2 Corinthians 11: Are You Suffering For Christ?
Verse of the Day: (V25) “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;”
1. Simplicity (V1-4)
V3 “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.”
Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, warned the Corinthian church that God’s preachers should simply preach God’s Word, the Bible. There were many false preachers, deceived by Satan, the devil, added to or subtracted from the Bible, making their own interpretations and religions. As a result, many people were deceived and misled to fiery hell, instead of glorious heaven to be with God. Let us preach nothing but only the truth!
V4 “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 well bear with him.”
2. Satan (V5-15)
V14 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
Indeed, Satan and his demons can transform themselves into angels of light, and deceived and misled many people to fiery hell. Let us be vigilant of Satan and his demons by staying close to God, and diligently studying the Bible with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and fasting and praying and preaching the gospel that all may come to know Christ.
V15 “Therefore it is no great thing of his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
3. Suffered (V16-33)
V25 “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;”
Though Paul was God’s preacher of many churches, and he prayed for them daily, yet he suffered much for Christ’s sake. Many times he escaped death as the Romans were after his life for preaching the gospel of Christ. However, he knew that his suffering was nothing compared to the suffering of Christ. Indeed, let us endure suffering for Christ as we preach and share the gospel of Christ as we know that our labour is not in vain, and one day, we shall meet God and receive His rewards and above all be with Him for ever.
V28 “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to endure suffering for You and Your gospel.
