Treasure In Earthen Vessels
2 Corinthians 4:1-7
1. Paul Acknowledges His Ministry Calling.
2 Corinthians 4:1 & 2(a)
2. Paul Acknowledged The Power Of God’s Word.
2 Corinthians 4: 6
3. Paul Acknowledges Christ As Treasure
2 Corinthians 4:7 & 2 Corinthians 4:5 & 6 (again)
4. This Treasure (Jesus) Is In Earthen Vessels.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels….
5. God’s Treasure (Jesus) In Us Makes His Power More Evident.
2 Corinthians 4:7(b) that the excellence of the power may be of God and
not of us.
6. Paul Acknowledges That It Is The Strength Of What Is Inside Him That Keeps Him Going.
2 Corinthians 4:8 - 11
7. Paul Says This Inward Treasure And Strength Is Renewed Day By Day!
2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18
2 Corinthians 4:1 2 Corinthians 4:16
Do you have the “Treasure,” Jesus Christ, in you today?
Treasure In Earthen Vessels
2 Corinthians 4:1-7 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
1. Paul Acknowledges His Ministry Calling.
2 Corinthians 4:1 & 2(a) 1Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame…
2. Paul Acknowledged The Power Of God’s Word.
2 Corinthians 4:6
6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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3. Paul Acknowledges Christ As Treasure
2 Corinthians 4:7 (text) But we have this treasure…
A. Treasure? - What He has been talking about - Jesus
2 Corinthians 4:5 & 6 (above)
5For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
6For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4. This Treasure (Jesus) Is In Earthen Vessels.
A. Treasure - When I think of treasure I think of Gold,
Silver, and Jewels.
B. Can you imagine a pile of “treasure” in Kroger
and Walmart thin plastic bags?
C. That is the kind of analogy Paul is giving.
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels….
D. We wouldn’t put “treasures in plastic bags”
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F. But that is just exactly what God did!
G. We have this treasure – Jesus; In earthen vessels – Us!
H. Weak, frail, worthless, fragile ------US!
I. We use safety deposit boxes, safes, protective
boxes, etc.
J. But God chose US!
5. God’s Treasure (Jesus) In Us Makes His
Power More Evident.
2 Corinthians 4:7(b) (text) that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
A. An empty vessel is weak
B. The vessel does not determine the strength; the content
does!
ILLUSTRATION…..Plastic Bottles
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6. Paul Acknowledges That It Is The Strength Of
What Is Inside Him That Keeps Him Going.
2 Corinthians 4:8 - 11
8We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
10always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
Illustration:
Help from the Lord Jesus Christ is enough. The Korean Christians have been some of the most persecuted Christians on the face of the earth. A pastor asked some Korean Christians, “How do you endure such pain and suffering? How do you endure all of this persecution?” The Korean Christians responded, “We’re like nails; the harder you hit us the deeper we go.” If Jesus Christ is living within you, the harder you are hit, the deeper you go! We are not crushed. We are not in despair. We do go through difficulties, but we are not defeated!
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7. Paul Says This Inward Treasure And Strength
Is Renewed Day By Day!
2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18
16Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Conclusion:
1. It appears that some of the Christians at Corinth were
giving up under persecution and trials. So, Paul
writes to instruct them how to not “lose heart!”
2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
2. Paul tells the Corinth church that the same “treasure”
(Jesus) that has kept him can keep the Corinthians
also!
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3. God is also speaking to us through Paul to tell us
that we will not lose heart if we keep this “treasure”
(Jesus) in our earthen vessels!
- Do you have the “Treasure” - Jesus Christ - in you today?
- If not - you will be crushed!
- If Jesus is in you, you can withstand anything that comes your way!