False Ministers 2 Corinthians 11:5-15 (NKJV)

Transcription

1 False Ministers 2 Corinthians 11:5-15 (NKJV) Here in chapter 11 we will look at three sections; they all have to do with the church of Corinth. Vs. 1-4 Paul s jealousy Vs Paul s generosity Vs Paul s anxiety Last week we looked at Paul s jealousy, a godly jealousy that he had for the church, this week we look at his generosity; the motive for his service was not to get something from the church, but to impart something to the church Vs. 5 For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostle. Paul brings up the most eminent apostles; the word eminent meant super apostles. It s always interesting to me when people put a lot of titles before or after their names. Maybe you get some of those s where those who write have 10 different titles next to their name. I don t know if it s for them or for the reader. Do they want you to know how much they know; how much they have accomplished? It s like some of those signs out front of churches First Apostolic Fellowship of Christ in God the Father and the Son and the Spirit Church. Which one is it? I guess they re trying to make sure they cover all the bases. I think Paul is being a bit sarcastic here, wanting to make sure they understand that he is not inferior as some may believe. He reminds them to be careful evaluating someone on how eloquent they may or may not speak. Notice... Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 1

2 Vs. 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. Paul may not have been polished and perfect in his public speech, but he could say he knew Jesus. Something that these super apostles could not truly say not with a clear conscience. Listen to Paul s mission statement when he speaks to Philippi Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death Philippians 3:8-10 (NKJV) I want to know Him and the fellowship and the intimacy that comes from the difficult times, allowing Him to conform me, to transform into His image. But Paul didn t just want to know Him; he wanted to also make Him known. Listen to the message that he gave when he came to Corinth And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (NKJV) At the end of the day that was the heart of Paul to know Him and to make Him known. It should be the heart of every church, to know Him, but to also make sure the community we live in also knows Him. Notice, Paul reminds them in verse 6, But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. In other words, we may not have been polished and seasoned as a public speaker, but we gave ourselves to you completely in all things. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 2

3 We were honest and transparent with you, not wanting to take from you, but instead we served you. It s one of the reasons that we live in the city that we are ministering in. We want to be among you, to be a part of this community. That s why you see us at the soccer games, the football games, at the downtown events. When Wendi and I heard the Lord to start Wildwood in Yucaipa, we were committed to living here, raising our kids here, and what a great place to live! Paul would go on to remind them of his heart of generosity... Vs. 7-9 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 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. Paul came to Corinth not ever asking for a dime, not wanting them to think for a minute he was interested in their money. He was interested in their heart, bringing the gospel of grace to them. He would choose to be a tentmaker, working a secular job so that nobody could say he s in it for the money, he has ulterior motives, and he is looking for something from us. We read about it in Acts After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. Acts 18:1-3 (NKJV) Paul, along with Aquila and Priscilla, was a tentmaker by trade; this is how they made a living so that they were not a burden to anyone they were ministering to. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 3

4 Now, it was not uncommon in the secular world for a speaker, a communicator, someone who made their living doing so, to receive a wage for doing so. Today, there are professional motivational speakers that do the same; it s not uncommon to see pro athletes spend their offseason speaking, or their retirement years speaking. The year that the Colts won the Super Bowl, Tony Dungy was the coach. I looked into having him come and speak here at Wildwood. I had a vision to invite all the athletes to a dinner and have him speak, share the gospel, and have an outreach. One thing about your pastor, you can never say I lack in vision! But when I looked up his agent and how much it was going to cost us, I knew I couldn t write that check. And then I thought Tim Tebow last year, but again the cost was crazy. It seems from the text that these so called super apostles were charging them for their services, making them believe that they were costly because they were good, and Paul must not have been all that good because he was free. That was the logic that they were following with this whole thing. And so Paul reminds them that he did not collect any monetary means from them because he did not want anyone to think that he was looking for something from them; he did it by choice so that he would not be a burden to them. They had misinterpreted Paul s generosity as weakness, as a check against him as an apostle. Notice, Paul had no desire to change his mind about having this heart Vs As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! 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. What I do I will continue to do so that nobody stumbles, so that nobody could ever say Paul was in it for the money, so that nobody Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 4

5 could ever say he wasn t willing to make a sacrifice, that his love for the church was bogus. Peter reminds those that are called... Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-4 (NKJV) It s one of the things that separates those that are called and those that are hirelings if the salary dries up the hireling leaves, but the one who is called, who was never in it for the money, the calling is what motivates him, the calling is what drives him, not the money. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:12-14 & 27 (NKJV) Sadly, I have seen many a minister and many a ministry start out well and somewhere down the road it loses its way and there is a constant plea for money; they started out asking the Lord and then somewhere down the road they started asking the people and people will always fail you. If it s a legitimate ministry, the Lord will provide. And then notice what Paul will call these super apostles... Vs. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. Notice the titles he gives them 1. False apostles. They have not been called by God, not appointed by God, they are self-appointed. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 5

6 They claim to have divine authority, but their authority is really bogus. They transform themselves into apostles of Christ. The emphasis here is on themselves, they are doing the work themselves. It s not the power of the Spirit transforming them, but the power of the flesh. Notice the second thing here Deceitful workers. They may have a heart to work, but their motivation for work is deceit; their agenda is not the kingdom of God, nor the heart of God. Peter gives us some insights into the heart and the fruit of the false prophets But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 2 Peter 2:1-2 (NKJV) They secretly bring destructive heresies into the body. And they draw away many. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices 2 Peter 2:3 & 14 (NKJV) They deceive with words because their heart is full of covetousness; even have trained themselves in covetous practices. In other words, they re good at getting something from you. and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. 2 Peter 2:10 (NKJV) Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 6

7 They have authority issues; they are self-willed. These are wells without water For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 2 Peter 2:17-18 (NKJV) Wells without water; they promise water, promise to quench the thirst, but leave you thirsty and empty. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 2 Peter 2:19 (NKJV) They promise liberty, but can t deliver. Vs And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. Whose end will be according to their works. Their works are the works of the flesh, and the works of the flesh cannot please God, will not bring glory to God; in actuality, the flesh only brings death. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells Romans 7:18 (NKJV) Nothing good dwells in my flesh and those who are led by the flesh or following those who are ministering in the flesh will always be led to death. Just like the enemy, they have the outward appearance of light, but inwardly they re full of death. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 7

8 It s like that bug zapping light. Some of us have it! If you live in Yucaipa you probably owned one at one time or another. The light sucks you in only to lead you to death. Wildwood, be careful of the false light that only offers death. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 8