Missions Paul

Appearances? Charisma? Size and numbers?

“I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the ‘super-apostles’, even though I am nothing. I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ 

The genuine often feel embarrassed at self-promotion or the possibility of it.

The genuine often serve sacrificially and in secret.

The genuine is marked by patience as they serve God without recognition or appreciation.

The Church had experienced the authentic apostleship of Paul but were still being swayed by the loud self-promotion of those who only claimed they were an apostle.

It is still the same today. 

It is possible that those whose focus is only that of marketing their self-declared ministries actually have little substance. Whereas sometimes the genuine can hardly be seen. 

It could be that what impresses you is fake and what you have missed is the genuine. 

Have you ever wondered why God hasn’t answered your prayer in the way you hoped He would?

“Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no-one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ ‭

It matters not what the thorn was for Paul. The thorn was an unanswered prayer that Paul thought needed fixing but it wasn’t fixed. Why does this happen to us?

• To protect us from pride.
• An opportunity to experience more grace.
• We realise His ongoing and sustaining presence within the circumstance is enough.
• Within the thorn lies the venue where the power of God is seen in its fullest form.
• It gives the opportunity for authentic community as we become real about our experience.
• We begin to live our lives in faith as we carry unanswered questions.
• We become weak enough to carry the presence of God.
• Grants a testimony which is not free of problems but shouts of the power of God being present despite the problems.

So today perhaps instead of hiding your thorn or being embarrassed by it we consider how God may want to display His power through it. Instead of pleading for the thorn’s removal we pray for the grace of God that sustains us within the thorn.

It is then when we are at our weakest that we can declare that we are strong.

Sometimes it’s just too difficult to describe a God encounter and sometimes it’s best not to even try. 

“I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know – God knows. And I know that this man – whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows – was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no-one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭

He writes in the 3rd person perhaps out of humility or maybe he just cannot believe it was him who had the experience. But the key phrase is that he was ‘in Christ’. This sums up his life’s mission, to be so united with Christ that all he did was for Christ and in alignment with Christ. 

Now about the 3rd heaven. For the Jew the sky is the first heaven, the heavens/universe is the 2nd heaven and God’s presence is the 3rd heaven. Paul visited paradise, the place of God, heaven itself. In that place it is difficult to find the words to describe five the experience. Further, Paul didn’t know whether it was in or outside the body. This sophisticated and intelligent man could not understand really what had happened to him. It is a great example of not being able to neatly categorise what God did for us when He touched us. 

• Authentic encounters are difficult to describe.
• Authentic encounters produce humility around what happened not pride.
• Authentic encounters are not diminished because of a lack of clarity.
• Authentic encounters are God-led not man driven. God caught Paul upwards.

These next 2 verses at the end of this chapter reveal just what this upside down kingdom looks like.

“In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ 

Right now you might be feeling inadequate for the task and overwhelmed with so much to carry and do. If this is you then remember this event from Paul’s life. 

In a place where he had been previously known as the persecutor of Christians and where he was dramatically saved, he was saved again.

In a place where an enforcer of the King’s wishes that Paul be captured was searching for him.

In a place where there was no way out, he was indeed contained not knowing what to do.

In that place there was a basket.

When hard-pressed by the enemy Paul was lowered down in a basket in an elaborate but maybe undignified escape. Preserved by God’s grace for purposes far higher than he could have imagined. 

A basket is nearer to you than you think. Sometimes the great acts of faith are found in the moments that just feel like survival, hiding in a basket, relying totally on God’s grace. 

Look for that basket. God still uses them. 

In Paul’s day as in ours there were spiritual superstars who would boast of their ministries and what they have achieved. 

Paul joins in but not as they expect. 

“To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about – I am speaking as a fool – I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised for ever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭21‬-‭33‬ ‭

Paul’s boasting is:

Prison time beyond number

Beatings that can’t be counted.

39 lashes from the Jews but times 5.

3 times beaten with rods.

Multiple brushes with death.

Stones once.

Shipwrecked 3 times.

A night and a day trying to survive in the sea.

Danger from rivers.

Danger from robbers.

Danger from the Jews.

Danger from the Gentiles.

Danger in the cities.

Danger in the deserts.

Danger from false leaders.

Toil.

Hardship.

Sleepless nights.

Hunger.

Thirst.

Cold.

“That’s a summary of what it’s been like for me since commencing my apostolic ministry”

Would you say this is success?

Would you want to go to his leadership seminar?

If you were to try and be like Paul, is this what you had in mind?

Only if you know this truth: that sufferings don’t disqualify you from ministry they authenticate it. 

So you want to be an apostle, prophet, pastor or whatever? Or maybe you just want to be known as a successful Christian?

• Focus more on being honest not successful.
• Be willing to go through tough moments without giving up your walk with God.
• Know that your strength is displayed through your weakness.

Then you will have something to boast about.

We are going to read Paul’s use of irony, for he is not being foolish by boasting of who he is and what he does, rather he will speak of his weakness and his sufferings as the strength of his life. That is to come but these verses are the build up to them. 

“I repeat: let no-one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about – I am speaking as a fool – I also dare to boast about.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭16‬-‭21‬ ‭

Who’s a fool?

• Someone who self-promotes and boasts of their own achievements. 
• Those who accept smooth-talking deceivers yet question their founding apostle. 
• Those who are convinced because of flashy confidence over genuine humility. 
• Someone who allows anyone to enslave and exploit them with rules, marketing or spectacular presentations, rather than understanding that authenticity doesn’t necessarily come within a package of entertainment. 

Listen more!

• Does the person speak more of themselves or others?
• Does the person focus more on appearance than authenticity?
• Do they love?

Paul was defending himself from charismatic infiltrators in the church but also and more importantly for him the very foundation of the gospel he had preached.

“And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭

Paul said he would keep on not being paid because he was wanting to expose those who deceptively got rich and profited from the gospel.

He doesn’t mince his words. Look again at what he called these deceptive leaders. Then he explains why they are like this. It’s because they’re being used by satan who operates with a counterfeit goodness. The most dangerous lies are those that are 99% true.

So how do we spot these deceivers?

• they emphasise gifts over character.
• they are career-minded with selfish ambition.
• they undermine biblical authority with some claim of new revelation that sits outside the Bible.
• they create division by setting themselves above everyone else.

Paul says their end will not be good.

Today these verses are as important as when Paul penned them.

• We must test everything with the Word of God.
• Look at the character, can you see the fruit of the Spirit.
• Look at the possible motivations, ask about what they are trying to gain.

Truth will outlast deception, light will dispel darkness, discernment will expose lies, courage will confront the selfishness and a longing for authenticity will serve others. The truth is good.

Paul is defending not only his message to them in his previous letter but his ministry. His response demonstrates the heart of a servant leader. Today is Father’s day. A day when we celebrate the role of the father. I have just texted a friend to say I was praying for him. He’s a great father but his own experience from his father hasn’t been good. That will be said and felt by many today. I am reading the next few verses through the filter of being a father. I realise it is taking the text out of context which you should never do but it is Father’s Day afterall!

“Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!” (2 Corinthians 11 v 7-11)

• A Father lowers himself.
• A Father doesn’t want payment or reward. For grace to be grace it cannot be repaid.
• A Father knows the weight of provision and will tent-make taking 2 jobs, he will borrow if necessary.
• A Father carries good news.
• A Father may be misunderstood but the cry of his heart will be love. The father’s love might be questioned, the sacrifices go unnoticed, decisions can be misunderstood and yet his heart bleeds love. This is a mirror of the Hevanely Father’s love.
• A Father knows that at the end of the day true love finds its validation in faithful service, sacrifice and the example of revealing to our children a greater Father than we are.

Happy Father’s Day

Paul’s world and certainly the Corinthian church suffered from the obsession of polished communicators carrying some charismatic flair. Sound familiar?

What was Paul’s response?

“I do not think I am in the least inferior to those ‘super-apostles’. I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭

How do we become a ‘super-apostle’?

1. Eloquence over effectiveness. It’s not what you know it’s how you say it. How you look is everything. These are the truths to hold on to if you want to become super.
2. Speak more about your strengths than your weaknesses. Awareness of other people and not yourself. Hold on to these truths if you can any to become super.

But who really wants to be known as a super this or that? The Apostle certainly didn’t.

In a few days time we will again be celebrating Father’s Day. It is always a day mixed with emotions for so many people. 

These next few verses are certainly charged with emotion. 

The Apostle Paul is reaching out to the Church in Corinth with all the love he can muster.

Using imagery familiar to his culture (and many others today) he describes himself as a father who brought the Church, the bride, to Christ. 

“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the snake’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭

This arranged marriage sees the father bringing his daughter as a pure bride to the groom, Christ. In the same way Paul is saying we should present ourselves to Christ with purity. Apart from the obvious behavioural purity, there are still today the same false teachings, competing loyalties and compromises and this devotion to Christ is in danger of being corrupted. This is why Paul has a godly jealousy to protect this from happening.

He uses the story of Eve who was deceived by the serpent and says we are still in danger. The devil doesn’t change does he? He still brings doubts to God’s Word or brings alternative interpretations of it to fit our desires and pleasures and what pains him the most is that they ‘put up with it easily enough.’

Paul’s jealousy is good. We should have this jealousy for each other. It means to care enough for each other’s walk with God. As a father’s jealousy for His children to be the best they can be we too should contend and urge one another in love. Our lives matter to each other and they matter to Christ. Paul calls out what he sees they are falling away in and it helps us as we look out for each other. 

A different Jesus- the cross for our sins and the resurrection for our new life from a Christ who is the Son of God, a member of the trinity, God Himself.

A different Spirit – experiencing the work and manifestations of the Spirit who always glorifies Christ and conforms us into His own image. 

A different Gospel – we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone.

Anything but the above is different to the truth and we like a father should have a jealousy to protect one another.