Treasures and Turmoil

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This is a sermon given at Wayside Community Church on July 29, 2012. It was based on the Scripture 2 Corinthians 4:7-18.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

As I try to determine the will of God for the messages I bring, I do try to maintain a balance in the themes that I emphasize in my ministry. One of the things that I try to do periodically is present a message that inspires hope and faith.

As a pastor that has the responsibility to instruct and motivate people to a greater level of discipleship and a deeper level of love for the Lord, it can be appealing to make most of my sermons focus on who we ought to be or where we ought to be going or what we ought to be doing. Those kinds of messages are certainly necessary and hopefully helpful. But, a steady diet of that can begin to cause people to be discouraged, as it begins to seem that we are never achieving.

So, today I felt drawn to this passage of scripture that I hope will inspire some fresh hope and renewed faith in every one of us. With the help of God’s Spirit today, I want to bring a message that lifts your spirits to a renewed confidence in God and that inspires each of us to keep faithfully serving our Lord until He calls us home.

The two contrasting words I have used in my title seem to emphasize the stark contrast that the Apostle used in these verses before us today. On the one hand he speaks of a treasure. On the other hand, he immediately begins to speak in terms that I think are best described with the word turmoil.

Whenever we think of the word treasure, we usually do not think of trouble. And, when we think of the word turmoil, we do not usually think of treasures. But, Paul shows a clear connection to the two concepts in our passage we are considering today.

As we consider this passage today I want to emphasize

The treasure - I. We have a treasure.

The vessel - II. We are earthen vessels.

The turmoil - III. We experience turmoil and trouble.

The victory – IV. But not destroyed.

I. We have a treasure.

A. The treasure represents the message of the gospel.

The word is probably a reference back to the preceding verse where the apostle uses the phrase, “… the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” This knowledge, that is akin to a light suddenly coming on in the darkest surroundings, has been explained and developed in all of the verses leading up to verse 7.

B. The treasure did not originate with us; it was given to us.

Let us never forget, dear friends, that this gospel, this treasure, this knowledge is purely a gift of divine grace.

II. We are earthen vessels.

Our normal conclusion regarding such a rich treasure is that God would keep it, store it, or protect it in containers that are perfect and completely indestructible. Yet, this is not the case.

“earthen” – a word that Greek language scholars say is derived from the word that is used for the shell of an oyster. Thus, is implies something fragile or even brittle.

“vessel” – a common word that had different uses depending on the context. It is translated 19 times as “vessel,” but it is also translated twice with the word “goods,” once as “stuff,” and once as “sail.”

Some believe that Paul is alluding to an ancient custom of storing gold and silver in earthenware pots. (JH Bernard, Expos. Gk. NT)

His point seems to be this…

A. We are human.

We are made from dust.

We are “clay in the potter’s hand”.

We are mere flesh and bones.

Although, this doesn’t seem to be Paul’s point here, it is worth mentioning that this analogy seems to run parallel to the fact that God chose to become incarnate in human flesh. The treasure of the Godhead was wrapped in the earthen vessel of human flesh. (JH Bernard)

B. We are flawed.

We are limited, finite, weak, fragile, etc, etc. We are unlikely vessels for such a valuable treasure, but God has entrusted it with us. God has granted us the awesome privilege of carrying the knowledge of the gospel that is described like a bright light shining into a room of darkest ignorance.

III. We experience turmoil and trouble.

Immediately after declaring that we have been entrusted with this awesome treasure, the Apostle switches his focus to the struggles we face.

As I said at the beginning… whenever we think of the word treasure, we usually do not think of trouble. And, when we think of the word turmoil, we do not usually think of treasures. But, Paul shows a clear connection between the two concepts here.

A. Trouble is just a fact of life.

It is undeniably and unavoidably a part of our earthly journey. You can’t get to the end of this journey without experiencing some kind of trouble and turmoil. Some people have the mistaken idea that if we are Christians and we are trying to obey the Lord and live a good life then we should be exempt from trouble, suffering and turmoil.

But… our world has been deeply infected by the consequences of sin ever since the Garden of Eden. The curse which came about as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience has only heightened and worsened through time.

We are a part of this earthly environment. And we will also be affected by the curse of sickness, death, trouble, evil, and all other consequences of sin. This world never will again be a paradise, no matter what the earth-worshippers and environmentalists fanatics or others may say!

B. Sometimes, trouble seems to get progressively worse and compounded.

Look at the description Paul uses in verses 8 & 9.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NKJV) [emphasis added]
⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--

Adam Clarke concurs with others by assuming that Paul’s language here is referring to the athletic games or contests that would have been common knowledge for his readers. In any case, he is using figurative language to draw an analogy to life’s experiences, and more particularly his own experiences.

Notice what he describes later on in this letter, chapter 11.

2 Corinthians 11:23-27 (NKJV)
²³ Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ 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; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--

There are many times in life when we feel like we are squeezed nearly to death, perplexed or in doubt, persecuted (pursued, chased), and knocked down all at the same time.

Have you been there? Many of us have felt like this at various times in our lives. But, I’m glad Paul’s message doesn’t end here.

IV. We triumph in victory.

Look again at Paul’s words in verses 8 and 9.

In every description of adversity he gives, he balances it with a word of hope.

We may be squeezed in, pressed, or beset with trouble on every side, but we are not crushed, distressed or straitened.

We may be in doubt and perplexed, but we have not given up in complete despair or given up our faith.

We may be persecuted (pursued, chased like an animal) but we have not been forsaken or abandoned by God.

We may be knocked down, but we haven’t been destroyed, killed or lost.

In all of these troubles, there is a ray of hope. There is a ray of light. God hasn’t abandoned us.

Look at verses 11-15.

2 Corinthians 4:11-14 (NKJV) [emphasis added]
¹¹ 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. ¹² So then death is working in us, but life in you. ¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.

Religion or Relationship

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This is a sermon that tries to emphasize the contrast between understanding Christianity as a religion versus understanding Christianity as a relationship with a person - Jesus Christ. Various Scripture texts were used to emphasize different metaphors that are used in the Bible to describe a relationship.

Religion or Relationship

Introduction:

I remember years ago when I would use encyclopedias to look up information about various countries of the world for school projects or reports I would discover all types of useful information about the different countries that I would research for my report.

I remember being perplexed to read about the predominant religions of each country. The religion might be listed as 60% one religion, 30% some other religion and 10% a different religion. Usually one of the religions listed would be Christianity. How could the government or any educational organization possibly know how many people were really true Christians out of millions in the country?

I had been raised to believe that one had to be “saved” or born again in order to really be a Christian. I had been taught that the word Christian meant that you were like Christ in actions and attitudes.

Well, I learned that the statistics in the encyclopedias were estimates probably based on surveys and population samples. Perhaps they were calculated from boxes that people checked on some sort of census form. They were based on the assumption that any people who claimed some sort of affiliation with a church or denomination were considered a member of that religion.

However, I’m sure many of us here have heard it said many times that Christianity is not primarily a religion; it is a relationship. Yet, many people who have reduced it down to a religion.

What is the difference anyway? Does it really matter?

Different people have described the difference between religion and relationship like this:

Religion – man (people) working in his own efforts to attempt to find God and please (or appease) Him.

Relationship – God seeking us and making the way for us to come to Him through the sacrifice of His Son so that we could know Him.

With the help of God I want to draw your attention to various Bible texts and concepts that emphasize the fact that Christianity is a relationship rather than a religion.

1. “Walk”

This word is used in both the OT and NT to describe relationship with God.

Genesis 5:24 – And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Micah 6:8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 Cor. 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight…

2 Cor. 6:16 … God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (In the context of this verse, Paul had stated the principle of not being “yoked” together with unbelievers because light cannot fellowship with darkness…)

There are many more passages that we could refer to, but the point I want to stress is that walking beside someone implies a personal relationship; a daily, moment-by-moment interaction; a sharing of common experiences; etc.

Shortly after we moved here to assume the role of pastor, my wife (Kris) started a daily walking routine with Lori Giesler. They both were wanting to get enough exercise to stay healthy, to manage their youthful look, and to have someone else to do it with in order to feel some sort of obligation to keep at it. Well, they have kept at it. There aren’t very many times that they miss their daily commitment. But you know what? Walking isn’t the only thing they do. They talk; they solve all the problems of the world; they

2. “Love”

Deut. 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (This “command” is quoted by Jesus in the NT.)

Deut. 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

These verses are only a small sampling of the verses that express the love God has for us and the love we have for God.

The very concept and idea of love rises way above the mere rituals and performances of a religion. It stresses the bond of affection between two parties. There are many commands in Scripture to love God, yet the truth about love is – you don’t have to be commanded. It is a deep-rooted desire to please the one I love.

3. “Friend”

Exodus 33:11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

John 15:14-15 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

4. “Bride”

Matt. 9:15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Rev. 19:6-7And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

This metaphor speaks of intimacy, mutual love and devotion as well as faithfulness and fidelity. God passionately loves each and every one of us and he desires for us to have the same passion for him. It is just like a loving relationship between a husband and a wife.

Imagine what things would be like at home of our spouse treated us like we often treat the Lord.

·          They only talk to us when they want / need something.

·          They only talk to us when things are going wrong or they have something to complain about. They never share any joys or blessings.

·          They show up for special celebrations or occasions, but they never call or come around just to talk and spend time.

You might say, “Wow, that’s not much of a relationship! That’s awfully one-sided!” And you would be right. But sadly, that is the way many, many so-called Christians act with the Lord.

There are undoubtedly many people who have never grasped the idea that Christianity is a relationship rather than a religion. They treat this Christian faith as though it is just another religion and they go through life doing their “Christian duties and obligations,” but there is nothing vibrant, intimate or satisfying about it. They perform their “minimum requirements” but nothing more.

Religion: Seeking to do what I must do in order to gain acceptance with God.

Relationship: Realizing that God is seeking me and accepts me because He created me for Himself.

Religion: Worried that I haven’t done enough for God to approve of me, or love me.

Relationship: Realizing that God sent His Son to die for me before I ever cared about Him, so that I can be accepted and adopted into His family.

Religion: Looks at every command or teaching of Scripture as a duty or obligation that I must follow in order to keep God from rejecting me, or sending me to hell.

Relationship: Recognizes that the commands and ethical principles of Scripture are my privilege follow in order to show my love for Him.

Example – the kind of things that spouses do for each other just for the simple reason they want to please their lover. They love to show their spouse just how much they value the relationship and want to demonstrate their devotion.

That is why we obey the Lord and seek to please Him.

Conclusion:

God has designed the entire plan of redemption for the purpose of bringing each of us into a personal relationship with Himself. That original intimate relationship which existed when God first created Adam and Eve was severed and permanently broken when sin and disobedience entered the world. Our own personal sins and disobedience against God’s will has continued the separation between us and God individually.

But… because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, God has done everything that is necessary to re-establish the connection between Him and us. We must understand and acknowledge that religion is not enough. All our efforts to satisfy God and get His approval are not sufficient. We must recognize that it is only through trusting in the blood of Jesus that we can experience forgiveness for all our sins and have the relationship established with God our heavenly Father.

If you haven’t found this kind of meaning and joy and satisfaction, then I dare say that Christianity is still just a religion for you.

God wants to walk with you.

God wants to demonstrate His love for you and receive your love in return.

God wants to be the closest friend you’ve ever known… Someone you can go to with your burdens… Someone you can rely on for strength and counsel.

If this is what you desire, then I urge you to come forward for prayer and let us have a prayer with you.

Let us sing our closing hymn as a prayer of commitment to our Lord. 

Hymn # 593 Where He Leads Me

Christian Influence

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This is a message preached by Rev. Kenton Shaw while filling in for Pastor Les who was away.

A Visitation from Heaven

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This is a sermon that was preached at Wayside Community Church on July 1, 2012. The message was based on the text of Isaiah 64:1.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

As I began to seek the Lord’s will for today’s message, I was thinking about the national holiday coming up this week (July 4^th – Independence Day). I was thinking about the founding of this nation and about many of the problems that face us today.

I have been saying from this pulpit for many weeks and months that we need a genuine spiritual awakening in America. With the landmark rulings from the US Supreme Court this week regarding the Arizona immigration law and the national healthcare law, I personally believe it has become more evident that our nation is on the fast track to destruction. I know that I am probably speaking to some people here today that do not agree with that assessment, but I’m being honest with you about how I see it and how I feel.

Regardless of the rulings from the court this week, there is plenty of evidence that demonstrates the fact that our country has departed far from the ways of the Lord and the ways of morality and righteousness that it was founded upon. But I remind us today that several of those founding fathers of our nation clearly proclaimed at the beginning that our form of government was designed for a moral people; for a godly people; a people guided by biblical convictions of behavior.

We have an abundance of political leaders today who argue that we are witnessing the failure of capitalism. Well, if it is a failure, I can tell you why it is. It is because we are no longer a nation of predominantly righteous and moral individuals. Therefore I concur with what many Christian leaders have been saying, as well as some political leaders – there is no hope for the future of America outside of a genuine, nation-wide, spiritual awakening and renewal of faith and morality.

I don’t have a copy of the book yet, but Joel Rosenberg, a prominent Christian author, has recently published a book called Implosion. I’ve been reading some comments about the book on his internet site. In his book, he develops the argument that America is on a course to implode financially, morally, etc. But, he also reminds us that there is hope. And that hope is the same hope that rescued our nation in the past – it is another great awakening of spiritual life and a genuine revival of Christian faith.

As I was contemplating these subjects, I was reminded of the prayer in Isaiah that I have mentioned a moment ago. I truly believe that Isaiah’s prayer that is recorded in chapter 64 is a prayer that would be relevant for us to pray in our day today. Isaiah was praying for a special “visitation from heaven” -- a genuine revival or spiritual awakening sent from God.

Transition:

I would propose to you that this is our greatest need today in this nation, in this community, in this church, and in my own life – a visitation from heaven.

As we consider the kind of visitation for which Isaiah prayed I want to notice the:

I.   Existing Conditions

II.  Expression of Desperation

III. Expected Result

I.     First, let us consider the existing conditions in which Isaiah uttered this prayer.

There are numerous descriptions that we could give regarding the conditions in Judah and Israel leading up to Isaiah’s prophecy.

Listen to this description provided in the book, Exploring the Old Testament, edited by WT Purkiser.

The Nations of Judah and Israel were both fearfully facing the possibility of invasion from their enemies – the Assyrians. There were deplorable social conditions – the poor and widows were being oppressed, all sorts of economic crimes were perpetrated, Jerusalem became a hothouse of factions and intrigue, the custodians of law abused their powers, prophets were flattering and catering to the rich, and the lust of wealth ruled on all sides, commercialism and materialism were supplanting almost the last vestige of everything ethical and spiritual.

Sound familiar? Let me read it again with some of the words changed and see if you think I’m accurate or off base.

The USA fearfully faces the possibility of invasion from terrorists crossing over unguarded borders. There are deplorable social conditions – the poor and widows are being oppressed, all sorts of economic crimes are perpetrated, Washington has become a hothouse of factions and intrigue, the custodians of law abuse their powers, pastors are flattering and catering to the rich, and the lust of wealth rules on all sides, commercialism and materialism replaces almost the last vestige of everything ethical and spiritual.

Read 63:18 and 64:10-11 for a further description of conditions.

Isaiah 63:18-19 (NKJV)
¹⁸ Your holy people have possessed it but a little while; Our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary. ¹⁹ We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled, Those who were never called by Your name.

Isaiah 64:10-11 (KJV)
¹⁰ Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. ¹¹ Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

If there was any place on the face of the earth that was ripe for a fresh visitation from God, it was Judah and Israel.

Sometimes we look around at the darkness and wickedness, and we get so caught up in discouragement and despair we forget that these are the conditions into which God desires to display His almighty power. We forget that these days aren’t all that different from the circumstances preceding the great revivals in the past.

The Anglican minister, John Wesley, visited a city named Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England. After his visit he responded, “I was surprised: so much drunkenness, cursing and swearing (even from the mouths of little children) do I never remember to have seen and heard before, in so small a compass of time. Surely this place is ripe for Him who ‘came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”

Societies decay and become rampant with crime and wickedness when people forsake God. “Out there” in the world is not the only place where social and moral decay has set in. Conditions in the church or professing community of faith are not much better. But we can return to God and watch His supernatural power begin to reform our nation through the grace of God that is working in the individual lives of its citizens.

II.     Secondly, notice the expression of desperation.

A. Desperation is expressed in the use of the interjection: “Oh.”

The Hebrew word is a particle that can be translated: “If only that!” “Oh that” or “Would that.”

It just seems to me that the way this is structured, Isaiah is expressing a very heavy soul burden and utters a cry of desperation.It implies a cry of distress. Isaiah apparently was so distressed over the existing conditions that this cry seems to burst forth from his lips.

B. Desperation is expressed by the extreme display of power he prays for.

It seems as if Isaiah is asking God to show the greatest display of His power. He’s asking God to go to the limit in showing his presence.

Some writers point out that Isaiah is using poetic and figurative language that should not be understood literally, but none-the-less, he is crying out for God’s supernatural display of power in their behalf.

C. Desperation is expressed in the confession of guilt. (vv. 5b-7)

“…You are indeed angry, for we have sinned-- In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved. ⁶ But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. ⁷ And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us, And have consumed us because of our iniquities.”

Now, Isaiah was a faithful follower of the Lord and a true prophet of the Lord, but here he is expressing the condition of all the people and he includes himself along with all the rest of them.

When people get desperate for God’s divine and miraculous intervention, we forget about trying to prove all the ways in which we have been good and deserving of God’s grace. When we get desperate for His intervention, we begin to confess our faults, our sins, and our departure from His holy commands and requirements.

Remember, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

III.     Finally, notice the expected results of the prayer.

A. Isaiah expects a tremendous display of God’s omnipotence.

vv. 1,2a, 3.  Descriptions provided here seem to correspond to the events of Mount Sinai.

Compare these references:

Exodus 19:18 (NKJV) ¹⁸ Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

Judges 5:5 (NKJV) ⁵ The mountains gushed before the LORD, This Sinai, before the LORD God of Israel.

Psalm 68:8 (NKJV) ⁸ The earth shook; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

I really don’t know if Isaiah is wanting/expecting God to do the exact same thing as then, but the least we can say is that he is expecting some kind of revelation of God’s power.

B. Isaiah expects the enemies to notice God’s actions.

v. 2b.  “to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!”

At a time when Israel and Judah are being attacked and oppressed by their enemies, Isaiah calls upon the Omnipotent God of heaven to “make a name for Himself.”

Today, there are many enemies of the church and the cause of Jesus Christ. We need a tremendous display of God’s power that will silence the enemies of the cross.

We need a Pentecostal-style revival of the Holy Spirit that will cleanse away sin and impurity in the church and set her on fire with passion for the lost like the early disciples experienced until people begin to say that we too are “turning the world upside down.”

Conclusion:

I don’t know about you, but I have a hunger to see a divine manifestation of God’s power and presence. However, such a manifestation will more than likely not just happen. It will require someone getting a burden like that of Isaiah’s. It will require prayer and earnest seeking after God. It will require the people of God getting desperate enough to miss a few meals in order to pray; or to miss a few TV programs in order to pray. It will require obedience to the Lord – whatever He wants us to do.

May the Lord help us to stand in the place of intercession like the prophet.