TOO KIND

 TOO KIND

2 Corinthians 11:16-20 (KJV)

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.

That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

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.

 

I want to say from the outset of this lesson that the Bible instructs Christians to be kindhearted, gentle and forgiving.[1]

 

I know I have blind spots concerning my character, but I think I am a kind person. I think most people who know me well would say I am kind.

 

But I want to remind you that there is a lot of “controversy and conflict” within the pages of the Bible – even the pages of the New Testament Epistles. When it came to things of the faith, you would be pretty hard pressed to prove that Paul, Peter, James, Jude, or even John were pushovers.

 

So, our passage this morning begins with the common them of chapter eleven, “bear with me a little in my folly.”

 

Verse 16-17 could be understood as, “If you insist this is foolish on my part, please put up with it.”

 

But look at verse 18, “You think it’s wise, you think it’s godly, you think it’s kind, to put up with those who are the true fools.”

 

And now we reach 2 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV)

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.

 

There were five things the Bible says that the Christians in Corinth suffered, or endured, and were unwise in doing it.

 

If a man

*I. BRING YOU INTO BONDAGE

2 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV)

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.

 

The word bondage means, “to utterly enslave.”

 

Gill’s Commentary says they, “patiently and stupidly bore their oppressions, injuries, and insults.”

 

These were bullies.

 

And the members of the church in Corinth were too kind to stand up to them.

 

Bullies can take on lots of different forms.

·   Some of them are physical

·   Some of them are verbal

·   Some of them are emotional

 

·   Some of them bully through strength

·   Some of them bully through their words

·   Some of them bully with their presence

 

·   A person can bully with a smile on their face.

·   A person can bully and call it spiritual – forcing people to behave the way they want them to.

 

The one thing that I think is true of all bullies, unless they repent, is that they will run away if they are ever stood up against.

 

Paul told the members of the church in Corinth that they were foolish to suffer the bullies in the church.

 

He said it was foolish to put up with it, 

If a man

*II. DEVOUR YOU

2 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV)

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.

 

The word means “to eat up.” 

By application it would mean to squander, to waste.

 

I think the definition that applies the most specifically in this case would be, “to strip of one’s goods.”

 

What comes to mind for me is the likes of Kenneth Copeland or one of the other televangelists, who usurp over the local church and strip the people of a local church of the tithes and the offerings that rightfully belong in the local church.

Years ago, one Oral Roberts threatened on TV and that told him he would kill him unless his viewers gave a certain very large amount of money to his ministry.

 

That’s emotional bullying.

 

Local churches, operated God’s way, will always be able to function on the tithes and offerings of its members.

 

What is unsustainable is the marketing of the gospel as we see it so often in American Christianity where the church has to constantly improve its facilities, and staff, and public appearance in order to attract and keep new people to give more money to the ever-increasing budget.

 

I strongly believe in faithful tithing and cheerfully giving to God, “above that ye are able.”

 

But I am dead set against bullying people to give through any sort of intimidation.

 

He said it was foolish to put up with it, 

If a man

*III. TAKE OF YOU

2 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV)

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.

 

The term means, “to seize by force.”

 

Given the context I am pretty sure the application means to somehow trick a person into leaving the church and the man of God, the Lord has placed them under.

 

I know I say it often, but God fits us for a particular church.[2]

 

The idea that any church is the same as this church so long as it is of like faith and practice is a kind of universal church mentality.

 

I know that God does in fact move members.

But I don’t think it is as often as members move themselves.

 

To leave a church, once we’ve united with it, for any reason is a matter that should only be made after serious prayer and counsel with our pastor.

 

To allow someone to somehow entice away from the local church God once convinced you He wanted you in, is to be too kind.

 

He said it was foolish to put up with it, 

If a man

*IV. EXALT HIMSELF

2 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV)

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.

 

In this case I must refer you back again to, 2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

 

These are people who set themselves up as spiritual leaders.

 

They were unwise to do so.

And the people were unwise to allow them to do it.

 

He said it was foolish to put up with it, 

If a man

*V. SMITE YOU ON THE FACE

2 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV)

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.

 

Albert Barnes writes of this, “It is not to be supposed that this occurred literally among the Corinthians; but the idea is, that the false teachers really treated them with as little respect as if they smote them on the face. … by their domineering manners, and the little respect which they showed for the opinions and feelings of the Corinthian Christians.”

 

If a person doesn’t respect you enough to listen to you, to hear your thoughts. If a person’s only purpose is to use you in some way for his benefit.

 

If he will speak poorly of you or of those you have come to love and respect

 

You are being unwise and too kind, to let him continue to do it in your presence.

 

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[1] Luke 6:35 (KJV)

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

[2] Ephesians 2:20-22 (KJV)

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

NO WONDER

 NO WONDER

2 Corinthians 11:12-15 (KJV)

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.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

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.

 

When a person has adversaries, it is very easy for others, even his friends, view his actions to defend himself as foolhardy.

 

For one thing, most of us don’t like conflict

Why can’t one party or the other choose the higher ground?

 

For another, conflict isn’t pretty

Even if your side wins, looking at the casualties is ugly.

 

The adrenalin flowing, even in your friends’ side of the conflict, makes him appear awkward, maybe overstate or over do things.

 

The adversary will do everything he can to make your friend look bad.

In Vietnam, and I understand in WWII, the enemy had women broadcasting programs to our soldiers, highlighting mistakes, losses, and other negative propaganda.

 

I think our president is suffering this very thing right now. 

It seems very legitimate to me to want to make sure the election was properly conducted. 

President Trump is really the only man with enough clout to make that happen on a national level.

But there is no way President Trump can do it without looking like a sore loser.

 

That’s also where Apostle Paul was.

He had to do something for the protection of the Gospel. We know from Philippians, that he wasn’t against everyone who was against him,[1] but he was against anything that hindered the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

So, with in the very strongest of terms, I can easily hear even some of his friends thinking he has gone too far right here, Paul claims, 

 

*I. THEY’VE MADE THEMSELVES APOSTLES

Vs 13

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

 

The word apostle means, “sent one.”

It isn’t much different from our word, “missionary.”

 

But the Biblical use of the term clearly restricts its definition to one who was sent directly by Jesus.

 

Acts 1:15-22 (KJV)

And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)

Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

 

Acts 1:26 (KJV)

And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

 

They were completely mistaken in attempting to replace Judas Iscariot.

 

Notice what they believed to be necessary to be an Apostle

·   He needed to be with them all the time Jesus was among them

·   He needed to begin with the baptism of John

·   He needed to have continued with them until Jesus ascended to heaven

 

Clearly this limits the number of potential candidates.

 

What they missed was that an apostle

·   Needed a commission directly from Jesus

Paul had that.

 

Somehow, they thought picking out a couple of men who fit their qualifications and drawing straws could equal Christ praying all night before choosing the twelve.

 

Here we have these men in Corinth who have self-appointed themselves as, not pastors or preachers, but very apostles of Christ.

 

*II. THEY’VE MADE THEMSELVES MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Vs 15

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness

 

Let’s look back at, 2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

 

They were “ordaining themselves” into the ministry exclusive of men like Apostle Paul.

 

They were making themselves ministers without proper authority.

 

It would be like someone disagreeing with the direction of his church, so without permission, he leads a group out sympathizers out of the church, calls his group a church, and then they all make him their minister.

 

·   It’s not really a church and

·   He’s not really a pastor

 

He’s made himself into something God never made him to be.[2]

 

*III. THIS SHOULD NOT SURPRIZE US

Vs 14

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

 

This is a very strong statement.

Apostle Paul here says that this work of making themselves apostles of Christ and ministers of righteousness is Satanic in origin.

 

If you take that to its conclusion, I think it means that every denomination of churches who have a man besides Jesus as its founder is Satanic in its origin.

 

By the way, 

We should not be surprised that people too can be fakes. Deception is part of our fallen world. 

 

Finally

*IV. THEY HAVE AN UNHAPPY END

Vs 15

…whose end shall be according to their works.

 

And not according to mercy and grace.[3]

 

I’ve been chided a few times for warning people that “God is going to get them” for some action that is harmful to the church.

 

That is exactly what Apostle Paul said here.

 

These people have taken it upon themselves to 

·   Challenge God’s ordained leaders and

·   Establish themselves as some sort of authority

 

Their actions were Satanically motivated.

In their case they wanted people to live by the works of the law.

 

And therefore, they would not receive grace. They would be judged according to their works.[4]

 

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[1] Philippians 1:14-18 (KJV)

And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

[2] I would also suggest that if a legitimate church ordains an unqualified man, they have made themselves a minister of righteousness, but he is not God’s man.

[3] Romans 11:6 (KJV)

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

[4] The one who trusts works from salvation, his end is eternal judgment in hell and the Lake of Fire. For the Christian who turns against God’s authorities, this judgment will be in the form of chastening for correction while on earth.

TO CUT OFF OCCASION

https://www.slideshare.net/MarvinMcKenzie/2-corinthians-111012-to-cut-off-occasion

TO CUT OFF OCCASION

2 Corinthians 11:10-12 (KJV)

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

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.

 

I want to begin this Sunday school lesson by responding to one of the resources I looked at in my studies for this lesson.

 

The teacher[1] exposited this passage in the most literal fashion:

·   Paul, the writer

·   Had adversaries in the church in Corinth

·   So, Paul, the writer, took liberty to deal with his adversaries

 

The expositor made it clear that this passage concerned Paul, the church in Corinth and his adversaries within it.

 

He aggressively believes that the Bible is inspired of God and therefore without error.

 

But he approaches his teaching of the Bible in a scholarly manner, practically denying that it has application to you and me.

 

In response I give you,

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

The Bible assures us of two important truths concerning itself:

·   That all of it is given by inspiration of God

·   That it is meant to “furnish” the man of God

 

In other words, God did much more than preserving Paul’s corrections of his adversaries in 2 Corinthians so we could read about it and know it is true.

 

God perfectly preserved this exchange between Paul and his adversaries so we would have “tools” to help us in our own exchanges.

 

Having said all of that, let’s return to 2 Corinthians, where I want to examine verses 10-12.

2 Corinthians 11:10-12 (KJV)

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

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.

 

Paul insisted here that he would not give up his “folly.” No man would stop him.[2]

 

Paul said he would do what he did. Even if someone said it was foolish, even if someone said it was unloving.

 

Paul then said he would do what he did, “I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion.”

 

The question I want to try to answer is, “What did Paul do to cut off occasion, to take the teeth out of his adversaries’ bite?”

 

To cut off occasion,

*I. HE WOULD KEEP DEFENDING HIS OFFICE

2 Corinthians 11:4-5 (KJV)

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. 

For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

 

He had every intention to continue:

A. Asserting that he was an Apostle

He came behind the other Apostles in no way.

 

·   He was called by Jesus, just as they were

·   He was taught of Christ, just as they were

·   He was commissioned to preach, just as they were

 

It is not inappropriate for a preacher to stand behind his office.

 

He had every intention to continue

B. Preaching the same gospel he had preached

The pressure was on by the adversaries to tweak his message a bit, in this case it is almost certain that they wanted him to add some Old Testament works to Christian grace.

 

He refused to buckle under the pressure and to change his message to keep this group of antagonists pacified.

 

He had every intention to continue

C. Insisting that any other gospel was not a gospel

·   It takes boldness not to give into pressure to change.

·   It takes greater boldness, confidence, to declare that the change is evil, wrong.

 

To cut of occasion of the adversaries, Paul would keep doing what he was doing.

 

To cut off occasion,

*II. HE WOULD KEEP HIMSELF FREE OF THEIR “SHACKLES”

2 Corinthians 11:7 (KJV)

Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

 

We dealt with that last week, didn’t we?

 

·   Because he loved this church

·   Because he sought to see them strengthened in their faith

·   Because he wished the adversaries to be corrected

 

Paul would not wear the shackles of their financial support.

 

Three things about money

A. Money is an earthly commodity, not a heavenly one

There is no money in heaven. “You can’t take it with you when you go.”

 

B. Money is a temporal commodity, not an eternal one

You can’t keep it. Its purpose is as a tool, so you will always spend it and that means, if you depend upon it, you will always need more of it.

 

C. Money is a corrupting commodity, not a redeeming one[3]

Money is necessary in this world, but loving it and coveting after it will always lead to trouble.

 

There is a shackle attached to every dollar we receive.

·   Be sure you are aware of the shackle.

·   Don’t take on too many shackles and

·   Only accept those shackles that not hinder the Christian walk

 

He wouldn’t take their financial support at least in part because he loved them and wanted to correct them.

 

To cut off occasion,

*III. HE WOULD KEEP HAMMERING AT HIS ADVERSARIES’ ERROR

2 Corinthians 11:12 (KJV)

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.

 

This puts us really into the verses following this one. I hope to bring a lesson on them next time.

 

Notice

2 Corinthians 11:13 (KJV)

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

 

He didn’t say, “Bless their hearts, at least they’re sincere.”

 

·   He said they were false apostles

·   He said they were deceitful workers and

·   He said they had transformed themselves, it wasn’t the work of God, into the apostles of Christ.

 

And that is only the beginning of his preaching against them in the verses to follow.

 

Conclusion

I remind you of, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

Every passage of the Bible is meant to furnish us or to provide us with tools for life and godliness.

 

It is not folly for a preacher to hammer against the errors of those who disagree with him, even if those people are in the same church or close to the people in the church.

 

It’s not unloving or unkind

 

It’s just meant to correct the error.

 

 

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[1] I think I will choose to keep his name out of this work.

[2] By the way, it wasn’t foolish. It was just that someone could accuse him that it was foolish.

[3] 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.