August 2, 2015
Morning Service

II Cor. 11

 

In chapters 8 & 9, the Apostle encouraged the Church at Corinth to give liberally to help the poor, just as did the church in Macedonia.

2Co 10:15-18  Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,  (16)  To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.  (17)  But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.  (18)  For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

 

Chapter 11.

2Co 11:1-33  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  (2)  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 

·         Another reference to the church being the Bride of Christ.

·         John the Baptist also uses the analogy of Bride, and Bridegroom. Joh 3:29  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

·         Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.     

(3)  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

·         Once learned, and understood, the gospel of Christ is very simple.  It’s all about Him.

(4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

·         Paul says the same thing in the Galatian letter:

Gal 1:6-9  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

·         Now if this particular gospel, or good news is so important, that even a curse will be put on someone who preaches a different gospel, wonder where it could be found?

·         Do you have any problem understanding this?  Of course not.  It’s just that we have to read it.

(5)  For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.  (6)  But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. 

·         The importance of living the life.  You are the only Bible some people read.

(7)  Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?  (8)  I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.  (9)  And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 

·         We know as Paul’s custom was, he never preached for money, even though he said, “a man that preaches the gospel, should live of the gospel.”  He was a tent maker by trade.

(10)  As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.  (11)  Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.  (12)  But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.  (13)  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  (14)  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  (15)  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. 

·         Here again, false apostles, we know them by the gospel they preach, and their works.

(16)  I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.  (17)  That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.  (18)  Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.  (19)  For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.  (20)  For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 

·         Bondage of the law, false gospel, being devoured, taking all that you have in the name of religion, if a man exalts himself, some of the names that they possess, reverend, right reverend, cardinal, excellency, pope, vicar of Christ, superintendent, exalting themselves, and people eat it up.

(21)  I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.  (22)  Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.  (23)  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  (24)  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  (25)  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  (26)  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  (27)  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  (28)  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  (29)  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 

·         WOW!  What a resume’.  It’s knowing these kind of things that makes me realize how unworthy I am to preach this glorious gospel.  But I don’t have to have all these things on my resume’, I just have to recognize my calling from God to speak in His name, His glorious gospel.

(30)  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.  (31)  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 

·         Isn’t that really the most important thing, God knowing our hearts?

(32)  In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:  (33)  And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

·         Be faithful unto death, and you can personally ask Paul about all these things one of these days.

·         Are we working at being that chaste virgin for Christ?  That’s what Paul called the church, a chaste virgin.  You will be if you put Christ first in your life.  Let go of the things of the world that come between you, and your God.  Time is short, and what we do, we must do quickly.

Remembering what Paul said in the closing of the first letter: 1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

 

ALMIGTY GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, QUICKEN TO US YOUR DESIRE FOR US TO BE THAT CHASTE VIRGIN.  AMEN.