False teachers and their lies

2 Corinthians 11:22-30

 This paper could be titled false prophets and their lies, or as an example of God’s call to ministry and the many trials that came with it, for both are being told in this account of the apostle Paul.  The false prophets were making a big deal of being Hebrew, and Paul said big deal, so am I, about being an Israelite and an offspring of Abraham.

But for the first time, Paul asked a question; “Are they servants of Christ?”  Now that’s the real issue, and the question each of us should be asking.  But few of us would not be as bold nor should we as Paul, look with me at his answer.  “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers. Danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?”

When you as a minister of Christ in your home, with your neighbors, family, or in the marketplace and you feel as if you’re being persecuted, it might be wise to read this account.  False teachers sometimes get exposed, and sometimes men and women who minister in truth get abused, but few are imprisoned for their proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, they do not receive countless beatings that bring them near to death's door. 

Paul is very clear that he has apprehension for all the churches that he has begun, and when one of the families of faith is taken captive by the evil one he is furious and a better word might be outraged.  Many in the church are being taken captive by the deceiver and where is the outrage?  Marriage and the family are under attack but we blame it on one of the partners, and not on the source, the one Jesus refers to in John 10:10.

 David Forster Wallace in his little book titled “This is Water” tells this story: “There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, Morning, boys.  How is the water?  And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, “What the hell is water?” 

One must understand that is what is happening in our homes, in marriages, water is a fishes life blood, he does not do well out of is water, so it might be of great importance to have an understanding of this.  As one who goes by the name of Christian, it would be wise to teach your family the following words of Jesus in John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Jesus also said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  When you chase after worldly things the thief, the devil, the evil one is telling you it is a better way than Jesus has promised, but Jesus has said in John 7:38. “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  And in Revelation 21:6, we have this insight from the apostle John “And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

My prayer is that you are smarter than the two young fish!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice