Life and Death
2 Corinthians 4:7-11
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
The Spirit of Jesus Christ (the Holy Spirit of God) is the treasure in our lowly earthen vessels. He is such a mighty and vast treasure that if we were to meditate that phrase alone, we would be infinitely richer and more joyful in our walk with the LORD. Take a moment to think on this truth so that we may better understand the rest of the passage. It reminds me of the parable about the treasure hidden in a field where the man sold all he owed to buy that field. To put that more plainly, it would be selling everything you have (to the shock and scorn of others) without a plan in the world because you recognized the value of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. Most of us in the western church would balk at that statement, but I believe that is only because we don't recognize the treasure God has offered us. The truth is really simple: If you want God's kingdom, you have to sacrifice your own. To the degree you give away, sell off, and lay down your kingdom, is the degree you will take on the kingdom of God. But that cannot be done without first recognizing the treasure and the infinite value it holds. So meditate on the for a moment. :)
When we recognize the treasure and our eyes are fixated on Jesus Christ, we will begin to see the evidence of God's power in our lives. Power to fix your eyes on Christ, power to overcome sin, power to yield in obedience to God, power to turn away from temptation, power to cast down our strongholds, and power to rejoice in rest and peace when the world is slipping out from under your feet. Paul and his friends were hard-pressed. They endured beatings, being stoned, being shipwrecked, being mocked, being imprisoned, just to name a few. But Paul said, "We are not crushed, we are not in despair." I don't know about you, but being lost at sea without a boat would be be despairing to me. How is this possible? I think it is because Paul recognized the value of the treasure of the Holy Spirit within him. But Paul goes further. Not only does He recognize the value of the treasure, but he also understand one of the implications of having such a great treasure dwell within him. This is maturing faith.
One of the paradoxes of the faith is that you must die to live. But that isn't a one time death, it is a living sacrifice. Jesus himself was the purest example of this. In his years on earth, he was a living sacrifice to God. "He learned obedience" as the scriptures say. He gave himself to the Father for whatever the Father desired. It is easy at times to look at the cross and think of that one major sacrifice He gave, but His whole life was a sacrifice. In the garden he prayed, "Not my will but Yours be done." His own will had already been crucified so that he could do the Father's will. Isn't that powerful?!
Paul shows us here that to the degree that you die with Christ, you will display the life of Christ. But friends, this is not just a death to sin. That is where many of us have been led astray. Of course we are to die to sin! But how much more so are we do die to our rights and our self-will? Isn't that what Jesus shows us by His life on earth? By His prayer in the garden? As we die to self, we take on Christ. More death to self, more life and power of Christ.
Self is the biggest, nastiest, most seductive enemy you and I will ever meet. Satan himself cannot keep you from abiding in Christ, only self can. When I start to feel crushed and despairing, I remind myself of the treasure that my Father in heaven has laid within me. I meditate (actively and intentionally thinking) on the power that is in God and in His character. Just by doing that simple thing, my flesh begins to lose strength and die. And I can tell you with certainty that when I devote myself to the meditating on the LORD and studying His word, I'm not longer crushed or despairing. My eyes have been lifted off of myself and place back on the treasure of the Holy Spirit. That is the death that Jesus carried around on earth... "Not My will, but Yours be done." Only then will we truly know the power that is resident within us by the Spirit.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
The Spirit of Jesus Christ (the Holy Spirit of God) is the treasure in our lowly earthen vessels. He is such a mighty and vast treasure that if we were to meditate that phrase alone, we would be infinitely richer and more joyful in our walk with the LORD. Take a moment to think on this truth so that we may better understand the rest of the passage. It reminds me of the parable about the treasure hidden in a field where the man sold all he owed to buy that field. To put that more plainly, it would be selling everything you have (to the shock and scorn of others) without a plan in the world because you recognized the value of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. Most of us in the western church would balk at that statement, but I believe that is only because we don't recognize the treasure God has offered us. The truth is really simple: If you want God's kingdom, you have to sacrifice your own. To the degree you give away, sell off, and lay down your kingdom, is the degree you will take on the kingdom of God. But that cannot be done without first recognizing the treasure and the infinite value it holds. So meditate on the for a moment. :)
When we recognize the treasure and our eyes are fixated on Jesus Christ, we will begin to see the evidence of God's power in our lives. Power to fix your eyes on Christ, power to overcome sin, power to yield in obedience to God, power to turn away from temptation, power to cast down our strongholds, and power to rejoice in rest and peace when the world is slipping out from under your feet. Paul and his friends were hard-pressed. They endured beatings, being stoned, being shipwrecked, being mocked, being imprisoned, just to name a few. But Paul said, "We are not crushed, we are not in despair." I don't know about you, but being lost at sea without a boat would be be despairing to me. How is this possible? I think it is because Paul recognized the value of the treasure of the Holy Spirit within him. But Paul goes further. Not only does He recognize the value of the treasure, but he also understand one of the implications of having such a great treasure dwell within him. This is maturing faith.
One of the paradoxes of the faith is that you must die to live. But that isn't a one time death, it is a living sacrifice. Jesus himself was the purest example of this. In his years on earth, he was a living sacrifice to God. "He learned obedience" as the scriptures say. He gave himself to the Father for whatever the Father desired. It is easy at times to look at the cross and think of that one major sacrifice He gave, but His whole life was a sacrifice. In the garden he prayed, "Not my will but Yours be done." His own will had already been crucified so that he could do the Father's will. Isn't that powerful?!
Paul shows us here that to the degree that you die with Christ, you will display the life of Christ. But friends, this is not just a death to sin. That is where many of us have been led astray. Of course we are to die to sin! But how much more so are we do die to our rights and our self-will? Isn't that what Jesus shows us by His life on earth? By His prayer in the garden? As we die to self, we take on Christ. More death to self, more life and power of Christ.
Self is the biggest, nastiest, most seductive enemy you and I will ever meet. Satan himself cannot keep you from abiding in Christ, only self can. When I start to feel crushed and despairing, I remind myself of the treasure that my Father in heaven has laid within me. I meditate (actively and intentionally thinking) on the power that is in God and in His character. Just by doing that simple thing, my flesh begins to lose strength and die. And I can tell you with certainty that when I devote myself to the meditating on the LORD and studying His word, I'm not longer crushed or despairing. My eyes have been lifted off of myself and place back on the treasure of the Holy Spirit. That is the death that Jesus carried around on earth... "Not My will, but Yours be done." Only then will we truly know the power that is resident within us by the Spirit.
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