SERMON OUTLINE:
We Have a Glorious Ministry (chapter 4 verses 1-6)
We Have a Valuable Treasure (chapter 4 verses 7-12).
We Have a Confident Faith (chapter 4 verses 13-18).
We Have a Future Hope (chapter 5 verses 1-10)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• We all love the idea of finding a hidden treasure;
• Maybe in a second hand shop or at a car boot sale.
• To find an expensive item and to buy it for a fraction of its value,
• That is of course the basis for TV shows like:
• ‘The Antiques Road Show’ and ‘Flog It!’
• ‘Bargain Hunt’ and ‘Storage Wars’
• The principle is the same;
• People bring in their antiques or artefacts, or go searching for ‘something’
• And then later I the show an expert appraiser tell them what the pieces are worth.
i.e.
• It happened this week on ‘The Antiques Road Show’
• A portrait of etcher Leopold Löwenstam by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema.
• It has been lost to the world for decades;
• And then ‘out-of-the-blue’ a relative, the great-great-grandson;
• Of the man for whom it was made turned up with the painting.
• The portrait was described by the Antiques Roadshow’s pictures expert;
• As one of the “best pictures we have ever seen on the Roadshow in its entire history”,
• And is believed to have received one of the show’s highest valuations.
• Yours for around £20 million pounds.
• These shows like ‘The Antiques Road Show’ are popular;
• Because they tap into everyone’s fantasy of finding a hidden treasure.
• TRANSITION: Verse 7 of our passage this morning tells us;
• That every Christian has a rare and valuable artefact;
• So valuable is this treasure that silver and gold cannot purchase it!
• Therefore God has given it to us as a gift.
• The treasure is not an artefact but a person – Jesus Christ.
• And the clay pot in which it is contained – are his followers.
• Verse 7: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay”
NOTE:
• This treasure is what keeps Christians strong in difficult times;
• And that is the key theme of this section.
• In fact the theme is repeated for us in verse 1 and verse 16:
• N.I.V.: “Therefore we do not lose heart.”
• K.J.B.: "We faint not!"
• Other translations render it:
• “We do not give up” or “We do not become discouraged”
• We have noted in previous studies that the apostle Paul:
• Had plenty of reasons to be discouraged,
• Yet the apostle was not a quitter, he was a fighter;
• And he lets us into his secret of what it was that kept him from giving up.
• His secret was;
• He knew what he possessed in Jesus Christ!
• Instead of complaining about what he did not have,
• Paul rejoiced in what he did have!
• And you and I can do the same thing;
• In this section he reminds us of four things we have in Jesus Christ.
(1). We Have a Glorious Ministry (VS 1-6)
“Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”
Ill:
• It was Christmas Eve, 1910.
• General William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army in London, England;
• Was near the end of his life.
• His health was poor,
• And he was going to be unable to attend the Army’s annual convention.
• Booth had become an invalid, and his eyesight was failing him.
• No one knew that he would not live to see another Christmas.
• Somebody came up with a bright idea;
• If General Booth was unable to attend,
• Perhaps he could send a telegram or a message;
• William Booth agreed to do so.
• His message was short but to the point;
• In fact he decided to send a one word message.
• At the convention. The moderator announced that Booth had sent a message;
• And it was to be read with the opening of the first session.
• He opened the telegram and read the one word message:
• Written on the paper was the word “Others!”
• TRANSITION: That is what ministry is, serving others!
• And if you are serving people then your ministry is important!
• Our English word, "Ministry" is from the Greek word “diakoneo”,
• And meaning "to serve" or “douleuo”, meaning "to serve as a slave."
• In the New Testament, ministry is seen as;
• Service to God and to other people in His name.
• i.e. It might be preaching a sermon from the pulpit,
• i.e. It might be making sandwiches in the kitchen for the Senior Citizens teas.
• i.e. It may be doing that weekly shop for an elderly neighbour.
• i.e. It might be… you can fill in the blanks!
• Because if you are serving people in Jesus name then you have a ministry!
• Ministry can, and should, include ministering to the;
• Physical, emotional, mental, vocational, and financial needs of others.
• Every Christian who is series about Jesus Christ will have a ministry;
• And that ministry is evidenced in serving others.
Notice:
• Verse 1 reminds us that it is "…through God’s mercy we have this ministry”
• Every blessing we enjoy in the Christian faith is because we have a merciful God!
Ill:
• Thomas Hooker was a prominent British American colonial clergyman;
• Known in history as “the father of Connecticut.”
• When he was dying, one of the people around his bed said to him,
• "You are going to receive the reward of your labours."
• Hooker corrected the person by saying, "I am going to receive mercy."
• TRANSITION: If God deals with us on the basis of our works;
• Then we are all in trouble!
• But God deals with us in mercy!
• Again and again and again he gives to us what we do not deserve!
• Regarding the past: His mercy forgives us our sins!
• Regarding the present: His mercy equips us for ministry/service.
• Regarding the future: His mercy will ensure us a place in heaven!
• As you read this letter, you notice again and again that the apostle Paul;
• Was overwhelmed by the grace and the mercy of God in his life;
• Knowing this fact gave the apostle a right attitude towards his ministry.
• And that then had a number of knock on effects in his life.
Let me briefly point them out to you and you can think about them later:
FIRST: IT KEPT HIM .FROM BEING A QUITTER (VS 1B):
“We do not lose heart.”
Ill:
• I like the quote that says;
• “If at first you don’t succeed, then sky diving is definitely not for you!”
• TRANSITION: Our motivation for not quitting is our treasure!
• Remember the example of Jesus i.e. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2:
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”
• With the heavenly calling comes a heavenly enabling;
• The apostle Paul believed that God would see him through.
• No matter how many difficulties he might experience.
SECOND, IT KEPT HIM .FROM BEING A DECEIVER (VS 2-4).
“Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
In the New Testament Church the apostle Paul encountered false teachers:
• False teachers always claim to base their doctrine on the Bible.
• They did in the apostle Paul’s day and they do today.
• i.e. If a Jehovah Witness knocks on your door;
• They will have a Bible in hand and will be happy to quote from it.
• But false teachers handle God's Word in deceptive ways.
• You can prove anything by the Bible!
• Provided you twist the Scriptures out of context.
• i.e. The Bible (Psalm 14 verse 1) says “There is no God”
• But if you read then verse in context it actually says;
• “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
• TRANSITION: The Bible is a book of literature;
• Therefore it must be interpreted according to the fundamental rules of interpretation.
• Quote: “A ‘text’ taken out of its ‘context’ leaves a ‘con’!”
• The apostle Paul had nothing to hide,
• Either in his personal life or in his preaching of the Word.
• Everything was open and honest; there was no deception or distortion of the Word.
Question: Why were the false teachers so successful in winning converts?
Answer:
• Because the mind of the lost sinner is blinded by Satan!
• They cannot tell the difference between error and the truth.
• i.e. We all know people who say;
• “All religions are the same, doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere”
• That is why we must share the gospel of Jesus Christ;
• With the people we encounter.
• As we do the light begins to shine! And the more we share the brighter the light!
Ill:
• The apostle Paul compared conversion to Creation,
• (As described in Genesis chapter 1 verses 2-3).
• God took an earth that was void, formless and empty;
• And gave it life and light.
• And when a person trusts Christ,
• God then begins to form and fill the life of that person,
• He brings to them life and light.
(2). We Have a Valuable Treasure (vs 7-12).
“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; 9 persecuted, 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 also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”
Ill:
• In 1947, a Bedouin shepherd boy named Mohamed ed-Dib;
• Was in the vicinity of the Wadi Qumran in the north-west corner of the Dead Sea.
• He threw a rock into some caves;
• He idea was to scare out his goats who had wandered into them.
• But the boy heard his stones break something;
• The entrance to the cave was very small, and he was afraid to enter alone.
• Next day, however, he returned with two companions.
• In the cave they found clay pots, and these jars containing rolls of leather.
• The only leather-worker they knew was a man called Kando,
• He was the shoe-maker of Bethlehem.
• He bought the scrolls from the boys for a few coins.
• These scrolls are the most valuable Biblical archaeological find probably ever made.
• The pots contained remains of about 800–900 ancient manuscripts;
• Found in some 15,000 fragments.
• Among the scrolls are fragments from nearly all the books of the Hebrew Bible;
• The oldest copy of our Old Testament.
• They were sold for a few coins!
• But they are priceless – no amount of money could buy them today.
• TRANSITION: every Christian has the most priceless treasure;
• We need to hold on and be encouraged by our treasure at all times.
The apostle Paul uses such a simple illustration:
• The follower of Jesus is simply a “Jar of clay'';
• It is the treasure within the pot that gives the pot its value.
• Therefore we need to focus on the treasure and not on the pot;
• Note we must also focus on the Master and not on the servant.
• If we suffer, it is for Jesus' sake.
• If we die to self,
• It is so that the life of Christ might be revealed in us.
• If we go through trials, it is so that Christ might be glorified.
• And all of this is for the sake of others.
• As we serve Christ, death works in us - but life works in those to whom we minister.
• Quote: Dr. John Henry Jowett was a well-known preacher of the early 20th century.
• One of his many wise sayings was:
• "Ministry that costs nothing, accomplishes nothing.".
The opponents of the apostle Paul did not suffer for the gospel:
• Instead of winning lost souls, they stole converts from Paul's churches.
• Instead of sacrificing for the people, they made the people sacrifice for them (11:20).
• The false teachers did not have a treasure to share.
• All they had were some museum pieces from the Old Covenant,
• Faded antiques that could never enrich a person's life.
(3). We Have a Confident Faith (vs 13-18).
“ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Ill:
• Edna Butterfield tells the story of her husband, Ron,
• He once taught a class of mentally impaired teenagers.
• Looking at his students’ capabilities rather than their limitations,
• Ron got them to play chess, restore furniture and repair electrical appliances.
• Most important, he taught them to ‘have faith’ that is to believe in themselves.
• One of the mentally impaired teenagers was a boy called Bobby;
• He soon proved how well he had learned that last lesson of faith.
• One day he brought in a broken toaster to repair.
• He arrived carrying the toaster tucked under one arm,
• And a half-loaf of bread under the other.
• TRANSITION: We have a confidence;
• That confidence is fixed in Jesus Christ.
Note: The apostle Paul mentions four assurances that he had because of his faith.
FIRST: HE WAS SURE OF ULTIMATE VICTORY (VS 14).
“because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.”
• If Jesus Christ has conquered death, the last enemy,
• Then those who belong to him will also conquer death.
• The world has no answer to death.
• But Jesus Christ does!
• For many death is a dark chasm, the great unknown;
• But for the Christian it is not a dark chasm, it is a leap into the light!
Ill:
• Max Lucado, in his book, “Six Hours One Friday,”
• Tells the story of a missionary in Brazil,
• Who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle.
• They lived near a large river.
• The tribe was in need of medical attention.
• Because a contagious disease was spreading across the village.
• People were dying daily.
• The hospital was not too terribly far away – but there was a problem.
• It was across the river,
• And the Indians would not cross it;
• Because they believed the river was inhabited by evil spirits.
• And to enter its water would mean certain death.
• The missionary explained how he had crossed the river & was unharmed.
• But they were not impressed.
• He then took them to the bank and placed his hand in the water.
• They still wouldn’t go in.
• He walked into the water up to his waist & splashed water on his face.
• It didn’t matter. They were still afraid to enter the river.
• Finally, he dove into the river,
• Swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side.
• He raised a triumphant fist into the air.
• He had entered the water & escaped.
• It was then that the Indians broke into a cheer and followed him across.
• TRANSITION: Jesus is our forerunner;
• If Jesus Christ has conquered death,
• Then those who belong to him will also conquer death.
Note: too, that Paul also saw a future reunion of God's people:
• Enjoy those words, "and present us with you to himself."
• Death is the great divider,
• But in Jesus Christ there is assurance that His people shall be reunited in His presence.
SECOND: HE WAS SURE THAT GOD WOULD BE GLORIFIED (VS 15).
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”
• The ‘all this’ here is linked to both the physical resurrection of the body;
• But also the apostle uses it in a figurative sense.
• When we die to ourselves and invest our lives in others;
• Our faith is resurrected in them.
• i.e. Teachers are resurrected in their pupils;
• i.e. Parents in their children,
• i.e. Converts in their mentors.
• When we invest our lives in other people;
• Others will come to faith in Jesus Christ;
• And they will glorify our Father in heaven!
Ill:
• Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987) was a Lithuanian born violinist,
• Who is considered by many to be the greatest violinist of all time
• After a distinguished performing career,
• Jascha Heifetz accepted an appointment as professor of music at UCLA.
• Asked what had prompted his change of career,
• Heifetz replied:
• "Violin playing is a perishable art.
• It must be passed on as a personal skill; otherwise it is lost."
• TRANSITION: We need to listen to this great musician.
• Living the Christian life is a highly personal experience.
• We can't pull it off merely by watching skilled veterans "perform."
• We need hands-on instruction.
• And when we invest our lives in other people;
• Others will come to faith in Jesus Christ;
• And they will glorify our Father in heaven!
THIRD: HE WAS SURE THAT HIS TRIALS WERE WORKING FOR HIM, NOT AGAINST HIM (VS 16-17).
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Ill:
• The seven ages of man:
• ‘Spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills, wills.’
Ill:
Seven Ages of Man by R.M. Cornelius in The Rotarian.
• 6 weeks--all systems go
6 years--all systems "No!"
16 years--all systems know
• 26 years--all systems glow
36 years--all systems owe
• 56 years--all systems status quo
76 years--all systems slow
Paul reminds us that these bodies are growing old and falling apart:
• On one occasion I asked a person, “How are you feeling”;
• They answered; “I’m wearing out!”
• We know we are wearing out;
• Some of you have glasses, others hearing aids, some have sticks or walking frames;
• And some like Mr??? have false teeth!
• All evidence that we are wearing out!
But says the apostle Paul;
• What does it matter if the "out-ward person" is perishing,
• So long as the "inward person" is experiencing daily spiritual renewal?
• The apostle Paul is not suggesting that the body is unimportant,
• Or that we should ignore its warnings and needs.
• In his first letter he reminded these Christians that their bodies are the temples of God,
• Therefore we must and we should take care for them;
• But we cannot control the natural deterioration of the body.
• Quote: Bob Dylan: "He Not Busy Being Born Is Busy Dying"
But don’t get depressed, just notice the contrasts the apostle Paul uses in verse 17:
• ‘Light troubles’ contrasted with ‘glory that far outweighs them all.’
• ‘Momentary’ (the here and now) is contrasted with ‘eternal’ (forever and ever);
• ‘Working against us’ is contrasted with ‘working for us’.
• The apostle Paul was writing with eternity's values in view.
• He was weighing the present trials against the future glory,
• And with that outlook he did not lose heart no matter how hard the going was!
FOURTH: HE WAS SURE THAT THE INVISIBLE WORLD WAS REAL (VS 18).
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Ill:
• Having heard his dad tell stories from the pulpit all his life;
• The little bot was sometimes confused,
• So whenever his dad told an illustration;
• The child would say, “is that true daddy or is it just preaching!”
• TRANSITION: The apostle Paul tells us here was is really true;
• The things of this world seem so real because we can see them and feel them;
• But here is the point:
• They are all temporal and one day they will all pass away.
• And in the end only the eternal things of the spiritual life will last.
• That is why Jesus said (Matthew chapter 6 verses 19-21):
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
• The apostle Paul’s heart and treasure were focussed;
• He knew who and what he was living for;
• And that gave him hope and strength in difficult times!
(4). We Have a Future Hope (chapter 5 verses 1-10)
“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Ill:
• In the novel, ‘Cat's Cradle’ by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.,
• An important book comes to light.
• This book is entitled
"What Can a Thoughtful Man Hope for Mankind on Earth, Given the Experience of the Past Million Years?"
• Admittedly it is not the most catchiest of titles,
• But it makes its point well.
"What Can a Thoughtful Man Hope for Mankind on Earth,
Given the Experience of the Past Million Years?"
• The main character of the book is anxious to read it.
• But when he does, he finds that it doesn't take long.
• The whole book consists of one word: "Nothing."
• TRANSITION: For millions of people the future, eternity holds nothing!
• For them there is no certainty, no guarantee, no hope;
• They cannot say; ‘to be absent from the body to be present with the Lord!”
• But we can!
• For the believer in Jesus Christ the future is bright!
Note:
• This "building of God" mentioned in verse 1;
• Is not the believer's heavenly home, as promised by Jesus in John chapter 14 verses 1-6.
• This "building of God" mentioned in verse 1;
• Is the believers resurrected and glorified body.
• And in these verses the apostle Paul;
• Used the metaphor of a tent as a picture of our present earthly bodies.
• He points out that a tent is a weak, temporary structure, without much beauty;
Ill:
• Does anyone here this morning live in a tent?
• The answer of course is no!
• But many of you have spent a week or two in a tent;
• That is what they are designed for, for temporary dwelling.
• It is fun to camp in short measures;
• When the sun shines and things go to plan,
• But no-one here would go camping in the (UK) winter,
• And no-one goes camping for long periods of time.
• TRANSITION: The apostle Paul points out:
• That a tent is a weak, temporary structure, without much beauty;
• But the glorified body we shall one day receive;
• Will be eternal, beautiful, and never show signs of weakness or decay.
• Suited to the glorious environment of heaven and eternity.
And finally:
• The apostle Paul started chapter 5 with the words, “We know” (vs 1).
• Question: How do we know?
• Answer: Because the Word of God informs us!
Ill:
• No Christian has to consult a fortune-teller, a Ouija board, a spiritualist,
• Or a deck of cards to find out what the future holds,
• Or what lies on the other side of death.
• God has told us all that we need to know in the pages of His Word.
• It is there in black and white.
Therefore ‘we know’ and we are ‘certain’ of these things:
• If our tent is "taken down" (when we die),
• We need not fear.
• Because the body is only the tent we live in.
• When a believer dies, the body goes to the grave,
• But the spirit goes to be with Christ;
• Don’t you just love verse 8:
“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body
and at home with the Lord.”
• Question: Do you have that hope? Do you have that confidence?
• Answer: It comes from belonging to Jesus!
The apostle Paul did not ‘lose heart’ because:
• He had a glorious ministry that transformed lives.
• (So does every follower of Jesus here this morning)
• He had a valuable treasure in the earthen vessel of his body,
• (So does every follower of Jesus here this morning)
• And he wanted to share that treasure with a bankrupt world.
• (So SHOULD every follower of Jesus here this morning)
• He had a confident faith that conquered fear,
• And he had a future hope that was both a destination and a motivation.
• So if you are feeling troubled, hard-pressed, the way ahead s uphill;
• Remember these truths;
Ill:
• That every believer possess Christ the treasure, He’s…
• The Bread of Life, what a treasure you have when you’re hungry!
• The Light of the World, what a treasure when you’re in darkness!
• The True Vine, a treasure you have when your feel disconnected!
• The Lamb of God, what a treasure you have when you’re feeling guilty!
• The Good Shepherd, what a treasure you have when feeling sad and discouraged!
• The friend, what a treasure you have when you’re feeling lonely!
• The physician, what a treasure you have when you’re sick!
• The Saviour, what a treasure you have when you’re a sinner!
• The Lord, what a treasure you have when you’re feeling powerless and helpless!
• Christ your treasure is your Mediator, Master, Holiness, Passover,
• Redemption, Justification, Advocate, Apostle, and High Priest;
• And so we could go on and on…
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=LIrrEYOZFny1DPEr7CuGTxJ7ugUJyGKk
