Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Example
- How might Paul reply?
- How might such a person respond to Paul's deprivation in chapter 11?
- Considering a Christianity that is robust, strong and true
- Unlike any other religion
- That meets the most intense persecution and does not give up
- That suffers terribly but remains loyal to the Lord
- That gives thanks to God in the midst of such suffering
- A series of questions and responses
Why did you suffer so much?
Because I preached the truth
- Examples
- They hated me because they hated this message
- The Greeks though it was foolish and also hated this message
- This is my suffering (v23b)
- Beaten
- Imprisoned
- Close to death on many occasions
- Lashings (on 5 occasions)
- Stoned
- He knew intense persecution - because of the message he preached
- What is your Christianity?
- Do you suffer for your witness?
- Do you preach truth?
- We need to be wise and bold
Because I am following my Lord/Master
- We follow our Master - we walk in His footsteps
- We identify in His shame and suffering
- Are we prepared to follow Jesus into suffering?
- Paul is challenging these false ministers (v23)
- Example of Training Course
Because He is Worthy
- I met the risen Christ on the road to Damascus
- Paul was so overwhelmed by the love of God to him
- He bursts out in praise - 2 Cor 1:3
- Not just a compulsion to follow Him
Because I love my fellow man
- He is not going to stop
- He is willing to be accursed and damned [if such a thing was possible] for his own people - Romans 9-10
- He always preached first in the Synagogue
- He felt a debtor to the Gentiles - Rom 1:14, Acts 9:15-16
- What is your burden for the lost?
- Do you love them enough to be persecuted and mis-understood?
- Are you willing to suffer?
What is the hardest thing you have to bear?
- Many deprevivations
- Lashings ...
- Shipwrecks ...
- Perils ...
- Walking/long days ...
- Lack of food and shelter ...
- None of the above
- The hardest thing is the state of the Churches
- Converts weak in the faith (v29)
- Stumbling in sin
- Being led into bondage
- Paul might ask us how much we love the Church of Jesus Christ?
- How concerned are we for the name of God?
- How concerned are we for the glory of God?
What keeps you going?
- A secret - when he is weak, then he is strong (2 Cor 12:10)
- Contentment - Phil 4:11
- That nothing can separate him from the love of God - Rom 8:35-39
- Paul will only boast in his weakness so God will have all the glory
What are these words about boasting?
- These words are not the norm (v17)
- I have been forced into this situation
- I need to expose these men who are boasting - by using irony
- I am not a fool (v16)
- You put up with foolish men - I will be foolish
- You put up with so much - bondage and even physical attacks
- He lists his 'credentials'
- He was prepared for such humiliation
- He was not lying (v31)
- He would not boast in his success but in his weakness
Closing Remarks
- Wealth and health - a false Christianity
- Only brings disillusionment
- Only brings empty promises
- Jesus Christ was a warrior who conquered through suffering
- We are to follow in His footsteps
- If we suffer with Him we will be glorified with Him
- He has overcome the world