Untitled Sermon

There is Power in the PEW !

2 Corinthians 4:7-1

2 Corinthians 4:7–10 ESV

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Singer, and Song writer Lauren Daigle writes “ I keep fighting voices in my mind that say i’m not enough , every single Lie that tells Me i will never measure up . AM i more than just sum of every high and every low . Remind me once again just Who I am because I need to know . You say that I am Loved , when I cant feel a thing , You say I am strong when I think I am weak , You say I am held when I am falling short , AND when I don’t belong You say I am yours . AND I BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY ME! . The only thing that matters now is what think you of me . In You I find my worth and I find my idenity . I BELIEVE , TAKING ALL THAT i HAVE AND i AM LAYING IT AT YOUR FEET , you have every failure and every Victory . YOU SAY I AM LOVED ! I BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY TO ME !

We are living in a time where Identity IS AT the forefront , SELF IDENTITY is at the forefront of everything . Everyone wants to speak there Truth , and its acceptable , we listen to almost everything that the world (WORLD SYSTEMS )AND our Flesh and Satan (Who accuses Us day and Night ). Revelation 12:10 “And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”

we allow someone else’s truth to become our truth . I wonder why its so easy to believe a Lie then it is to believe the truth “I want to speak my truth”. we are overwhelmed at the Voices that are constant , If it isn’t the outside Noise it’s the Conversations that I continually have with myself about myself .

How do I View myself and by who’s Standard do I arrive at this conclusion ? What is my World view , Is it Biblical ? Or is it my Opinion , where do we establish / or get our Facts from

See! the world says all roads lead to God , and if i can just be good enough , and maybe be nice then i am okay but Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

we know from John 14:6“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

6. In this season I believe that it is vital that we know who we are , and who’s we are ! and why we serve! . “Christ In You the Hope of Glory “ and that the Sufficiency we have is NOT in our selves but in the one who LIVES in us 2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” IT’S CHRIST

Isn’t it amazing how GOD uses broken and imperfect people to bring His plan to completion . Its a mystery that God uses US in His plan of Salvation and Redemption (The Telos , its the GREEK word for the fulfilment , or completion of a goal ) .

THERE IS POWER in THE PEW , “LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR and TELL’EM THERE IS POWER IN THIS PEW”.

“God is in control of every atom in His universe , and even those things which seem a direct contradiction of his Love will one day be seen to be a Dynamic confirmation of His power “(John BLANCHARD ) 1 Corinthians 1:27

1 Corinthians 1:27 ESV

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Your powers are dead or dedicated. If they are dedicated, they are alive with God and tingle with surprising power. If they are saved up, taken care of for their own ends, they are dead.

E. Stanley Jones

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”

The Apostle Paul informs us from this epistle (Chapter 4) Therefore having this Ministry by the mercy of God . This Message of Hope . God is not only calling His preachers to the Power of Transformation , but the PEW as WELL

This message of Jesus , and we don’t have to try and use cunning or falsehood to tamper with God’s word . Never do we stand in our own strength but by the Power of Gods truth is how we minister (SERVE)

the Apostle describes this in a metaphorical sense (Cracked pots) These vessels were made of a variety of materials in the ancient world , including bronze, stone , and clay , but the most common material was clay.

Jars made of this substance broke easily , but they could be easily be replaced . Paul compares the Christians to clay jars,

that is something that is not that important and can be replaced .

But some how in the plan of God He made it so these “Clay Jars”would contain a priceless treasure , THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

Seneca , a first century Roman Philosopher puts it this way

what is man? A vessel that at the slightest shaking , the slightest toss will break us. No mighty wind needed to scatter you abroad .

2) The Treasure is we are becoming the IMAGO DE,= the image of God by carry around the sufferings of Christ in our bodies .

Today I would present my case ! That God has placed Treasure inside of everyone of use that we might show forth His glory in these broken Vessels

Genesis 1:26-28 Genesis 1:26-28 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”” (1st mention ) THE IMAGO’DE

Psalms 8:1-9 “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

1 Peter 2:9“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light

EPHESIANS 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

THOUGHTS ;

There is power in the PEW ! PAUL STATES that he is confident in The All - Sufficient God , and not in himself ,It is the work of God to change hearts . God changes hearts not threw external pressure of the Law but through the internal work of the SPIRIT . THIS IS THE MAIN THEME OR MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH AT Corinth .

Paul is saying that even through persecution comes in a variety of ways , and the suffering can become debilitating , The power of God enables him to not be perplexed and give into despair

Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

See He gives me power , to walk right , power to talk right , He’s my wheel in the middle of my .

I /we got this treasure inside of us that will not fade away “ thou this outer man is perishing , our inner self is being renewed day by day “ keep fighting the good fight of Faith , knowing that your labor is not in vain .

2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” Most of all remember that it is in His strength that we can do all things . We can do what ever the Lord is called us to do.

What did Christ carry? Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” “As Christ is so are we carrying around the Lord’s Body .