Jars of Clay

Introduction

As we begin this morning, let me ask you a question. Do you believe God has a ministry for you? Does God have something He wants you to do?

I believe the answer to this question is a resounding, “YES” for everyone who knows Jesus as their Savior.

Today we come to 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Here we read:

2 Corinthians 4:1 NIV84

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.

2 Corinthians 4:1-

So what is the ministry? Notice that this verse begins with Therefore. So we need to stop and see what it is there for. In this case it points us back to chapter 3. Look with me at the last verse in chapter 3.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV84

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

So our job is to reflect accurately reflect the glory of the Lord! That is truly our ministry!

I. Don’t lose heart!

Because God gave us this ministry, and because He gives us the mercy for this ministry, we must not lose heart!

Paul says that he didn’t lose heart. When God calls us to represent Him, we need to do so with dedication, and with accuracy!

2 Corinthians 4:2-

2 Corinthians 4:2–6 NIV84

2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

A. Don’t lose heart!

B. Plainly present God’s Word.

C. Where’s the veil from?

1. Veiled to those who are perishing.

2. Veiled by the god of this age.

D. Our job—Preach Jesus Christ as Lord.

E. Jesus shined His light into our lives!

II. Clay Pots

In the first couple of verses of chapter 4, Paul reminds us that God has a job for us. Now Paul reminds us that we are nothing more than clay pots.

Have you ever dropped a clay pot? Even though they are big and strong, even though they are fragile. So it seems appropriate that Paul describes us as fragile pot that hold the treasure of God.

2 Corinthians 4:7–12 NIV84

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

2 Corinthians 4:7-

A. This treasure in jars of clay.

1. Shows God’s all-surpassing power.

2. Hard pressed—but not crushed.

3. Perplexed—not in despair.

4. Persecuted—not abandoned.

5. Struck down—not destroyed.

B. Death verses Life

For Paul the death of Jesus meant he had life. And his suffering (death) meant that the church at Corinth could have life.

Everyone of us will die, but in Christ we have life. Paul wants Jesus’ life to be revealed in him!

Today, Jesus’ life to be revealed in each of us.

Thus, the suffering Jesus—his death—is working in all of us. It is working in us so that we can pass on life to others!

III. Serving and Suffering

How is it that Paul could/would continue serving Jesus even though it meant he would encounter suffering?

2 Corinthians 4:13–15 NIV84

13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians

A. Paul believed the truth of

Psalm 115:10 NIV84

10 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield.

Psalm 116:10 NIV84

10 I believed; therefore I said, “I am greatly afflicted.”

Paul quotes the first part of the verse—I believed; therefore I have spoken.”

1. Paul understood that the conviction inside of him had to be expressed outside.

So he would suffer for Jesus so that which was inside could be seen outside.

2. Paul also understood that life did not end with physical death

He knew there was more to come!

3. This all extends grace to others!

4. It causes people to thank and glorify God.

B. We don’t lose heart!

1. Our suffering is “light”

2. Our suffering is “momentary”

3. These sufferings are achieving external glory!

Paul considered his light and momentary sufferings to be nothing when compared to the glory he would receive when he saw Jesus!

C. Fix our eyes!

1. Fix our eyes on the unseen not the seen.

2. Fix our eyes on the eternal not the temporal.

SO WHAT?

So What Does This Mean to Me?

1. Uncover God’s Ministry for us!

2. Don’t lose heart serving the Lord!

3. We serve God in our weakness.

4. We should expect persecution.

5. Live inside out!

6. Our life begins with death!

7. Reflect God’s glory!

8. Don’t lose heart.

9. Fix our eyes on what unseen and eternal.