TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-7 Cooper Abrams

Introduction:    In 1947, an Arab boy threw a rock into some caves to ride out his goats who had wandered into them. When the rock hit he heard the sound of breaking pottery and found clay jars containing ancient scrolls. Called the Dead Sea Scrolls.

           The most valuable Biblical archaeological find probably ever made. The oldest Old Testament manuscripts up to that time dated at around 800 AD, yet these ancient manuscripts dated to 200 years before Christ. Liberal unbelieving so called scholars denied the accuracy of the Old Testament, but amazingly these manuscripts a 1000 years older than were literally identical proving that God had preserved His word and we today have an accurate Bible.

          It was truly "treasure in earthen vessels."

           What is treasure? A treasure is a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects or a very valuable object. Something of great worth.

          What was the "treasure" Paul spoke of? What was this treasure in earthen vessels and why did he say it was in "earthen" vessels. Things of great value are normal housed in special and expensive boxes, cases or containers. If you had a great expensive diamond would you ring of a tin or iron. Of course not it would be set in a gold ring or some precious metal.

          Yet, the Lord is telling us here that we have this great treasure in and earthen vessel. That would mean a ordinary container made of clay, not some beautiful porcelain or china vessel.

          His description is important to understanding the meaning of the passage. Let's examine the passage and find the treasure.

I. PAUL HAD A MINISTRY. 2 Cor. 4:1
A. Have you considered that you have a ministry?
1. Most feel that is the work of a Pastor. Often the idea is that pastors minister, but not ordinary Christians.

2. Have you considered what is your position in God's plan of salvation? What happens after salvation? Then what follows?

B. Paul says he has a "treasure" in an earthen vessel. What is he referring too?
1. Verse one says what it is..the ministry that God gave him. Paul was a man, that God made of the dust of the earth, made of clay. Like us all he was frail human being. We often think highly of ourselves, but in truth we had little power to change anything. Do we really have control over our lives....maybe we thing we do, but what about diseases that can effect us and even take our lives. Even with the best diets can we real prevent cancer and heart attacks and disease?

Ewell Gibbons was an avid naturalist. Exercised, ate a careful diet, but at 64 he died of hardening of the arteries which caused a heart attack. We can do nothing to prevent our deaths. We have not righteousness of our own and we are truly earthen vessels. 2. Can we relate these verses to ourselves? Do these verse mean anything to us? Sure we say, Paul was a special minister called by God to spread the Gospel. Paul tells us plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 what was the Gospel that was preached after Christ's ascension in to heaven.

          But some Christian seek to make excuses for us today by claiming that, "Paul was different from us. He was special. We do not have to have the zeal he had, or the dedication, or the faithfulness. He is a class of Christians and we are in another."

3. Some use the names "clergy" and "laity" in identifying the classes of Christians. Others have added special classes in their false churches. They declare that if you do some ritual or ceremony you become better in God's sight than others. That my friend is absolutely not biblical. Why? You do not find that in God's word.

4. Look at Paul's zeal. Paul says he "having received such a wonderful ministry by the mercy of God he faints not"

          Paul saw what God had appointed him as important and because it was important to God he did not faint, or in other words quit.

5. As a result of having been given the task of spreading the Gospel Paul describes his zeal in the ministry.

          He wanted it to be proper, done right, done in truth, without error and everyone could outward see this was his devotion and intent.

a. He denounced secrecy. His life was an open book. He did not try to hide things and be dishonest.

b. He did not manipulate the Word of God to fit his own selfish desires, or to have power, or receive any personal benefit.

c. He preached and lived the Bible in the truth that the Bible teaches. He did not water it down, nor spice it up. He preached and taught it as God gave it in purity. He did not present the Gospel as a competing as entertainment.

ILLUS: Peter Jennings Special on TV, Thur. 3/16/95. ABC presented "In the Name of God" on March 16, 1995. Peter Jennings analyzed some of the growing churches/movements in the U.S., and concluded with this question, "As these churches try to attract sell-out crowds, are they in danger of selling out the gospel?" Now years later we know the answer to Jennings statement. Yes, many churches, have sold out the Gospel in order to have large numbers and lots of money. A watered down gospel is not the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

          Surveys show that as much as 85 percent of church membership growth is made up of people who church-hop.

          Other surveys show that there has been no real growth in church membership in recent years; increase in some denominations is simply offset by decrease in others.

d. Paul did not play the "mutual admiration society" game. He was humble and sincere and very open to those who knew him.

          THIS IS NOT SELF-PRAISE, BUT THE STATEMENT OF A BELIEF IN A DEVOTION TO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND MAKING AN ASSERTION OF HIS CONSCIOUS COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY.

C. Verse 3: Paul says that if people did not understand the Gospel he preached it was because they were lost!

          The implication was that if anyone could not see that Paul held the Truth, lived it and preached it...then he assumed they were lost because a saved person would be spiritual enough to recognize the Truth.

1. He further says the god of this world, that means Satan has blinded those who can not see it.

2. Satan's has blinded them that the wonderful and glorious Gospel, which is Christ Jesus should not be received by them.

D. Paul says he preached not to build himself up but to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and in serving Christ he served the people. For Christ's sake, he served the churches.

II. THE COMMISSION AND WILL OF GOD. 2 Cor. 4:6
A. Paul uses the illustration of God commanding light to shine where there was darkness in the Creation.

          The comparison is that God who commanded the light to shine in the first day of Creation, has also shined in the hearts of those that believe God's word and receive the truth of who He truly is and who put their faith in Him alone for their salvation.

          It was the will of God that man overcome sin within men's heart. He wants us to receive the truth, God's truth and believe and obey it. That means we must reject the darkness of sin and false doctrine and beliefs.

1. This is the heart of the matter! God does not intend, or desire that men live in sin and darkness, but in the light of His truth.

2. God desires that all men everywhere come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. Paul state this light shined in his heart!

          The implication is that the purpose for his ministry was that others may be saved. That the Lord would enlighten the hearts of others as well.

C. This is the treasure - he had received and experienced this treasure..the wonderful Good News that man can have his sin forgiven. He was then to share that Good News with others.

1. The earthen vessel is a transformed man. A sinner saved by God's Grace from sin.

2. Yet, to this frail and weak creature... God has chosen to be the bearer of the precious Gospel that brings light into to wicked hearts, and washes men as white as snow.

D. The ministry of telling others is intrusted to men. Men who have been saved, who have received the new birth, who have trusted in Christ as their Savior.
1. The implication is simple: Men and Women who have received Grace of God, who have received salvation are the examples of God's Grace.

2. Every saved man, women, boy or girl is supposed to be a picture of the truth of God's wonderful redemption and deliverance for sin!

3. Salvation is not of a man. Being a Born Again Christian is not a cause for being proud.

          It is a public declaration of one being a sinner. That nothing to brag about. It is saying publicly I am a sinner! Yes, I am, but God in all his loving kindness and Grace and Mercy, loved me and forgave me a sinner.

          When the lost world looks on it sees not the accomplishment of a man or man's goodness, but the love of God to want to free a man from his sin and the power of God to change a life.

CONCLUSION:
1. Pastor what does all this mean? Paul was special! I am not expected by God to have such a ministry am I?

          Is this zealousness towards a ministry meant for me? Surely it is more than I can do or that God expects of me. 2. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:10

          The context says all that Paul was saying in Chapter 4, was leading to the statements in Chapter 5.

a. Verse 10 refers to the BEMA judgement.

Paul is saying now...everyone who names the name of Christ will stand in judgment before God!

What will be judged by. What we did on earth for the Lord!

b. WHAT KIND OF MINISTRY DID WE HAVE?

           Did we serve one another? Did we serve the lost by preaching the Gospel and witnessing to those around us? Did we live godly and upright lives. Were we faithful to attending all the services of the churches, did we study the Bible, did we pray, did we tithe and give sacrificially so the work of the Lord would be done.

c. Note again that this treasure is in a earthen vessel!

          Folks God has chosen to use us, ordinary men and women, to spread this precious truth, this great treasure, that saved men's souls and gives them eternal life!

3. QUESTION FOR EVERYONE HERE SHOULD BE:
WHAT AM I DOING. WHAT DOES MY LIFE MEAN TO THOSE AROUND ME.

DO I HAVE A MINISTRY? THE BETTER QUESTION IS THIS. . . HAVE I ACCEPTED THIS MINISTRY THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN EACH SAVED MAN, WOMAN, BOY OR GIRL TO HAVE?

Mathew 28:19-20 is the Lord Jesus' commission to ever believer. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations."

How do we begin. First, by our faithfulness to the Lord, our purity in our lives.

          Second by knowing the Bible, therefore being able to "give every man a testimony of the faith that is in us"

          Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

          When a person submits to biblical baptism it means they have believed in the Trinity, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are not to baptize those who have not come to the truth of who God truly is and who have not accepted Him as their God and Savior.

          Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you

          You can not teach people to observe what you do not know or live your self.

          You can not teach even your children to be faithful to the Lord if you are not faithful.

          You can not teach your neighbor, friend or passing acquaintance to live for the Lord if you don't.

          You can not teach men to turn from sin and live holy and godly lives, when you live a life of sin, of pride, selfishness.

          The reward of our testimony for the Lord is that some will believe and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Some will accept God's truth. That is a great reward for us that we were able to used by God to save a sinner for hell.

          The reward is that we will have accomplished the reason were we put on this earth. God's will for our life would be achieved.

          We would be God's treasure in earthen vessels.

          THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS....IF THOSE WHO PROFESS TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR WON'T LIVE FOR THE LORD AND LET HIM USE THEM...WHO WILL BE A TESTIMONY TO THE UNSAVED?



8/9/09

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