Treasure In Clay Jars

Introduction

Greetings…

As we discussed in our last lesson from 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 ministers of a new covenant…

Need mercy like everyone else.

Can become weakened spiritually but can’t lose heart.

Must renounce all ungodliness.

The apostle discussed each of these to emphasize the importance of presenting the truth openly and so that the god of this world will not blind the righteous, only the unbelievers.

That brings us to our text, 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, and the title of this lesson, “Treasure In Clay Jars.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay…

What is all this about and why is Paul comparing those that are ministers of the new covenant to “clay jars” or “earthen vessels?”

It’s About God Not Man

The Creator Through The Creation.

In our text the apostle Paul points out that as ministers of the new covenant it is all about the gospel of God, not the one preaching the gospel.

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.

Minsters, which every Christian is one (Ephesians 4:11-12), are not to be the ones that take all the focus when teaching God’s word.

Have you ever notice that for the typical “T.V. Evangelist” they are always wearing expensive clothes, watches, and the like.

Ray Steven’s Song: Would Jesus Wear A Rolex

1 Peter 3:3 (ESV)

4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.

Being a minister of this new covenant means allowing the gospel of God to have all focus, not us.

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

When the focus is on God and not man the promise of persecution is evident.

2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV)

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

And herein we find the trust of 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

When we get out of the way of the gospel and allow God to be the focus, we will suffer beyond what most people are willing to endure and “yet” we will continue teaching that same gospel because we know our strength is not in this clay jar or earthen vessel but God.

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

Now when we are “not crushed, nor driven to despair, not forsaken, nor destroyed” God’s power is witnessed and the life of Christ is seen in us.

2 Corinthians 4:10–12 (ESV)

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.

Summary

This is what it means to preach the treasure in jars of clay.

To make certain God is glorified through our ministry.

Paul then goes not to say…

Ministers Are Not Alone

Those In The Past Finished The Race.

When we are suffering as ministers for Jesus the Christ we are doing something that all the faithful in the past have done and suffered accordingly.

2 Corinthians 4:13 (ESV)

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak

God gave us, in Hebrews 11, this “great cloud of witnesses” to remind us that preaching the “treasure in this clay jar” isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.

The psalmist would say it this way in Psalm 116.10-15…

Psalm 116:10–12 ESV

10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.” 12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?

Psalm 116:13–15 (ESV)

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

There is no work more guaranteed than that of righteous work.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Revelation 2:10 (ESV)

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Remember the words of Paul in his last days here on earth the certainty that he speaks with.

2 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Now, compare those passages to what Paul writes in our text in 2 Corinthians 4:14.

2 Corinthians 4:14 (ESV)

14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

Summary

And this is why fragile clay jars keep preaching the treasure of Christ because this momentary affliction does not compare with the unseen eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 ESV

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, yes we are fragile on our own, but like those earthen vessels of the past if we are faithful as they were…

…we will “not be crushed, nor driven to despair, nor forsaken, nor destroyed” because we don’t rely on our own strength but God’s.

Ephesians 6:10 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Acts 17:30 ESV

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Matthew 10:32–33 NKJV

32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV

8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

1 John 1:7 ESV

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.