Recognizing our faithful Laborers

1. An extravagant treasure.

2 Corinthians 4:3–6 ESV

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 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.

(1) A. The treasure is hidden to some.

The gospel they preached was hidden. (veiled)

Because Satan has blinded them.

Satan has a death grip on their lives.

Just as you and I were.

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

(1) B. The treasure is given by God.

vs 6 God who said “Let light shine out of darkness.”

God is the one who shone light in our hearts and gave us knowledge of His glory!

(1) C. The treasure is the glory of God seen through the face of Christ.

The knowledge of the glory of God.

Seen through Christ!

1 John 1:1–4 ESV

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is an extravagant treasure.

The glory of God has been revealed.

the beauty of His character can now be seen!

Hope and joy were poured out.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We learn of His grace and truth.

As we read through scripture we see His Holiness.

The Psalmist says: the heaven’s declare the glory of God.

Scott and I went to Lake Superior looking for Yooper Lights.

This is the treasure of Salvation.

God choosing to reveal the greatness of who He is.

2. An extraordinary investment.

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.

(2) A. The treasure is placed in fragile containers.

Jars of clay - earthen vessels.

Genesis 2:7 ESV

7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

Psalm 103:14 ESV

14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Clay pots break easily.

(2) B. This plan shows off God’s power.

God deliberately chose something fragile and unimpressive.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

That way God can put His glory and power on display.

1 Corinthians 1:20–21 ESV

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

Were is the wise?, The writer? The great debater?

God didn’t plan to use those things.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 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; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

That no human being might boast in the presence of God.

That no clay pot can boast.

But that might say:

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

3. An excellent resilience.

2 Corinthians 4:8–10 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; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

(3) A. The pot containing the treasure is afflicted BUT not crushed. (vs 8)

“Afflicted” = troubled (or) to press as grapes

Pressure from the outside coming in on every side. (this is a physical pressure) - NKJV “Hard pressed on every side.”

BUT - not crushed.

There is still life.

There is still a mission to carry out.

(3) B. The pot containing the treasure is perplexed BUT not in despair.

“perplexed” = to be at loss with one’s self.

At the end of our rope.

Our minds and our hearts can’s handle anything else.

We are finished - no way out.

BUT not in despair.

We might perceive in our minds there is no way out.

We might have ourselves convinced that we are at the end.

BUT we are not driven to utter loss.

We are not ACTUALLY without help.

We are not hopeless.

(3) C. The pot containing the treasure is persecuted BUT not forsaken.

“Persecuted” = to be chased as a deer.

The Jews chased Paul from town to town.

Paul was persecuted to the point of stoning, whipping, prison.

In Acts 14 Paul was left for dead.

Where was God in all of this?

HE WAS THERE!

Jesus said - go into all the world and make disciples and I am with you always!

Let me show you how precious this is.

Matthew 27:46 ESV

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

This “forsaken” is the same word Paul uses in today’s passage.

We will not have to experience what Christ experienced.

we will not be left behind.

We will not be abandoned.

(3) D. The pot containing the treasure is struck down BUT not destroyed.

“Struck down” = to be thrown down by your enemies

]again as Paul was - left for dead.

But he wasn’t destroyed.

We are not out of the fight.

4. An essential mindset.

2 Corinthians 4:10–18 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. 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, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 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.

(4) A. Suffering is to be expected.

ALWAYS carrying in the body the death of Jesus.

1 Peter 4:12 ESV

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

James 1:2 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

We should clearly understand this by now...

But Paul gives us a great reason why.

(4) B. The suffering of the pot makes the Potter clearly visible to others.

2 Corinthians 4:11 ESV

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.

“Manifest” - clearly seen.

Are you praying for God to use you to make disciples?

Trails are just the way to do that!

When we are resilient in trials it reveals Christ clearly in our lives!

It may be that the trial is not primarily for the one engaged in the trail.

But for other to see Christ in you!

1 Peter 4:13 ESV

13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

(4) C. Suffering should be measured with eternity.

Light and momentary affliction.

Because it cannot be compared to the weight of eternal glory.

BUT… we must look at what is not seen instead of what is seen.

The problem is we get short sighted.

Conclusion

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Let’s follow this progression.

We rejoice in our suffering = pressure (Afflicted in vs 8)

Affliction PRODUCES = endurance (a cheerful continuance)

Endurance PRODUCES = character (maturity)

Maturity/character PRODUCES = hope

A confidence and a faith - or - “to cherish a desire with anticipation.”

NKJV - Hope does not disappoint.

We place our hope in God and He does not disappoint!

So the end result does not disappoint us.

So we take out the progression and see the beginning and end. What do we have?

Hostility, affliction, pressure = DOES NOT DISAPPOINT!!

It does not put us to shame!