In Defense of the Ministry (Part 1 - Paul's Calling)

Approximately one month ago, we began considering this last section of Paul's second epistle to the church of Corinth. This last section deals specifically with the affliction that comes with "spiritual warfare." We are told in God's Word that we "do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph 6:12) As we have seen, this battle is primarily directed against the glory of God by attacking the truth of His Word. This attack is two-fold: attacking the message itself and then, also the messenger. We have considered the attack on God's message and our responsibility to clothe ourselves with the armor of God, the weapons of our warfare, in order to defend the truth and to disarm the attacks against it. Today, we begin to consider the attack upon the messenger of the truth. If Satan can silence the messenger, he hinders the proclamation of the truth. In warfare, the first two targets are the communication lines and the supply lines. Individually, that is prayer and reading God's Word. As a body, that is the preaching of His Word and the provoking of one-another in the body. As our ministry is attacked, how should we respond? Paul provides an example in these final four chapters of this letter. This message was presented on May 3, 2020 by Bob Corbin.