2 Corinthians 11:1-15

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever loved someone and felt they didn't love you? Have you ever felt totally committed to a person but felt the feeling was not mutual? Have you ever shared a relationship with someone but secretly felt that person didn’t trust you fully? There are millions of people today who live together, enjoying each other's company but do not share a relationship of mutual trust and commitment. On the outside they look happy, but on the inside they are unenthusiastic and unwilling to make a full commitment.

One of the unique contributions that we as African-Americans have made to the English language is a wealth of colloquialisms. One of these colloquial terms is "shacking up." It is a phrase that describes a man and woman that live together as husband and wife, without the benefit of marriage. The legal system refers to this arrangements as common-law or unofficial marriages, but we call it "shacking."

“Shacking can be looked upon as an expression of fear and distrust. It occurs when one or both partners refuse to commit themselves to a life of mutual sharing. If one had to perform a "Shacker's ceremony, the vow would probably go something like this:

"Dearly beloved we are gathered here today because this man and this woman refuse to join themselves in holy wedlock. Since marriage is holy and acceptable to God, we are here today to acknowledge that this man and this woman have decided to live together without a commitment to each other even if it is unacceptable and unholy to God. There are no rings or symbols of a marriage for others to know they are no longer available. They pledge to be together as long as sickness, poverty, and bad times escape them and their relationship does not become inconvenient. They don't promise each other anything and they only pledge to be together as long as things work out or until a better looking more successful person comes along. With that, the shacker may now salute the shackee." The shacking relationship that exists between some people is one based upon receiving without giving, and sharing without trusting.

Just like there are some folk who shack with their partners, there are folk whose relationship to Christ and the Lord’s church bears an unambiguous resemblence to "shacking." They seek to get all from Him that they can without making a full commitment to Him, and without trusting Him totally. While there is a large number of people who are shacking with each other, there is an even larger number of people who are seeking to "Shack Up With Jesus."

With some of us there’s not enough…Loyalty in our love…Deity in our devotion…Jesus in our joy…Christ in our commitment…Dedication to our salvation…Willingness in our walk…Diligence to our assurance…

There’s not enough attachment, not enough fidelity, not enough affection, not enough promise, not enough obligation, not enough compulsion, not enough assertion, not enough pledge and allegiance to Christ and to His church.

This morning I want to look at The Devotion, The Deception, and the Declaration.

I. THE DEVOTION

2 Cor 11:1-2  ¹ Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 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.

As Christians, we know that the Lord loves us totally and completely. Christ's love for us is not the question, but our love for him is sometimes problematic. Our relationship with Christ ought to be one of full commitment, trust, and devotion. It is the marriage bond between the bride and bridegroom that we ought to be striving for. Anything less would make us guilty of "shacking with Jesus."

Our text focuses on Paul as he writes to the church at Corinth about his desire for them to remain fully committed to the cause of Christ. Paul expressed that it is his absolute aspiration and vigorous desire that the Corinthian church devote themselves to Christ so it would not fall in danger of being an unfaithful fiancé and share themselves with any other man.  

The imagery of this magnanimous metaphor is often used in scripture to represent the believer and his/her relationship to Christ. Generally the bride is always symbolic of the people of God. In the Old Testament the prophets often used the imagery of the bride to suggest the repeated adulteries of the people against God, who acted as a loving husband. Hosea's harlot honey was a prominent paradigm of how an adulterous relationship existed between a backsliding people and a loving God.

In the New Testament the image of the bride often refers to the church and its relationship to Christ. Every child of God, whether Old Testament or New Testament are represented by the image of the bride.

Paul told the Church at Corinth that he wanted it to remain faithful and to be devoted to Christ and not simply run after every new doctrine that came along (PA). He wanted a full commitment from Corinth, setting the stage for the perfect union between Christ and His spotless bride that remained faithful until He returned.

II. THE DECEPTION

2 Cor 11:3-4  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. 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 well bear with him.

Throughout the centuries, the serpent whispers his smooth-tongued promises, beguiling, tempting, and deceiving men and women to reject God and to follow Satan.  Satan's messengers have been many -- false prophets contradicting God's word, "pious" leaders hurling blasphemous accusations, and heretical teachers infiltrating the church of Christ. This deception continues on in our day with over 400 different denominations of churches. Our world is filled with cults, "isms," ideologies, and denominations all claiming to provide the way to God. But we must be careful to note that Jesus said (John 14:6), “I am the way”.  And because Jesus is the way we must be sure that everything we do in the name of religion is done by the authority of the Lord.  (Colossians 3:17)

Paul constantly struggled with those who would mislead God's people, and he poured his life into spreading the Good News to the uttermost parts of the world. During three missionary journeys, he proclaimed the gospel of Christ, converting many and planting new congregations. But often times young Christians were easy prey for false teachers. False teachers were a constant threat to the gospel and the early church. So Paul had to spend much time warning and correcting these new Christians. Paul writes in (11:3) that they were being beguiled from the simplicity (singleness of devotion) in Christ and Paul knew that a divided heart would lead to a destroyed relationship.

The church at Corinth was weak. Surrounded by idolatry and immorality, they struggled with their Christian faith and life-style. Through personal visits and letters, Paul tried to instruct them in the faith, resolve their conflicts, and solve some of their problems. First Corinthians was sent to deal with specific moral issues in the church and to answer perplexing questions about sex and marriage, and to deal with matters such as division among them, the Lord’s Supper, the financial support of the minister and the resurrection. That letter confronted the issues directly and was well received by most. But there were false teachers among them who denied Paul's authority and slandered him thus leading Paul to write this second epistle to the Corinthians to defend his authenticity, his authority, and his apostleship; and to denounce those who were twisting the truth.

Brothers and sisters false doctrine (teaching) will lead us into a type of “shacking” relationship with Jesus. Jesus is the bridegroom who awaits the perfect relationship with us, the bride.  But instead of us making a marriage commitment to Christ, there are some who would rather try to shack-up with Him.  If we are not careful, if we do not stand for something we’ll fall for anything.  That’s why Paul said in Ephesians 4:11-15 “¹¹ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Brothers and sisters let me tell you, there are some folk out there that are lying and waiting, ready to deceive you.  They’ll make you feel like you want to feel.  They’ll tell you what you want to hear and lead you away from the pure unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ.  The irony of this is, if you are trying “shacking up” with Jesus you will eventually become easy prey to false teachers and denominationalism because you have no full commitment to Christ and his word. 

I’m convinced that the reason that some of us will not commit to a marriage with Christ is because we are too consumed with our own wants opposed to what God wants for us.  God’s word says that He wants acappella singing in the worship service, but if we want to hear some instrumental music we will leave the pure gospel of Christ.  God’s word says that He wants us to assemble on the first day of the week, but if we don’t feel like coming we will go some place where they don’t care if you’re there or not.  God’s word says that there is only but ‘one true church’, but if we don’t want to hear that we’ll go somewhere where they teach that “any church will do”.  I’m talking about shacking up with Jesus. 

I heard Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:1-4 “¹ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Paul said that there were going to be some folk that had an itch looking for a scratch (I like that).  Brothers and sisters I don’t mean no harm.  I’m not trying to be arrogant nor repugnant but as a gospel preacher I must preach the word.  ¹⁶ For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (1 Cor 9:16)

III. THE DECLARATION

2 Cor 11:5-15  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. ⁷  Have I committed an offence 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. 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 from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 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.

After dealing with Corinth’s need for devotion and the false teachers scheme of deception, Paul now unveils some unambiguous and definitive declarations.  First Paul affirms his reasoning for not taking wages from them (11:7-9).  They used this occasion to seek to discredit Paul.  But why were the Corinthians so annoyed about his refusal to take money? (9^th Street) For one thing, Paul was a tent maker and according to the Greek way of thinking, it was beneath a free man's dignity to work with his hands. Furthermore, in the Greek world, teachers were supposed to make money out of teaching. There was never an age in which a man who could talk could make so much money. Augustus, the Roman Emperor, paid Verrius Flaccus, a rhetorician, an annual salary of a quarter of a million pounds. Every town was entitled to grant complete exemption from all civic burdens and taxes to a certain number of teachers of rhetoric and literature. Paul's refusal to accept money was something that the Corinthians just could not understand.

These false apostles made Paul's independence a charge against him. They themselves took support and claimed the fact that they took it was proof that they were really apostles.  They maintained that Paul refusal to take anything was because his teaching was not worth anything. But deep down in their heart of hearts they were afraid that people would eventually see through them, so they sought to drag Paul down to their own level of self-indulgence so that his unwillingness to accept money would overshadow their greed to peddle the gospel for money.

Furthermore, Paul goes on to call them deceitful workers transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.  We have to beware of men who transform themselves into what we may think is a true man of God.  That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-19 “¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Brothers and sisters when you are committed to Christ and you have a marriage relationship with Him you won’t be fooled by false prophets in sheep’s clothing. 

(I.e.. stranger in your bed)

CLOSE

I submit to you this morning it’s time for members of the Lord’s church to stop shacking up with Jesus and start committing yourself to Jesus. There are too many people in the church today whose relationship to Christ is similar to the relationship of a "shacking" partner in that they have no full commitment. Those who make the marriage commitment, they pledge to be together in sickness and in health but those who shack up usually enjoy each other's company in health but cannot be expected to be around in sickness.

I stopped by this morning to tell you, some folk relationship with the church is the same way. When the spiritual health of the church is threatened by the onslaughts of Satan, some will leave the church and find other partners. They enjoy the church's company in times of health, but if a bad spirit comes along in the church, some folk will disappear because they are only committed to the point that the church is in good spiritual health.  They say I’ll come back "when Y'all get it together."

Those who shack commit themselves to each other only to the extent that conditions are both convenient and mutually enjoyable. There is a possibility that they may be around in bad times, but even then chances are they won’t stick with the relationship through the long haul. The very nature of the shacking relationship is to get as much out of the relationship as possible, without committing to make an equal return.  Therefore, when things turn bad such as unemployment and misfortune, one shacker will probably break up because there is nothing for them to gain from the "deal" so they drop their partner and look for another partner that’s not having such bad times.

Some folk in the church are the same way. When the church seems to prosper and things are going well they are proud to be associated with the church. They brag and say, "look at us".  They can't stop talking about the church. When there are anniversaries, celebrations, singouts, and building dedications; when friends from around the community come to enjoy the applauds and accolades everything is O.K.

·  But when difficulties arise they disappear.

·  When workers are needed to knock doors they vanish. 

·  When soul winners are needed set up and teach home bible classes they become extinct. 

·  When people are needed to clean up and do repairs they depart.

·  When there are problems to be solved and difficulties to overcome shackers are inauspicious absent

Paul told the church at Corinth that he was fully committed to the cause of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:25 and beyond he listed off a long list of hardships he endured for the sake of the church. His point was clear, in good times and bad times he stuck with the church. Though he was beaten, stoned and ostracized, he stuck with the church. His was not a shacking relationship that was only for good times but it was a permanent commitment that would last through hard times until things became better.

Those who want to be the bride of Christ should commit themselves for the long haul. In good times and hard times they should resolve that "nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ."

While some folk are satisfied with a shacking relationship with Christ, only seeking to get what they can from him without giving fully of themselves, I’m so thankful for those who have given the Lord their all, and are living each day, waiting for the bridegroom.

I’m thankful for those who wear the wedding band of obedience

I’m thankful for those who pledge the wedding vow of allegience

I’m thankful for those who keep falling in love with Him over and over…

I’m thankful for those who keep themselves pure only for the true bridegroom

Those who are waiting for the bridegroom don't get weary and are not intimidated by the times. They wait because the word says "They that wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles, they shall run and not get weary; they shall walk and not faint." They are waiting on the bridegroom because when he returns he will bring them joy and happiness and will set them free…