2 Corinthians 11:12-13, NASV

2. 2 Corinthians 11:12-13, NASV But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

3. 2 Corinthians 11:12-13 Those Who Desire Opportunity

4. Matthew 13:54-57 …and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 

5. Matthew 10:34-37 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 

6. Those who desire opportunity… • “Family” wants to influence us

7. John 7:46-48 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 

8. Exodus 23:2  You shall not fall in with the many to do evil… Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

9. Those who desire opportunity… • “Family” wants to influence us • “Followers” want to influence us

10. John 7:52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.  

11. Amos 7:14-16a I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. 15 But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16 Now therefore hear the word of the Lord.

12. Philippians 3:8 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 

13. John 1:46  Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”  John 7:15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 

14. Those who desire opportunity… • “Family” wants to influence us • “Followers” want to influence us • “Know it alls” want to influence us

15. John 10:20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” • Crazy?? Like… • A “literal” Bible? • 6 day creation? • Worldwide flood? • Resurrection from the dead?

16. 2 Peter 3:3-7  …knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

17. 2 Peter 3:3-7  …knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

18. Acts 26:24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”

19. Those who desire opportunity… • “Family” wants to influence us • “Followers” want to influence us • “Know it alls” want to influence us • “Spiritually blind” want to influence us

20. Matthew 15:12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

21. Matthew 15:12, 13-14 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”  One offended by God becomes an offense to God

22. Luke 11:45-46, 52 One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” 46 And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.”

23. Galatians 2:11, 14 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

24. Those who desire opportunity… • “Family” wants to influence us • “Followers” want to influence us • “Know it alls” want to influence us • “Spiritually blind” want to influence us • “Compromisers” want to influence us

25. 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, NASV 12But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

26. The truth is more important than… • Family • Crowd pleasers • Know it alls • Spiritually blind • compromisers But the fact is that we are all influenced by someone. Who or what influences you?