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September 1, 2019 12:00 pm
Everybody wants to be somebody that is a desire of the our human hearts. For that reason, modern Christianity, for the most part focuses on human dignity and significance as we study the pages of Scripture. We realize that God focuses rather on human weakness and obscurity and he works to make us feel our weakness and insignificance, not our self-worth and importance.
Does anyone here wonder which of these two approaches is the biblical one. The building self-esteem approach sure the humbling and showing us our weakness approach. In today's passage of second Corinthians chapter 4 verses seven through 12. Paul continues to talk about gospel ministry and he shows us the relationship between the human weakness of the messenger and the power of God working through the messenger for parts in the section today and I begin with the paradox of earthen vessels is number one we read over seven but we have this treasure in earthen vessels. The paradox of earthen vessels. What is a paradox. There a lot of them in Scripture.
So you better learn what they are paradox is a seeming contradiction, but upon closer examination proves to be exactly true seeming contradiction that both parts could not possibly be true.
But upon closer examination proves that it is exactly true and reveals something that would otherwise would not have understood why does God employ paradoxes so much is he endeavoring to make truth obscure because it does seem to be contradictory at times.
We probably number of reasons why he does so that I can tell you at least three by my observation number one.
Many truths are too complex to reduce to sound clips. That's what we want to do is reduce everything to a real quick sound conflict, but that doesn't work with the word of God. It's or complex than that. And so we need some things will help us understand the complexity number two. Why does God employ paradoxes because we benefit from the process of wrestling with difficult truth it does is good to have to struggle to have to search to have to study to have to wrestle with things that are difficult to reconcile so that we can eventually reconcile them and that's how we grow in grace and knowledge that's how our understanding is enlarged. Without this we would be very weak and very very surface very immature in our understanding of Scripture, but reason number three and this is also taught to us in Scripture.
That is some truth is deliberately obscured from those who are too proud and impatient with divine revelation. Yes, God does obscure some truth would not from the humble seek and desire to understand it, but he does indeed obscure it from those who are proud those who are impatient with the revelation that is given. So that's another reason for the employment of paradoxes by looking at this paradox what our earthly vessels we have this treasure in earthly vessels someone has translated this jars of Clay though that is not probably the most accurate translation. It really does help us to remember what is involved here. In fact I think is even or was at least a contemporary Christian music group that called themselves jars of Clay are they still around. I have no idea anyway, jars of Clay earthen vessels. What is that mean this is talking about humanity and its present frailty, frail bodies, mines, wills, abilities, is not talking just about our bodies. You might think so. Earthen vessels are bodies are made of dust of Earth so he might be talking just about our bodies, but is talking about more than that he's talking about humanity in the infirmities of our fallen nature is talking about humanity in its unattractiveness and insignificance as we presently exist and are constituted as descendents of fallen Adam. These are earthly vessels, jars of Clay. What is the treasure we have this treasure in earthly vessels all the treasures of knowledge of the glory of God in Christ Jesus. The treasure is the enabling power of God. The treasure was the minute the treasure is the ministry of the gospel. We draw that from the preceding verse that introduces the thought in verse six, Paul said, for it is the God who commands light to shine out of darkness, who are shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure this treasure that he just described in verse six in earthen vessels, so this treasure is the knowledge of the glory of God in Christ. In other words, an understanding of who Christ is an understanding of the one true and living God because we have come to know him through the Lord Jesus Christ. That's the treasure what's the treasure, the treasure is the enabling power of God.
It is the God who commanded that light shine out of darkness, who is shown in our hearts that is the treasure the power of God that has changed our hearts that is opened our eyes that is implanted is implanted divine life within us. What is the treasure the treasures. The ministry of the gospel.
Paul says we have all this, the message of salvation the power to make it effective and all of that is dispensed by God from earthen vessels, jars of Clay week instruments. That is a paradox, isn't so.
The paradox of earthen vessels number one to number two.
The reason for this surprising plan.
That's the last part of verse seven. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that were in order that the excellence of the power may be of God and none of us. The reason for this surprising plan is very simple is number one to magnify the power of God, and number two. To minimize the power of men.
Simple as that.
To magnify the power of God that the excellency of the power may be of God, or more properly, that the excellency of the power may be apparently from God or make it may be apparent that this excellency comes from God and not man magnify the power of God to minimize the power of gut of man that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. This is Paul's way of reminding us that we exist to give God glory. God doesn't exist to give us glory will how easy it is for us to get that upside down and how sadly it is that a lot of Christian focus seems to seems to insist upon getting it upside down that this is the purpose for God. This is the purpose of the gospel. This is why you need Jesus so that he will give you glory and honor insignificance known you need him so that you can give him the honor and glory and majesty and significance that is truly's. We exist to give God glory, not vice versa. Paul is telling us that if the vessel is thought to be impressive than it receives the honor. But if the vessel is not impressive than the treasure within the vessel receives the honor you have a very expensive piece of jewelry you presented to someone in a jewelry box that itself is even more impressive. It's a it's an incredibly expensive box. It is carved intricately. It is in is jewel encrusted the value of the box is more valuable than the piece of jewelry inside that is not the best way to call attention to the value of the jewelry used to presented in a box that is more spectacular than what it is you're trying to magnify but if you present that piece of jewelry on just say piece of black cloth then the focus goes to the treasure, not to the container and he gets the glory. That's the idea here we have this treasure in earthen vessels of the excellency of the power may be seen to be of God, not of us.
If the vessel is not impressive than the treasure receives the honor.
This is actually the same thing in a sense of. Paul was saying back in the first Corinthian epistle, though there, the emphasis was more on salvation than upon service but same idea when he said in verse of chapter 1 for UCR calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God's chosen the weak things of the world to put Trish to shame the things which are mighty and the base things of the world and the things which are despised, God has chosen the things which are not to bring to nothing the things that are why that no flesh should glory in his presence I think about that. It's not that there's nothing within Paul or nothing within the church of the Lord Jesus Christ that has anything about it. That is impressive by worldly standards. You could hardly find anyone in that day. He was more educated, more more intelligent and more able than the apostle Paul and before he was saved. That was hoarding emphasizing is filled with pride by all of his qualifications and credentials. His human qualifications, a Pharisee of the Pharisee of the tribe of the tribe of Benjamin and on and on and on with all of his list of human accomplishments, of which he was so proud until Jesus Christ struck him down to the Damascus road and showed them that he was a nobody same person same intelligence same education now does he think of himself, not wives, not mighty foolish week because you see in order to use him. God had to show him that God had to give them a different understanding about himself, a different perspective on what these human attainments actually account account amount to which is really nothing and that in the presence of God and very little a lot less than we think they are the presence of man we we think they're really really impressive are our don't wait and God says will as long as you think that way I'm not going to use you much but if you understand that I only choose and use those who understand themselves to be weak and frail, foolish, unimpressive then to be in the place where I can really use you. That's what we got to learn not to produce, not to endeavor to produce the most impressive human vessels. We think that's the way to accomplish God's work think that's the way to to advance his kingdom. We think that's the way to build churches.
We think that's the way to advance the gospel no, we must endeavor not to try to produce the most impressive human vessels because that doesn't please God and actually actually hinders true spiritual fruit vessel gets in the way of the treasure. So instead we need to learn to focus on what most honors God and engages his power and glory. What is that humility instead of pride. Scripture, instead of human persuasion, eloquence, prayer, God who sees in the secret place will reward you openly. If you are a man or woman to prayer right priorities. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you.
Godly conduct integrity while talked about that we renounced the hidden things of shame and all of these things that are kind of vile shady manipulations in order to to accomplish progress.
We renounce all of that we rely only on the power of God. In other words, we have committed ourselves to this if God doesn't do it.
Nothing's going to be done were knocking to make it happen with or without God. Someone said of the Holy Spirit would leave the average Baptist Church. They never know he was gone. I I think we might be more honest to say. Obviously, the Holy Spirit has left many churches and nobody's noticed these God is working to make this happen with fleshly means it's not the way to get it done. Why is this so hard to learn. We struggle with is no way that's our Adamic pride Adamic sinfulness so hard for us to learn this, but it is so important, so number one. The paradox of earthen vessels number two. The reason for the surprising plan number three illustrations of human weakness in verses eight and nine and 10 what you mean about these earthen vessels. What were you talking about Paul well verse eight we are hard pressed on every side did not crush. We are perplexed, but not in despair persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed.
Always caring about of the body the dying of the Lord Jesus the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body, we have what I've called four poetic couplets. In verses eight and nine and then one summarizing statement in verse 10, four poetic couplets. Here's how Paul described his life hard pressed on every side did not crush perplexed and not in despair persecuted, but not forsaken struck down, but not destroyed.
Hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed that literally has the idea of being hemmed in pressed into a corner on every side and yet always wiggling out that's that's that's a rather common way of putting it hostile forces pressing in on all sides, but escape always provided by God. That's the story of Paul's life read what what details are given to us in the Bible, and you can see how that happened on many occasions and he alludes to it happening so many more times and not even recorded. This seems to been pretty much the way he lived, always being pressed in heaven, and from every side of every side enemies were coming out in and it looked like there was no way out. And yet God said here's the whole crawl through their you could escape happened again and again and again and again and again hard pressed on every side did not crushed perplexed, perplexed, but not of the despair bewildered, anxious, despondent, confused. This gets into the mind.
Most of these have to do with physical things, bodily things, but this is why I say earthen vessels are more than just the body is the whole human being. The whole human existence, and this gets into the mind into the area of of depression and mental anxieties of various kinds, bewildered but not utterly despairing, anxious, despondent, confused, but never in hopeless despair.
Almost but not quite.
Ever many many times.
Paul is saying I did not know what to do. But in those times, I was confident in God's promises.
I was confident in God's ability. I was confident that even though I didn't know what to do. God did and God would bring things about to a good conclusion. I wasn't quite sure how I was in despair. I was I was perplexed. I was was having problems mentally, but there really wasn't any reason for me to II knew all along. I knew all along that God is a God of power and God is a God of wisdom and God has made promises to make. Therefore, I never allowed these things to completely sidetracked me to completely sidelined me perplexed, but not in despair. A lot of times we don't know what to do. We do not know what to do.
So what you do and you don't know what to do. Trust God. He knows what to do. In fact, he not only knows what to do. He knows what he is doing what he's doing even in this perplexity.
He's using it for a purpose.
He knows what he's doing. I thought of a lot of things when I was studying this passage. One of the things that is perplexed me over the years in my responsibilities as a pastor is I I'm never quite sure if I've got it right. And I'm dealing with a difficult problem and I'm never not quite sure whether I moving too quickly or too slowly.
I'm done trying to get this through proper conclusion. I know them in times in the past, but let's take the example of someone that's that's needing some special attention to the church, a disciplinary type problem and you want to see that brought to restoration.
You always do.
That's the goal so you want to move forward to be an instrument in God's hands to to bring that about.
You don't want to neglect this. You can't neglect that's that's disobedience to God. But if you move too quickly, you may not be waiting for the Holy Spirit to work in hearts and change parts of that takes time. So sometimes I know in the past I've moved too quickly we called upon the church to move too quickly and that was wrong. I know the times we dragged our feet move too slowly. That didn't produce something because we needed to move ahead more quickly get this thing addressed, and frankly I still haven't got it all figured out, but it doesn't matter.
God is what is doing God is in control know if if you're if your hearts desire among confident of this. If your heart's desire is to please the Lord. You not trying to honor yourself, your hearts desires to please the Lord, even when you don't know what to do. You can't mess up that is astounding. Supposing perplexed, but not in despair persecuted, but not forsaken. Yes, God allows persecution.
But he said I've never been given over to my persecutors before they become at make me one time he was stoned and left for dead save all that time you got left over to your persecutors and let left to your persecutors help.
I what I stood up and walked into town will that I will, well they did eventually. Finally, God said okay knows a time to come home and so there was the day when he was put in prison and executed, but how many years how many decades did he go and time after time after time after time. It look like that's the end that's the end they got you now they've been plotting against you.
They been hiding getting ready to attack you. They been laying there there plots against you.
They got it figured out you'll never escape this type and time after time after time persecuted, but not for's sake and persecution allowed, hunted, but never left his prey to the enemy, and finally says struck down, but not destroyed cast to the ground but not killed. It's a picture of a battlefield or or maybe another like a Roman Coliseum.
The arena will wild beasts and let loose on people and it looked like that was the end. Cast down there. I am the gladiators standing over me, stored, drawn, rented shop off my head and lo and behold he's the he suddenly has his arms paralyzed.
He drops his sword began moving, or whatever. I think God is rescued me again and again and again these are illustrations of human weakness and you see God doesn't is not God's purpose to keep us from from being weak or feeling weak or wrestling with weakness or having to deal with weakness. We think that God ought to make it so that were never sick. We think the God to make it so that whenever persecuted, which we think of the gotta make it so were never in want or need no, that's not the picture we get here God assigns all these things to us for a purpose, and then he graciously rescues us out of everyone. Time after time after time after time in verse 10 is something of a summary of 47 verses eight and nine, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body constantly facing death carry in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus never free from the threat of death, never far from the possibility of being put to death.
This this is Paul describing his life, not before he was saved. But after and why why Paul does God appoint the usual constantly carry about in your body. The threat of death the dying of the Lord Jesus is the reason that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body the life of Jesus resurrection life of Jesus also like the death of Jesus. All of these persecutions and near-death experiences manifests the death of Jesus in our life but the the escape six miraculous escapes manifests the life of Jesus in our body as well. Christ's resurrection life sustaining Paul's fragile life how to explain it. How do you explain these incredible escapes only by the life of Christ working itself out in the Howdy asked how do you explain the inability of your enemies that there are many their strong they they know how to get things done. How do you explain the fact that they've never been able to capture you kill you and do what they wanted to do to you because of the power of Christ. Christ has power, he rose from the dead.
He's got power, he is working and what happens in my life demonstrates both the death of Christ in my weakness as well as the power of Christ in these inexplicable over Cummings that happen again and again and again so that brings us finally number four to God's wise design. Why does God. Rather, the results of God's wife's design. What is the result of all of this. Verses 11 and 1212 for we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus sake of the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh so that death is working in us to life and you what is a result of God's wise design.
It is first, that the life of Jesus is displayed and secondly to the life of Jesus is imparted first at the life of Jesus is displayed that's repeated for the last part of verse 10 so he says it again in verse 11 we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal body.
The result of God's wise design is of the life of Jesus is displayed in my life, but more than that.
Not only that is displayed, but that the life of Jesus is imparted through my life I become an instrument in the hands of God to impart the life of Christ to others so that death is working in us, but life in you death is working in us, but that results in life.
Working in you were told here the Christ's resurrection life can be imparted to human beings. That in itself is astounding. The Christ's resurrection life can be imparted to sinful sons and daughters of Adam while and it tells us that this impartation results from the labels labor is rather of frail servants of Christ the life of Christ can be imparted to frail human beings. And how is that accomplished by the sacrificial laborers of week human vessels that from human evaluation couldn't be expected to accomplish anything, but instead they accomplish what no one else can accomplish the accomplish with all of the money. All of the power all of the plans, all of the human endeavors and genius cannot accomplish week frail human vessels can be used of God to impart divine life to dying souls will this the divine life is salvation its new life in Christ. And Paul is telling us that sustained physical life, physical life. That is, that is Going against all odds illustrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, raised from the dead.
Against all odds Ted explained that humanly that the humble ministry of frail humanity produces divine life and others say that's a bit of a mystery. I don't fully understand that bit of a paradox. I know we started with an easier paradox. Now we get to the bigger one impulses God make sure that the vessels through which he accomplishes this have come to understand their weakness so they don't take credit for it is not their ability. Their power there genius their organization, their personality, their speaking ability that made this happen. The power of God that will and until they understand that there more of an obstacle to God's purposes than they are to help when they understand this, and they become an instrument in the hands of the Redeemer. To accomplish this. One of the commentaries and I forgot to put down the name of the commentator, but he said commenting on verse 12, which says so then death is working in us to life and you he said what Paul is saying is we have the physical suffering and loss, you have the spiritual comfort and gain where the physical suffering and loss as a result of that, you have the spiritual comfort and gain. That's how you got it because God chose to work through this means to impart that to you. What kind of lessons should we draw from this passage in the first place. It ought to give us a new perspective on suffering.
If the weakness of our vessel enhances the treasurer of the gospel's are suffering worth it.
Isn't it the weakness of our vessel enhances the treasurer of the Gospels are suffering worth it. I'm sure all of us have a heart for God would say amen. It is an even beyond that, if our weakness imparts spiritual life to others. Is it worth it. Yes yes a thousand times yes. This should give us a new perspective on suffering should my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Beyond that, it should give us a new perspective on qualifications for ministry not necessarily education degrees though I don't minimize them.
I think they are very valuable and to be very useful in the service of God.
But that's not front and center, not human abilities necessarily, though obviously some was going to preach is gonna be able to speak to me there is this a certain level of common sense here, but but were looking for the wrong things.
Those who want to serve the Lord, are looking for the wrong things to to cultivate within themselves to be working on godliness. You will be working on unlearning Scripture yet to be working on a prayer life. You will be working on these things will be working on a more humility, less pride. Instead, you're working on how to make yourself more successful in the eyes of the world in a way that impresses the world that's not God's way and that doesn't accomplish God's purposes new perspective on qualifications for ministry number three should give us a new perspective on usefulness. You can be useful in the work of God say all I can do that. I'm not strong I'm not eloquent, I don't have abilities. I don't have power wonderful your qualified track.
Don't you understand you are the best qualified. That's what Paul is teaching us you can be used. God will use you if you humble yourself. If you make if you set your priorities right. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Finally, I think in this passage we should recognize a new gospel appeal, which is really the old one.
The true one, but it's not the one we hear so often it's not come to the gospel come to Christ in order to come to glory and honor and strengthen significance and happiness. That's not the message of the gospel. That's not the invitation of the gospel it's come to weakness suffering die. If you're not willing to lay down your life, then you're going to lose it. If you're willing to lose it for my sake then you'll find it's not take up your crown. It's take up your cross. There's a time for the crown but not now. Now, take up your cross and follow me come in weakness come to suffering come to dying in order to obtain a treasure that's worth more than the whole world so you can get anybody to believe and respond to and obey a message like that, no, I can't.
But God can.
You can get anybody to truly respond in heart faith to anything but this. And then only if God chooses the blessed but this is what he said he will bless quit editing the message just proclaim the one that God has already given the faithful to the let's see what God will do show we pray father, thank you for your word. We acknowledge that we needed to hear this truth today.
We acknowledge that our thinking has often been wrong. We acknowledge there were too filled with pride and self-esteem and self important to know that needs to be crushed down, Lord humblest before your mighty hand you might use this to exalt the glory of Christ, in whose name we pray, man