‘Of God and Not of Us’

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

II Corinthians 4:7

Why has God, in His Infinite Wisdom, arranged for the Gospel to spread abroad in the hands of such a motley crew? As the Apostle Paul closes our text for the past few days, he sets forth the answer to that question. He says that the Treasure of the Gospel Message has landed in these ‘jars of clay,’ these ‘earthen vessels’ in order that, ‘the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us.’ Herein lies a humbling, but glorious truth. Just as we, poor wretched sinners deserve no credit for our salvation, so also, we deserve no credit for the powerful effect of the Gospel message upon those who receive it. In every generation God has raised up these ‘jars of clay’ to sound forth the glorious message of Jesus Christ. They have been a ragtag army who have preached not themselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord. The world has derided them. Religionists have opposed them. Dictators have imprisoned and executed them, yet these ‘jars of clay’ have been the humble instruments in the Hands of the Almighty God and He has used them to change the world. In all of that, Christ has gained the Glory, and the ‘earthen vessels’ would not have it any other way, ‘that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.’ Today, let us go forth to our little portion of the vineyard in hopes that Christ will make use of us for His Eternal Glory.

‘Great God of Wonders, all Your ways are matchless, God-like, and Divine.’
We praise You that You use us for Your Honor
and for Your Glory to spread forth your Truth.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

In Jars of Clay

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

II Corinthians 4:7

The Apostle Paul is speaking of the ministry and of the value of the Message of Christ in contrast to the bearers of that Message. He puts it forth in a picturesque way when he says, ‘We have this treasure in earthen vessels….’ Here is a humbling description of us all, regardless of what title we may bear or of what office we may occupy. The greatness of the success of the Gospel lies in Christ, and in the Truth that relates to Him. This is why the right-hearted Servant of Christ recognizes that ‘He must increase and I must decrease.’ Nothing else supersedes this Person and this Message. A clear understanding of these things will assist greatly in our obtaining and maintaining a right perspective of ourselves in relation to the ministry. It will work powerfully toward preventing an unwarranted inclination to magnify and exalt mere men who are, at best, clay vessels wherein resides this great Treasure. Let Christ get all the glory. Let Him be lifted up and His Name and Work extolled. Let every other name fade into obscurity, and every other man be considered far below this Man, the Man, Christ Jesus. Today, let us clearly understand where we fit in the larger scheme of things. Christ is all.

Our Wise and Sovereign God,
we feel our own frailty very keenly.
We rejoice that You have committed this treasure into these earthen vessels.
We pray that out of them, You would bring great things and do great works of grace.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘We Have This Treasure’

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

II Corinthians 4:7

The Apostle Paul had a clear and correct view of where and how he fit into the larger scheme of things, especially regarding the ministry. For the next little while, we want to look at this perspective, to glean from it what will be useful to help us, as we seek to make much of Christ. As Paul is describing himself and his companions in ministry he says, ‘…we have this treasure.’ We want to dwell upon that thought for a few minutes today, to see how it applies to us. What was the ‘treasure’ which Paul, and his companions had? Two verses before this text he said, ‘For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord…’  Therein lies the Treasure. We have Christ, and He is the Message. The preaching of Christ is the high ground of New Testament evangelism and ministry. The more we proclaim Christ, the more we adhere to the original assignment Christ gave to His disciples in Acts 1:8, when He said, ‘you shall be witnesses to me.’   This is the treasure which we have, just as certainly as the Apostles had it. It transcends denominations, systematic theologies, performance agendas, and popular trends. We have this ‘treasure,’ and it is what everyone with whom we come in contact desperately needs. It is what we ourselves most consistently need. The spreading abroad of this Treasure will make everyone who receives it immeasurably rich.

Our Gracious and Loving Savior,
we rejoice that You are our Greatest Treasure,
and that to proclaim You is our highest privilege.
Give us greater opportunities today, to make much of Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

9:30am Worship Service

10900 Huron Street

Northglenn, CO

Scripture:  II Corinthans 4:1-12

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 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. So then death is working in us, but life in you.

Sermon:  Christ’s Preaching People

1. What should we not preach?
2. What should we preach?
3. How should we preach?
4. Why should we preach?

Catechism:  Westminster Shorter Catechism Question #10

How did God create man?

God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

1 Genesis 1:27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

2 Colossians 3:10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

3 Ephesians 4:24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

4 Genesis 1:28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Psalm 8. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Worship

O Great God

Psalm 100

As the Deer

‘For Jesus’ Sake’

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

II Corinthians 4:5

We have motives for everything we do. Those motives may be simple or complex, good or bad, high or low, or some combination of that. We want to behave from what are the best of motives. The Apostle Paul had arrived at what is the highest motive when he says, ‘for Jesus’ Sake.’ Let us apply this motive as we review the text which we have been considering. ‘We preach not ourselves…for Jesus’ sake.’ ‘We preach…Christ Jesus the Lord…for Jesus’ Sake.’  ‘We preach…ourselves your servants…for Jesus’ Sake.’ This becomes the high motive for life and ministry. There are other motives from which our deeds may arise, but they must all rank as lower order motives. Having said that, if we understand that what we do ‘for Jesus’ Sake,’ is the highest of motives, we may then apply it to every area of life. We live and love in our homes, ‘for Jesus Sake.’ We go to our work faithfully, do quality work, and are conscientious, ‘for Jesus’ Sake.’ We speak truth to others, ‘for Jesus’ Sake.’ We live holy lives, ‘for Jesus’ Sake.’ We can apply this motive to every area of life, and to all the activities within those areas. ‘Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God,’ to which we could add, ‘for Jesus’ Sake.’

Our most Gracious and Loving Savior,
We praise You that You are our Highest Motive.
We rejoice that You show us Yourself, on page after page,
and enable us to show You to others for Your Own Dear Sake.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning