II cor 11:16 Paul s anxiety.the burdens and the bruises Here in chapter 11 we will look at three sections they all have to do with the church of Corinth I. vs.1-4 Paul s Jealousy II. vs.5-11 Paul s generosity III. vs.12-28 Paul s anxiety today we look at Paul s anxiety his burden for the church that they would give themselves to false leaders, false teachers that would weigh them down with burdens.. unnecessary burdens notice Vs.16-21 You might notice that Paul is not all that comfortable with having to defend himself He will even say.. this is not according to the lord.. It s not that it wasn t inspired.it s all inspired [Psa 119:160 NKJV] The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. Paul did not feel all that comfortable talking like this because it s not the way of the lord.. it s unlike the lord the to do so.. Paul would rather talk about Jesus any day than talk about himself but the church of Corinth is being persuaded and manipulated by false teachers.. false apostles.. who masquerade themselves and portray themselves as super apostles so Paul in defense of his apostolic calling reminds them of the lifestyle that came with being a true apostle.. it s not pretty.. notice.. let s read it all and then we will come back and walk through it a bit vs.22-33 notice Paul right out of the gate starts with his human ancestry Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 1
vs.22 are they Hebrews.. So am I Are they Israelites.. So am I.. are they the seed of Abraham so am I. Paul knew that his Jewish background was not important so why did he list it It must have been to the super apostles like the judiazers they probably put a great emphasis on being Jewish having a heritage a bloodline that was rooted in Judaism there throwing around there heritage like it s something weighty. so Paul reminds them.. Hebrew check Israelite.. check seed of Abraham.. check notice what Paul would call himself in the next verse.. vs.23 the word minister in the Greek is diakonos it s the where we get our word servant minister: Greek word diakonos: waiter, attendant, one who runs errands, pastor teacher, servant. there is nothing in that definition that would ever lead us to believe that this is a person who would get special treatment.. that would live a life of privilege I grew up in a pastor s home.. and I have been in ministry since I was 19 before I was in the Calvary movement I was in a few denominational church s I have seen and met a lot of pastors in my life.. The one s that I most impressed with the humble.. no matter how good they are at what they do.. no matter how big there flock might get there is a humbleness about them that God uses greatly they are blown away at the opportunity to serve God s people.. they are shocked that God has chosen to grow the church numerically.. there not hiding back stage disengaged with the people.. they can t help but be with the people.. they love serving the people and raising up pastors and leaders that do the same so the load is spread out The ministers that don t impress me the one s that lack humility.. there is an arrogance.. a self confidence they see the growth and it goes to there head.. it creates more pride.they are disconnected with Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 2
the people because they are not necessarily in it for the people they might even have a special parking place the whole idea behind minister.. is servant.. in other words we are here to serve the lord by serving you it s the heart of Jesus [Mat 20:28 NKJV] "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." When your struggling to know how to serve someone.. just look to Jesus. How did he serve us he went to the cross for us That s why Paul would call himself a servant of Christ now.. go back to vs.20 notice what the super apostles were doing they too would call themselves ministers of Christ.. vs.20 this is crazy the super apostles were abusing the people... controlling people notice the ways they took advantage of the people.. let me put this up on the screen for you 1. Bondage they promote law not grace 2. Devour they hurt not heal. 3. Take of you there taker not givers 4. Exalt themselves they exalt self not Jesus 5. Strikes you on the face lead by the flesh not the Spirit I can t help but look back at Paul s life before he had embraced God s grace he was controlling.. and even abusive Creating havoc in the church.. putting people into prison who professed Christ he cast his vote to have Steven put to death. one of the early evangelist in the church and then to be apprehended and captured by God s grace and it was a total healing Paul knows this type of motivation and he wants nothing to do with it.. it was motivated by fear and not love and it left him a bitter man not a better man Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 3
Listen to what the apostle John spoke. [1Jo 4:18 NKJV] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. Did you notice how Paul responded to this type of treatment? Vs.21 to our shame, I say that we are too weak for that!! Paul continuing in his sarcasm the super apostles were always calling him week sauce he confesses if weakness means we don t abuse and take advantage of the people.. then yes we are week And then the whole abuse thing must of jogged his memory notice Vs.23..in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. Vs.24.From the Jew s five times I received forty stripes minus one, I have taken some pretty gnarly beatings 195 times a whip came upon my body I know the hatred of the religious I know the other end of self righteousness and control.it s painful Vs.25 three times beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. In lystra we read that he was taken outside the city and stoned to death. Most of us would have called it a day.. that would have been a closed door in our book. But Paul actually goes back into the city.let s read about it [Act 14:19 NKJV] Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. [Act 14:20 NKJV] However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. Awesome.. goes right back into the city that stoned him That s power the type of power that paul told timothy about.. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 4
[2Ti 1:6 NKJV] Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [2Ti 1:7 NKJV] For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Notice he goes on Vs.25 three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have been in the deep That would be freaky a day and night in the water floating around in the sea hypothermia stuff and your just bait for something hungry that s they stuff they make movies about Vs.26-27 Most of us would probably think twice about signing up for a mission trip with the apostle Paul As I was reading through this list of difficulties that Paul endured many of them could been avoided He was stoned, he was shipwrecked, and beaten..because he chose to live for Christ.. to proclaim Christ.. He could of just stayed home and checked out but he didn t.. he couldn t It brought him great joy bringing jesus to the unreached and if the trials were part of that then paul would find joy in the trial.. [Rom 5:3 NKJV] And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; [Rom 5:4 NKJV] and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now I am sure you saying how does this work how did Paul find joy in the trial even when he knew there was a gift in it that s still not something we are all that excited about how does someone really glory in that whole thing?? Let me give you a three reasons that I can see 1. Paul had died to himself.. Paul was no longer interested in himself when he gathered the ephesian elders together he knew that there was trouble ahead of him listen to what he says to them Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 5
[Act 20:17 NKJV] From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. [Act 20:18 NKJV] And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, [Act 20:19 NKJV] "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; [Act 20:20 NKJV] "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, [Act 20:21 NKJV] "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. [Act 20:22 NKJV] "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, [Act 20:23 NKJV] "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. The spirit of God had already spoken to Paul of the trials and tribulations that were coming his way but notice what he says next it s a great statement [Act 20:24 NKJV] "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. That s a sweet statement none of these things move me they are not rockin me.. they are not freakin me.. they are no reason to stay home And then gives this answer. Nor do I count myself dear to myself in other words he had gotten over himself That s what he told the church of Galatia [Gal 2:20 NKJV] "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 6
It is no longer I who live but Christ in me Paul had given the lord the pink slip of his life and on that day he died to himself.. Let me give you a second reason 2. Paul had an eternal perspective. Notice what he expected the suffering to do for him in heaven.. [2Cr 4:17 NKJV] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, [2Cr 4:18 NKJV] while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Paul saw the final outcome and he knew it was good He knew there was a fat treasure waiting for him in eternity. The third reason is written in vs.28.notice.. Vs.28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily, my deep concern for all the church s.. 3. Paul had a deep burden for the body of Christ. That s why he could continue on dying to himself enduring great trial and pain because he had a great burden to see the body of Christ be all that God had called them to be.. [Phil 1:21 NKJV] For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [Phil 1:22 NKJV] But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. [Phil 1:23 NKJV] For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. [Phil 1:24 NKJV] Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. [Phil 1:25 NKJV] And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, Paul wanted desperately to get on into heaven I am sure after a few floggings.. even after a couple of shipwreck s your more than ready.most of us are ready after one bad day at school or work. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 7
but his daily burden for the body of Christ.. to see them progress to see them fruitful is what kept him going that s what brought joy to his trial.. That s why he would endure what he did.. that s why he could say what he says here in vs 30.. notice Vs.30. Underline vs.30. I will glory in my infirmities.. Paul s credentials were not a plaque a ring or a trophy, it was not a condo or a Cadillac it was his scars. Interesting the false Sheppard s.. the false apostles left scars on the sheep but Paul a true apostle could point to the scars he bore for the sheep And ultimately for the glory of God for the kingdom of God.. Sound familiar who does that sound like Let s stand.. let s read isaiah s words about jesus [Isa 53:2 NKJV] For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. [Isa 53:3 NKJV] He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. [Isa 53:4 NKJV] Surely He has borne our grief s And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. [Isa 53:5 NKJV] But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Why did he do it.. he did it for you for me that s what makes him the chief shepard.that s why we exalt him Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 8