Treasure In Earthen Vessels

Introduction

There’s a lot of things about Mike I would like to emulate, but I hope not in the matter of failing to bring my A, B, or C game. If so, we’re in for a long 30 minutes. There are some verses that just leap out at you because they are so beautiful and are chalked full with meaning in our lives. And I want to concentrate just for a moment on the book of 2 Corinthians to note a few of them with you. One that I think about, one of the dramatic verses of 2 Corinthians is verse 9 of chapter 8 when he says, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

What a great verse. It is the motivation, the compelling reason to give and to do so liberally. In 2 Corinthians chapter 8 in our service to God. What I mean, you could preach a whole sermon just on that verse. And then the one that would follow in summation of his appeal for collection in 2 Corinthians 9 and verse 15, when he simply says, Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. But I want to take you to a verse in chapter 4 that has always intrigued me. Not sure if I’ve ever preached a sermon entirely on this context before, but I have used this verse so many times. 2 Corinthians 4 and verse 7. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. That the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.

Vessels. Vessels in biblical times were very commonplace and fragile. They were not expensive. And they were easily broken. These vessels may appear quite nondescript. Often they were not flashy. Nor did they declare, look at me, here I am. But they were imminently useful. They served a valuable purpose. Their value is not derived as ornaments. No, that’s 21st century culture when you see vessels about in people’s houses as they decorate their houses. Now they’ve become more ornamental. We have some vessels in our house that are not used for anything but decoration. This is not first century vessels. They were not ornaments. They were useful. And that’s what Paul is referring to here in 2 Corinthians 4 and verse 7. And contextually, Paul is building on a contrast between the old covenant, the law of Moses with an inferior glory, to the surpassing glory of the new covenant of Christ and the role of these disciples and us in it.

And so I want to read 2 Corinthians chapter 4 to you this morning, and I want to ask a series of six questions that flow out of this text. I want you to begin reading with me in verse 1, and we’ll get the flavor of this down through verse 7. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart. Now remember, Paul is defending himself, actually, to the Corinthians who have become restrained in their affections for him. And he’s talking about some of the charges that they have made that he is mighty in letter, but weak in presence, and his presence is contemptible. He’s done all of this suffering that he will catalog in chapter 11 for the cause of Christ.

And Paul is not a pretty sight to behold. And yet he is talking about the validity and genuineness of his ministry and hopefully theirs when he says this. We do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame. Not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, dealing with the word of God sincerely, but by the manifestation of truth, commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is in the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond servants for Jesus’ sake.

For God, who said, light shall shine out of darkness, is the one who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. That the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves. Well, I didn’t want you to be horrified, so I didn’t take your picture and put it up on the screen this morning. But in essence, that is your picture from God’s point of view. This treasure in earthen vessels speaks to what God has accomplished in his people and wants to accomplish still in his people today.

1. What Have You Renounced?

The sincerity and genuineness of Paul’s ministry was based upon some things that he had renounced in his life. And to be treasures in earthen vessels, we must do the same. We cannot walk hand in hand with Jesus while we walk hand in hand with the world simultaneously. Is there something in your life that you would like to keep hidden from others? If so, that’s likely something that needs to be renounced, forsaken, and abandoned. Sin brings shame to our lives. Do you see that in verse 2? Sin brings shame to our lives, and thus it needs to be jettisoned from our lives. We should not want to associate with behavior that is destined to receive God’s wrath. I said this verse was in tonight’s sermon, and it is, but it’s also in this morning’s sermon in Colossians chapter 3, because we have been raised up with Christ and seeking the things that are above, and because Christ is our life, verse 4, we are to consider the members of our body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, those things amount to idolatry, Paul says.

The message of repentance relates to this. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 and verse 10. Those in Thessalonica who had turned from vain things to serve a living and true God. They had turned to God from idols, it says, and they now wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, that is Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. This should provide great motivation to put on Christ, to choose him, and reject the short-lived passion and pleasure that grips our world. He goes on to say, the failure to embrace the provisions of the gospel is not a problem in the gospel itself or the power that is latent within it. The problem is not the messenger who speaks the gospel in truth.

The fault is the one who allows himself or herself to fall prey to the mesmerizing sway and enthralling allurements of the God of this world. If the gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who perish. He says, the God of this world blinds the minds of the unbelieving.

2. Who Do You Preach?

As he says in verse 5 of 2 Corinthians chapter 4, for we do not preach ourselves. He, as a minister of the gospel, the one whose ministry is true and genuine, it is not about at all self-promotion. It is absolutely not about self-advancement. It is always about God and exalting Him and advancing others ahead of ourselves. We do not preach ourselves. The question is, who do you preach? Some of our biggest problems spiritually, I believe, relate to the way we see and view ourselves. It’s just not about me getting my ego stroked and other people telling me how wonderful I am. If we are in some way helpful to others and encouraging to others, to God be the glory, that he has taken the likes of us and transformed us and made us useful, that we can even be nondescript vessels, that he uses to his glory.

And so get this, please. Whatever we have done, and for however long we have done it is only what we should have done. And whatever we have sacrificed, and however much, and however long, and to whatever extent we have sacrificed, Jesus is worthy of that. And much more.

And what we are. And the things to which we have been elevated. The fact that we sit in heavenly places in Christ is only because of him. We must never get distorted in our view of ourselves that somehow causes us to think that we’re really important. Or that the spotlight ought to be on me or on us. Because the spotlight ought always to be on him. We must not be distracted by the fact that some are his messengers and overly elevate them. They are just doing what he deserves, and again, he deserves far more. Don’t ever start thinking that you’re irreplaceable in the kingdom. I was shocked. George Zimmer is out. President and founder of men’s warehouse twenty seven long years. You’ll like the way you look, I guarantee it.

He’s the founder. That company exists because of him. And the board of directors voted him out. Now he’s not going down without a pipe. But he’s gone.

That’s like KFC saying goodbye to Colonel Sanders. That’s like the New England Patriots telling Tom Brady goodbye. It’s like the Indianapolis Colts saying to Peyton Manning, we don’t need you. They did.

Fellow Aggie, not to me, but to some of you. Hal Hammonds, who now preaches in Pensacola, Florida, wrote recently about this, and he said, We’re all replaceable. It’s easy to overestimate the importance of a single human being in the great scheme of things. And nowhere is it less justified than in the church of the Lord. Judas proved unworthy as an apostle. Matthias is appointed. Stephen is killed. The one who cast his vote against him took his place. The tendency, especially among long-serving preachers and elders, I guess that would be me, is to assume things will go to pot immediately after their departure. But this is unreasonable and arrogant, really. God managed to get the job done long before we arrived. He and the Lord’s work will do just fine without us.

3. Whose Face Do You Seek?

The power is in him and his word, and not in the one speaking it, certainly not in me. And then he said, Don’t tell my wife, Tracy. I just said this. Paul here negates any claims of adequacy of himself based on his personal sufficiency. He is a model instead of personal suffering and weakness. And he’s saying that provides the perfect arena to display where the true power is. And that is of the Spirit. More on that when we get to point number four. Question number three. Evidenced in verse six. Whose face do you seek? In this treasure in earthen vessels, that he goes on to talk about in verse 7. He talks about the light in verse 6 that has shone out of darkness and into their hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

So the question that I raise is, whose face do you seek? Old covenant glory was associated with Moses’ shining face as he would come and be in the presence of God and as a reference. He would put a veil over his face, and then that would be used to talk about the veil that’s over the minds of the unbelieving in verses 3 and 4 of this context. But new covenant, greater glory, is associated with the human face of Christ. Remember, I said a lot of our problems are that we don’t see ourselves clearly. The other problem associated with that one is that we don’t see Jesus clearly. One of the great problems of Christianity, which that’s sort of ironic and odd, isn’t it? To call it Christianity when Christ is the center of that word.

It’s about Him. One of the great problems of Christianity in our time is that people don’t really see Jesus. They don’t know what He said. They really don’t understand His identity. And they certainly don’t live like He wants them to live. Unless we see Christ clearly and His teaching clearly, the result will be a distorted image of the nature of the gospel. Putting the character of Christ to work in all of our relationships. This is what it truly means to be Christian. And perhaps is one of the great challenges that we face in being a Christian. The most challenging thing, believe it or not, is not just committing to worship. The most challenging thing is displaying his attributes. Even when others don’t. Even when others are failing miserably right in front of us.

4. Where Is the Supply of Your Power?

We must continually be asking the question. Whose face do you see? We must continually ask the question: what does the example of Christ dictate that I do in this circumstance, in this relationship, in this time? The human face of Christ, what he was is the model that we’re striving to imitate. Question number four. Where is the supply of your power? Vessels, that’s all we are. We’re vessels. Made useful and valuable by our Lord. It doesn’t matter that outwardly I am decaying and that I’m not a sight you really want to look at, Paul says. And that’s really a good thing. That you’re not carried away with my presence and my visage because then you see that everything that I’m about in the preaching of the gospel is really about God and his power and the surpassing greatness of the power is of God and not of ourselves.

And if the message that I’m preaching today or some other day when I bring my AEMB game, if that message affects you, that is the power of God that does it, not me. I’m a vessel. The teachers are merely vessels. If the power convicts and brings about the change that God desires, then it is his power that is doing it. After all, whatever contribution I make, he is the creator, by the way. He is the one that made me and fashioned me and gave me the ability to preach a sermon or teach a class or to make a point that convicts you. And plus, spiritually, he’s the one that has redeemed you. One wonderful thing about the gospel. And I know you’re going to like this.

One wonderful thing about the gospel is that it’s not reserved for just the immensely talented people. It’s for everybody. It’s even for those who are afflicted. It doesn’t even require perfect circumstances to thrive. Don’t diminish your participation in the things of God merely because others are more talented than you, or their service may appear to be greater, or their intellect runs deeper. I’ve learned a lot of things in 30 years of preaching, but I talk about other preachers all the time. I’ll say, he’s smarter than me. He knows more than I do. And there will always be somebody who knows more than you do. There will always be somebody that’s more talented than you. But that’s the wonderful thing about the gospel. God gives more abundant honor to the member that lacks.

Perhaps my circumstances don’t allow me to contribute as much as someone else. Perhaps I have limitations, perhaps even physical limitations, that limit me from doing very much at all compared to someone else. But that’s the wonderful thing. We’re just a vessel. Some vessels are bigger than others. Some vessels can do more than others. But as long as you’re a vessel, that’s what matters. And in Matthew chapter 10 and verse 42, one of my favorite sayings talk about great statements. On par with what we’ve already looked at in 2 Corinthians, Matthew 10 and verse 42, and whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

You know, I learned something. I love what I learned something. This phrase, the little ones, it’s not talking about little kids. If you thought that. This actually comes from, ready for this? Zachariah. Zechariah 13 and verse 7 talks about the little ones. And what Jesus is saying here, as Jameson and Fawcett and Brown say in their commentary, he says, this is a beautiful epithet. Originally taken from Zachariah 13, 7. The reference is to their lowliness in spirit, their littleness in the eyes of an undiscerning world while high in heaven’s esteem. And so here’s this little one, and that’s us, these little people in the kingdom of God, these vessels. And I say, here’s a cup of water. And you say, wow, I’m thirsty. Thanks. And that helps you to go forward.

5. What Are You Always About?

And what Jesus is saying is, you serve as a vessel. You help others along the way who are his little ones. And that’s what it’s all about. He didn’t say anything about preaching the sermon. He didn’t say anything about being a leader in the local church. Oh, we need leaders. We need more. But he talked about doing what you can do. In the name of Jesus, as one of his disciples. Equipped for service. Where is the supply of your power? External stress and pressures do not have to quench the power of God in our lives. He is able to do exceeding and abundantly all that we ask or think according to the power that works within us, Ephesians 3 and verse 20. Question number five What are you always about?

He goes from this as he talks about being treasures and earthen vessels to say, we are afflicted in every way. But not crushed, perplexed, but not despairing. Persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed. I think ideally we would like a Christianity that let’s take out the words afflicted. Let’s take out the word perplexed and persecuted and struck down. Not desirable. But that’s a part of Paul’s existence here. Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. Here he is being persecuted, he is troubled, he is experiencing great concern because of the things that he must endure, and yet in the death of his body, he’s not saying death is imminent necessarily, but he’s his dying daily for Christ is ultimately hastening his physical death.

But Christ is alive in him. Christ is working in him as the supply of his power. He’s carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be manifested in you. All that I’ve endured, folks, you Corinthians, is for your salvation and your hope. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us. But life in you. The paradoxes that follow verse 7. On the one hand, the vulnerability of Paul and his fellow laborers, but on the other, they are sustained by God’s power, and despite physical death, spiritual life results. This is very much parallel to Romans 12, 1 and 2.

6. What Do You Look At?

When it talks about living sacrifices and the transformation that results, not being conformed to this world but being transformed by the renewing of your minds. Judge the gospel by the spiritual vibrancy within souls, influence for Christ, not by the physical appearance of its messengers. What are you always about? We’re not always about the dying of Jesus if we approach things. It’s always me first. That’s not the dying of Jesus. And we’re not about the dying of Jesus if what I want is always elevated above everything else. We learn that from the example of Paul. And then finally, the question. What do you look at? When he comes down to verse 16, therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

For a momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, far beyond all comparison. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. And so he concludes.

Look at the things that do.

Focus on the only things that do not undergo corruption and decay. You know what those things are in Scripture? Our inheritance. Incorruptible. Paul says.

Flesh is like grass, but the word of the Lord endures forever. God himself is incorruptible. 1 Timothy chapter 1 and verse 17. And we have been promised the prize that is incorruptible. 1 Corinthians 9 and verse 25. And we have been given the promise that we’re going to get a body that’s incorruptible. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 52. What are you looking at? You ever get a little bored in worship? You know what makes worship truly meaningful? You know what produces zeal and zest for worship? It’s looking at the unseen. You’ve got to lift your eyes above the horizon. It’s what makes our participation joyous and zealous and satisfying. This focus. Looking at things above is what compels us in the midst of disappointment and frustration.

Conclusion

Important questions. What have you renounced? Whom do you preach? Whose face do you seek? Where is the supply of your power? What are you always about? And to what do you look? And this leads into a discussion of the home that Paul anticipated. Eternal, not made with hands in the heavens. And because of that dwelling, he says, it is my ambition, whether at home or absent from the body to be pleasing to the Lord. And then he says, We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the things done in our body, whether those things be good or bad.

I’ve liked the show Star Trek since I was a little kid. They’ve come a long way with special effects since the original Star Trek, but it was cutting edge at the time. I’ve used the expression many times, beam me up, Scotty. Wouldn’t that be cool, be transported? It’s not ahead of its time, I want to tell you that’s impossible. I don’t care what kind of technological advances we experience, we never will be able to transport people. Only God can transport people. But let’s assume that’s possible. Scotty can do it. He can transport you. You’re going to be transported this morning. Like Paul, sort of in 2 Corinthians chapter 12. Into the third heaven. But that’s not where you’re being transported to this morning. You’re going to disappear for five seconds.

That’s it. You’re going to reappear. And the place that you’re going to be transported to hell. I want to tell you that’s going to be a long five seconds. If we were there for just that long, we wouldn’t want anything to do with sin. We would be determined immediately to make changes to the saving of our souls. I’m convinced. And that’s really what Paul’s doing as he wraps this up in verses 10 and 11. We’re going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and knowing the terror of the Lord or the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. Can I persuade you to renounce the hidden things of shame, to turn from vain things, to serve a living and true God, and to seek the face of Christ, and let the power be of God in your life and not of yourself.

Once you deliver yourself over to death, dying to sin in imitation of Jesus’ death and being raised again to walk in newness of life, can we assist you in making that great decision today while we stand saved?