1 00:00:07,310 --> 00:00:09,630 Let's open our Bibles together, please, to the book of Second 2 00:00:09,630 --> 00:00:12,710 Corinthians. In Chapter 11 is where we find 3 00:00:12,710 --> 00:00:14,750 ourselves. We're coming to the conclusion 4 00:00:15,830 --> 00:00:19,110 of the series through Second Corinthians. 5 00:00:22,990 --> 00:00:29,030 The title of tonight's message is True Servants of Christ 6 00:00:29,950 --> 00:00:34,040 Boasting in Weakness. Two Corinthians Chapter 11 7 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,040 please Opening your Bibles together. 8 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,400 I'm going to be reading out of the New King James Version as we 9 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,040 go through this chapter together. 10 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:47,160 Some of you may have seen an old Jimmy Stewart comedy film where 11 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:53,920 Stuart plays a concerned father who is following his daughter 12 00:00:53,920 --> 00:01:00,880 whilst on vacation in Paris and he shadows her every move, sort 13 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,080 of fiercely protective to shield her from harm. 14 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,960 That's the story of a film called Take Her, She's Mine. 15 00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:13,240 And and Stuart's character is convinced that every man that 16 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:15,720 his daughter encounters has an ulterior motive. 17 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,240 So it's sort of this comedic flow on of of events. 18 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:22,160 And as a father myself, I can sympathise. 19 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:27,160 My daughter Shiloh's planning an overseas trip in January, and I 20 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:31,760 keep teasing that I'll chaperone this trip with her and her 21 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,600 girlfriends. This is precisely the picture 22 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:39,040 that we have here in Second Corinthians Chapter 11. 23 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:43,720 The apostle Paul speaks not as this distant theologian in this 24 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,240 chapter, but as a spiritual leader who is concerned for the 25 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,320 church in Corinth. And he uses this kind of 26 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:54,480 metaphor or this imagery for us in this chapter. 27 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,800 In verse 2, he says I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy 28 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,080 for I have betrothed you to one husband to Christ. 29 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,520 And there's almost this picture, this imagery, you know how we 30 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,440 have in a wedding when the bride comes in the processional and 31 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,240 and the father typically of the bride will stand and the 32 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,160 question is asked, who gives his bride? 33 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,360 Well, Well, Paul pictures himself almost like a spiritual 34 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,160 father over the church and the church specifically in Corinth. 35 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:26,840 And he's concerned for their purity in their devotion to 36 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:31,480 gospel doctrine, to not buying into deception that would 37 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,600 contaminate them and destroy them. 38 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,880 But he's very jealous and protective and concerned with a 39 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:43,640 loving father's heart for this church here in Corinth. 40 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:47,760 You see, he led them to Christ. He nurtured this church. 41 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,400 He spent a matter of months and there a good year and a half in 42 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,560 in growing this church. And now he watches with concern 43 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:01,160 as these false teachers have crept into the church and 44 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,480 they're deceiving the Corinthians, and the Corinthians 45 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,760 are listening and they're being deceived, and they're returning 46 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,560 back to their old ways of things that they were doing before 47 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:15,400 being followers of Jesus Christ. And oh man, it breaks Paul's 48 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:20,600 heart as the apostle of them and as a father spiritually speaking 49 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,040 over them. You see, these false teachers 50 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,760 particularly had come in and they're smooth, they're 51 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:31,040 impressive and they sound good, and they're very proud and 52 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,640 boastful of their expertise and their credentials and their 53 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:38,280 power and their eloquence, and they claim even to be apostles. 54 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,880 But their message corrupts the gospel truth and the clarity of 55 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,360 it. Paul had just devoted so much 56 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,320 time and energy too in in planting and nourishing this 57 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,440 church. So Paul now, particularly in 58 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,240 this chapter, responds, and it's not to protect his own 59 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,440 reputation, but it's to protect the church. 60 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,760 This is the jealousy that he has for them. 61 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,400 He's very protective of them being LED astray. 62 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:06,800 And so he engages here in what he calls foolish boasting. 63 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,040 And there's a holy irony to the language and the words that he 64 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:14,320 utilises here. He takes much of the so called 65 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,360 super apostles terminology that they were spreading throughout 66 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:21,200 the church in Corinth, and he uses it against their arguments. 67 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:27,920 And so he boasts now, not in his own personal successes, not in 68 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:33,800 his own personal qualifications, but he boasts in his scars, in 69 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:39,160 his weaknesses, in his wounds. He focuses not upon his 70 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:45,560 strength, but upon areas that to all external earthly eyes 71 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,720 looking in appear to be weaknesses, but from a godly, 72 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,560 eternal perspective are very much the power of God coursing 73 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,920 through him. And it's not about exalting 74 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:58,600 himself, but it's rather to expose these false apostles and 75 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:02,840 to demonstrate, OK, these these false apostles are claiming to 76 00:05:02,840 --> 00:05:05,960 be servants of Jesus Christ. But let me tell you what a true 77 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:10,080 servant of Jesus Christ looks like and sounds like and behaves 78 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:13,040 and acts like. And so in doing So, what Paul 79 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,800 gives for us in this chapter is a portrait of what true 80 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,600 servanthood looks like if you and I are to be followers of 81 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,320 Jesus Christ. And we are to share in these 82 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,680 markers, these attributes, these characteristics that Paul will 83 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,800 highlight of himself and and then extend to the church in 84 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,720 Corinth and you and I tonight. So a true servant of Christ, 85 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:37,320 Paul says for us tonight is marked by #1A jealous devotion 86 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:43,360 to Christ's bride, is marked by #2A generous heart that gives, 87 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:47,000 not takes. And thirdly, what we'll see, a 88 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:51,040 gritty endurance in suffering for Christ's cause. 89 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,480 This is where we're going to move through this chapter here 90 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:55,960 in 11. So let's walk through these 91 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,640 marks together. Let's focus on the first point. 92 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,240 And we find this in the 1st 6 verses. 93 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:06,160 Now all that you would bear with me, he says in a little folly. 94 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,720 And indeed you do bear with me, for I am jealous for you with 95 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:15,160 godly jealousy, For I have betrothed you to one husband, 96 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:18,800 that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 97 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:25,200 But I fear lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his 98 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:29,800 craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity 99 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:37,320 that is in Christ. 4 If he comes, if he who comes rather 100 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:42,080 preachers another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you 101 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:46,640 receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a 102 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:51,240 different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put 103 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:54,320 up with it. For I consider verse 5 that I'm 104 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,680 not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles, to hear the 105 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:02,000 sarcasm in his writing here, the so called self appointed 106 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:07,160 apostles as they are, even though verse 6 I'm untrained in 107 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:09,120 speech. That was much of the accusation 108 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,880 against Paul. I mean, he can't even speak 109 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,960 good. That was what some of them were 110 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:17,800 saying about Paul. He's not goodly educated 111 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:23,520 roughly, even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am 112 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:26,960 not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly 113 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:28,760 manifested among you in all things. 114 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:33,200 So let's have a look at this. Paul again begins and I point 115 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:36,040 you to verse 2. He says I am jealous for you 116 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:41,360 with a godly jealousy and this jealousy here we we sometimes 117 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,240 read into our understanding of jealousy. 118 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:46,600 It's not a a pettiness that we might attribute to it or a 119 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:51,320 possessiveness, but rather this is protective in nature. 120 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:57,800 Like again, a father guarding his daughters and in this case, 121 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,480 the church here in Corinth, the purity Paul longs to present the 122 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:08,400 Corinthian believers faithful to their groom in Jesus Christ and 123 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:11,960 pure to Christ who is their their heavenly bridegroom. 124 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,520 And this word jealousy is very powerful. 125 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:20,520 It's it's like a love that burns hot against anything that would 126 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:27,280 threaten the beloved. You know, God himself calls one 127 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:31,840 of his names as jealous. Oh no, not God jealous. 128 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:37,799 No, but in Exodus 34 verse 14, God says that and, and it's in 129 00:08:37,799 --> 00:08:40,880 concern for, particularly back then, the people of Israel and 130 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,640 their hearts being turned aside onto false idols. 131 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,760 And the danger, the concern, the heart that God has for his 132 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,160 people that in pursuing these idols they'd be LED astray and 133 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,880 onto destruction and that that would be their downfall. 134 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,960 So there's a jealousy that is protective of his people. 135 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:03,720 That is why God uses that term. And this is what Paul here is in 136 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:08,280 reference to. Paul fears that just as the Eve 137 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:14,600 back in the garden was deceived by the serpent, that the 138 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:19,680 Corinthians minds would be LED astray from the simplicity that 139 00:09:19,680 --> 00:09:24,040 is in Christ, he says, and the danger isn't atheism and 140 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,640 abandoning a forsaking of a belief in God altogether. 141 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:29,560 There's no God. That's not what he's concerned 142 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,600 with for the church in Corinth. It's rather a concern for 143 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,880 distortion. That's how Satan works. 144 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,320 That's how Satan worked back in the garden with Eve. 145 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,360 He distorted the truth that God had declared. 146 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,360 And this is Paul's worry that the Corinthians minds would be 147 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:48,480 LED astray from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus. 148 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:52,440 Satan usually does not deny Jesus. 149 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:58,680 He redefines him. He doesn't reject grace. 150 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,720 He repackages it with human pride. 151 00:10:02,680 --> 00:10:07,160 And that's why Paul says another Jesus and I want you to buy into 152 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:11,080 another Jesus and that which was preached to you when I came and 153 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,640 when I taught I, I don't want you to be deceived by another 154 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,520 spirit other than the Holy Spirit or, or to buy into 155 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,760 another gospel. Paul's warning them here about 156 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,960 all of these additions to the gospel, all these alterations to 157 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,160 the gospel. And you know, that's not just a 158 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,640 1st century problem that Paul is addressing there. 159 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,560 It's a 21st century that we have in Christendom today, don't we? 160 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:42,120 You know, the world still preaches, if it accepts Jesus at 161 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:47,920 all. Jesus plus Jesus plus success, 162 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:56,960 Jesus plus good works, Jesus plus personal fulfilment, Jesus 163 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,120 plus, well, you know, these other aspects of some other 164 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:04,400 religions pretty good. You know, we Christians, we 165 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,200 don't have the corner on gospel truth. 166 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:11,200 So we can borrow and we can learn from some of these other 167 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,960 religions and ways of thinking or some of these other 168 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:18,200 traditions, even certain philosophies of men and we can 169 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:22,520 bring them into the church. And it's Jesus and Jesus plus 170 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:24,920 this. You know, when you add anything 171 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,720 to Jesus, you lose the real Jesus. 172 00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:32,240 Skip Heitzig's sermon on this and I'll quote it a couple of 173 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,240 times. He said that the gospel is so 174 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,920 simple we're tempted to complicate it. 175 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,960 That's many people's issues sometimes with the the 176 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:43,600 simplicity of the gospel message. 177 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:48,800 It sounds too simple for them. I mean, if I'll believe that 178 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,160 Jesus died in my place and took my penalty when he suffered upon 179 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,600 the cross, that my sins will be forgiven and that I'll be right 180 00:11:56,600 --> 00:11:58,960 with a holy righteous God. No, too easy. 181 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:03,560 Surely there's something I have to do to earn favour with God, 182 00:12:03,560 --> 00:12:06,520 to merit it. Again, when you add anything to 183 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:10,480 Jesus, you lose Jesus. And you know, often we can start 184 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:14,640 with grace and then we can drift towards performance and start to 185 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,880 want to make ourselves feel better about ourselves by going, 186 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,640 yeah, I know it's grace, but boy, how good am I and how 187 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,920 wonderful am I and, and that God must surely be extra pleased 188 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:26,360 with me because of what I've done or what I've accomplished 189 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,280 and how I'm doing this and how I haven't done that and so on. 190 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:34,240 And we can get distracted by trends, by certain movements or 191 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,880 philosophies, but Paul says to the church at Corinth, and he 192 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,960 would say to you and I tonight, keep it simple. 193 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:47,960 Christ alone, not another Jesus, not another spirit, not another 194 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,920 gospel. And so then being a true servant 195 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:55,720 as Paul is emulating of Christ means this being jealous for the 196 00:12:55,720 --> 00:13:00,320 purity of the gospel and understanding what the gospel is 197 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:05,080 and what it means. So that then when we hear of 198 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,880 another Jesus, we're not duped. So then when we hear of another 199 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:12,720 spirit, we're not deceived. And when another gospel is 200 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,120 spouted as being all this new wonderful revelation and this 201 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,840 thing and this, this new move of God, that when it doesn't match 202 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:23,440 up with what the Bible teaches, we go, no, it's another gospel. 203 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:31,200 So pastors and preachers and leaders and ministry servants 204 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:35,240 tonight, protect the flock from any spiritual seduction. 205 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:41,520 Guard doctrine like you might guard and protect your child 206 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:47,240 parents in the home. Be discerning about what voices 207 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:52,760 shape your family's faith, but about what you allow them to buy 208 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:57,520 into and and to listen and, and and be deceived or duped by. 209 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:02,840 And us as believers generally test every spirit the Bible says 210 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,920 when someone talks about Jesus, consider which Jesus are you 211 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaking of? You know, there's the Jesus of 212 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,560 pop culture, isn't there? There's the Jesus of the 213 00:14:14,560 --> 00:14:17,680 Mormons, the Jesus of the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Jesus 214 00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:20,560 of Islam. But what we need is the Jesus of 215 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:24,280 the Bible. Jesus the Christ. 216 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,040 And the church's health depends on godly jealousy. 217 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,640 Don't let your heart be stolen by spiritual impostors. 218 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:38,840 Don't tolerate a gospel that may entertain but doesn't transform. 219 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:44,120 Again, true servants guard the simplicity and sincerity of 220 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:47,920 devotion to Jesus Christ. It's what's Paul, Paul's concern 221 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:49,680 here in those first 6 verses for us. 222 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:53,360 Let's move on to the second we see that true servants give 223 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:55,440 generously without expecting return. 224 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,920 I'm going to read a lot of verses here, and I'll unpack a 225 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,760 few bits and pieces, but then we'll focus on the point 226 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:06,760 together afterward, he says, Did I commit sin in humbling myself? 227 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,560 That you might be exalted because I preached the gospel of 228 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:14,360 God to you free of charge. I robbed other churches, he 229 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,240 says, and we'll explain that terminology later. 230 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:20,640 Taking wages from them to minister to you. 231 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:26,560 And when I was present with you, verse 9 and in need, I was a 232 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:30,320 burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came 233 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:34,360 from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself 234 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:39,560 from being burdensome to you. And so I will keep myself as the 235 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,600 truth of Christ is in me. No one shall stop me from this 236 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,640 boasting in the regions of Akaya. 237 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,160 Why? Because I do not love you, God 238 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:52,360 knows what I do. I will also continue to do that. 239 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,840 I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an 240 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,160 opportunity to be regarded just as we are, in the things of 241 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:03,240 which they boast. For such are false apostles, 242 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:07,880 deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles of 243 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:12,320 Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself 244 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:15,400 transforms himself into an Angel of light. 245 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:19,600 Therefore it's no great thing if his ministers also transform 246 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,920 themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be 247 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:27,080 according to their works. I say again, verse 16, Let no 248 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:32,000 one think me a fool, if otherwise at least receive me as 249 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:36,040 a fool, that I also may boast a little what I speak. 250 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,760 I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly 251 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:43,120 in this confidence of boasting, seeing that many boast according 252 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,120 to the flesh, I also will boast. OK, Just bear with me. 253 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,920 Tolerate my words for a moment that these guys, they want to 254 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,920 boast a bit. It's foolish. 255 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:54,440 I know this isn't something from the Lord, but I'll I'll give 256 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,480 them what they're about and let's talk of boasting for a 257 00:16:57,480 --> 00:16:59,960 bit. So you put up with fools gladly, 258 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:05,040 Verse 19 since you as Hells are wise, you put up with it verse 259 00:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,800 20 If one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if 260 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,880 one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes 261 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,839 you on the face. Some suggests that Paul's 262 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,839 speaking metaphorically here of these false teachers striking 263 00:17:17,839 --> 00:17:21,640 them on the face, and others suggests that even physically, 264 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,599 literally, that they were going, oh, it's so wonderful. 265 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:28,520 They even struck me on the face. These super apostles, how, how 266 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:33,200 good are they? To our shame, I say that we were 267 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:38,040 too weak for that. But in whatever anyone is bold, 268 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,160 I speak foolishly. I am bold also. 269 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,080 In fact, I'll stop there. Verse 21. 270 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:46,200 So Paul here moves from the jealousy that we read of in 271 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:50,960 verses 1 to 6 to generosity in these verses before us. 272 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,960 Essentially what's at the heart of this is that the enemies, the 273 00:17:55,960 --> 00:18:03,600 adversaries of Paul were mocking him for not charging money of 274 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,960 the Corinthian church. If Paul were a real apostle, 275 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:10,320 they sneered, he'd take a proper fee. 276 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:15,520 And, and what's behind that is in in Greek culture, there was a 277 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:20,680 certain measure of a teacher or a speaker or philosopher and 278 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:25,560 their importance by the fee and how exorbitant it was that they 279 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,520 charged. So if they're more expensive to 280 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:30,960 speak, they'll say, wow, they must be good. 281 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:36,280 And so the fact that Paul had not sought an income or a 282 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:39,280 salary, so to speak, from the Corinthian believers, but was 283 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,320 being supported by the other churches. 284 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:44,640 And that's what he means there by when he says robbed. 285 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,200 And it's strong word. And certainly we know that he 286 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:50,360 didn't, you know, stick them up to the other churches and say, 287 00:18:50,360 --> 00:18:52,280 give me all your money and I need it. 288 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,200 But no, what he's using here is language here is it meant that 289 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,520 the other churches that were supporting Paul at this time 290 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:03,880 that he speaks of derived no direct benefit from blessing and 291 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:06,080 supporting him in that way. But it was benefiting the 292 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,880 Corinthian church as he was ministering and labouring to 293 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:10,440 them there. So that's what he means there 294 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:15,200 when he's Speaking of this. So Paul took $0.00 from the 295 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:19,160 Corinthian church. And so by the estimation of many 296 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,440 in, in Grecian culture and, and you know, in the Roman Empire 297 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:26,520 here at this time and the philosophers that were coming in 298 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:32,000 and these false teachers was that, well, Paul, even Paul 299 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,880 knows he's not a big deal because otherwise he'd be 300 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:38,480 charging a, a fee. But what Paul said is I, I 301 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,200 refuse to profit from the ministry here. 302 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:43,000 In fact, I preached free of charge. 303 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,400 I even supported myself through tent making while I was I was 304 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,560 there and present with you and accepted help, support from 305 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:53,480 other churches so that you Corinthians would never feel 306 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:57,600 burdened as I was here and as I was labouring and as as I was 307 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,520 generous in my service unto the Lord and to you. 308 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:06,960 Did I sin? He asked in verse 7 in humbling 309 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,840 myself in this way and not being exalted. 310 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,720 And so he so called weakness here that they were pointing out 311 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,880 his refusal to take money was actually he declares, no, it's 312 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:22,360 proof of my love, of my sacrifice, of my generosity 313 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,040 towards you and my concern for you. 314 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:29,600 And so he says in verse 11, why, because I don't love you. 315 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:33,880 No, I love you. God knows that's why I did it. 316 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,640 And so true servants of Christ don't serve for what they can 317 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,520 get. They serve for what they can 318 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,840 give is what Paul emulates and models here. 319 00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:47,960 But on the other hand, the Super apostles in the church in 320 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:52,040 Corinth, as they kind of called themselves, by contrast to 321 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:56,840 Paul's example, they were like spiritual parasites to the 322 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:00,480 Corinthian church. In verse 13 he says they're 323 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:05,120 false apostles, they're fake, they're self appointed, they're 324 00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:09,120 deceitful workers. And it's little wonder he says 325 00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:15,000 they're like Satan. They appear wonderful verse 14 326 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:18,920 and it's no great thing that they might appear as such and 327 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:23,080 and boast of themselves as such in verse 15, because even Satan 328 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,960 exalts and magnifies himself in this way. 329 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:31,480 In verse 20 he says that they're in fact enslaved by these false 330 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:37,280 apostles, devoured by them, and that they're exploited as people 331 00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:41,480 by these. And these so called self 332 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:44,720 appointed apostles had exalted themselves in the midst of the 333 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:48,800 church in Corinth and even, as I say, slapped believers. 334 00:21:50,120 --> 00:21:51,600 Could you imagine a church service? 335 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:56,760 You come forward to be prayed for by one of the pastors after 336 00:21:56,760 --> 00:22:01,120 the service, whether it was physical or literal. 337 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:05,520 Like I say, there's, there's uncertainty as as commentators 338 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:10,720 look at it, but even metaphorical, it's, it's strange 339 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:13,840 how the church in Corinth were being duped by such to think, 340 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:15,920 oh, how wonderful, how awesome they are. 341 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:19,280 And if it's literal, oh, did you get slapped on Sunday? 342 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:25,000 No, I got slapped on Sunday. The idea is that they they wore 343 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:29,360 the robe of authority, these speakers, these teachers, but 344 00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:32,120 they did not have the heart of a shepherd. 345 00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:37,360 These were the men that the church in Corinth were 346 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:41,320 preferring to listen to and to honour over Paul. 347 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:46,480 Isn't much of this the same today? 348 00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:52,120 I think it is now people will listen to and and pay money for 349 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:56,160 and and celebrate all kinds of weird and and wacky teachings 350 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:01,840 and certain people and and then criticise the Bible and honest 351 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:06,520 preachers and teachers of the Bible for being fundies or any 352 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:11,000 in a number of pejorative terms about those who who believe in 353 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:14,440 the literal truth of the Bible is what it says and and the 354 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,320 gospel is no, it's clear, it's crisp, it's black and white. 355 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:22,840 Here's here's how it's written, 2000 years since the writing and 356 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:27,320 the same thing today. But a true servant of Jesus 357 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:31,720 Christ gives with generosity, expecting nothing in return. 358 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:39,520 Again, just as I was preparing and using just different 359 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:41,280 commentaries and sermons and so on. 360 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:44,600 Skip Heitzig and his message on this he he referenced a time 361 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:50,680 when he'd been invited to speak in Scotland by a church that 362 00:23:50,680 --> 00:23:54,600 unbeknownst to him at the time, was led by a self proclaimed 363 00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:58,440 apostle. So you know, already accepted 364 00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:02,980 the invitation. So continued to speak and the so 365 00:24:02,980 --> 00:24:06,800 called apostle took two offerings afterwards, urging the 366 00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:08,760 people to just dig deeper, dig deeper. 367 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:13,840 And what Skip did was at the end of the service, every dollar 368 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:18,280 that had been collected and go back to the mission fund the 369 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,680 ministry was supporting and said let it go to the real gospel. 370 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:27,640 And that's an example of Paul's spirit here in serving and 371 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:32,160 committing and devotion to the church in Corinth. 372 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:36,280 He refused to gain personally so that Christ alone could be 373 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:40,600 magnified and glorified. So you and I are servants of 374 00:24:40,680 --> 00:24:45,680 Jesus Christ. Let's embody generosity and not 375 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:49,200 greed in our motives in why we do what we do. 376 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,840 And, and let's measure any ministries that we're involved 377 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:56,240 in and that we're participating, that we're privileged to be a 378 00:24:56,240 --> 00:25:01,680 part of, not by any applause achieved not by any platforms 379 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:05,000 attained, but by sacrifice and sincerity. 380 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:10,800 And we are called to spend and be spent for other souls. 381 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:15,280 Paul mentions this in the next chapter, in verse 15, chapter 382 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:18,240 12. And so if you have any 383 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:23,800 authority, if you have any platform or any leadership, then 384 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,200 use that to build others up, not yourself. 385 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:36,560 Yeah, as we serve one another, give serve not for any 386 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:40,000 recognition, but out of gratitude. 387 00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:44,720 And all of us as believers remember this, that true 388 00:25:44,720 --> 00:25:47,960 ministry is measured not by how much we keep, but by how much we 389 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,720 pour out. True servants gladly give 390 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:56,440 themselves away for the good of others, as Paul reminds us 391 00:25:56,440 --> 00:26:00,680 tonight. In the end, in the rest of the 392 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,760 chapter, we see our Third Point for our focus tonight. 393 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:06,240 True servants endure suffering with greedy faith. 394 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:11,000 And here's some of the most amazing verses that Paul reveals 395 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:15,360 to us of what it means to be a servant and a follower of Jesus. 396 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:19,640 It's far different from, I guess, the celebrity version 397 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:23,440 that's so sought after in modern Christendom. 398 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:29,040 Let's go back to verse 22. Are they Hebrews? 399 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,520 So am I. Are they Israelites? 400 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:36,120 So am I? Are they the seed of Abraham? 401 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:40,120 So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? 402 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:45,000 Speakers are four. I am more in labours, more 403 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:49,600 abundant in stripes above measure, in prisons, more 404 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:54,800 frequently in deaths, often from the Jews. 405 00:26:54,800 --> 00:27:02,800 Five times I received 40 stripes -1 Three times verse 25 I was 406 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:07,560 beaten with rods. Once I was stoned with with 407 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:10,080 rocks to the point of death. We read that in the book of 408 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:15,080 Acts. 3 times I was shipwrecked. Now incidentally, it's thought 409 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,440 that this letter to the church in Corinth was written before 410 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:20,880 Acts had been completed. And so the shipwreck that we 411 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,760 read of in Acts is probably not what Paul is in reference to 412 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:31,280 here. A night and a day I have been in 413 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:36,680 the deep means, floating, lost out in sea, in journeys often. 414 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,360 Verse 26. In perils of waters, in perils 415 00:27:39,360 --> 00:27:42,600 of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, In perils of the 416 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:46,840 Gentiles, In perils in the city. In perils in the wilderness and 417 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:49,880 perils in the sea. In perils among false brethren. 418 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:54,560 In weariness and toil, In sleeplessness, often in hunger 419 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:58,080 and thirst, In fastings, often in cold and nakedness. 420 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:03,200 Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily, my deep 421 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:07,200 concern for all the churches. So not only all of these 422 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:11,760 physical things, but it within me I am burdened to the point of 423 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:17,440 anguish, concerned for all of the churches he'd founded on the 424 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:24,120 various missionary journeys. Verse 29 who is weak and I'm not 425 00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:28,080 weak, Who is made to stumble? And I do not burn with 426 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,720 indignation. If I must boast, I will boast in 427 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:33,920 the things which concern my infirmity. 428 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,120 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed 429 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:39,600 Reverend, knows that I'm not lying. 430 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,640 And then he gives this final example. 431 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:45,440 Verse 32. In Damascus, the governor under 432 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:48,880 Aretas, the king, was guarding the city of the Damascus with a 433 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:53,280 Garrison, desiring to arrest me. But I was let down in a basket, 434 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:56,120 through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands. 435 00:28:56,480 --> 00:29:02,520 This is where we'll stop our focus for tonight Paul here he 436 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:06,120 saves his most startling boast for last. 437 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,040 Are they servants of Jesus Christ? 438 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:14,600 He asked a question. I am more and then comes a 439 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:20,320 breathtaking list of proof. Suffering after suffering after 440 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,240 suffering after suffering after suffering. 441 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:27,040 And incidentally, don't you think that if any one of us 442 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:32,440 experienced just even one of those things of what Paul lists 443 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:37,440 here for us that we would let everybody know about it. 444 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,600 Oh man, you would not believe what I have suffered for Jesus 445 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:49,160 Christ. And verse 30 if I must boast, I 446 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:51,680 will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 447 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:53,720 This is this is Paul's declaration here. 448 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:59,120 He's been imprisoned, flogged, beaten, shipwrecked, starved, 449 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,840 endangered from every side. Five times. 450 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:07,120 He endured 40 lashes -1 and this was when the when the Jews would 451 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:09,920 administer it, a sign of their mercy to do so. 452 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:16,160 But his 39 lashes instead of 40, three times beaten with rods, 453 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:19,400 once stoned to death, three time shipwrecked, a drift at sea, 454 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,680 faced dangers from rivers, robbers, Jews, gentiles, cities, 455 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:26,720 wilderness, sea, false brothers. He'd gone hungry, thirsty, cold, 456 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:32,040 sleepless, and then always he said burden with the care of all 457 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:36,120 the churches. This isn't a resume that Paul's 458 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,320 revealing here. This is a crucifix. 459 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:43,040 Talk about self denial, taking up your cross and following 460 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:47,360 Jesus here. Every wound that he has penned, 461 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:53,040 everything that he has boasted of here is a reminder of love of 462 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:55,400 service. And so Paul's boast is not in 463 00:30:55,400 --> 00:30:58,040 his success here, but in his scars. 464 00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:02,640 In Galatians 6 verse 17, he would say this. 465 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:07,760 I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 466 00:31:08,760 --> 00:31:12,840 This is no doubt what Paul had in reference here. 467 00:31:13,040 --> 00:31:15,800 You can imagine all the scarring that would have been left 468 00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:18,800 physically from that which he declared and revealed here. 469 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:25,120 You know, these are branding marks of a slave, basically, who 470 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:28,680 belongs wholly to his master, Jesus Christ. 471 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:35,240 And yet his final example is humility itself being lowered in 472 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:38,200 a basket, he said out of a window to escape Damascus. 473 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,720 You remember that story? It's immediately after his 474 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:44,760 conversion on the road to Damascus when he'd been sent 475 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:51,040 expressly as Saul of Tarsus with the express command from the 476 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:56,880 Sanhedrin in Jerusalem to go and arrest Christians, the bust up 477 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:00,520 Bible studies. And it's on that road to 478 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:04,400 Damascus that he has converted. And he he sees the risen Lord, 479 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:07,080 Saul. Saul, why are you persecuting 480 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:08,400 me? And he's converted. 481 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:12,560 It comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus as the Christ, the very 482 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:14,880 one whom he he'd been persecuting it. 483 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,640 And now his life is given over unto service of Jesus. 484 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:22,760 But in order to to head on out of Damascus, there's a a 485 00:32:24,160 --> 00:32:28,960 headhunt on him and he has to be lowered out of a window by a 486 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:32,520 basket. And so it begins, a lifelong 487 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:38,560 process in Paul's life of persecution, of suffering for 488 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:47,480 Jesus Christ being lowered out of this basket, this window to 489 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:50,600 escape Damascus. The proud Pharisee saw becomes 490 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:55,440 now the humble servant. Paul, fleeing for his life, the 491 00:32:55,440 --> 00:33:00,560 mighty persecutor of Christians, begins his ministry in humility 492 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,280 and dependence upon God. Will I survive this moment? 493 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:08,880 And so again begins his life of humble servitude unto Jesus and 494 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:11,920 the people. And this is what marks true 495 00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:16,840 greatness in God's eyes, not what these super apostles in 496 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:20,040 Corinth were espousing of themselves were convincing the 497 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:23,120 Church of Corinth and how wonderful they were and and what 498 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:25,480 the Church of Corinth were buying into and believing of 499 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:28,440 them and thinking. But true servants have scars. 500 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:31,760 They've paid a price for following Jesus Christ. 501 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:38,080 I reference this hymn number of sermons ago, but I think it is 502 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:42,760 worth mentioning again. Amy Carmichael who wrote Has 503 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:48,440 thou no scar, no hidden wound on foot or side or hand? 504 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:55,240 I hear the singers mighty in the land, But has thou no wound, no 505 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:58,800 scar? You see, true servants of Jesus 506 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:03,200 endure pain with purpose. They see weakness as the place 507 00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:05,440 where God's strength shines brightest. 508 00:34:06,040 --> 00:34:10,520 They view suffering not as a curse, but as a blessing, as a 509 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:13,199 calling. And so tonight, if you're a 510 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:19,040 weary believer, oh man, I'm just heavy with the burdens and, and 511 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:22,800 just all of the things that I'm experiencing. 512 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:27,840 Notice that your scars are not signs of failure, but a 513 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:32,239 faithfulness. If you're a leader tonight in 514 00:34:32,239 --> 00:34:36,400 any way, any form or fashion, don't hide your weakness. 515 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:39,199 Let it magnify Christ's strength. 516 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:43,520 And for all of us, remember this, that suffering is not 517 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:47,159 wasted when it's in and for the name of Jesus. 518 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:51,960 As Paul wrote earlier, Second Corinthians chapter 4, verse 17, 519 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:57,320 he says our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an 520 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:00,800 eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 521 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:06,720 So true servants don't run from suffering, they redeem it for 522 00:35:06,720 --> 00:35:11,280 the sake of the gospel. Well, as we finish this chapter, 523 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:15,360 we just have a couple to go and we'll be finished with the book. 524 00:35:16,440 --> 00:35:20,160 Second Corinthians. But Paul's boasting here and 2nd 525 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:24,960 Corinthians isn't 1 of pride or how how great am I how wonderful 526 00:35:24,960 --> 00:35:28,680 am I, but it's it's a passion here, a desire for protection 527 00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:31,840 over the Church of current than for you and I by extension 528 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:35,840 tonight. And it overflows the heart of 529 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:39,680 Christ that is within him and in Christ's devotion towards his 530 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:42,000 church. And, and Paul boasts in again, 531 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:46,520 his jealous devotion because he's, he's guarding the purity 532 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:50,400 of the gospel in the church and the impact of false teachers 533 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:52,920 coming in to the church in Corinth and, and of the 534 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:54,440 believers. They're not being duped or 535 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:58,560 deceived of another Jesus or another spirit or another 536 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:02,720 gospel. He boasts in his generous heart 537 00:36:02,720 --> 00:36:05,120 because he didn't want to be a burden to them. 538 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:09,480 He didn't want to distract anyone you know from hearing 539 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:12,960 with clarity the gospel presentation of Jesus Christ 540 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:18,160 because true servants give themselves away and then his 541 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:22,000 boasters in gritty endurance because again, true servants 542 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:25,200 suffer well for their Saviour. Let me tell you about what it's 543 00:36:25,240 --> 00:36:30,560 meant to follow Jesus Christ to be a a true apostle of him as he 544 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:33,720 listed off those things. So Paul turned the world upside 545 00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:36,680 down. Read you know that account in 546 00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:40,520 Acts and as we go through the epistles and the deceit of the 547 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:43,160 false teachers here and and what was happening to the 548 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:47,080 Corinthians. He takes all that was being 549 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:49,960 spread there in Corinth and he turns it right way up. 550 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:56,320 Strength is found in weakness, authority is found in humility 551 00:36:57,000 --> 00:36:59,480 and glory is obtained in sacrifice. 552 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:04,080 Fellow called Floyd Mcclung has a name for you. 553 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:09,800 Once said everyone wants the fruit of Paul's ministry, but 554 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:12,400 few want to pay the price Paul paid. 555 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:21,800 He died daily and that's our call too, to die daily to 556 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:25,720 comfort, to pride, to self interest. 557 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:32,400 If anyone would come after me, Jesus said let him deny himself, 558 00:37:33,240 --> 00:37:38,280 take up his cross and follow me so that Christ might live 559 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:41,720 through US. And you know, and one day when 560 00:37:41,720 --> 00:37:46,880 the bridegroom comes for his bride, when faith becomes sight 561 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:50,360 and and the betrothal becomes the wedding, all our sufferings 562 00:37:50,360 --> 00:37:53,440 will will become light and momentary. 563 00:37:53,960 --> 00:38:02,160 Paul said until that day, keep it simple, keep it sincere, keep 564 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:08,360 it about Jesus Christ for when I am weak, then I am strong. 565 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:10,960 Two Corinthians 12 verse 10. Let's pray. 566 00:38:11,080 --> 00:38:13,840 Lord, we thank you for your word tonight. 567 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:16,840 Thank you for the opportunity to gather in this place and to 568 00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:23,040 worship you in song, to worship you in our giving, to worship 569 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:28,680 you in our study of your Word. Now Lord help us to be servants 570 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:33,480 of you, Lord Jesus Christ, to understand what that truly 571 00:38:33,480 --> 00:38:38,320 means, to not buy into another Jesus, another gospel, another 572 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:45,160 spirit, anything that would deceive or dupe US, supposed to 573 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:49,280 be focused upon you, the simplicity of the gospel. 574 00:38:50,920 --> 00:38:56,520 May we love you with a passion. May we desire to be used by you. 575 00:38:58,120 --> 00:39:01,280 I pray Lord for your blessing to be poured out on your people 576 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:03,880 tonight and on through this week. 577 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:07,280 We ask this in Jesus mighty name. 578 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:11,400 God's people said Amen, Amen. Again, God bless you.