Bearing With God by Brother Duke Hansen

          Good morning. This Sunday, June 8, we observe Pentecost Sunday. We are going to be reading from the 2nd letter to the church in Corinth this morning. We will be in the 11th chapter of 2 Corinthians and start in verse 1.

        Paul was in a battle with his flesh. He was always building up his spirit and tearing down his flesh. There's different levels of grounds away from common ground. 

        In chapter 10 of 2 Corinthians, Paul was writing to the church that the real fight they face was not a physical one but a spiritual one. Paul was not just a mere doer of the truth, he was zealous about the truth. Let's begin with verse 1.

        Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

        Paul leads this chapter with a bit of boasting as well as sarcasm. It leads into a very spiritual portion of scripture.

        2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

        I led you to Christ and yet members of the church continued to do business with the world. The city of Corinth had many gods worshipped, among them traditional Greek deities, local heroes, and divinities from other regions. So, while people were meeting with others for worship, they carried on their days in their flesh.

        3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

        Paul states that God has made this walk too easy. He knew it was difficult to maintain in Judaism. There are people who don't want to be serious about their path because they are not wanting to give up personal comforts and desires.

        There are two ways on this spiritual walk. The easy way and the hard way. Our flesh is more inclined to the easy way. You know the person who asks God, "Who are you?" The chosen asks that question.

        4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might bear with him.

        If you could fo through things to bear with God means you are going through significant life changes. There are going to be hard times in both your life and your walk. Those who present a good walk with spiritual fruit are torn, fraught, worn, often battling with themselves. Otherwise, they are bearing with God.

        5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

        6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

        Paul is dealing with being jealous, fearful for this group. He's writing as well as fighting within himself. The part we don't understand or grapple with is we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. If you are bearing with God, you may very well find protection with God. Paul says in verse 6 the church has heard the truth, received the holy spirit, seen God manifest among their members.

        7 Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

        8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

        9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

        Paul knew all about the struggle the church of Corinth was going through.

        10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

        11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

        12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion form them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

        You better get protection in your day, bear with God during your days.

        13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

        14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

        15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

        Even back in the early times of the faith, there were deceivers presenting themselves as messengers of Christ. It still as today as it was back them. Buildings presenting in public as church is a house of business than a house of worship. Money making schemes with a few select scripture. Houses who rubber stamp acceptance of all things. There are no lines established of right and wrong. Paul is saying in his writing the church acted as if they knew more than Paul. One reason was that there were people behind Paul who were twisting the gospel for their benefit. Another reason was that Paul was in prison for his missionary journey. This walk to righteousness is about losing ground in the world but gaining more ground in the spirit.

        16 I say again, let no man think me as a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

        17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

        18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also

        19 For te suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

        How many people you know who surround themselves with fools so they can feel better about themselves in their intelligence? How about you? How's your circle looking?

        Suffering and affliction are what draws you closer to God. Draw closer to him in those periods of weakness.

        20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

        21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold. (I speak foolishly.) I am bold also.

        22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

        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 frequent, in deaths oft.

        Paul is listing what he's experienced in his trvels, knocking down the haughty attitudes of members in the Corinth church.

        24 Of the Jews five times I received I forty stripes save one.

        25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

        26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils amonf false brethren.

        27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst in fasting often, in cold and nakedness.

        28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

        The flesh suffered greatly with Paul, but the end of verse 28 shows the bigger burden spiritually he had about the established new churches. Paul was the way maker because he had the power given by the holy ghost. He didn't set that power aside. He used and practiced it everyday.

        29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

        You may often feel often that you are in a state of weakness. You may not be weak actually. You may be bearing with God. You may be stronger than you feel.

        30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

        If I need to glory about my life, it isn't going to be the fruit but the struggle, the affliction, the pain and suffering.

        31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

        32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me.

        33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

        In the book of Acts, God changed Saul's name, identity, and purpose. God delivered that man and he wants to do the same for you still today reading this. Some of you are tired and weary. Some of you may be exposed to an opportunity with God. You got an unction, a desire, a direction to take with God. You are strong and God is with you.