Jars of Clay

2 Corinthians 4:7-11
Building the Kingdom in Weakness
 
Insignificance and Struggles – Work, ministry, relationships, family, life, etc. are often challenging. Things don't go as anticipated, plans change, projects fail, people disappoint or even attack us, sickness strikes, etc. Then we come to church or read the Bible and hear that we are a Kingdom of Priests, the Salt and the Light of this World. We feel we can't match up to it. Have ever felt unworthy, insignificant for these reasons?
 
What was Paul's Secret?
How can Paul be so confident with total abandonment to Christ? (Phil. 1:21; 4:11)
How can we come to such a place of contentment and abandonment in Christ?
 
Let's focus these 4 areas, among many secrets:
1)  Lordship (Phil. 3:7-8) – Who or what sits on the throne of our life? Is there anything greater than Jesus in our lives? What are we clinging on to, to give us security, value, purpose, fulfillment, contentment, righteousness?
- Jesus needs to be above/ in control of all, otherwise we will often feel shaken.
- We need to surrender everything to Him, to gain such a contentment and confidence in our lives.
 
2)  Brokenness (Phil. 3:7; Psalm 51:17) – Jesus was broken for our sins, which is His most powerful ministry.
- Joseph was broken after spending years in prison – delivered nations.
- Moses was broken after tending sheep for 40 years – delivered Israel.
- Paul was broken – his pride breeding anger, violence was broken by the grace of Jesus.
- Likewise, we can only be powerful ministers, bringing hope, deliverance, lasting transformation to a broken world, if we are broken over the sinfulness and pride in our hearts (1 Pet. 5:5).
 
3)  Spiritual Warfare (Eph. 6:10-13) – The devil and his agents are out to cause us to fail, to accuse us, to discourage us, to bring destruction to lives and communities.
- When evil takes on flesh and blood form, it causes war, cruelty, poverty, racism, crime, etc. We have to both, not overestimate (superstition) or underestimate (denial) dark spiritual realities around us.
- The devil has no power without us giving it to him, by obeying him.
- 2 practical ways the devil lies to us: (1) Temptation -  too high view of ourselves over against God's holiness, and (2) Accusation – too low view of ourselves over against God's love.
- How to stand? Know how the devil deceives you (your weaknesses). The armour of God (Eph. 6:14-18) is applying the truth of the Gospel to our lives. It is not a mantra to be chanted over us.
 
4)  Throne Room (Rev. 4 & 5) – Whom are we impressed by most? We constantly need to renew and refresh our view of who God is, what He promised and what He is doing.
- Life is busy and challenging. It is a battle to spend time in/with God.
- Having "throne room" time and experience will give us the new perspective we need to trust God and to be content in Him.
- We are weak (jars of clay), but we have Jesus who has and is the power.
 

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