|
|
|
|
Boasting In MinistryHave you ever known someone who was a bragger? You know the type of guy or gal who is always one upping everyone else. If you had an experience - they had a better one. If you accomplished something, they did something better. Well that is the attitude that the Apostle Paul faced in Corinth- where some men belittled him for not being “very spiritual.” These guys made great boasts and claims about themselves but put Paul down. They would say things like: “Oh, he writes a mean letter but in person he's not much to listen to or look at.” So as we study these latter portions of 2 Corinthians we find Paul defending his ministry to the church in Corinth. But more then a defense we find Paul exposing false teachings, exposing false teachers, and exposing these braggarts. I read about how some guys in Grand Rapids MI dealt with a friend who was always bragging. It seems this guy bought a small car and really irritated his friends by constantly bragging about the great gas mileage. So these guys decided to put an end to his non-stop boasting. Every day one of them would sneak into the parking lot where the man worked and pour a few gallons of gas into his tank. Soon the braggart was recording absolutely phenomenal mileage. He was boasting of getting as much as 90 miles per gallon, of course his friends got a lot of laughs as he tried to convince people that he was telling the truth. And thats when the fun really began because they not only stopped filling his tank but sometimes they took gas out. In today's text Paul deals with the boast of the Judiezers in Corinth, he deals with them by doing his own boasting. But as we read our text, notice Paul's boasts are not what most people brag about,-- no Paul boasts about his problems, his troubles, and his burdens- Paul boasts about what God has done. READ THE TEXT 2 CORINTHIANS 11:16-33 - BOASTING IN MINISTRY Whenever I read this section of scripture I realize that most of us have it pretty easy. When I think of what Paul went through, I feel that I have a great deal to learn of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. We have seen in our studies of 2 Corinthians that there were those who were jealous of Paul's ministry. Now we see Paul's response to those who boasted about themselves. His response is simply to lay down his credentials and what God has been doing in his life. When others are boasting about their strengths - Paul boasts about his weaknesses. Remember in chapter 10 he laid it all out as he quoted from Jeremiah. 2 Cor 10:17-18 But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. As I was preparing for this weeks message I went to a couple of popular minister's web sites. What I found on some was a lot of bragging. One guy claiming how “the anointing” is so powerful in his life that he has now started a “school of anointing” to teach others how they can be used by God in such great ways. He boasts about healings, transformations, and how at his meetings, thousands are being touched by God. Great testimony's but when you do some research you find when Hank Hanagraph wanted to document some of these claims, he was sent away like an enemy. So he carefully documented what he could and in his book “counterfeit revival”, he exposes that there is no evidence of great healings, no evidence of real miracles, and very little evidence of people coming to faith. Five points I would like you to see today.
It is incredible how much stock people put in their pedigree. I have never understood why some people feel that they are better than others - simply because who their ancestors were. Have I ever shared that my roots go back to the Mayflower – its true, my folks used Mayflower moving company to come from Pennsylvania to California. There in Corinth, like today, people will brag and exclude others based on their heritage. Yet to brag about your ancestry or your nationality says absolutely nothing about the character, faith or worth of the individual. This is the attitude that Paul is talking about. He recognizes the foolishness of this kind of thing, so he exposes it using himself as an example. He says, "If you think that those kinds of things are important, then look at me, I outshine these hypocrites, even in areas they brag about. Are they Hebrews? Do they language? Paul says “Well, so am I.” Are they Israelites, descendants of Abraham? “Well, so am I,” Paul says that to shame the Corinthian Church for taking stock in that type of boasting. Yet, I have met people who brag about their spiritual pedigree, some boast about what school they went to, or how many degrees they have. Others tell you what churches they were members of - as if that was what makes them better then others. “I attend High Sierra Fellowship”, wow – like that will get you a free cup of coffee somewhere. Such bragging does not get you anything, so I think it's important never to set stock in things that say nothing about the individual. Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek , slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. The guys in Corinth bragged that they were Jewish, descended from Abraham, but the bible teaches that makes no difference in God's economy. Rather God has elected all who would trust in him without regard for nationality, sex, race, effort, or any other consideration. We find in the scriptures that it is not those who are merely physically descended from Abraham that are God's children, but those who have been graphed into Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ. When some guys were arguing with Jesus – how they were “descendants of Abraham”, he said. John 8:39 “If you were Abraham's children, ... then you would do the things Abraham did.” First, don't brag about externals, your heritage, nationality or position -- for God does not consider them.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy . He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. The guys in Corinth were bragging about all they had done for God. How many people they had led to the Lord, how hard they worked for God. Unfortunately, even in the Church today there are men and women who tell great stories, yet you find little substance in what they say. Paul says if that is what these false teachers are made of - he can outshine them even in these categories. So he disputes their efforts by saying “I have done even more.” Friends when someone tells you how “spiritual they are” that should send up a red flag. In Romans chapter 3, we read: “There is a righteousness from God, apart from law.” In other words being right with God does not come by human activities. That text goes on to says that, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Then it concludes with these words. Rom 3:27-28 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded . On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man (a woman) is justified by faith apart from observing the law. How can you brag about anything that God has done? Yes you can share it, sure you can give a testimony about it, but always remember the overall principle of this portion of scripture. 2 Cor 10:17 "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." First; “Don't brag about your heritage, secondly don't bag about your efforts.” Then this text turns almost comical as Paul boasts about his ministry. Its funny because he boasts about - suffering, trials, and troubles.
Matt 5:11-12 (Jesus said) "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Jesus tells us, we are blessed, when people come against you and your stand for truth. Be that your family that says, “you spend too much time at the church.” Or be that the world who says, “come on, religion is a personal thing why do you need to share it all the time.” Paul's credentials are similar to the prophets of old -- he has suffered, been insulted, persecuted and spoken about because of his stand for Jesus. What are his credentials? 1. SUFFERING Paul's boasts about being imprisoned and flogged, and exposed to death more then these “Super Apostles.” In Acts 16 we find Paul and Silas in Troas where things are going very well, when the Holy Spirit told Paul to go to Philippi in Macedonia. After arriving they found a slave girl who by the powers of darkness could predict the future. Her powers were real but Paul knew they were not from God, so he casts a demon out of her and she could no longer tell fortunes. Well, this upset her masters who made a lot of money on her talents. So Paul and Silas are flogged and put into prison. Now I'm sure they had some thoughts of “why did we ever leave Troas? Maybe Silas thought “come on Paul did you really hear from God or - was it that Pizza we had?” But if they had those thoughts they didn't last long, for there in the inner prison, Paul and Silas, began to pray, and then they begin to sing praises to the Lord. If you recall that story, as the other prisoners are listening to them, there is a huge earthquake and the prison doors come off their hinges, and the chains on the prisoners come loose. When the jailer thinks everyone has split, he is about to kill himself but Paul tells him not to. The jailer takes Paul and Silas to his home where he and his entire family receive the Lord are baptized. The result: God is glorified in Paul's suffering. So Paul boast about that, and about the floggings he took, 39 lashes something few men would live through - but Paul suffered that more five times. Why would anyone boast about his sufferings? 2 Cor 10:17... "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." John 16:33 ( Jesus said.) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." This world will bring suffering, and troubles so Paul brags about things like his sufferings, and. 2. HARDSHIPS. Paul's resume: “Five times flogged, three times beaten with rods, stoned once.” Three different ship wrecks, spending an entire night on the sea, with sharks and all. He had to move about constantly because of religious persecution. He had to forge rivers, escape bandits, danger came from his own people because they rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Danger came from the Greeks and Romans as Paul told them that; “Cesar was not lord but Jesus is Lord of all.” It didn't matter if he was in the city, or the country, or on the seas, troubles and hardships seemed to find him – and often they were stirred up by the false teachers. Religion is big business and to this day, if you mess with people's religious livelihood – they will come against you. Paul labored harder, he went without food and water, he went without heat, and proper clothing. And you think you have problems? Why did Paul suffer? What is all this hardship stuff about? 2 Cor 1:8-10 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. When I read about Paul's suffering, I ask myself, "What have I ever endured for Jesus?" It makes me feel two things: First, I'm grateful that God has never asked me to endure such things. He could have, and he still may, men and women all around the world are suffering for their faith in Christ. Secondly, I wonder how I would react if faced with great persecution. This week as the Fox news men were released from captivity with the Palestinians if you read about that you know they were forced at gunpoint to convert to Islam. Have you thought about what you would do or say? This week I contemplated: “how would I react, what would I say,” what would I do if I had to make that type of stand for Jesus? Every time I read this text I am totally impressed with what Paul endured for our Lord. How could Paul endure all this and more? In part because he had experienced not only the power of God but the grace of God. Like we just read, ... “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God.” When you have seen the power of God, and when you understand the grace of God, you can rely on him and endure great hardships without compliant. When you have seen first hand the deliverance of God, you know that he will continue to deliver from whatever comes your way as you set your hope on his divine providence in your life. 1 Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. What is the purpose of problems in your life? Why do we have trials and troubles? In part to refine our faith, that Jesus might receive praise as we are filled with joy and receive the salvation of our souls. How can someone not waver in the death of a child? What keeps you from falling apart if your spouse dies? How can anyone continue when their world is falling apart, their spouse leaves, or there is infidelity? What keeps you faithful when your children are rebelling or your go bankrupt? How can you stand by faith when your health is failing? Like Paul, we not only endure- we grow as we know the surpassing glory of our Lord Jesus Christ can and will deliver us from all our troubles. For as Jesus said, in this world you will have troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world. When we see the resurrection of Jesus as the down payment for us, when we understand God's grace, we can endure hardships, we will overcome troubles and trials. We have seen that we never boast about our heritage, or our efforts- but we boast only about what God has done -- in both deliverance and in trials.
2 Cor 11:28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. I have been the pastor here for 14 years, and during that time I have had the privilege of bearing some of the burdens, sorrows, and heartaches with many of you. I know that I have not always done that very well. But when I think of Paul with the dozens of churches he founded – I'm amazed how he loved them and prayed for them. Paul really had that fathers heart for the churches he established. Here he is concerned that the false teachers would exploit them, and they would embrace another gospel, or another Jesus. So just what motivated Paul? "Why would anyone put up with this kind of life?" If that is what Christianity can involve, what made this man willing to go through these terrible hardships, trials and dangers? The only answer I can find is the one Paul himself gives us. 2 Cor 5:14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. Its the love of God, that motivated Paul, its Christ's love constrains us, and moves us to boast about the burdens of our souls. What are your burdens? Are you pressured in your life with the things God has entrusted to you? Does your care for your children cause you fall on your face before God? Do you pray for their well-being, for their futures, for even the spouses they will marry some day? Do you agonize over the ministry God has entrusted to you? Do you take ministry seriously, preparing diligently, as you fear God and know the heavy responsibility of ministry? Do you call out to God for the responsibilities he has entrusted to you? The business you run, the job you do, the neighbors you don't know? Paul does not boast about the great things he has done - but the burdens that cause him to weep. Finally.
2 Cor 12:10 For when I am weak , then I am strong. Like the prophets of old, like the kings God set before Israel, we do not trust in our own abilities or talents- but we trust in God. He brings victory, and God gives strength. More then 35 times the bible say: “Be strong in the Lord and his power.” Strong in the Lord and his deliverance, for the battles we fight are in the spirit. Eph 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. The Judizers were not Paul's enemy, rather there were spiritual forces working to distort the work of God and cause the Corinthians (like us) to fall away and give up. So Paul says, if your going to boast -- boast in your weaknesses. Then he tells us about his weaknesses. Ok you want me to boast about how great I am. Here it is: “When I was in Damascus the leaders were out to get me, but I escaped from them, some guys put me in a basket and lowered me out the city walls. Wow, that's something to brag about. “I chickened out and sneaked out of the city because I was running for my life?” Why brag about something like that? Matt 16:24-25 (Jesus said)... "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Many people in the church brag about what they have done, and boast in their accomplishments. Some people want to wear their credentials and titles so everyone will acknowledge them. Paul was a guy who had a lot to personal accomplishments to brag about. He graduated from the finest seminary of his day, he was a Pharisee and a leader among his peers, and Paul was brilliant. Yet he what does he do with all his accomplishments? Phil 3:4-7 If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. He takes all his accomplishments, his zeal, his self righteousness and considers them loss (literally a pile of dung) for the sake of Christ. Now Paul is willing to become a fool for the Lord. If your going to brag – follow Paul's model, brag in your weakness, for when I am weak he is strong, when we lay down our lives, God can work, when you are not trusting in your own abilities God will move. Jesus taught to take the humble seat and not the seat of honor he also said that the greatest in the kingdom is not the one who is waited upon - but he one who serves others. That is taking the humble seat, that is what Paul does as he boasts in his ministry. Jesus concluded that teaching about humility with these words. Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." PRAY, INVITE, BENEDICTION, SING. Series: 2
Corinthians -Through the Bible |
(C) High Sierra Fellowship 2008 |
