[Music]
Church grab your Bibles this morning and
turn to 2 Corinthians 11 2 Corinthians
chapter 11 this
morning and uh we're going to be in
verses 16 to 33 and I know that seems
like a big chunk and it is a big chunk
but it cannot be broken
up why because Paul begins to
speak so transparently from his
heart that in some ways it's a little
bit
shocking because he's going to say
things
that in some respects maybe from our end
are not necessary he it's not necessary
he says this it's not necessary that he
says that
but Paul being under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit why does he say it and I
think it's to get us to
all understand that though he was just a
man he was possessed by the Holy Spirit
and that you and I as Christians though
we be just men or women boys or girls we
too as Believers are possessed by the
same holy spirit amen and that God has
called us
to make a tremendous effect in the lives
that God's called us to be to be
involved in no matter who or where we
may go or who we may be so this morning
write down the title at the top of your
notes it's what are you suffering for
what are you suffering for verses
16-33 and let's look at it together he
says to the church at Corinth who by the
way remember their relationship with
Paul is very very much on the
brink he says I say again let no one
think me a fool if otherwise at least
rece receive me as a fool I'll explain
that in a moment that I also May boast a
little what I speak I speak not
according to the Lord but as it were
foolishly in this confidence of
boasting Verse 18 seeing that many boast
according to the flesh I also will boast
for you put up listen to this with fools
gladly since you yourselves are wise for
you put up with it if one brings you
into bondage or if one devours you or if
one takes from you or if one exalts
himself that is in front of them
promotes themselves brags about
themselves or if one strikes you on the
face abuses you to your shame I say that
we were too weak for that but in
whatever anyone is bold I speak
foolishly I am bold also Church verses
16 to 21 is a preamble for what is now
about to follow in verse 22 down to the
end Paul gives
23 arguments in defense of his
apostleship in light of these false
Apostles that have been making life
difficult for him he says of them are
they Hebrews so am I are they Israelites
so am I are they the Seed of Abraham so
am I are they Ministers of Christ
I speak as a fool I am more now watch
this number one in labors more abundant
in Stripes that is beatings above
measure in prisons more frequently in
deaths often from the Jews five times I
received 40 Stripes minus one so five
times 39 three times I was beaten with
rods once I was stoned three times I was
Shipwrecked sheesh a night and a day I
have been in the deep that is bobbing up
and down in the
ocean and Journeys often verse 26 in
Perils of water in Perils of robbers in
Perils of my own countrymen in Perils of
unbelievers in perils in the city in
perils in the wilderness in perils in
the sea in perils among false Christians
fakes verse 27 in weariness and toil s
sleeplessness often in hunger and thirst
in fastings often in cold and nakedness
besides the other
things well he's saying now let me tell
you about some stuff that really hurts
what comes upon me daily my deep concern
for all the churches who is weak and I
am not weak who is made to stumble or be
involved in a scandal that's what that
word means and I do not burn with
indignation or get upset about them
if I must boast I will boast in the
things which concern my physical
weaknesses my infirmities verse 31 that
God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ
who is blessed forever knows that I'm
not lying verse 32 in Damascus the
governor under Ares the king listen to
this was guarding the city of the
Damascus sians or the occupants or the
people of Damascus with a Garrison
Desiring to arrest me an army desired to
arrest one man but I was let down in a
basket through a window in the wall and
escaped from his
hands now the last verse there a lot of
people are wondering why did Paul insert
that did it happen it really happened
you can read the book of Acts and find
out more about that stuff but what's he
saying
here what is he listing church are you
with me watch this don't raise your hand
cuz you you'll just all raise your hands
anyway are you a Christian oh yeah yeah
yeah Christian all right listen so we're
in Paul's Club then right the club
meaning we're trusting in Jesus Christ
as Lord and Savior I don't mean the club
like you go to Club
Calvary or you go to Club Catholic or
Club Methodist or Club Presbyterian
forget that that can't do nothing for
you as Christians Listen I hope you're
here right now because we though we've
come from all different walks of life
this is what we have in common we belong
to Jesus it's not this church listen if
you stumbled in here today you need to
hear this right up front this church can
do nothing for you except point you to
Jesus Christ which is my opinion is very
cool as long as we're pointing you to
Jesus and by the way if any other
Ministry in the universe comes across
like you need them to for them to save
you is absolutely crazy did you guys see
in the news the other day that the Pope
the pope ex excommunicated the uh the
mafia did you see
that no really he said you can't go to
heaven I don't know what chapter verse
that's in
but but remember last remember a few
weeks ago the pope was praying with
these Islamic leaders in the uh Vatican
itself it turns out that the mafia had
excommunicated the pope when that had
happened so now there's an
excommunication war going on right now
look leave that to the
excommunicates follow Jesus Christ and
everything and that's what what drove
Paul that's what Paul's life was all
about and so here's the amazing thing
that's going on the Preamble those
opening verses he says this to the
Corinthian Church all right here's the
deal you guys are so wise and Brilliant
he's being sarcastic to them the funny
thing is they believe it Paul's finally
recognized how brilliant we are seeing
how brilliant and wise you guys are I'm
going to speak to you guys as a fool
notice he says as a fool and fact he
even go so far to say I'm going to do
this not through the Lord Jesus Christ
that's an amazing statement it doesn't
mean that what he's saying is not
inspired it means he said he's saying
this Jesus never boasted about what he
went through he's my pattern he's the
one I'm following so are
we but you guys in Corinth have forced
me to become a fool like the people
you're following these false Believers
these false Apostles brag about
themselves always is always trying to
get you to see how great they are and
Paul says you guys put up with all this
stuff you're amazing you guys tolerate
everything except the
truth so apparently if this is how
you're reached then allow me now to be a
fool so I can talk
to you wise
Corinthians you know what I'm saying
pretty amazing and so he begins to speak
to
them and what is he doing he's setting
up in his pre Preamble the argument that
will for once and for all separate the
true follower of Jesus Christ from the
false because remember who these
judaizers were they were the ones
undermining his ministry undermining his
authority undermining everything that
Paul did the one thing they couldn't
undermine which was awesome and it was
Paul's confidence was the Gospel listen
you can attack people all you want if
you don't like what they're saying if
they're preaching the word and they're
faithful to God and they're giving God
but you don't like them you can attack
their person all you want that's what
Paul was doing or that's what they were
doing to Paul they were attacking his
person but Paul stood there in his
little body we know from church history
a little tiny 5 foot tall bowlegged
ball-headed hooknose eyes closed
together uh scratchy voice little
man but the power of who and what he was
was not in his person the power was in
the fact that he was a presenter of the
Gospel of Jesus it was the message of
the cross it was the message of Jesus
having been sacrificed on the cross
risen from the dead the savior of the
world and he preached it they could not
do anything with that message it's not
the messenger it's the message and as
Christians that's what we stand by you
see well I would do that Pastor if I was
more like Billy Graham you're never
going to be like Billy Graham you're not
supposed to be Billy Graham's not
supposed to be like you well you know
what I would do it if I was more like
Greg Lori if I was more like Luis palao
I don't know if I was just some like
that kind of you're not supposed to be
that
person as Christians God has called you
and I to minister where we're at
wherever he places us and listen the
weaker we are the greater the power of
God can be upon us see you and I see
those superstars in the faith like super
strong Samson like giants but you know
what I'm beginning to conclude after 37
years of being a
Christian that God really Revels in in
our weaknesses and he finds us who can't
do anything in and of our flesh for him
and he's the ones or we're the ones that
he'll use and I don't know about you
that should excite
you so now you've got this
happening and Paul now begins to address
it as we come to the conclusion of this
book it is powerful and by the way as
you look to this I'm going to ask you to
look at 1 Corinthians chapter 9 real
quick or just jot it down if you would 1
Corinthians 9: 19 listen he says even
even though I am free a free man with no
master I have become a slave to all
people why would you do that Paul well
to bring many to Christ when I was with
the Jews I lived like a Jew to bring the
Jews to Christ when I was with those who
follow the Jewish law I lived under the
law even though I'm not subject to the
law I did this so I could bring to
Christ those who are under the law verse
21 1 Corinthians 9 when when I am with
the Gentiles who do not follow the
Jewish law I also or I I too live apart
from the law so I can bring them to
Christ but I do not ignore the law of
God I obey the law of
Christ to the weak I became as weak that
I may win the weak I've become all
things to all men that I might by all
means save some he never compromised
Paul didn't go into a bar and Order
drinks and get smashed so that he could
witness to the
drunks he didn't do that kind of he
didn't compromise that way but what he
did was he went to where the Sinners
were at and he began to reach out to
them and by the way God will do that to
you and I always you don't have to get
into their sin to associate with them
see I can be just like you but I'm saved
that's not what that's not what we're
supposed to do Paul said I went to they
were at and I didn't judge them and what
they were doing because my mission was
evangelizing them
because the assumption is they didn't
know the
gospel so I gave the gospel to them once
they were given the
gospel they were now responsible so
that's the preamble to get him to make
this statement and so Church in verses
22 to 23 it's this what are you
suffering for it and as a Believer we
are to be
suffering all of us are to be suffering
as Christians you see I don't really
like this message I understand that I
don't either but
uh this is the Bible and so in verse 22
to 23 we look at this when we suffer as
Christians we want to mark this down
whatever we're suffering for is it a
worthy identity as a Christian listen
what I suffer for and we all suffer look
for that matter even non-christians
suffer but what we suffer for as
Christians is there a worthy identity to
it in other words am I suffering for
being a
Christian if I'm suffering for being
rude then that's not biblical suffering
if I'm suffering for being a real
obnoxious person that's my fault you
understand that but if I'm suffering for
being a Christian a real Bible Christian
then I want to make sure that my
identity in connection with the
suffering is a noble thing are you with
me everybody you're going to get in
trouble you know look we've all done
this I assume right have you ever been
to Thanksgiving with your family or
Christmas right don't don't people come
in from all over town your family right
are they all
Christians and you sit at the table and
you know you're feeling bold because
you've been going through Bible study
you've been excited God's in your heart
the Bible's like getting ready to pop
out of your mouth and you'll say
something like hey you guys uh I'm going
to pray for the for the meal and there's
you know Uncle Bob or Aunt Wilma or
somebody's going to be she's gonna say
oh who made him the pope you know
they're going to say something right
they're just going to do it it's kind of
that's just what they do well we're
going to pray now what's gotten into you
you don't tell me you found Jesus are
you one of those
born born like second time kind of
people you know how they do
that and those are cute little Jabs but
there's a world out there that will
stand up against
you and by the way that's a little
benign uh family setting but if you keep
pressing Jesus as Lord and savior in
fact little bit of side advice here when
when do get the chance to pray over the
Thanksgiving when all your believing or
unbelieving neighbors are around or
friends or relatives use it as a time to
preach the gospel just make it short
because everybody's hungry just say Lord
thank you for this turkey and thank you
God that Jesus died on the cross for our
sins and as this turkey was sacrificed
for us Jesus was sacrificed for us that
this this turkey will give us the
strength to continue on Jesus in his
resurrection gives us the strength and
the power to walk in the spirit and
thank you that Jesus rose again from the
dead unlike this turkey that will never
see another day again and God you're
awesome in Jesus thank you Lord God and
let me amen and your everyone's going to
be like
this but do it sees
it when you take a stand the world's
going to hate you when you take a stand
you're going to have enemies and when
you take a stand for Christ you're going
to
suffer and that should be no surprise to
us but is our identity with Jesus as you
know him Worthy is it an is it a
relationship that's worthy of attack for
one thing is it a relationship listen
that is clear that it's not of this
world the a suffering that you and I go
through it's not of this world watch
what Paul says now look you have the
judaizers on one side and you got Paul
on one on the other side so watch this
verse 22 are they Hebrews Paul is
conceding the fact
Corinthians are they Hebrews yes they're
Hebrews so they they take out their
little chalk and they Mark TouchDown for
them Paul says so am I oh TouchDown for
Paul it's one to one are they Israelites
and they were Israelites TouchDown for
them that's two two to one Paul says so
am I oh two to two are you with me
they're keeping
score next thing are they of the Seed of
Abraham this gets kind of dicey but I
see Paul's argument because they really
weren't of the seed of Abram but
according to the
DNA they were the Seed of Abraham it's 3
to2 Paul says so am I oh it's three to
three and then watch this he gives them
this are they Ministers of Christ now
he's being gracious to them yep they say
they're Ministers of Christ four to
three they're in they're in the lead and
Paul says are you kidding me I more so
all right we'll give you that so now
it's four to four tied Paul tied with
four judaizers legalists who trying to
get people to get to to Heaven by
believing in Jesus and doing all these
good works and doing all these things uh
in conjunction with the law four it's
four to four tie score and watch what
Paul does listen our
relationship to Christ is not of this
world which means the Christian in any
age in any culture will not be accepted
by this world Christians let's wake up
to the fact that we are not going to be
welcomed by this world stop trying to
get the world to like you it will never
like you unless you keep your mouth shut
never mention Jesus and frankly come
inside this church they would like to
seal up the door so that you never
leave but the moment you take
Christianity out into the world in which
God has sending you out tomorrow to work
to school to vacation to wherever you go
the world wants you to be
quiet and I want you to think about that
why is that true because there is a
spiritual war
there's Powers going on in The Invisible
scene that is trying to shut down not so
much you but it's the gospel within you
and the gospel within you is
power and it scares the world we're
going to see as we when we end this
message just how scared the world gets
it's not of this world and so it's 4 to
four but something
interesting is about to happen by the
way have you noticed this in fact in
Luke chap 11:46 when you talk about
legalists these guys were amazing these
legalists that were attacking Paul let's
remember in our previous studies they
were Rich they were extremely great
orators and we know from history that
they they dressed up really amazing they
had money they could talk they had an
Entourage they had a string of black
donkeys black windows black antennas on
the back of the rumps of all the dock
donkeys they had security guys with
little wires running alongside there and
these guys got off and they were the
Great speaker and they would orate and
pontificate in front of the people and
the Corinthians would go oh these guys
are wonderful and they were treated with
all kinds of
perks and here comes
Paul you could almost hear him squeaking
as he
walked his donkey had a door hanging off
you know it's all dented up had one
ear you know it was a
mess and Jesus said in Luke 11:46 he
says wo do you
lawyers now that's a word for some of
you here today no I'm kidding no he
doesn't mean lawyers these were students
of the law for you load men with burdens
hard to bear and you yourselves do not
touch the burdens with one of your
fingers that's how legalists operate
they will tell you all the rules that
you need to keep to be in their
group but they in secret they don't even
do them
themselves Jesus is wo to you you're in
big big trouble and so that's those guys
on this side and then there's Paul on
the other side and then not only that
verse 23 teaches us that it will not be
for this world you and I my friend as
Christians are suffering in this world
we're not of this world the message is
not of this world even though we can go
down a list of things like this like
Paul talks about being an Israelite and
being a Hebrew and being a minister of
Christ and all he can do that well
listen so can you in such a way maybe
even your own family you can say to own
brother or sister you were born in the
same town you were you were born of mom
and dad and all these things we have in
common listen this has happened to maybe
all of us if not many of us but this is
where we
split we split over the very very deep
personal things regarding Jesus
Christ now I don't know how that sets
with you because you may be thinking
well if we love Jesus and follow Jesus
everyone there's just going to you can
smell almost like lavender in the air
and
Roses the there will be a rainbow over
our head all the time and there'll be a
sound of both Angels wings and music
wherever we go no there
won't no because we're
listen it's not listen it's not of this
world and it's not for this world that
we
live Jesus said can you listen in
Matthew chapter 10 Jesus
said that because of your association
with me a man's own family will become
his enemy amen isn't that a
shocker well in verse 22 this is where
he splits with those guys because they
were all about Comfort Fame and wealth
Paul says well okay here you go so it's
four to four how about this one and
labor is more abundant this is an
amazing word in labors this is hard
labor this is like word used for being
in prison in
labor Paul is imprisoned to the will of
God Paul is chained to the gospel
Ministry when he says in labors often
this word means to the point of absolute
exhaustion
Brokenness all of a sudden the
Corinthians are going H they look at
their beautifully clad amazing orators
decked out in all of this Pomp and glory
and they go do you can you uh can you
agree with that in laborers and they go
uh no oh now it's 5 to 4 in favor of
Paul and so shall it be in the life of
the Christian in this world that you and
I live in here's the proof of his
apostleship and it's the proof of you
and I listen everybody it's the proof of
you and I being a Christian as suffering
increases against you in I and against
us personally where or what will you do
with it will you say I've had enough of
this Christianity that's it I'm a fair
weather follower I I ring the bell I'm
out I'm
done or will you say say you know
what I'm hanging in
there right now
today I've mentioned to you before I'm
going to keep mentioning again until
he's set free until he goes and sees
Jesus Pastor SED abini still will not
recount and deny Jesus Christ though
he's coming up on his third year in
prison by Muslim captors and all he has
to do is deny that he believes in Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior and they'll
set him free they said and he won't deny
Christ he won't he American citizen in
Iran he won't do it now you might say
well he's nuts or you might say wow he
knows God and that's the same thing I'm
thinking about Paul as I read this list
of things that Paul went through in life
I'm thinking do I even know the same God
he
knows I get upset because my hard drive
seizes up I got a hangnail that guy cut
me off in the freeway oh the persecution
of it all
and then Miriam
Abrahim 27y old American citizen in
prison in
Sudan I think a 2-year-old baby's
imprisoned with her and she just gave
birth because they arrested her being
pregnant she just gave birth to another
baby in
prison and soon any day now she is to be
beaten with 100 lashes es and then hung
by the neck until dead because she was
once a Muslim converted to Christianity
and they said you've got to
die a mother with babies in prison with
her whose father here in the states
trying to get her out petitioning
listen do we know the same God they
know of course we do but I'm being like
Paul a little bit
sarcastic I'm saying this clinging to
Jesus the more and longer we walk with
them down this path in these days the
more people are going to discover you're
a Christian you're a Christ follower and
the world's going to say I don't know if
I like you even open your mouth I want
you to sit in the corner and be quiet
this is our world and you don't belong
here and listen we belong here for only
as long as God keeps us here and listen
you're right it's not our world it's our
Father's World and we are on Mission
to announce to every man and woman boy
and girl possible about the love of
God but that makes people upset it makes
people
nervous but it's not going to be for
this world when he says Stripes above
measure Stripes these are beatings look
at verse 23
beatings prisons C look at that it's
prisons plural multiple times he was
imprisoned I'm wondering if you would
hire a pastor to be your pastor if he
had a the wrap
sheet of being arrested what are your
qualifications for pastoring us I've
been beaten up a lot can you
imagine and deaths often deaths how do
you die often this is an amazing
statement it means that Paul had been
brought to the point of death in fact he
had resigned the fact oh looks like I'm
going to die
now listen before you a Christian
remember how you were afraid to
die and it's kind of a funny thing now
because before we were Christians we
were afraid to die die and we hoped we'd
live here
forever then we became a Christian and
now we're not afraid to die and it's
like Jesus are you going to come
today it's almost like we have a
interesting little weird death wish huh
when Paul says we uh I've had deaths
often said what does that mean it means
things like this for us today have you
ever said something like um man that
thing was so hard I'd rather die than do
that again have you ever said that it's
exact it's the same now his is more
intense than ours but it's like that was
so difficult as a Christian I'm telling
you right now death would be easier than
going through that
again Paul is saying this ministry has
been so
difficult it' been easier to die
unfortunately I didn't die I wound up
being being brought to the point of
almost
death numerous
times and then he turns and asks people
would you like to be a Christian
too can you imagine
oh you're going to appreciate him more
as we go through this by the way before
we go much further look what it says
right
here uh when it says in these labors and
these stripes and these uh imprisonments
and these deaths I want to put up four
uh maps for you one at a time in
chronological order really quick you
guys Paul the Apostle keep this in mind
he he did this map on the wall here's
his first journey you see right here
here's Jerusalem's
cesaria so he launches out I don't know
why they didn't include this part but
that's a long way that's over 100 miles
but anyway he goes to Cyprus and he goes
into southern area of turkey today and
he makes his journey back re re uh um
follows his footsteps and he goes back
that's his first journey okay now look
you see well that's no big deal well let
me tell you something if you were in the
Middle East for a week and you were
taking a tour on a bus or on a boat
that's a big deal that's a that's a
that's probably a good8 n n Day
Tour air conditioning food cruise
ship Paul had his feet maybe a camel or
a donkey all the while people didn't
like
him next slide second missionary journey
starts in Jerusalem heads up to Antioch
which now becomes the the headquarters
of the church and he goes to Tarsus this
is where he was born Derby all along the
way when you read the book of Acts he's
getting beat
up he's in big trouble Scandal they're
trying to kill him in fact it doesn't
start out very good right here he gets
arrested in Jerusalem because he talks
about the resurrection
270
soldiers are given to protect him they
bring him down by horse to cesaria just
to protect them because the Jewish
leadership want to tear them in pieces
for preaching Resurrection he goes to
this area of Turkey ladies and gentlemen
this is serious topography
here this is amazing listen I got news
for you we would you're not going to
make this journey in your lifetime a
high probability you won't make it it's
beautiful but it's very mountainous and
crazy he keeps going north of the aanc
he well he departs out of traz goes up
to Philippi thessalonica Apollonia and
epip lopis
empis down to Berea look at this what's
that Corinth
Athens you guys can I remind you this
2,000 years ago no travel
agencies next
slide third Journey Jerusalem tyn siden
across the
Mediterranean in this area of pamilia
there's the island of Roads beautiful
place
Samos Ephesus Turkey today ismir up
again visits the churches that were
started earlier in his journeys back
over to Corinth retracing the steps back
home third Journey fourth and final
Journey paid for 100% by the Roman
government he's he appeals to Caesar
remember that or as a Roman citizen he
says that's it I appeal I appeal to
Caesar to make my case they said listen
you appeal to Caesar to Caesar you shall
go you have that right he come out of
Jerusalem all this way you see this you
ever feel like
this Shipwrecked Lost at Sea third
time winds up making it they make it to
Sicily Syracuse makes it through the
straight eventually taken to Rome I've
had a chance to go there and be there in
stand in his mamertine prison where Paul
was beheaded taken out and beheaded this
is his life 2,000 years
ago why do I bring that up because I
want you to consider this Scholars agree
that regarding the Apostle's
life that at least he traveled 6,700
Miles by
sea to give you an idea it's 5,800 miles
for us to get on a plane in LA and fly
over the top of the globe and land in
Tel Aviv it's 5,700
miles Paul traveled 6,700 Mi by boat
Alone by land he traveled 5,400 mil in
his lifetime in a total Paul traveled
two uh 12,000 miles plus in his lifetime
for what for a cruise for Jesus he
suffered things that you and I will
never suffer in life no matter how bad
life gets for us and I want to ask you
for whom you know
Jesus is that kind of relationship
worthy of your affection worthy of your
attention worthy of your Association I
say yes it is I say yes it is he said
Jack this is very sobering it should be
sobering this man is burying his heart
to us and all of a sudden it's like 39
to4 because these people who were
professional religionists all they knew
was comfort and ease they had never paid
the price when it got like that they
stopped Paul said you want to you want
to things
up I'll meet your four and I'll raise
you
23 of things marked down that they never
experienced because they were following
legalism and a false deity Paul was
following Jesus Christ and in this world
it's
costly but how Worthy is it now look in
our ease in our comfort on a perfect day
like this this message may not mean much
to us but it may be that the next time
you and I have a rough day we're going
to want to go back back to 2 Corinthians
11 and be reminded about how faithful
our God is to bring us through
things and the Bible is very graphic
about what it has to
say in Acts chapter 14 by the way in 2
Corinthians 11 2 Corinthians 11 takes us
up to about Acts chapter
19 in its
chronology
because after that hasn't hadn't been
written yet so watch this in Acts 14 the
Bible tells us then the Jews from
Antioch and Iconium came there and
having persuaded the multitudes they
stoned Paul and dragged him out of the
city supposing him to be dead now these
people knew how to Stone people do you
think they thought they was dead for
reals was he dead I think he was dead
we'll talk about that next week I
thought I think he was dead but be that
as it may the Stoners not the druggies
but the St Stoners the Stoners were
convinced that he was dead I think they
knew what they were talking about it
says that they ston Paul drag him out of
the city supposing him to be dead verse
20 however when the disciples gathered
around him I assume they prayed I don't
know he rose up and went into the
city what now look he's a normal man he
he doesn't have like you know he's not a
Iron Man armor he didn't like Snap his
finger and his helmet pop over his head
and his armorment comes out and let's go
back into the city he he didn't this is
little Paul he gets up look at least
will you give him this at least he's
bloodied up bruised and hurting and he
gets up oh man I got a split and
headache but anyway let's go back in the
city and keep preaching the gospel let's
go come on can you imagine look all of a
sudden now it's like wait I don't know
if I'm like Paul or not I don't know if
I if I know the same God that he knows
but all of a sudden now I'm thinking I
don't know if I want to be his friend
can you imagine being on his ministry
team are you sure you want to do this I
bet you they try to say Paul just calm
down now you're beside yourself look you
got hit in the head you're not thinking
right he went back into the
city he wasn't
insane it's how much he loved lost souls
you know what I have to confess I pray
for my neighbors salvation but I don't
cry over them I can't tell you I have to
confess I haven't broken down in tears
lamenting and weeping and interceding
for their souls I pray for their Souls
but I it's not brought I'm not brought
to the point of being broken over them
what about your mom or your dad or your
boss or your employees what about your
sister your husband or your wife are you
praying for their soul because eternity
is in the balance to the point where
you're weeping for them and in reeding
for them Paul had a heart for the
Lost I'm sorry I must confess that if
those people stoned me because they
didn't want to hear the gospel I would
have shaken the dust off my feet and say
well you know what you guys can just all
fry in the pit for all I care in Jesus
name
bye-bye Paul said listen he would have
rebuked me and said you know you get in
the back of the line I'm going to go
back there and preach these people are
lost Jack don't you know that they're
lost they didn't know what they're doing
they didn't know who they're work
working for they're blinded by the
enemy
man the second thing we see in verses 24
to 28 is
this what are you suffering for is it a
wise cause because we all suffer for
Stuff are you suffering for Wall Street
I mean I'm not knocking it but is that
is that your
identity is your identity hooked to the
value of the dollar or the value of gold
is your identity hooked to your
education or to your praise or to your
influence is that what your identity is
hooked to listen those things are not
bad in fact they can be very good if
your identity and your cause is
Christ so it leads me to ask myself as I
get to verse 24
what do I believe
really he says for the from the Jews
this is the Jewish religious leadership
five times I received 40 Stripes minus
one you see what does that mean means
exactly what it says he was sentenced
five different times to 40
Lashes 40 Lashes don't do it now but go
look up a Roman
Scourge a flagellum it make you sick to
your stomach looking at it had glass in
it rock metal and Fish
Bones it had nine leather straps that
came out of a wooden ball connected to a
wooden handle nine leather straps and
each of those things had glass bone wood
um uh metal in It Rock and so with one
hit you kind of got hit nine times but
that was considered one
hit Paul the Apostle a little man was
hit 5 *
39 equals 195
times over the course of his ministry
career this is what should be taught in
Bible
College sign
up so you want to so you want to join
the ministry how let's see how you take
a
lashing isn't that amazing Paul never
learned this in seminary
I want to show you a picture we just
took this on our last trip you guys want
to put
that Implement up there I want I need
you to look at this it's actually
standing in the wrong angle uh I mean I
happen to have taken the picture but
it's the real picture it should be see
this direction you need to run it this
way see that see these holes turn it so
they're this way why because you were
brought before that and you were bent
over at your
torso and you were placed on this Stone
your head would be hanging off at this
end do you see that you see that little
Spillway right there by the way do you
see the spillway here that's for blood
this is a basin catch your blood see
those holes that's where your arms
go then they Tie Your Arms together
underneath it you got that and then they
beat you 39 times the reason why it's 39
and not 40 is because the law was if you
hit the guy 41 times then the person
doing the lashing had to tr change
places with them and everybody got to
beat up on you for being uh not a nice
whipper so they stopped at 39 so it was
so brutal you guys that even the
disciplinarian uh was terrified that he
might wind up there someday so we'll
stop at 39 so I'm
safe 195
times church history records and Roman
history records that these people with
one sentence of 39 lashes listen they
beat you anywhere between 9 and 11 times
this way then they turned you over and
they tied your hands back this way and
with ropes and they beat you on your on
the front it had to be below your neck
but above your private parts when you on
your stomach they beat you below the
back of your neck and above or uh where
your legs come out of your buttocks they
could beat your buttocks up to the back
of your neck not your
thighs or the back of your legs and
then they would lay you on one side and
they would do your side
and then let roll you over and do your
other side you look like a pulverized
piece of meat A lot of people died from
infections if not listen a lot of
accounts had broken bones punctured
lungs and they died by the way remember
Miriam is going to get 100 of these
pretty soon unless somebody or God
himself intervenes for her
life so this happened 195 times with
Paul can you imagine ladies and G
gentlemen if Paul picked up his robe and
you got to see his
torso the scars does that change your
view of this of the Apostle we have
these rembrand type paintings of them
kind of cruising around Rome with Halos
over their heads with really cool
clothes on Paul was an absolute mess he
was probably extremely handicapped and
carried no doubt the scars of these
brutalities that were levied against him
because of the name of Jesus
and I wonder what I'm suffering
for he says in verse 25 three times was
I beaten with rods once I was stoned now
in California I got to make this very
very
clear he was not a drug user he was
stoned with rocks he's not a Colorado
Rocky Mountain High person
here I can't imagine being H being
stoned with rocks three times
Shipwrecked
three times Shipwrecked at
Sea a night in the day I've been in the
Deep book of Acts chapter 27 records one
of his
experiences in Journeys verse 26 often
wow in Perils of waters this word
actually means rivers or flash floods
isn't this interesting Paul was swept up
he he records I got I got washed away in
a fles flood
River sheepers
in Perils of robbers I got
robbed in Perils of my own countrymen
people who just can't stand me because
they view me as a turn coat
non-believers I had those perils perils
in the city perils in the wilderness
perils in the sea that means other types
of dangers is that storms at Sea Winds
situations perils among false
Brethren What a Sad thing this is this
is
and then he goes on in verses 27 to 28
the question is what am I willing to
endure because Paul now goes personal in
the sense of himself he turns now inward
look Church up until this point it's all
the outward stuff now remember these
losers on the other side of the fence
they've only got four
touchdowns Paul is now stating these are
the proofs of my
apostleship it's not my bank account
it's not how cool this or that is it's
the rejection of my life for Jesus
Christ and so look at this now he talks
about what he says are the worst things
you say how what could be worse than
that have you ever listen have you have
you ever those physical things have you
ever experienced something like that
maybe there's some Marines or some army
guys in here that were in the
Afghanistan mountains or Vietnam or
something like that that'd be pretty
bad I can't imagine being Shipwrecked
three
times beaten like this
Paul says oh you know what I'll really
get to the part that hurts see are you
kidding me verse
27 in weariness and
toil in sleeplessness often in hunger
and thirst fastings often in cold and
nakedness besides the other things what
comes upon me daily my deep concern for
all the churches Paul says that's the
worst pain of all isn't this amazing
everybody his worst pain was I can take
the physical stuff it's the stuff that
tears me up on the inside the stuff when
I lay down at night for the church my
mind is just going and going and going I
can't take
it the personal
things personal things it's one thing to
go through something but when someone
that you love is going through something
you feel it more isn't it a weird thing
everybody to me that's a little hint of
how we were created in the image of God
you
guys it concerns you if you're going
through something something to some
degree but if you love someone who's
going through something as a parent for
example as a parent if your kid's sick
do you even have to think twice about
asking God give me their sickness if
your child has cancer have you already
cried out to God God this is easy you
give me their cancer let them go it's
fine you know what I'm talking
about it's nothing you don't have to
pray about it it's
automatic why do you do
that Paul says in another place it's the
love of God that compel s me constrains
me it drives me on not the works not the
law the love of God he looked at people
need love
them when you love somebody you'll trade
their situation in a
second children don't know this think
about us in this illustration as
Christians because we're young we're
trying to figure out our own Walks With
Jesus we know who he is but how do we
relate to him and what does he want me
to do we're still trying to figure that
stuff out think of this our spiritual
fathers for
example if they could part heaven and
talk to us they would speak to us and
say do this and do that and watch out
and do this way and boom but we don't
have to have that we have the
Bible but their care is there why is
that when you have a kid and your little
kid is taking the fork and heading for
the light
socket what what are you going to do
about it now if that's not your kid
you're going to say oh man where's my
phone hang on I got to a video this this
is going to be a YouTube Wonder Man
watch this this kid's about ready to
stick a fork in that
outlet would you do that if it was your
kid you would probably start yelling and
screaming trying to scare them away from
it as you're making your way way there
to dive face first between them and the
socket to break it up
right but your kid comes away from that
scene crying and screaming because they
think you don't like
them I can't believe you told me
no they don't
understand until they have their child
have you noticed this and Paul is
speaking from
experience that I'll lay down my
life so that the Christian will not be
deceived by false Brethren and that they
may know the truth I'll lay down my life
for that he says and he's willing to
endure anything
the Bible tells us in Philippians
chapter 3 another letter written by Paul
verse four he says though I also might
have confidence in the flesh if anyone
else thinks he may have confidence in
the flesh I more
so Jew to Jew he's saying circumcised
The Eighth Day of the stock of Israel
The Tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of the
Hebrews concerning the law I was a
Pharisee y concerning Zeal persecuted
the church concerning righteousness
which is in the law blameless but what
things were gain to me these I counted
loss for Christ yet indeed I also count
all things lost for the Excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord
for whom I've suffered the loss of all
things and count them as rubbish that I
may gain
Christ perhaps some of the most powerful
things ever spoken in the Bible and then
we end with verses 30 to 33 it's bizarre
to
me what are you suffering for is
it a worship of God in what you are
involved in is it a worship of God to
the point where we would give him our
body for example our very body he says
in verse 30 if I must boast I must boast
in the things concerning what my
infirmity this is so bizarre you guys
all right you've pushed me to the brink
of bragging Jesus would never do this
but I'm going to do this allow me to be
a fool Corinthians in front of you here
I am I'm going to boast in this I must
boast regarding these infirmities and
look verse 31 God's my witness God and
Father Lord Jesus Christ who is blessed
forever knows that I'm not lying what
does he goes on to say here he goes on
to announce to us everything that I've
done I've not done to gain Fame I've not
done to gain wealth I've not done this
this to game notoriety I've not done
this for any other reason even
religiosity I've done this for one thing
and it is Jesus Christ Paul the Apostle
would announce my outward man is
perishing he would talk about heaven he
would talk about the end of his life the
road and he would say listen don't lose
heart imagine if he was speaking to us
today he would say hey you guys don't
lose heart this is Paul's speaking don't
lose heart cheer
up all of this suffering
that's for a moment say Paul are you
crazy it's only for a moment but Paul
they're pulling my fingernails out it's
only for a moment he would speak to the
Christians in Vietnam and Cambodia and
LA today and say I know they cut your
tongues off and seared them with hot
iron so you wouldn't speak in the name
of Jesus a couple weeks
ago but all that suffering is only for a
moment don't lose heart
Miriam s in Sudan and Iran don't lose
heart it's only a
moment said Paul are you nuts no cuz you
know what from where I'm at I can see
forever I met
Jesus all the stuff I'm going through
it's awesome see these scars imagine
pulls up his shirt shows you his arms
nothing oh my goodness you see that you
guys remember that scene on on Jaws
where they the movie Jaws they're
comparing scars that they got in like
third grade I kept myself in a coffee
can right here oh yeah well that's
nothing you see this I got a fish hook
stuck in my forearm oh yeah and dfus
rolls up his pant leg and says I got I
got a Barb right through here can you
imagine Paul really that's it Paul rolls
up his shirt you see that I got this in
Rome you see this one this this is where
a spear went through me in
Derby oh and this is when I got 195
lashes ah it's nothing it's just just a
flesh
wound it's nothing because you know
what compared to the Eternal weight of
Glory that's coming Paul says that's
awesome
man it's
nothing he worshiped god with his
body he could prove
it and here's where we end it's kind of
a bizarre ending say how can we end like
this in verse 32 and 33 it's that you
and I owe God our Attention our
attention it says that the governor of
Damascus put the city on
lockdown look to protect the people of
Damascus the de
Deans to protect them they should still
down the city all right what do you have
to report uh we think we saw Paul the
Apostle in in the city you what can you
imagine this is Damascus one of the
oldest cities in the world
Damascus are you sure you think you saw
Paul Paul the Apostle yes and in this
city uh-huh shut it down shut down the
city call out the seals the Delta Force
Special Ops get them out now shut down
the city I want a Garrison block all the
roads
pulls out Homeland Security the Marine
the national bring what's happened
what's happened they all file in what's
up Paul's here
what I love this I'm getting Goosebumps
talking about it I love this little Paul
all scarred
up what's the problem it's still true
today it's what's happening to our
friends in these various countries shut
the city down we got a Christian in our
midst what's the danger they can open
their mouth and talk about the love of
God they can tell people they can be
forgiven of their
sins they can tell people that God will
make them a new creation and they don't
have to be the same person they used to
be they'll find out that they can go to
heaven because of what Jesus did at the
cross that he died there and rose again
from the dead shut the city down isn't
it amazing to
think the greatest fear is that a man
may come as it were to your city and
procla claim the gospel because that's
ultimate Liberty and it scared the
damascan citizens to death because Paul
threatened their
paganism and Paul says isn't that
awesome and we would go
awesome and then he goes but that's not
how it
ends I had to get stuffed in a
basket they had to throw out all the
bagels and
Falafel they stuffed me my friends
stuffed me in a basket they put me
through a hole that goes out and they
lowered me
down over the wall so I could
Escape why does he end like
this because none of those
loonies and their arrogance would have
ever admitted that they escaped being
stuffed in a
basket and being set free by running
away from the scene do you hear this
man's heart ladies and gentlemen don't
you love
him just a man just like you and us but
so possessed by the gospel of God that
him being rejected and beaten didn't
matter because the message was so much
more
important but he was so humbled by God's
work in his life that he can admit to
the world yeah you know what I was able
to do Miracles by the grace of God and I
was also able to get stuffed in a basket
and be let down over a wall and run like
the
Dickens what an amazing
man next time you and I see Paul
he's going to be coming down all right
but it won't be in a
basket the Bible tells us in 1
Thessalonians 4:13 to 18 that he's that
he will be coming with the Lord Jesus
Christ in the day of the
Rapture when the church at that time
living will be caught up to meet the
Lord in the air what a beautiful what a
beautiful ending my friends don't focus
on being let down in the basket and
running for fear of your life focus on
the fact that the end the end the next
coming down could very well be you going
up amen and seeing the Lord listen what
we're suffering for May It Be Jesus
Christ and this wonderful Mission he's
commissioned us all to be a part of
Father we thank you for your word we
thank you Lord for your
truth we are humbled this morning and a
little bit put on our
heels shocked that this little man in
stature could be such a giant with
tenacity of faith
we are so
impressed not with him so much Lord as
your ability to control a person's life
and Empower a person's life Lord no
matter where we may be in life if we're
brand new Christians just getting
underway or an old seasoned
Saint we ask you father in jesus' name
that you Lord would possess
Us by the power of your holy spirit that
we may live lives Worthy
worthy Lord to be identified with
you worthy Lord because the
cause is of
Heaven that everything we speak say
everything that we do our very Act of
our lives would be a worship unto you we
love you
God and we worship you now in Jesus
name amen
[Music]