“And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
– 2 Corinthians 11:14
Hi James and Ellen,
What do you think is the difference between an apostle and a ‘super-apostle’? Do you think that an apostle has less going for him than a ‘super-apostle’? What do you think are the qualification for a guy to become an apostle or a ‘super-apostle’? Your grandpaa believes that a missionary has apostolic authority. Your grandpaa believes that having apostolic authority enables a missionary on how to appropriately use each of the ministry, motivational and manifestation spiritual gifts. Your grandpaa believes that the apostle gift is underpinned through having in-depth Bible knowledge. Your grandpaa believes that the apostle gift will be reflected through having a servant heart. Your grandpaa believes that the apostle gift does not fear martyrdom. Your grandpaa thinks that a ‘super-apostle’ is a guy who has ascribed himself an authoritative role which he misuses – to satisfy his ego, the ministry, motivational and manifestation spiritual gifts. Your grandpaa thinks that a guy is a fool who thinks that he is a ‘super-apostle’. Your grandpaa thinks that a guy is looking at himself through grandiose eyes who thinks that he is a ‘super-apostle’. Your grandpaa thinks that a guy fears death who thinks that he is a ‘super-apostle’. The difference between being a true apostle and a self-proclaimed ‘super-apostle’ is the unconditional faith that a true apostle has regarding what Jesus did specifically for him when Jesus was inhumanly hung on and nailed to a cross is what drives how a true apostle moment by moment lives his life while a ‘super-apostle’ is driven to spend every moment attempting to appease his unquenchable appetite for position, power and prestige which he believes guarantees him favor with his personal god. Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 mentions ‘super-apostles’. Apostle Paul tells the fellowship of Christ-follow guys and gals who were living in the city of Corinth in this second letter that he sent to them that he does not think of himself as being at all inferior to ‘super-apostles’. Apostle Paul wrote in this second letter to the fellowship of Christ-follower guys and gals who were living in the city of Corinth that he has a godly jealously for them – that he really does want them to maintain a sincere, pure devotion in Jesus Christ instead of listening to ‘super-apostles’ who were promoting an antiquated belief paradigm that was still embedded in the teachings of the Torah. The frank, outspoken picture that Apostle Paul gave of ‘super-apostles’ in this second letter that he sent to the fellowship of Christ-follower guys and gals who were living in the city of Corinth was that these guys were being deceitful and were bogus servants of righteousness as they masqueraded as being apostles of Jesus Christ.
Apostle Paul wanted his life experiences portfolio to speak for his right to claim being an apostle. Apostle Paul put a caveat on his life experiences list that he used for his apostolic assertion when he says that he is nothing more than a self-confident, boasting fool. Because Apostle Paul probably sensed that going to the city of Corinth would give him the kind of credibility that he would need with the guys and gals who were members in the Christ-follower fellowship that was in the city of Corinth, Apostle Paul went on a short tirade in this second letter that he sent them about his qualifications to be a rightful apostle. Apostle Paul said that he was a Hebrew just as the ‘super-apostles’ claimed that they were, an Israelite just as the ‘super-apostles’ claimed that they were, and a descendent of Abraham just as the ‘super-apostles’ claimed that they were. Apostle Paul said/boasted that how he had lived and was living his life as a Christ-follower and what happened to him over the years being a Christ-follower separated him from the ‘super-apostles’. Apostle Paul claimed that he had worked harder, been imprisoned more often, been flogged more severely and more often, had faced death over and over again – which apparently none of the ‘super-apostles had experienced, been lashed five times with forty lashes minus one by his own Jew people group of guys and gals, been beaten three times with rods and stoned once – leaving him for dead, which quite probably not a single one of the ‘super-apostles’ had experienced and . . . Apostle Paul ended his short diatribe in this second letter by stating that he has spent many sleeplessness nights, has known hunger and thirst and has suffered through cold to do what he was doing. Apostle Paul says that he is hoping that he has communicated to the guys and gals who are Christ-followers in the fellowship that is in the city of Corinth who reads this letter that he is sending to them that they have heard him say through his words that he has done everything through his weakness and nothing through his strength – that everything that he has written is true as it is being witnessed by God.
Apostle Paul knew that his Christ-centered teachings were not only being disputed by ‘super-apostles’ but that as a Christ-sent servant to whoever God – as God the Spirit, directed him to go to was why he was being constantly attacked by unseen enemy forces. Apostle Paul in verse 14 says, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” An insidious weapon that Satan uses is to subtly convince a Christ-follower leader that to have influence, he or she must have power, position and prestige that is buttressed with money – which will then confirm to that Christ-follower leader that he or she is approved by God – as God the Father. Do you know a Christ-follower leader who has become a ‘super-apostle’? Your grandpaa thinks that there are guys who innately think that they are.
2 Corinthians 11 (1071)