Sunday, 16th July 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
II Corinthians 4:7-10, “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.”
1. A Different Life
This world twists our lives, from the perspectives of others and of the world, we don’t see ourselves as the way God created us to be. Everyone wants a different life, and Paul tells us that we have a treasure in clay jars. Humans are weak, our lives are like clay jars, so easy to break, but God does not want to give us a negative message. Even though our lives are so weak, God wants to put a treasure inside us.
We are treasures, don’t think that we are not important. The treasure within us is to show the extraordinary power in our lives. We grow up on expectations, we all want to fight for the first, the best. We must stop comparing with others, when we compare then we will feel depressed. But God has given us the best, when we look at what we have, when we focus on God, we will not feel depressed.
II Corinthians 11:26-28, “In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”
God has given us treasures in our lives, with extraordinary power. And we can live a different life, not about what we do, but our willingness. A different life does not mean a smooth life. Paul experienced many things, but he didn’t give up, he was willing to continue. When we feel our lives are hard, let us see Paul’s life.
2. Breakthrough the Trap
Romans 8:31 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
In life, we often feel that we have tried everything, but our lives don’t seem to change. But we forgot that it’s never about us, it’s about the God behind us. Do we rely on Him? He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Do we really rely on Him? We live our own lives and we don’t rely on God.
3. The Power of Jesus’ Resurrection