So we're going to be reading this morning from 2 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 16 to the end of the chapter.
Thank you.
Read God's word and then we'll pray.
Starting in at verse 16.
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'm 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 far too weak for that.
Whatever anyone else dares to boast about.
Am I speaking as a fool?
I also dare to boast about.
Are they Hebrews?
Are they Israelites?
So am I.
Are they Abraham's descendants?
So am I.
Are they servants of Christ?
I'm 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.
And then down to verse 30.
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying.
Well, let's just pause and pray for God's help as we hear his word.
Let's pray.
Father, we come this morning with many things on our minds and on our hearts.
Things that weigh us down.
Things that make us feel weak and inadequate and helpless.
And we thank you that we come to an awesome God who meets us in our need to give us the help that we need.
And so we come to you and ask that you would pour out your spirit afresh on us today.
So that we may know your work in our life.
That we may be built up with eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, our strength.
Help us now, we pray.
Amen.
Well, we're going to begin by playing a game.
We're going to play boasting.
It's very simple.
You have to try and outdo your opponent by boasting of what you have or what you've done.
So are you ready?
Here's a few ideas to get you started.
You can boast about your salary and your successes, your achievements and your qualifications.
So turn to your neighbor and let's play boasting.
Well, no, we would never dream of playing a game like that.
We would never ever boast.
Or would we?
You see, the Apostle Paul is caught up in a serious and real case of boasting.
And it's destroying the church.
You remember back in chapter 11, verse 5, the super apostles, he says,
I do not think I'm in the least inferior to those so-called super apostles.
They were boasting about how great they were.
That they could charge top fees and draw big crowds.
Whereas Paul, he was nothing.
He had to preach the gospel for free.
And these super apostles boasted of having letters of commendation and great qualifications.
Whereas Paul, he was useless.
He had nobody to commend him.
By boasting of themselves and elevating themselves,
they pushed Paul and the gospel down.
They claimed he was unsuccessful, unimpressive, and untrained.
Who would want to listen to a person like that?
Well, the problem is the church in Corinth had got sucked in.
They had fallen for their boasts.
They had been attracted by these big name speakers and their dynamic presentations.
They liked what they saw, but really gave no thought to who they were.
Rather than listen to Paul and the true gospel,
they were listening to these so-called super apostles and their false gospel.
But Paul won't do that.
He has no time in boasting in himself.
Look back at chapter 10, verse 17.
He's crystal clear, verse 17.
Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
For it's not the one who commends himself who is approved,
but the one whom the Lord commends.
You see, Paul's aim wasn't to please people.
His desire was to preach Christ.
He didn't need to boast.
The Lord had called him and commended him,
and that was enough.
But it seems things have gotten very serious in the church,
and he feels he has to boast.
So look at chapter 11, verse 1.
He says to them,
I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness.
Yes, please put up with me,
because he's going to go into a time of boasting.
Verse 16.
I repeat,
let no one take me for a fool.
But if you do,
if you think I'm a fool,
then tolerate me just as you would a fool,
so that I may do a little boasting.
It sounds like he's contradicting himself, doesn't it?
First he's saying,
no, only boast in the Lord.
And now he says,
I'm actually going to do a little bit of boasting.
So what's going on?
Well, I think there's two big things
that this text teaches us.
First, the folly
of those who boast in greatness.
The folly of those who boast in greatness.
Let's pick it up in verse 17.
In this self-confident boasting,
I am talking.
I am not talking as the Lord would.
The Lord wouldn't want me to do this,
but as a fool.
Since many are boasting in the way the world does,
I too will boast.
You want to boast?
Well, let's play boasting.
You think these super apostles are impressive?
Well, I'll show you what's impressive.
You think these are great speakers
with wonderful qualifications?
Well, I'll show you my qualifications.
The gloves are off.
Let the boasting begin.
Isn't that just how the world operates?
The greater you are,
the more influential you are
and the more popular you become.
Whoever can boast the most hits online,
aren't we drawn in
to listen to what they have to say?
And whoever boasts the most sales,
we pay attention to
and we want what they have.
We get hooked on their successes
and experiences
and we follow up wanting their clothes,
their brand clothes.
We follow their diets
and we believe what they say.
It's the same within our Christian world.
Preachers can boast
of the size of their churches
and all the books that they publish.
And churches can boast
of their wonderful music
and their slick presentation.
We get hooked on their dynamism
and their passion.
We like what they begin to say
but we stop listening
to what God has to say.
We love all the things
that they offer
but we forget all that Jesus
has to give.
You see, Paul enters into this
little game of boasting.
Not to encourage boasting
but to expose the folly
of listening to the world's boasts.
Look what he says
to those who boast in their greatness
or those who listen
to those who are boasting.
It's quite hard hitting.
You're a fool.
Verse 18.
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.
He's being sarcastic.
Those successful super apostles
those impressive speakers
oh they're so wise aren't they?
They're such clever people.
And you're so wise
for following them
and listening to them.
You're so wise
that you even want
to become like them.
Wise.
Don't give me wise.
Give me a break.
You're the foolish ones
for being drawn in
and being taken in by them.
Remember what these
super apostles are like?
Look back at chapter 11
verse 13.
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.
Wise?
not a bit of it.
You're fools
by being taken in
by their boasting
of their greatness
and you have swallowed
their false gospel.
But not only are they fools
he says you've become slaves
verse 20.
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.
You think all their boasting
of success and greatness
is going to get you somewhere.
It's going to make you something.
No, they're exploiting you
and they're taking advantage of you.
They promise you a better life
but it's an empty life.
They offer you a Jesus
who will give to you
anything that you ask.
And they'll offer you a gospel
that will let you live
however you want to live.
But the reality is
it will enslave you.
You keep coming back
for more and more
of what they have to say
but it will never ever satisfy you.
Like the prosperity teachers
who offer you health and wealth
but by the way
first send on your donations
at the number below.
They become your master
and you will be forever
in their debt.
Following those who boast
in their greatness
will not make you great
you will become
a foolish slave.
Be careful of those
who boast
in their own credentials.
And can I say to you
as a church
in looking for a pastor
be careful of those
who have many followers
and those who boast
of their own greatness.
Now not all
who have great followers
followers
are false teachers
but not all
speak the truth.
Instead we should all
be wise
like the Bereans
who were of great
noble character
for they received
the message
with great eagerness
and examined the scriptures
every day
to see if what Paul said
was true.
I hope you are doing
that right now
that you aren't taken in
by false teaching
but you bring everything
under the word of God
to see if what is being said
is true.
That is all of our responsibility.
So let us beware
of the folly of boasting
in greatness.
On the flip side
then
we have the wisdom
of those who boast
in weakness.
Verse 30
If I must boast
I will boast
of the things
that show my weakness.
Paul is showing us
the wisdom
of boasting
not in greatness
but in weakness.
In other words
if you want to be great
you need to be
weak.
Let's go to
verse 20
21
the end of verse 21
Whatever anyone else
dares to boast about
I am speaking as a fool
I can't believe it.
I also dare
to boast about
Are they Hebrews?
Well so am I.
Are they Israelites?
So am I.
Are they Abraham's descendants?
So am I.
You want qualifications?
Well I have it.
Culturally
socially
religiously
I've got it all.
verse 23
Are they servants
of Christ?
I'm out of my mind
to beginning
to talk like this.
I
am
more.
You think
these super apostles
are up there?
Well
I'm
above that.
Look at what he says
at the end of verse 23
I've preached
in more countries
I've planted
more churches
I've done
better healings
I've written
more letters
I've met
the risen Jesus
I've made
more converts
I've baptised
more people
Is that what it says?
No
he could well
have said
all of those things
and those things
would have been true
but that's not
what he says.
Instead
he boasts
of suffering
not success.
Let's pick it up
at the end of verse 23
what it does say.
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 40 lashes
minus one
so that's
195 lashes
with three strips
of leather
and knots
on the end.
Three times
I was beaten
with rods
Acts tells us
he was stripped
naked
before they beat him
once I was
pelted
with stones
where he was
left
for dead.
Three times
I was shipwrecked
I spent
night
and a day
in the open sea
I've been
constantly
on the move
I've 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 labored
and toiled
and have often
gone without
sleep
I have known
hunger
and thirst
and often
gone without
food
I have been
cold
and naked
besides everything
else
I face the daily
pressures 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
why
did he go
through all
this suffering
why put
himself in
places
where he is
vulnerable
and weak
why put
himself into
situations
where he knew
it was going
to be hard
well at one
level his
suffering show
that he is
the real
deal
he is the
authentic one
and his
message that he
brings is
authentic
we can trust
the message
that he says
if someone is
willing to go
through so much
suffering
if you are
willing to
become weak
it proves
that the
gospel he
preaches
can be
trusted
if you are
willing like
Paul to
put your
life on
the line
time and
time again
it counts
for something
you see
Paul is
saying to
the church
and he is
saying to
us today
you can
believe the
gospel that I
bring to
you
it is
wonderfully
true
I will
die for
you to
get the
message to
you
but there is
something more
and it comes
in the last
few verses
Paul boasts
in his
failures
not his
achievements
his failures
not achievements
look at
verse 31
the God
and Father
of our
Lord Jesus
who is to
be praised
forever
knows that
I am not
lying
in Damascus
the governor
under King
Artax
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 I
slipped through
his hands
I didn't
know this
but commentators
tell us that
in the Roman
military there
was a special
award for the
first soldier
who could get
over the
wall so
whenever they
were attacking
a city
they had to
climb the
walls in
their wooden
ladders to
get in
it was both
dangerous but
very courageous
if you were
the first one
to get in
over the wall
and into the
city and to
make a way
through
well that
person was
worthy of
great honour
well look at
Paul
what can he
claim
when he's
telling us
he bottled
it
that when
the going
got tough
when they
sent out a
warrant for
his arrest
he ran
for his
life
rather than
be the
brave man
verse 33
rather than
the one
being up
over the
wall
I was
lowered in
a basket
from a
window in
the wall
and I
slipped
through his
hands
oh I
was a
coward
I was a
coward
I ran
away
I
failed
would you
put your
failures like
this in
your CV
Paul boasts
not in his
excess or
achievements
he boasts
in his
weaknesses
why
because he
knows that
when you
strip
everything
back
when you
chip away
at the
external
facade
when you
expose
his heart
when you
get to the
bottom of
who Paul
really is
he has
nothing to
boast about
only a
cowardly
failure
and as we
reflect on
our own
lives
well we
have nothing
to boast
about either
do we
all our
credentials
all our
successes
and achievements
all our
best moments
all our
proud memories
all our
victories
our
strengths
and our
qualities
strip them
all away
knock away
the facade
and if you
could look
into my
life
you'd see
a mess
but you
know what
it's right
here
in our
suffering
and in
our
failure
and in
the depths
of our
weakness
that we
find the
greatest
hope
possible
verse 30
if I
must
boast
I
will
boast
of the
things
that
show
my
weakness
you see
it's only
when we
embrace
our
weakness
that we
are throwing
ourselves
into the
loving arms
of Christ
who became
weak
for us
for
to be
sure
he was
crucified
in
weakness
yet
he lives
by
God's
power
Christ
went
into
weakness
he not
only
suffered
he suffered
death
and he not
only suffered
death
he suffered
our
judgment
and he not
only suffered
our judgment
he suffered
hell
for you
and for
me
you see
we boast
in a
suffering
servant
a weak
savior
one who
was crushed
and beaten
and reviled
and mocked
and flogged
crucified
to death
so that
you
and I
might have
life
you see
it is in
the weakness
of Christ
that we
find the
power
and the
excellence
of God
through
Christ's
sufferings
comes
our
life
if you
were applying
for a
job
what would
you write
in your
CV
where we
could write
down all
the things
that show
us our
abilities
and our
qualities
all our
qualifications
and our
experiences
in other
words
we get
out the
yellow
highlighter
and we
mark our
strengths
and we
disguise
our
weaknesses
we boast
of our
successes
but we
hide
our
failures
but that's
the self
confident
boasting
of the
world
it looks
great
but deep
down we
know the
reality
we look
deep inside
our hearts
and we
see not
greatness
but don't
we all
know our
weakness
you see the
good news
of the
gospel is
it allows
us to
become real
and true
and honest
about ourselves
we don't
need to
pretend
we don't
need to
put on a
facade
or a
mask
we don't
longer
have to
hide
our
struggles
or to
disguise
our
sin
isn't
that
wonderful
we come
to a
loving
saviour
and we
boast
of our
weaknesses
we come
in all
our
suffering
and we
find a
saviour
who is
weak
for us
and gives
us
strength
we come
with all
our
failure
and we
experience
not
judgement
but we
find a
saviour
a loving
embrace
one who
will treasure
us and
welcome
us
adopting
us into
his family
who says
I am
your God
and you
are mine
and I
will never
ever
let you
go
the world
prizes
greatness
and we
listen
to those
with big
names
and big
followers
no not
greatness
but
weakness
a
crucified
Christ
who died
for you
and for
me
you see
it's
seeing that
when I
am weak
then I
am truly
strong
but that's
next week's
sermon
let's pray
oh lord
you know
each one
of us
and we
so feel
our
weaknesses
at times
whether it
be physical
or mental
and in the
midst of it
all and
running
through it
all our
hearts
you know
that we
don't measure
up
and yet
!
and yet
we thank
you for
the wonderful
gospel
that allows
us no
longer to
hide
or to
shy away
but to
come and
boast in
our weakness
and come to
a saviour who
truly understands
who has
who has been
where we are
and deeper
still
and who
will hold
us by the
hand
and will
walk us
through
and never
ever
let us
go
help us
that we
would not
boast
in greatness
but boast
in weakness
boast in
our Lord
and saviour
Jesus
Christ
Amen