Trouble in my way

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, September 13, 2026

 

2 Corinthians 11:22-27

Title: Trouble in my way

 

Remember:

• Paul (and Jesus) suffered, we all will
• Be hard-headed for the right reason
• View persecution the right way

 

 

Remember as we get into

2CO 11:22, Paul is “boasting” of his physical lineage as he chastises his readers. They evidently listened to the wrong people.

 

Paul’s service (2CO 11:23-27) included a great deal of peril and suffering. Remember that we all will suffer some form of persecution.

2TI 3:10-12

 

He who loses his life for the sake of the gospel shall find it: MAT 10:32-39

 

Remember that God had already made it clear that suffering would be part of Paul’s work: ACT 9:8-20

 

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, was ready to die when the time came: ACT 20:17-32

 

Consider the number of lashes Paul received (2CO 11:24). Those came according to the law, from his (physical) brethren.

DEU 25:1-4

 

Being stoned (2CO 11:25) has a very different context in our world today, but Jews literally stoned Paul in an attempt to kill him: ACT 14:13-20

 

Paul was committed to furthering the gospel which helped him persevere through a great of troubles. I mentioned being hard-headed last week. He was, but in a good way.

 

Setting your forehead like flint contextually means being unyielded in the face of strong opposition. That’s a good thing: ISA 50:1-7, EZE 3:1-9

 

Whose affairs are you concerned with? Who made you a soldier? Keep that front of mind as we endure trials.

2TI 2:1-4

 

We know that suffering and/or persecution is a guarantee. What should we keep in mind?

 

Persecution isn’t new, and Jesus gave the disciples a radical directive:

MAT 5:10-12; MAT 5:43-48

 

Paul was a persecutor, remember, and the Lord changed his heart:

1TI 1:12-17

 

Peter and the apostles rejoiced to be considered worthy of suffering for the sake of the name: ACT 5:27-41

 

We must strengthen and encourage each other. We’re outnumbered in this dark world, and no man is an island.

ACT 14:13-22, 1PE 5:6-11

 

Trials are a guarantee. We should have foreheads like flint — let’s be unyielding and forthright in the work we do.

 

Since we’re all dealing with persecution, it’s important that we continually encourage other. We’re in the body of Christ, the best family there is, and we should work together.