I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong. 2 Corinthians 12:11-13

The previous devotional we looked at Pauls statements about the “thorn in the flesh” and a “messenger of Satan” tormented Paul. Sister Bailey started a great conversation about what is the “messenger of Satan” . And as I ponder these scriptures, Pauls next statements here actually make more sense to me. I believe Paul is referring to “False Apostles” as the Messengers of Satan

Paul makes the statement here “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you” In the previous Chapter Paul talked alot about false apostles, and then Paul shared his vision/experience of the 3rd Heaven. He didn’t want people to misunderstand his intention of sharing that vision. His purpose was not to glorify himself, like false apostles do, but to glorify God and give us hope for the future. Paul also lists qualities that he possesses and accomplished to qualify him as a real Apostle. 

Now as brother Damon pointed out, there were many “Judaizers’ ‘ attacking the Church during this time, sadly there are still alot of Judaizers within the Church today. But these groups not only blatantly attacked and tried to discredit Paul on a daily basis, but many were planting themselves within the Church to persuade others.

Can’t we relate to this today? There are many false Christians, false Pastors, false teachers within the Church that are trying to mislead people on a daily basis. If we preach the Word of God, they call us hateful, sexist, homophobic, some get thrown into prison, persecuted. Who is the driving force behind all this? Of course its Satan waging war on the Church

Now Satan influences people in many ways, music, movies, news, religion, ect. We see blasphemy spoken from all corners of the Earth, does that bother you? It should greatly disturb you, and this bothered Paul so much on a daily basis that he was tormented with these messengers of Satan. 

With great humility, the Apostle Paul asked the Church to forgive him, why? Because they had to financially support him. This is sad that Paul needs to feel like a burden to the Church because God has put a calling upon his life, don’t allow your Church to do this to your Pastor

There are many false apostles out there today, many messengers of Satan, know the truth by knowing your Bible, lean on the Holy Spirit, pray without ceasing, and Jesus Christ is the Truth, Amen!.