Topless Jars.

Topless Jars.

2 Corinthians 4:7AMP

Peter Marshall, in a sermon entitled, "Disciples in Clay," pictured the apostles before an examining board which was appointed to choose Jesus' close associates. Peter stood there smelling of fish, unkept, with bad behavior, plus he was uncultured, and impulsive. Andrew, James, and John also reeked of fish and lacked refinement. Philip appeared to be indecisive. Thomas seemed cynical. Matthew was considered a traitor. Simon the Zealot was a dangerous patriot. Judas was a thief.

The NT tells it like it was. This was a group not likely to succeed. It is most likely they would- not have been chosen by a board for Jesus, but they were chosen by Jesus. (Peter M.)

2 Corinthians 4:7AMP “But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.”

When I was saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, and called to preach, 10 years later at my class reunion, I was asked to pray. -This precious treasure changes everything. P.H

According to 2 Corinthians 4, verse 7, We have this precious treasure, this Salvation, this good news living within our (unworthy vessels of clay)!

Therefore, this grandeur, this greatness of power is shown to be (all) God, and none of ourselves,

II Corinthians 3:2NIV “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.”

When you live with the top-down, you become a letter or living epistle, for the wayward and lost to see. PH

Psalm 8 begins and ends with the answer. Just listen.

Psalm 8.1NKJV “O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!”

The question arises, How can my (clay) earthen vessel show the greatness of God?

Answer, live with the top off. Be an open book before God, and try to before men.

Isaiah 64.8ESV But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Again, I want to read this text in its complete context.

2 Corinthians 4.7-12MSG “If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. 8 As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. 9 We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, 10 but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. 11 What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! 12 Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!”

For every clay pot (vessel) the best is yet to come! -We’re getting in on the best! PH

As Peter and John told the lame beggar. To look at them... This question came to me to ask you, “Are you filled with Jesus enough for others to note it and possibly be healed?”

When Israel disobeyed and many died, Moses was instructed to build a special cross, and all that looked up lived, or were made well!

“I tell folks all the time to keep looking up!” P.H

Hebrews 12:1-2NIV Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 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.

There are several things that becoming a topless jar produces:

1. Living as a topless clay jar produces, life.

This vessel is like a sponge, he or she is always taking in and giving out!

Remember, a closed vessel can never contain anything larger than its own size!

However an open vessel has no limitation’s.

It can now contain the blowing of the wind or outpouring of rain. It could even contain the flowing of a river!

In, Acts 2, When those 120 followers of Jesus received the out pouring, and the infilling of the spirit, it’s because these clay vessels decided to live life with their lid off.