiritually speaking. It’s a figure of speech.

    • And then from there, he proceeds to drop the hammer where he writes the following in verse 22-27:

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. 

• So, if it’s strength in the flesh you trust and value, (the outward experiences), then how about considering all that I have endured in the flesh. 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.

• There is a lot we could study pertaining to verses 32-33, but it’s really more of the same. So just know this. Paul is contrasting his experiences in the flesh (his weakness) to that of their strengths, and verses 31-32 are just a continuation of another bad experience that he had, and I think you can see that by the mentioning of being lowered by basket through a window in a wall to escape the ‘Eth-knock’, which was just a name for a governor of a province or people.

  • So, Paul uses his weakness in the flesh as proof of his Apostleship and compares it to their strength in the flesh. And so, what does that tell us? It tells us that the things that God values in our lives has absolutely zero to do with our strengths in the flesh.

    • Can you speak well? Are you attractive? Are you smart by academic standards? Are you bold or wise in the ways of the world? Are you doing well, financially speaking? Do you have a lot of possessions? Do you have strong opinions?

  • These are the things that the world values, yet God places zero value on them. But if that’s the case, then what does God value? Ah, I am glad you asked. How about Humility, Brokenness, Sincerity, Love, Kindness, Long-suffering, Compassion, and Selflessness. Put others first and yourself last.

    • And just in case we are confused about this, Paul confirms it by giving us a list in Galatians 5:16-25. Let me read it to you:

Gal. 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Gal. 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Gal. 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Gal. 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal. 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal. 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal. 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gal. 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal. 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Gal. 5:26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

• So here is a list. Not an exhaustive list, but a list of some of the characteristics of the flesh verses the spirit. You see, inside every believer lives two entities. One is the flesh and the other the spirit. And these two entities wage war against one another every day of our life, which by the way creates internal conflict.

  • And so, it begs the question, how does one obtain victory over the other? The battle is won through the eyes and ears. Matthew 6:22-23 says this about the eyes:

Matt. 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
Matt. 6:23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

• Then Matthew 13:15 says:

Matt. 6:15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
            WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
            AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
            OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
            HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
            AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
            AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’

• This concept of the eyes and ears is an important one, because the eyes and ears are the portals to the soul. They provide connectivity to the flesh and spirit, which is what fights the spiritual battle inside every believer. The “Flesh verses the Spirit”.

  • And what you consistently see and hear either feeds the flesh or the spirit. Remember this, no matter what you may be struggling with in your life, whatever it is, if you want to obtain victory over it then delve into God’s Word. Study alongside an elder or pastor teacher or a Bible teacher. Learn how to study, and when you do that, you will have done what Paul said to do in verse 16, which was to walk by Spirit.

  • And then, Paul says if we do that, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh.

• But that leads to another question, which is, how much study is enough? How much time must I spend in study, in prayer, in church (around God’s people), if my desire is for the Spirit to become the predominate influence in my life?

  • It depends. It’s a percentages game. Meaning, it depends on what percentage of your life is controlled by your flesh verses your spirit. Is your flesh controlling 90% of your life? Then you had better lock in for a long winter nap, because it will require you to spend the majority of your free time, and part of your not-so-free time in study, and prayer, and in church.

  • Which is why people who find themselves overwhelmed by the flesh, with sins they cannot get under control, that is why they usually need time away, with a complete focus on the ‘Things of God’. But how much time? A long time. Short stints won’t work, because as soon as this person gets a little traction spiritually speaking, the enemy swoops in, generally through their environment, and sucks them back in. Which makes it nearly impossible for them to break free.

    • My sister was a prime example of this. At one point early on in her life she was all caught up in the drug world. And many times, I would try and help her break free from that lifestyle, but ultimately, she would end up right back with the same crowd. We all knew where she was going to end up if something didn’t change.

    • And sure enough, eventually she was arrested and sentenced to 60 months in a federal prison. When she was being sentenced in federal court, I remember the judging saying to her, “I am going to do something that I hope saves your life. I am going to give you 60 months in a federal correction facility.

    • By the way, if you’ve ever wondered what a federal correction facility is, it’s a prison. We just changed the name to make it more palatable. But I assure you the people serving a sentence wouldn’t say the name change made it better. But anyway, that’s what the judge said.

  • And I remember thinking, how is that going to help her? That’s not going to do anything but make her worse. And I was wrong. You see, it took her going to prison and being pulled out of her environment, to break her habits and change the trajectory of her life. But honestly, it took more than that.

    • You see, while she was in there a church ministered to her and she was saved. And with nowhere to go, she began focusing day in and day out on the things of God. That was the key. Can you imagine being incarcerated, and you have no responsibility to speak of and so you just begin studying your Bible.

    • Personally, I think it sounds pretty awesome. No responsibility, just do what your told, mind your business, and spend the majority of your day with God. I know that sounds crazy, but can you imagine what kind of spiritual transformation would take place in your life? This might be an idea for a new business.

    • We create a retreat, and not just for people with drug or alcohol problems, but for everyday folks. Where you could go and stay for a few months and all you do every day is spend time in prayer and the study of God’s Word.

  • Have you heard of Emmaus Walk? That’s exactly what they do. It’s a three-day spiritual cleanse of sorts, and everyone who I have known that has attended came out transformed. Anyway, just a thought. And so, back to the story of my sister.

    • After roughly 50 months of being incarcerated and feeding her spirit constantly day in and day out, God became the predominate force in her life. And it was then and only then that she was ready to enter back into society and face the world. And today I am proud to say not only is she a productive member of society, but she is also a director at the Blue Monarch, an organization that helps women who are in the same place that she was.

    • So many years ago, you see, she broke free. But it took a break from her environment. And more than that, it took replacing the things of the flesh with the things of God for her to begin being led by the Spirit.

• Now having said that, I want to be careful with this statement because there is a spiritual law in place. A law that applies to all of us, especially when it comes to working towards allowing the Spirit to take hold of your life. And that is, once you feed the spirit, and it begins suppressing your flesh, you cannot quit feeding it. Not if you expect to maintain whatever spiritual level you have obtained.

  • Spiritual growth is not like the game show ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’. You know, where once you obtain a certain level (spiritual level) in your life, that somehow, you’re locked in from that point forward. That’s not how it works. On the contrary. You must work on it every day and it never goes away, and the minute you neglect your time with God you begin to regress.

• Now, before moving on this morning, let me say something about this passage in Galatians. I want you to notice that you personally do have a say in whether you are being led by the spirit or the flesh. Look at the words Paul uses in verse 16:

  • “But I say, walk by the Spirit.” Notice it’s a command. A command for you to do something. And if you do, Paul says you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

  • Having said that, let me say something about those who struggle mightily with certain sins in their life, verses, say, others who do not. We all struggle mightily with sin. The difference between them and us is that their sin is out of control, at least as the world sees it. Another way to say it is, their sin is dominating their life in such a way that the authorities have to get involved.

    • But our sin is no different, it’s just ours is less seen, a little more under control (maybe). But it is still there and it’s still an issue. A good friend of mine used to have a saying. He would say, “don’t judge me because I sin differently than you do”. And the reason I bring this up, is just because someone struggles with a certain sin, such as drugs or alcohol, doesn’t mean they need to spend more time with God than you do.

    • The sin in your life may be just as dominant as someone who is struggling with substance abuse. The difference is, your sin may not get you arrested, or maybe you are doing a great job at keeping it hidden, or out of sight of society. And so, let’s not be fooled by the enemy into thinking we don’t have a problem.

  • Because we do, and we, too, need to prioritize our time with the Lord. That’s if we want to see the Spirit that lives inside of us take precedent over our flesh. Because remember, there is no such thing as a sin that isn’t an issue. It’s all a problem.

  • As a matter of fact, for those of us who are able to manage our sin a little bit better than others, we are (in many respects) in graver danger of a fall than say, those who are incarcerated. And why? Because we think we are okay. We subconsciously think to ourselves, yeah, our sin is a problem, but not that big of an issue.

    • And the result of that type of thinking leads us to spend less time with God because we don’t necessarily think we need it, because, you know, we aren’t as bad as “those people”.

    • If you want to improve every aspect of your life, the formula is the same. Spend time with the Lord in the study of His Word. Spend time in prayer with Him. Commune with Him and spend time with your brothers and sisters, God’s people. The Church.

• Moving on, I am going to close this morning by seg-waying us into Chapter 12, and as always, I would like you to study these verses for yourself this week. And here is what Paul wrote:

2 Cor. 12:1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 Cor. 12:2 I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.
2 Cor. 12:3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—
2 Cor. 12:4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.
2 Cor. 12:5 In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses.
2 Cor. 12:6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

• If you have been with us from the beginning of 2 Corinthians, you heard me say that theologians have debated throughout the years over the construction of 2 Corinthians. Many have said it is a tough letter to teach. Others have said they believe the letter was pieced together from the other two letters that Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Letters that we do not have recorded in the Cannon of Scripture.

  • 2 Corinthians has been called an ‘amalgam’ (amal-gum), which is just a mixture or blend of letters. As we move into Chapter 12, you can kind of see what they are talking about. Paul is still on the same topic of boasting, at least in the first verse, but then he makes a shift in verse 2, to a story about a man who some 14 years earlier, whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows, such a man was caught up to the third heaven.

  • And then he says,

2 Cor. 12:3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 
2 Cor. 12:4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 
2 Cor. 12:5 In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses. 
2 Cor. 12:6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

• So, what’s this all about? In Chapter 11 Paul was talking about boasting. Their boasting verses his boasting, and he boasts as a counterbalance to these troublemakers in the church. And now, he is speaking about some man. And apparently, he may have been in the body or out of the body. But Paul says, “I don’t know. But God knows”.

  • And then he says, I know such a man and he was caught up into Paradise and he heard inexpressible words, words that a man in not permitted to speak. He says, on behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weakness.

2 Cor. 12:6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.

• So, what’s this all about? Who is this man? What is third heaven? And what is the place called Paradise? Do you know what he is talking about? And if you don’t, can you figure it out on your own?

  • I want to encourage you to really study this week and see if you can answer these questions before we return next week, because it’s some interesting stuff.