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TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-7 Cooper Abrams |
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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.
This was 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 textual critics and scholars before this had denied the accuracy of the Old Testament saying the true text had been lost over the past ten centuries in the process of copying and recopying the text. However, amazingly these manuscripts that were a 1000 years older than the Masoretic text, that was text currently available, was literally identical proving that God had preserved His word and we today have an accurate Bible.
This ancient manuscripts were 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 to be sought after.
The question were need to ask in studying this passage of God's word is "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 very expensive diamond would you have the jeweler set it on a ring made of iron or tin? Of course not it would be set in a gold ring or some precious metal.
Yet, the Lord is telling us in verse 7, that we have this great treasure in and it is in an earthen vessel. That would mean a ordinary container made of clay, not some beautiful porcelain or China vessel. Wouldn't it be a tragedy to have a great treasure and not know it? Wouldn't it be a gross misfortune to have something of great value and not use it or derive the benefit of it?
His description is important to understanding the meaning of the passage. Let's examine the passage and find the treasure.
2. Have you considered what is your position in God's plan of salvation? What happens after salvation? Then what follows?
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. He thought he had his health under control. Sadly, he learned the truth that ultimately we can do nothing to prevent our deaths. With all our effects and good intentions there are many things that are simply beyond our ability to change.
In spiritual terms the Bible says we have no righteousness of our own and we are truly earthen vessels, subject to the things of this sinful earth.
2. Can we relate these verses to ourselves? Do these verse mean anything to us? We can say, Paul was a special minister called by God to spread the Gospel and quite different from us. Paul tells us plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 what was the Gospel that he preached after Christ's ascension in to heaven. Can we too tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ? Can we tell people who He is and what He did for us? Can we not explain that all men are sinners and under the condemnation of our sin?
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 one class of Christian and we are in another." But what did Paul have that we do not have? The answer is nothing. He had a calling of God to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, and we too have the calling to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around us.
3. Some use the names "clergy" and "laity" in identifying the classes of Christians. Others have added special classes in their false churches.
ILLUS: A perfect example is the Roman Catholic Church. The have invented a special order of church members. It starts at the top with a pope who is infallible meaning perfect without mistakes. The then descend down through there ranks of church officials all have special authority that the "laity" or common people do not have. I am amazed at the audacity of the RCC presently running an ad on TV called "Catholics Come Home" promoting their church and trying to get former Catholics to return. One of their claims is they compiled the Bible, which is historically not true. The RCC church for centuries would not allow the common people to have access to the Bible. They declared your had to have a priest or some church official tell you what the Bible says. 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 to 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 being committed to 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.
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.
Surveys show that today as much as 85 percent of church membership growth is made up of people who church-hop. In other words people are going from church to church seeking better entertainment and a more pleasing presentation. The pulpit has become a stage.
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 nor did he seek to entertain and make the Gospel more attractive by adding the leaven of the world to it. He was humble and sincere and very open to those who knew him.
THIS WAS 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.
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.
God tells us in 1 Corinthians, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14)
2. Satan's has blinded them that the wonderful and glorious Gospel, which is Christ Jesus should not be received by them.
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.
2. God desires that all men everywhere come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
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.
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. What was Paul's testimony?
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15)
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.
The question is: "Is this zealousness towards a ministry meant for me?" "Surely, isn't it more than I can do or that God expects of me?" Paul was a missionary to the Gentiles, am I to be a missionary also?
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.
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!
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?
Matthew 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.
Being baptized and the as a church baptizing those who believe 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. I am observed that unfaithfulness runs in families. Parents who are unfaithful to the Lord will have children that are also unfaithful.
You can not teach your neighbor, friend or passing acquaintance to live for the Lord if you don't.
You cannot 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. Those who use the great treasure God gives us reap the reward that comes from sharing the treasure.
The reward is that we will have accomplished the reason were we put on this earth the reason God saved us. 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?
I. PAUL HAD A GOD GIVEN MINISTRY. 2 Cor. 4:1
A. Have you considered that you too have a ministry that God has given you?
II. THE COMMISSION AND WILL OF GOD. 2 Cor. 4:6
1. Most people feel that the work of the ministry is the work of a Pastor. Often the idea is that pastors minister, but not ordinary Christians. A minister is someone who "ministers" is one who gives care, service, and aid to another. He is one who attends to the necessities of others. Paul's ministry was twofold. One, he preached and taught the Gospel that sinners might hear the good news that Jesus Christ has come and through simple faith and belief in Him a person can have all their sins forgiven, be given eternal life, heaven when they die. Second, Paul sought to edify, meaning to build up and grow those who believed in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, to help them mature and live righteous lives overcoming sin that we all are faced with. That was Paul's ministry.
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 too highly of ourselves and that we are in control and have great ability to direct out lives. But in truth we actually 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?
C. Verse 3: Paul says that if people did not understand the Gospel he preached it was because they were lost!
a. He denounced secrecy. His life was an open book. He did not try to hide things and be dishonest.
ILLUS: Peter Jennings Special on TV, Thur. 3/16/95. ABC presented a program titled, "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. This selling out of the Gospel was the foundation of the heretical movement today that is called the "emerging church."
1. He further says the god of this world, that means Satan has blinded those who can not see it.
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.
A. Paul uses the illustration of God commanding light to shine where there was darkness in the Creation.
CONCLUSION:
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.
B. Paul states this light shined in his heart!
1. The earthen vessel is a transformed man. A sinner saved by God's Grace from sin.
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.
1. What does all this mean? Was Paul special and unique, must different that you and I? Am I expected by God to have a ministry?
a. Verse 10 refers to the BEMA judgment.
3. QUESTION FOR EVERYONE HERE SHOULD BE:
WHAT AM I DOING? WHAT DOES MY LIFE MEAN TO THOSE AROUND ME?
8/9/09
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