I correct myself. Not lunacy . . . foolishness.
2 Corinthians 11
16 I say again, let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord,
but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.
19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.
21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (
I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ?
(I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
Others would come to them and tell them how wonderful they were, and then lead them into bondage. Paul wants to lead them into liberty, and takes on the method used by these other, to give his own qualifications. But he says this is foolishness, and to glory in our weakness and not in our strength.
There is that risk, but I don't care about myself and if someone thinks I'm prideful. All I care about is that the whole New Testament is believed, and if I can testify to people that the gifts are real and not just historical, then I will certainly and gladly take that risk. It is for their benefit that I will risk being accused and condemned. It would be like a doctor with medicine walking through a room full of beds of the dying and failing to help them for fear they would think he was prideful of his education, and medicine/(gifts). One thing about the Spirit. He makes me fearless. I want everyone to know how available He is.
It's not that I care what people think of me. People have thought all sorts of things of me all my life and so what?
For me to start talking about "what I think" are my spiritual gifts, it's like the doctor walking through the ward telling everyone how healthy he thinks he is.
I want to instill faith based on believing God's promises instead of me talking about myself, and let's face it, how well do we know ourselves?
I may believe, for instance, that I have the gift of prophecy, and to teach, but what if I'm wrong? I can talk about myself with very limited value, and only in certain specific, and generally, I think, personal discipling contexts.
Much love!