Pressure And God

This morning there is a pressing that many feel in life, a pressure that cannot be explained, maybe an un-comfortability that can sometimes feel unbearable, yet something in us is stirred allowing us to continue to move forward. In life we must come to the conclusion that pressure is inevitable and that sometimes it is good, sometimes trouble on every side brings out of us a side we did not know we had. See beloved there is truth that in these earthen vessels lies a treasure, a hidden treasure that needs to be on display for all to see, but sometimes it takes pressure, it takes trials, it might even take a tragedy for the best of you to be manifested for everyone to see. As difficult as it may seem this is a truth that we all wrestle with.

The portion of scripture that we are about to read will give us a glimpse of the totality of Paul’s problems which were many, yet this wonderful word of God tells us that Paul was pressed to continue on for the glory of the Most High.

“A bird does not give up flying today because it couldn't find any worms yesterday.”

You should quickly understand that your purpose in Christ doesn’t end because of trouble, God brings out the best in us when faced with trouble.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

Diamonds are made by high pressure; A Diamond is the hardest rock known to man. Its name means unbreakable or invincible.

As God is building His people, listen to me strong rooted God-fearing people are produced by pressure, they are built under pressure. You and I will never be able to understand the miracles of God without the troubles of life. The enemy of our souls would love to have us throw in the towel when things get tough. Keep up the good fight solider.

1st Point “Treasure in Earthen Vessels”

When we think of treasure we think of pirates looking for hidden treasures and our minds begin to think of the adventures that lie wait in this journey and the work it takes to get to the destination of this unfound treasure, but there really is an unfound treasure in everyone of us this morning. A treasure that has not been tapped into, a treasure that has yet to be unseen, beloved listen to me, this treasure is produced by circumstances and situations. In our scripture Paul says that we have this treasure in earthen vessels. Beloved on this earth we are vessels and vessels hold things, some vessels hold water, others hold food, vessels are used to hold and store things that are of value and use, yet some things we hold as earthen vessels can be dangerous for us, can hurt us and really destroy us. Pride, arrogance, un-forgiveness, sin can destroy the individual.

James 1:15

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Proverbs 16:18

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 8:13

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

Beloved life was designed to keep a man from pride. No matter how great your Christian walk may seem you are still a mortal man; still the victim of circumstances; still subject to the chances and the changes of human life; still a mortal body with all that body's weakness and pain. You are an individual with a precious treasure contained in an earthen vessel, which itself is weak and worthless. And yet God still chooses weak things like you and I to hold His treasures.

Treasures that can bless someone else, jewels of wisdom and experience, treasures that bring hope and life, treasures that cannot be bought, too expensive to purchase yet so basic it baffles the simplest person. But let’s look at this for a moment and see what God is trying to convey to us this morning concerning vessels, vessels carry things they hold things but they also pass things through, a ship is considered a vessel, a container is considered a vessel and so is an artery, that is considered a vessel, that allows blood to flow properly to the heart. It is funny that the bible tells us that where your treasure is your heart will be also. What is more important than carrying the word of God? Holding it dear to you? Allowing it to properly flow through you? The bible tells us that this treasure is going to be displayed in Earthen vessels beloved that’s you and me, so the question is how do we obtain this treasure?