Jars- The Holy Spirit Provides Life

The Holy Spirit Provides Life

INTRODUCTION

Ali is a Uyghur in China. A minority ethnic group that is mostly Muslim. he came to Christ in early 2000’s and was a leader in the local Christian church. H was arrested in 2007 and today is still in prison.

Intense persecution to Christians in the Middle East and northern Africa as well.

Paul answers an important question: If he is filled with the Spirit why does he suffer?

He lost everything to follow Christ. Family, wealth, prestige, position.

Does God not bless his followers?

2 Corinthians 4:7–12 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

set-up

"this treasure"= What treasure? = the light that has shone in our hearts (6)

2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

4 Characteristics of The Living

1- We Are Valuable (7)

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Jars of clay= for the purpose of showing where the power comes from. It's not us.

We are worthless vessels allowed to be filled with the most powerful force in the universe.

Jars of clay is a reference to both frailness and value

Not very valuable= plastic in our society.

ILL- Recycling (Styrofoam into Park Benches -Chick-fil-a)

take trash and make it useful.

2 Timothy 2:20–21 ESV

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

2- We Are Protected (8-9)

4 Ways God Protects Us

A- Holds the heavy (not crushed)

2 Corinthians 4:8–9 ESV

8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

ILL-- skyscraper appears to be made of glass. The glass is only beautiful because of the steel that gives it support.

Do you ever feel the weight of the world on your shoulders?

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Lie- "God will not give you more than you can handle."

God will not give you more than he can handle through you.

B- Assures the Confused (no despair)

Perplexed= confused/ not understanding

Why do bad things happen to good people?

Why does Jesus tarry?

C- Comforts the Lonely (not forsaken)

persecution is rejection of man.

God does not forsake his children.

D- Protects the Attacked (not destroyed)

reference to eternity.

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 ESV

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

3- We Are Dying (10-11)

We have to die to self in order to live in Christ. - Paradox= dying and living go together.

We are in a continued state of dying to self.

At salvation we receive eternal life immediately.

Sanctification= process of dying to self. Learning to live out that change in our life.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

We are either dead in sin or dead to sin.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:11–14 ESV

11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Temporary death or eternal death.

Are you carrying your own death or Jesus' death?

We Are Made Alive through Jesus(11)

"Jesus may be manifested through our flesh"

Reference back to chapter 3- Moses' face shone. It was a manifestation of God.

When we who are dead are made alive, it is a manifestation of Jesus.

"You ask me how I know he lives, he lives within my heart."

1 Corinthians 15:22 ESV

22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Ephesians 2:4–6 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

4- We Are Working (12)

only when we truly die to self will we be willing and able to bring life to others.

Selfish ambition keeps us from meeting the needs of others.

ILL- Foster- every excuse we gave was selfish.

If we are truly willing to die for Christ, everything else should be easy.

giving.

sharing faith with neighbor

helping those in need

REMEMBER- working is not what makes us alive. It is just the evidence that we are alive.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

If it was about works we could boast about these "Jars of Clay"= fragile bodies.

Philippians 3:4-11 (Paul's testimony)

Philippians 3:4–11 ESV

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

CONCLUSION

Life has evidence.

ILL-- How can you tell if a leaf is alive? Answer: Alive leafs are almost always attached to a plant. They are green, if they are from a tree or a small household plant. You can easily bend it, with out it tearing. maybe a few caterpiller nibs around the edges.

Being alive in Christ has evidence. Jesus- "you will know them by their fruit."

Are you alive in Christ?