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Treasures In Earthen Vessels

Posted on 28 Jun 2020, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

Title: Treasures In Earthen Vessels

Text: 2 Cor. 4:5-7

[2Co 4:5] For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

[2Co 4:6] For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

[2Co 4:7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Introduction

In the second epistle to the Corinthians, Apostle Paul made it clear that we preach is not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.
For God commanded the light to shine out of darkness in our hearts
To give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
Then, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
That treasure in earthen vessels is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
- [Joh 1:4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
When that Light is in you, there is a treasure inside of you
When that Light is missing, darkness fill the hearts of man
- [2Co 4:4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
- [Isa 60:2] For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
We were once in darkness, but thank God we have been translated from darkness into light.
- [Col 1:12] Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
- [Col 1:13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
- [1Pe 2:9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Once you have given your life to Jesus Christ, you are no longer in the darkness, but in the light.
So, you are the earthen vessel, and the treasure that is in the earthen vessels is the light of the gospel that is in you

Main Topic

The treasures

It is the Holy Spirit that brings out the treasures (the light of the gospel) that are in earthen vessels through the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit
- [Gal 5:22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
- [Gal 5:23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The gifts of the Spirit
- [1Co 12:8] For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
- [1Co 12:9] To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
- [1Co 12:10] To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
There are also natural abilities inside of you that the Holy Spirit will bring out
These are the treasures that are in earthen vessels
Remember what Jesus said about treasures?
- [Mat 6:19] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
- [Mat 6:20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
- [Mat 6:21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Vessels of Honor or Vessels of Dishonor

[2Ti 2:20] But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
[2Ti 2:21] If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
Now that you are in the light, you are in a great house.
You don’t stop there and relax.
In that great house, you are either a vessel of gold, silver, wood, or earth.
You have the option to be a vessel of honor or dishonor.
There are vessels of earth that are for honor
There are vessels of gold that are for dishonor
The gold, silver, wood, or earth speaks of the capacity and size of the vessel, speaks of the capability of the vessel
For example, one would not put a wooden vessel inside fire
Regardless of the raw material that you are made of, you have the capability to carry the treasure that is inside you
Regardless of the size, capacity, and capability, one can be a vessel of honor or dishonor
It depends on what you do with the treasure that you carry
However, the excellency of the power is of God, it is not of us.
It is God that put the treasure inside of us, therefore, God must take the glory.

How to be a Vessel of Honor

Surrender your life to Jesus completely and totally
Accept the Holy Spirit as your Helper in your Christian walk
Understand that you don’t understand how to walk as a Christian, then let the Holy Spirit lead you
The intensity of the light inside of you is determined by the intensity of your relationship with the Holy Spirit
Then, the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit will be revealed in you

Conclusion

Light will drive out darkness
Light will illuminate our innate abilities, ask Brother Peter
Light will expose the vessel to the environment, ask Brother Paul
The intensity of the light determines how far the exposure will go – Brother Peter and Brother Paul can teach us on this
The intensity of the light will dictate the darkness attracted as well – ask Brother Paul
Therefore, the light must continue to shine. It must not go dark.

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Sermon

Treasures In Earthen Vessels