CHRISTIAN MOTIVATION

Why Apostle Paul is the MASTER of Christian Motivation

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day and it just so happens, I wanted to speak on perseverance and who taught us better in the modern era about perseverance than our boy, MLK Jr. Looking into ancient times, the one who consistently teaches me about perseverance and likely taught MLK Jr a lot about perseverance is our boy, Paul aka Saul. The Apostle Paul is the MASTER of Christian Motivation. Writer of most of the NT and owner of the best conversion story found in the Bible.

 In 2 Corinthians 11, we learn a lot from Paul.

We’re gonna go forward and then work our way back a little bit. In chapter 11 Vs 16, Paul says, “I REPEAT: Let no one take me for a fool. BUT if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.”

Now, Paul is about to do some boasting or present his accomplishments. We can call this Christian Motivation. This is different from bragging. Bragging is an exaggeration. Boast, is speaking of one’s accomplishments justifiably.

For example

My dog Petey, could brag that he has the best dog-mom that has ever lived. There is no one better. Now, as Petey’s dog mom, I will say, I’m pretty great, but I’m not the best. Some mornings, I forget to put food in his bowl. I get busy doing something else and we’re late getting out for a walk, sometimes, we completely skip the walk. And, that’s just life.

Now, Petey could say, I have a good dog-mom that loves me, makes me Greek yogurt treats, plays tug-o-war all because she thinks I’m the cutest. Boy, I’m a lucky dog. That’s boasting. It’s true. I do think he’s the cutest, I do love him, I do make him yogurt treats, and I know one day my shoulder is going to become dislocated from it’s socket, but I’m going to keep playing tug-o-war with Pete because he loves it.

Boasting, not bragging

Keep that in mind because Paul is about to do some very purposeful boasting to make a point.

Going back to the beginning of the chapter, vs 1. Christian Motivation

Paul says. “I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness.” Meaning, I know I’m about to act a fool, this is out of my character but I’m trying to make a point here. Paul is defending his ministry.

Paul’s opponents were aware that the church at Corinth could be easily persuaded that Paul was not a genuine apostle. That he was not like Peter, or James or Andrew he was not one of the OG’s. He was chosen after the fact. 

In order to defend himself he has to bring things to their level of understanding. He has to defend his authority that was given to him by Christ on the road to Damascus during his conversion that we read about in Acts. Paul rightly concerned, says, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

Paul’s Enemies

Remember, Paul has a lot of enemies, great opposition because he was a violent zealous pharisee who had this conversion on the road to Damascus, and went from beating and throwing Christians in jail, being there cheering on his fellow Jews at Stephen’s stoning. And NOW he has this intense vibrant devotion for Jesus. And his old pharisee buddies are taking it personally. Doubling down on their Christian opposition because Paul is reverberating the Christian message with this loud, unstoppable wave.

Former atheists are some of the most passionate Christians today because they know what they had gone without and now that they’re full of the Holy Spirit they’re unstoppable and they will defend the faith just as Paul is defending it here just as passionate as Paul is here in chapter 11 he’s persevering to the end goal which is to preach Jesus.

Picking Up in Verse Five

He says “I do not think I am in the least inferior to those super apostles” –  again he’s talking about Peter and James and John – the original 12, right?  and he says “I may indeed be untrained as a speaker but I do have knowledge.” He’s saying I’m not educated, but I do have knowledge because God gave it to me.

Paul is defending himself as their teacher. In verse 12 he adds, “I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us and the things they boast about.”  he is saying I’m not gonna give up on you. I’m not gonna give up on this mission God has sent me out to do. This is another reason why I know the Bible is true because Paul was not the only one who did this.

Apostle Perseverance

All the apostles persevered under persecution even when it meant death. Standing up for Christ, the one they knew rose from the dead.

And like Thomas, Paul, even in his blindness, saw something. And it shook him so much that he’s telling the Corinthians – I’m not gonna give up. Christ persevered through persecution, my fellow apostles have persevered through persecution.

Paul is saying WHY would I do all of this? Here is what I’ve gone through, allow me to boast, please, here is what I’ve survived, what I’ve persevered through so that I can keep on doing what I’ve been doing. So I can keep on sharing the truth of Jesus.

Paul didn’t know what was coming next. While Paul was certain that struggle would come, he wasn’t sure how it would come about.

Paul’s Boasting; Paul’s Motivational Speech

He wasn’t safe anywhere he went – not on land, not at sea, not in the city or in the country. Around Jews, Gentiles, not even Christians because some were not representing the true Christ. That’s all true today, in your modern life. You’re not safe.

BUT just like Paul wasn’t sure how God would get him through. Not knowing what God would allow, would God allow him to be imprisoned once again or would God provide a basket? How is this not motivating? Christian Motivation!

Christians we are called to persevere through some real ugly things. If God can lead Paul, a once broken, Christ-hating, abusive tyrant to a life where he is almost forced to boast of his sufferings in order to motivate and provide perspective for the church at Corinth and to us today, I know God can lead you through all that Satan has prepared to break you.

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