Scripture:
II Corinthians 4:7-18 NKJV
[7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. [8] We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— [10] always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. [11] For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. [12] So then death is working in us, but life in you. [13] And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, [14] knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. [15] For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. [16] Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, [18] while 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.
Observation:
Over the years a lot of adjustments have been made to my life, one of which is my age. People have come and people have gone. What I have come to realize is that life is fragile. Sometimes I wonder how much more of this we have left. As we look at the condition of the world. The wars and rumors of wars, the lack of peace, it’s easy to see that we are quickly approaching the return of Christ, and the Bible is getting watered down. Buildings are filling up but hearts are empty. As I was searching the scripture last night I came across this scripture. Thinking about a friend of mine that had come to the end of himself recently, I thought this is where we should dive in. I believe it’s at the end of us that we see the treasure that was placed inside of us. So let’s see what GOD has to say to us this morning. As Paul is writing this letter he felt it necessary to highlight the fact that humans are weak and fragile, referring to us as earthen vessels, or clay pots. This brought my mind to a boys home I was in around the age of 12. They had a pottery class. I liked working with the clay but once it had passed through the fire and was hardened, if you dropped it, whatever you made would break pretty easily. So Paul’s reference here is valuable. He is explaining how fragile we are. Yet as he continues to teach, he dives into being hard-pressed yet not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed. What is being highlighted is the ability to endure, and where it comes from. You see the endurance that takes place didn’t come for him. He had gone through so much to spread the gospel. Placed in chains during off to prison. Just like those whom he had planned to do just that to. As he was teaching this church about the fragile life they had and the willingness to suffer affliction brought glory to the Father. It’s not a popular topic because it doesn’t fill the buildings we are calling churches, so it’s something that the ear tickling preachers will stay away from. But I have never fancied myself an ear tickler. I feel like we can benefit much more from the truth. Paul mentions how by dying to our flesh and living for the spirit brings glory to the Father. The point that Paul was bringing out is that those who chose to be sold out for Christ will face things, and Paul of all people knows that for a fact but his hope was not in this life. It was in the life to come. The more he preached the gospel the more affliction that came to him. The persecution didn’t stop for him, and I’m sure it would be easy for him to lose heart, but as he brings this chapter to a close I’m sure he is preaching to himself as he began to write verses 16. That gives the church the instructions not to lose heart, knowing that the flesh that we are wrapped in will at some point be going, and everything we have we have been through here would not matter anymore. It’s all temporary, what will last forever is GOD’S glory. The point of what Paul is teaching is we can’t have our eyes on this life, we have to focus on what happens after all this.
Application:
When I read this I think about what the disciples went through and how the gospel spread. It wasn’t comfort that caused it to move forward. It was the persecution. You see when the pressure was on those who saw the truth moved to other areas taking the gospel with them. It’s always interesting to me how GOD uses all things for HIS glory. Those of us willing to suffer for the gospel truth, those willing to be uncomfortable in order to, “GO into all the world, and make disciples.” Setting aside worldly comfort to spread the gospel, taking on ridicule and persecution shows GOD’S real glory. Comfortable Christian tend not to do much. It’s easy to fill a building full of people who want to be comfortable. You just tell them what they want to hear. Allowing them to live for the blessing instead of the blesser. Your reward is a comfortable life. Those who suffered for the sake of the gospel are responsible for its spread. That’s what brings GOD glory. Those who were willing to die for what they believed. Willing to lay down the desires of their flesh. I just feel a sense of urgency. I believe that Jesus is coming back soon, and there are a lot of Luke warm buildings full of people who have been told that GOD wants you to be comfortable. But I’m just not sure that’s the truth. I believe that faith begins at the end of your comfort zone, and the bible says its impossible to please GOD without faith. If you are facing some kind of persecution you are probably doing what is right. If the enemy is attacking you, it’s probably because you are operating inside the gifts and callings that the LORD has placed on your life. I’m going to be honest…. I go through it regularly. I am g and pressed on every side, sometimes I just want to throw my hands up and say forget it. But I have put my hand to the plow and there is no time to look back. The enemy has taken so much from me…. But I can’t back up. The comfort of this life is not what matters, and if the leader of the building you go to on Sunday is telling you that’s what matters…. He is tickling your ears. Those who are doing the work are the ones who are willing to put themselves aside, no matter how they feel at the moment. Ministry happens in the inconvenience. That’s when people see compassion. We saw the love of GOD through the willingness of Christ to suffer the cross. We saw that confirmed by the willingness of the disciples to give their lives for the gospel. The question becomes what are you truly living for. Are you worried about losing your worldly comfort, or are you willing to give it all up in order to see one more come to Christ. What greater love is there than for one to lay down his life for another. What I truly want does not matter. What matters is what GOD wants from me. My point is this, a life truly surrendered to Christ wants GOD’S will more than anything else. That’s where I’m at and honestly I hope its where you are as well.
Prayer:
Father, you are good, and your plan is perfect. You know the ones who are willing to set aside themselves for the good of others, and honestly we just want to find ourselves right in the center of your will. That’s all that matters. We surrender our desires, and ask that you just show us what you want from us. We don’t even know how to pray. All we can do is lift up your high holy name. We are not asking to suffer. But if that is what you have for us so that your glory is seen here we are we surrender to your will. We surrender to whatever you have for us. All we are asking is for the ability to get out of the way. We are slowing the process down. All we want is to gather as many as we can and bring them into the kingdom, and not so we can say look What We did. But so that we can point to you and say look at what the LORD did. Use us Father however you see fit. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.