Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 104

April 13;       2 Corinthians 11:23;        160/260;        ‘Compare Notes’

2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? — I speak as a fool — I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

False ministers have always been around.  Some are sincere, but their doctrine is not biblical.  Thank the Lord for God’s Word which, if it is known, will prevent deception of this kind.  Some ‘minsters’ are tools of the devil and intentionally desire to deceive Christians, nullifying their effectiveness in ministry.  It appears that both of these types of ministers boasted about themselves, what they knew and what they have been through.  The believers in Corinth must have mentioned some of these counterfeit ministers and Paul has finally heard enough bragging about them and what they have been through.  From verses 22-33, Paul goes into great detail, concerning what he has been through and endured for the sake of the gospel.  As you read the long list of persecutions and trials, the tenacity of this slight, naturally unimpressive Jewish man, is staggering.  He never complains, nor is he bragging about what he has been through.  I believe the Holy Spirit had Paul list everything he endured so that we could know that we too will have opposition and challenges as we continue the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I also believe that as we become keenly aware of what Paul endured, we can know that we too can endure and succeed against whatever the devil does to try to stop us.  Paul, who had great revelation to teach the church lived by what he was taught by the Holy Spirit.  He was strong in the Lord, not himself.  Paul had learned to be content no matter what he faced or went through.  Paul endured hardship as a good soldier for Jesus.  Paul knew that he could do all things through Jesus and that the Lord made him more than a conqueror.  If Paul could do this so can we.