Wakeman Congregational Church

2 Corinthians 4:7-12  ⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.  ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

 

I.                   Context

a.       2 Corinthians written as a defense of Paul’s ministry as ‘hucksters’ were questioning his validity because he was always suffering

b.      Paul’s called to be a minister of the New Covenant (4:1)

c.       For Paul, not an option, he was compelled to preach (1 Corinthians 9:15-18)

d.      Previous passage: Paul shows the superiority of the New Covenant

 

II.                The Treasure

a.       ‘This’ references back to v. 6—light of the knowledge of the glory God

i.      specific description of the gospel (v. 3)

b.      Carried in Jars of Clay

i.      Paul referencing himself

ii.      Common metaphor of the day—God is the potter, we are the clay

iii.      Emphasizes the commonness and fragility of the body

iv.      Intentional irony—The greatest of all treasures is carried in something so fragile and common

c.       Why? *To show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us*

i.      *God is more glorified in our weakness than in our greatness*

 

III.             Example’s of Paul’s Weakness

a.       Hard pressed, but not crushed (most general of examples)

i.      Hard pressed—physical, psychological, or spiritual affliction

ii.      Crushed (or cornered)—reference to confinement—Paul never found himself in a situation he couldn’t get out of

b.      Perplexed, but not driven to despair

i.      Perplexed—mental anguish not understanding God’s reasoning

ii.      Not driven to despair—always hope even when we don’t understand God’s ways (Paul learns lesson from 1:8)

c.       Persecuted, but not abandoned

i.      Persecuted—hunted down (sometimes as Christians you’ll face it)

ii.      But not abandoned—God does not abandon his people (Gn. 28:15, Dt. 31:6-8; Ps. 36:25-28)

d.       Struck down, not destroyed

i.      Struck down- technical term in wrestling or reference to being struck down in battle- consider Paul’s stoning in Lystra Acts 14:20

ii.      Not destroyed- miraculously delivered, able to come back

IV.              God’s Work in Us

1. 1. V. 10- Nekrosis- process of dying; idea of suffering for Jesus
   2. As Paul dies to self, Jesus comes out more, and the Corinthians are blessed by it

V.                 Application

1. 1. He is speaking out against a mindset that seems to put its weight on human performance rather than on God.   Issue of pride.
   2. You are the bearer of a great treasure, God can and will use your weakness and suffering to bring glory to himself
   3. When you endure trials & show hope, people will see the power of God at work.