Jars of Clay (2)

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-18

HAVE YOU EVER TALKED TO SOMEONE ABOUT WHAT JESUS MEANS TO YOU? I HOPE ALL OF US CAN SAY YES TO THAT.

HAVE YOU EVER TALKED TO SOMEONE AND AS SOON AS YOU BEGIN TO TALK, YOU COULD SEE THAT THEY WERE GETTING AGITATED.

WHY WOULD THEY GET MAD BECAUSE YOU ARE TELLING THEM ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE?

WHY IS IT SOME PEOPLE ARE SO OPPOSED TO THE GOSPEL AND JESUS CHRIST?

WHY WHEN YOU TELL SOMEONE THAT YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH CERTAIN THINGS DO THEY LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU ARE FROM ANOTHER PLANET?

WE HAVE A MINISTRY, WE HAVE UNBELIEVERS WATCHING OUR LIVES, AND WE HAVE SATAN PULLING THE VEIL OVER PEOPLE’S EYES AND DECEIVING THEM ON THE THINGS OF GOD.

NOW I KNOW SOME ARE QUICK TO SAY THAT IS THE PREACHERS JOB, THAT’S WHAT WE PAY HIM FOR. I DID NOT GO TO COLLEGE, I DO NOT KNOW THE BIBLE WELL ENOUGH TO DO THAT.

OUR WORLD IS DYING IN PAIN AND SORROW, LOOKING FOR ANSWERS THAT MEAN SOMETHING WHEN IT COMES TO QUESTIONS ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH.

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IS THE INABILITY OF A PERSON TO UNDERSTAND , PERCEIVE, GRASP, COMPREHEND SPIRITUAL TRUTH. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE LIKE THAT?

WHAT IS SATAN HIDING FROM THESE PEOPLE?

1. V3- AND EVEN IF THE GOSPEL IS VEILED , IT IS VEILED TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING. THE GOD OF THIS AGE HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS, SO THAT THEY CANNOT SEE THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL. SHIELDS THEM FROM RECEIVING THE LIFE CHANGING POWER OF JESUS CHRIST THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.

2. BLINDS THEM TO THE MEANING OF THE CROSS. THE BLOOD, THE CROSS, ALL OF THAT IS MEANINGLESS TO THEM. EASTER IS A HOLIDAY. THEY GIVE THEIR KIDS EGGS AND CHOCOLATE. THEY WEAR A CROSS ON THEIR NECK, BUT NO IDEA WHAT IT MEANS. THEY SEARCH FOR SPIRITUALISM, BUT NOT CHRIST.

PAUL TELLS US V1 - WE HAVE A MINISTRY (WE AS YOU AND I) TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO THOSE AROUND US. TO SHED LIGHT TO A DARK AND DECEIVED WORLD. MOST PEOPLE THINK LIFE IS ABOUT HERE AND NOW. PUT EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT INTO RIGHT NOW. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE TO LIFE. WE BELIEVE THAT AFTER THIS LIFE, THERE IS A BETTER LIFE..FOR THOSE THAT HAVE JESUS AS SAVIOR.

MATTHEW 6:19-20

DO NOT STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES ON EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DESTROY, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL. BUT STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DO NOT DESTROY AND THIEVES DO NOT BREAK IN AND STEAL.

1 JOHN 2:17

THE WORLD AND IT’S DESIRES PASS AWAY, BUT THE MAN WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD LIVES FOREVER.

THERE IS SOMETHING GREATER TO LIVE FOR. THERE IS HOPE RATHER THAN DESPAIR.

HOWARD HENDRICKS

“IN THE MIDST OF A GENERATION SCREAMING FOR ANSWERS, CHRISTIANS ARE STUTTERING”

HERE WE GO

HOW DO WE (YOU AND I) RESPOND TO A WORLD OF HURTING PEOPLE

I. BE AN EXAMPLE

2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18

THEREFORE DO NOT LOSE HEART. THOUGH OUTWARDLY WE ARE WASTING AWAY, YET INWARDLY WE ARE BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY. FOR OUR LIGHT AND MOMENTARY TROUBLES ARE ACHIEVING FOR US AN ETERNAL GLORY THAT FAR OUTWEIGHS THEM ALL. SO WE FIX OUR EYES NOT ON WHAT IS SEEN, BUT WHAT IS UNSEEN. FOR WHAT IS SEEN IS TEMPORARY, BUT WHAT IS UNSEEN IS ETERNAL.

SOME OF US ARE NOT AS YOUNG AS WE ONCE WERE. SOME OF US WEIGH A LITTLE MORE THAN WE DID A FEW YEARS AGO. SOME OF US ARE LOSING OUR HAIR AND THINK GOD IS HAVING A HARD TIME COUNTING THEM. (ENOUGH ABOUT ME)

SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE PRIDEFUL ABOUT, WE HAVE LOST THEM, BUT WE KNOW AS BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY.

ONE DAY I WILL BE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND WILL HAVE A GLORIFIED BODY, BE STANDING IN A SURROUNDING OF AMAZING PEOPLE WORSHIPING GOD. IT IS NOT THE END, IT IS THE BEGINNING FOR ETERNITY.

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD. IT CONTAINS THE ANSWERS TO LIFE’S QUESTIONS. WE HAVE TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT BY LIVING IT AND TALKING ABOUT IT. WE NEED TO DO BOTH.

HOW DO I LIVE AND BE AN EXAMPLE OF OUR FAITH:

WE MUST TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST

WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN TODAY

WE LIVE OUR FAITH 24/7 AT WORK, AT HOME

GOD WORD IS OUR DIRECTION AND FINAL AUTHORITY IN EVERY SITUATION.

II. STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH

1 CORINTHIANS 16:13-

BE ON YOUR GUARD; STAND FIRM, BE MEN OF COURAGE, BE STRONG.

ILLUSTRATION-

IT IS LIKE THE GUY WHO SAID IN REGARD OF THE CHURCH. WE MUST WAKE UP, SING UP, PREACH UP, PRAY UP, STAY UP, PAY UP, BUT NEVER GIVE UP OR LET UP OR BACK UP OR SHUT UP UNTIL THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN THIS CHURCH AND THE WORLD IS BUILT UP.

IF YOU CAN’T BE THE PREACH UP, CAN YOU BE ONE OF THE OTHER ONES.

I DON’T KNOW HOW TO TAKE SOME PEOPLE WHEN I FIRST MET THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEY KNOW I AM A PASTOR. SOME WILL HIDE THEIR CIGARETTES WHEN THEY SEE ME, EVEN IF IT MEANS STARTING THEMSELVES ON FIRE. SEE THEM IN THE STORE AND THEY COVER UP THINGS IN THEIR CARTS, THEY COME DODGING OUT OF SOME BUILDINGS. OTHERS, ACT LIKE WE ARE BUDDIES AND TALK LIKE I WOULD BE APPROVING OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING OR SAYING.

STANDING FIRM IN YOUR FAITH IS KNOWING THAT GOD SEES YOU AND YOU ARE WANTING TO PLEASE HIM MORE THAN WANTING TO PLEASE MAN. STANDING IN YOUR FAITH WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT, OR IT IS NOT EASY, OR WE ARE HURT BY SOMEONE WE ARE CLOSE TO.

ILLUSTRATION-

BILLY SUNDAY, THE BASEBALL EVANGELIST, NEVER SPARED HIMSELF IN HIS ATTACKS AGAINST SIN. “I’M AGAINST SIN, HE SAID. I’LL KICK IT AS LONG AS I GOT A FOOT, AND I’LL FIGHT IT AS LONG AS I HAVE A FIST. I’LL BUTT IT AS LONG AS I GOT A HEAD. I’LL BITE IT AS LONG AS I HAVE A TOOTH. WHEN I’M OLD AND FISTLESS AND FOOTLESS AND TOOTHLESS, I’LL GUM IT UNTIL I GO HOME TO GLORY AND IT GOES TO HELL WHERE IT BELONGS.

THAT IS STANDING FIRM

III. GIVE TESTIMONY OF YOUR FAITH

1 PETER 3:15

IN YOUR HEARTS SET APART CHRIST AS LORD. ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE THE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE.

V7- BUT WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN JARS OF CLAY TO SHOW THAT THIS ALL SURPASSING POWER IS FROM GOD, AND NOT US.

PEOPLE AR WATCHING US, OUR TESTIMONY IS WHAT WE SAY, OUR ATTITUDES, OUR ACTIONS.

IT IS GIVING GOD GLORY FOR WHAT WE DO. IT IS BEING JARS OF CLAY, BREAKABLE, FRAGILE, SHOWCASING WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN YOUR LIFE. IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO GET TO THIS POINT, IT IS ABOUT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT JESUS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES, AND IF YOU WOULD LET HIM INTO YOUR LIFE, HE COULD DO THE SAME FOR YOU.

EVER BEEN FRUSTRATED OR EXHAUSTED OVER THINGS THAT HAPPEN AT WORK? OF COURSE YOU HAVE.

IT IS HOW YOU ACT THAT IS YOUR TESTIMONY.

ATTITUDE, WHAT ARE WE GIVING TO SOMEONE ELSE?

1 PETER5:8-9

BE SELF CONTROLLED AND ALERT. YOUR ENEMY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR. RESIST HIM.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO EXPERIENCE TROUBLES IN THEIR LIVE, BUT WHAT WE DO WITH THAT TROUBLE IS ANOTHER MATTER.

SOME PEOPLE HIDE

SOME PEOPLE RUN

SOME GO TO THE LORD

SATAN HAS BLINDED THE MINDS OF UNBELIEVERS- PREVELANT IN OUR LIBERAL COLLEGES AND WORLD TODAY!!

DON’T BELIEVE IT, LOOK AROUND. SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING, SEE WHAT VALUES THEY HAVE. SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE ARGUING OVER. SEE PEOPLE HURTING EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF SELFISHNESS, GREED, LUST, POWER, FAME.

HE SAYS AS BELIEVERS WE CAN BE HARD PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE, BUT NOT CRUSHED. PERPLEXED, BUT NOT IN DESPAIR. PERSECUTED, BUT NOT ABANDONED, STRUCK DOWN, BUT NOT DESTROYED.

THAT IS BECAUSE , IT IS THE POWER OF GOD WORKING IN OUR LIVES AND IS MORE THAN JUST US.

LET THEM SEE JESUS IN US- BEAUTIFUL JARS OF CLAY THAT THE LORD IS WORKING ON. NOT PERFECT.. BUT BEAUTIFUL IN THE EYES OF GOD.