May 15, 2022

A Fool For Jesus

2 Corinthians 11:16-33
16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.
17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. 18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.
19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you,
takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the
face. 21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that!
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-
nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been
hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the
city gates to catch me. 33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

2 Corinthians 11:16-21
16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.
17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. 18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.
19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! 20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you,
takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the
face. 21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that!

Humility

Boasting is... Foolish and Unwise

2 Corinthians 11:16-19
16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.
17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. 18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.
19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!

1. Paul Suffered

2 Corinthians 11:23-27
23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-
nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been
hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

2. Paul Cared

2 Corinthians 11:28-29
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

3. Paul Showed His Weakness

2 Corinthians 11:30-33
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. 32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the
city gates to catch me. 33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.