The Treasure Inside

Me- What is valuable to us?

I have in my life many things that are valuable that maybe others do not see as valuable… and maybe some would think is valuable.

Do you have anything like that?

Intro- I have many things that I deem valuable.

My Fountain Pen. I love this thing. I bought it… and now I’m hooked. Tried getting anther one for my bday but it didnt happen.

I have several guns. I view them as valuable.

My state championship ring in baseball.

My computer, ipad, phone, and watch.

My boots...

My Goatskin Bible.

Pictures

Wedding dresses

My wedding ring.

Has anyone ever lost a wedding ring?

When Maci was first born, I lost my wedding ring. Somehow between the hospital room… cleaning my hands non stop and the car… I lost it. The day we were going home. Meagan was NOT happy. I had lost something that meant a TON to us.

So then I bought one that looked like it on Amazon or Ebay … It became very dull very quickly. It was NOT real. In fact it looked terrible. So then after some time, we bought another nice one. I was so excited.. This one fit my hand even.

Afterwords I was working in pool service and I had lost my ring again. I was so devastated. Having to tell Meagan was just not an option.

I did… so then I bought this rubber silicone ring. I loved it… but it still was not the right thing. However 2-3 weeks later I looked down where I kept my tools for pool service and there it was!!!! My “treasure”!!!

WE-

The ring was kept in a spot that really had no value… but the ring had so much value. When I looked at my toolbox… I was so thankful that it had been kept safe. Even thought at any time it could have been stolen. I had no idea that my ring was there the whole time.

THEME: Church I believe Christians need to be reminded today, that we are that toolbox.... and Jesus is the ring.

We may not matter a whole lot… but what is inside of us matters more than ever!!!

This is a strange thought in our culture. We want to matter… find significance, we want fame… money.... we want others to see the nice car we drive, and nice house we live in. We want success… and over all we want to know that we matter.

Transition: This morning I want you to understand that YOU are only worth in what is found inside of you.

The scripture says the Treasure found within us is what gives us value.

GOD-

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 READ

Background:

Your Ultimate Treasure is Found on the Inside. V7-12

Paul’s story was that of affliction and suffering. However he found Confidence in his suffering.

One thing that Paul said was that he KNEW that God was the Treasure inside of him as the Jar of Clay.

Jars of clay- Meaning.... represents something cheap. Something common. Everyone had clay pots and jars. They stored everything in them. The clay did not have any value.

Humans are the Clay (hold up the Coffee Cup). We do not have much value.

One Pastor said “On our best days we are just dignified dirt. But what the vessel contains is what makes us more than special.”

What if I were to place my wedding ring in the cup… does it now have value?

What if YOU have given YOUR life to King Jesus… Do you not now have MUCH value?!

What do you desire? To be valued! So that we matter… and we make a difference.

We want others to know how much weight we life in the gym… how much weight we have lost outside the gym…

We want to feel good about our selves… and find OUR value!!!

When we have Jesus we are valued, and we are valuable by the Highest POWER of ALL!

A. With Jesus there is Hope. vv. 8-9

In our affliction, confusion, persecution, and when we are struck down… IN JESUS we have HOPE.

We are JARS of CLAY … weak vessell… but when we contain the treasure of Jesus Christ we are made strong THROUGH HIM.

1. I believe fully that God wants us to know how weak we are, so that we can understand how Strong HE is.

2. He also wants us to know how much we are worth… (dirt) so that we find our true worth in Jesus.

Church… without Jesus where is our worth found?!

Meaningless, temporary things. That will never satisfy the soul. They will never make us whole!

Our worth is about as much as dirt. Someone figured that out to be around $1.50.

Listen Christian before I go on… if your struggle is in internal value know that you have a Priceless treasure inside you....

What is inside you give you your worth. If the Clay has my ring in it… its a worth a ton.

If you have Jesus within you… your worth becomes more important than anything else on earth. Why? Jesus gives me VALUE!

As v 8 and 9 point out … one Pastor said this,

God makes His strength evident in our weakness. So that God gets the glory. HIS light will shine through the cracks of your JAR of Clay.

Church when I have been down…the only strength that I have found is Jesus.

When I lost my best friend around 20 years old. I remember getting up to close the church service and I could not contain my tears… So much hurt

When I found out a good friend of mine had Cancer...

When I’ve arrived at a church members home and their spouse had passed away that night… with all the lights from the ambulance… and the people surrounding in love....

In these real moments of trials…just like Paul here in the scripture....

“JESUS inside of me gives me the power!” Vs 11-12

The idea is for us to understand that we do not get any of the glory that belongs to God.

Let God be the one that gives you your worth!

Die to self… because Jesus in us gives us Life! v12

2. There has to be Confidence in our eternal treasure.

vv13-15

We know that Jesus will bring us into his presence.

We know that we have been given Grace.

We can be thankful for Jesus.

Personal story: If you are a Christian… you have a Christ story.

My story has been nothing but relying on Christ.

I think about the times where Meagan and I had to just trust Jesus. Then I think about who I actually am.

Man I’m a sinner. I’ve messed up countless times in my life.

Let me ask you… If I were to throw all your sins on the screens for the church to see… would you be mortified.... ?!

if the nastiest thing you have ever thought about be blasted on the screens… how would YOUR church family feel about you!

GOD gives us His grace… we must be reminded of who we are.... Jars of Clay.... He loves us so much He gave us Jesus!!!

During this month of November we are reminded of thanksgiving and in v. 15 Paul reminds us of this too. Be thankful.. think of our need for Jesus!

3. There must be trust in an eternal God over momentary afflictions. vv. 16-18

Its almost the same idea as running. I do not like running. However at the end… you feel better. You keep going and going… in misery… but afterwards the reward for you afflictions are great. You get in shape, lose some weight....its awesome.

I think about the times in my life that I dreaded… Talking to Meagan’s dad… to preaching for the first time.... getting my blood drawn!!!

I also am reminded of times where we have to confront someone who has wronged us.

If you ran daily, you would be in shape. If you daily renewed yourself with Jesus, you will gain a TRUST in Him like you did not know could exist.

v8-9 Our trust will always remain in Him.

This is a beautiful thing.

The Weight of our afflictions does not match the WEIGHT of His glory.

Anything that we are going through on earth will never match eternity with Jesus. That is our Hope!

YOU- You and I are Jars of Clay. In essence we are weak… but when we have Jesus Christ as our savior He is the treasure within us. We are now strong!

WE-