How does paul defend his apostleship

Because when he turns into chapter 12, apparently because he was annoyed by having to do that for eleven chapters, he gets sarcastic. Are you tracking with that? What does he say regarding himself? On behalf of this man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast except in my weakness.

Listen to the full message…. He knew the law. He lived by it and for it. Paul became an apostle of Jesus; he knew his Savior, and lived by Him and for Him. God called Paul to Himself, and through the work of Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit, Paul was totally transformed.

For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster vv. This is the invitation before me this morning: to turn to God, to anchor myself in prayer, Scripture, and the Spirit. Because I can trust God and His character, I can trust His process of transformation—His grace, compassion, patience, and steadfast love.

What trust and obedience Ananias had to go to Paul knowing his past reputation. As a full time Mom at home with twin boy toddlers I am encouraged to trust God and obey even when the task seems so difficult. For me the role of Ananias really spoke to me while reading this scripture.

He was really obedient, even though he heard rumors about Saul. He calls the teachers what they are: false messengers, deceitful workers hypocrites , actors pretending to be Apostles. He compares their strategy and eventual judgment to that of Satan. He has done this before in chapter 4, but this time he goes into detail about the things he has suffered because he is an Apostle. The false teachers boast in their intelligence and their position, but Paul boasts in the things he has suffered on account of the gospel.

The implication is, of course, that he has paid the price for serving as an Apostle and they have not. What they cannot claim is to have spoken with Christ and to have been in His presence. As a true Apostle, Paul has spoken with the Lord and here talks about a heavenly experience reminiscent of the visions described by the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel in the Old Testament, and the Apostle John in the New Testament Revelation.

Paul is too humble to boast about this and gives a rare glimpse into his personal sufferings and how he coped, but the point is that only an Apostle could truly speak of such things. He shows his genuine Apostolic character in that he does not use these things to boast as they would , he uses them to give glory to God.

The marks of Apostleship, according to Paul, are suffering, communion with Christ and displayed power. Anybody can say they have seen Christ, but only the ones who can actually perform the signs and wonders can confirm their words with actions. He also reminds and chastises them for not recognizing these signs. Instead of defending himself before them, as he is doing now, he should have been praised and encouraged by them, especially since they received so many blessings from him. In this last section he brushes aside these false teachers and takes his rightful place as an Apostle, and exercises his authority among them.

He is going to come to them again out of love, and they are not to worry, it will not cost them anything for himself or his fellow ministers who never took advantage of them either. He hopes they will be ready for his arrival and have repented of their sins. He is not defending himself here, he is building up their faith before God. They confuse his mild appearance with lack of power. He says that Christ also seemed weak because of His crucifixion, but was empowered by God to resurrect from the dead.

Paul says that in the same way he will also be empowered by God when he will be among them for the purpose of disciplining in Christ. When he examines himself, he sees the power of Christ working in him.

He asks if this is what they also see when they examine themselves. He wants them to do what is right and obey him, not to prove that he is right, but to demonstrate maturity completeness , and avoid punishment. It is their choice, his visit can be one of blessing or one of punishment.

Paul's ministry included: care for the poor special collection , teaching writing epistles , training workers Titus , dispute resolution Corinth , peaching and church planting. Church leadership demands a commitment to work hard in many areas, therefore the role of leader should not be taken lightly. Much will be required of their time and energy.

The false apostles were self-appointed and this alone should have disqualified them from a leadership role. In the church, leaders are appointed to their task by someone in authority in cooperation with the members.

Paul goes into detail about the qualifications necessary for the roles of elders and deacons, as well as preachers in his epistles to Timothy and Titus. Paul repeated this often, that his dues for Apostleship were paid through the sufferings he encountered. Church leaders cannot avoid times of suffering on account of their work. It is part of the experience of leadership. Apostolic conduct was unmistakable in its sincerity, holiness and humility.

Paul never attempted to go where another had preached the Gospel. He alludes to the Olympic Games and declares this intruder had entered the game unlawfully. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

That his speech was not contemptible we have evidence from the account given in [ Acts And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

Mercury was the Greek god of eloquence. Fleecing the Flock The false prophets were fleecing the flock, and Paul reminds the Corinthians that he preached the Gospel to them free, working with his own hands to supply the need.

Later the Macedonian churches also sent help. Ironically, he refers to it as if he had done them a wrong and begs to be forgiven. Did he do it because he loved them not? The more abundantly he loved them, the less he was loved. He gloried in his freedom to preach the Gospel without charge, and no man could take that freedom from him.

He preferred to work with his own hands rather than to be chargeable to anyone. Caught Up to Heaven Paul proves he was not a whit behind the chiefest Apostle and relates an experience he had with the Lord fourteen years previous.

Perhaps all these years this had been a secret between him and the Lord, something too sacred to mention. He discloses it now that he might help them out of the trap of the enemy into which they were falling. He relates that he was caught up to Paradise and saw and heard things unlawful to utter.

So great were these revelations that the Lord gave him a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble and prevent him from being exalted above measure. He realized his strength was made perfect in weakness. When trials and afflictions come our way, do we take pleasure in them?

Or do we wail and bemoan our fate? Do they bring more of the power of God on our lives, or less zeal and courage to fight the good fight of faith?