Divine Treasure in Earthen Vessel
2Cor. Chapter 4. 1-18
Key Verse "7" It is divided into two parts.
1. The Treasure in earthen vessel. Explained in verse 1 - 6
2. The Power in earthen vessel. Explained in verse 8 - 18
Expository message:
I. The Treasure in earthen vessel
a) Treasure of Mercy Gods Love toward us, though we are unworthy & ill deserving
1. King David, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.
aa) condition: Lodebar. House of no bread Mephibosheth,
bb) position: As one of the Kings son.
What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
2. Another King: "Father forgive them, for they no not what they do."
I think of the song... "The Love of God"
If every stalk a queal, every man a scribe by trade
If the sky was of parchment made.
and the ocean with ink filled.
to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry.
b) Treasure of Truth: Trustworthiness; Genuineness; honesty; Correctness; Accuracy;
1) Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate ask, What is truth? then answer it.
I find in him no fault at all
2) Truth about Me. Lost; Nothing good; I cannot be trusted; I cannot understand.
3) Truth about God. Jesus said "I am the Truth" At time truth offends us.
Because: The understanding is slow; How to apply the truth.
4) Truth of Good News.
a) If hidden: The Lost will perish
b) The devils work: Blinding minds:
Stolen out; Starved out; Choked out
5) Jesus is Truth; We preach Jesus; all that he's done, doing, will do.
Phillip ran to join himself to the Etheopen chariot;
understandeth what thou readeth?
Act 8.30 purple
c) Treasure of Light: Psa. 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet; a light unto my path.
This verse declares; we are in a dark world. spiritually dark;
1) Personal Light ... My feet
2) Practical Light ... My Path
3) Provisional Light ... One step
Going two miles into a neighbourhood where very few could read, to spend an evening in reading to a company who were assembled to listen, and about to return by a narrow path through the woods, where paths diverged, I was provided with a wood torch "heart pine."
I objected; it was too small, weighing not over half a pound. "It will light you home", answered my host. I said, "The wind may blow it out." He said, "It will light you home." "But if it should rain?" I again objected. "It will light you home," he insisted.
II. The Power in Earthen Vessel
a) Power for Suffering:
1) Stablish, Strenghten, Perfect, Settle ... To Mature us
2) Lost need to see more: not just form or formality; Do's Don't
b) Power to Crucify the Enmity.
Lu 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
1) Christ Slain the Enmity Meaning: deep rooted hatred toward God;
Un reconcilable hostility
a) Christ came a man, he felt the enmity in his flesh; he was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.
1) If enmity Lives ... Life of Christ Dies
We must take up our cross, willfully through the Spirit
cause to die the Enmity.
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: {thereby: or, in himself}
Ro 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God.
Jas 4:4 know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
c) Power of Redound Grace. Redound - To surge up; to overflow
1) Grace overflowing in our lives to others
2) Renewing Grace. The inward Man Strenghten
3) Grace in affliction. It's just a Light thing... but I know God is working good
4) Grace in vision: Temporal thing become less important
The eternal things become all important