Hello, and welcome to
Foundation of Our Faith,
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a production of the
Dare to Dream network.
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My name is John Lomacang,
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and I am your
host for this program.
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I am so pleased to be
able to introduce to you
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Dr. Morgan M. Medlock,
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who is our
presenter for this message
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which is entitled
"Treasure in Clay Jars".
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Now, sometimes we
think of our value
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and where we stand
in the sight of God,
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but I believe that
our presenter today
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is going to give us a wonderful
message of encouragement
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to know that God
can use clay jars
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to reflect His glory.
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Dr. Medlock is a
graduate of Oakwood University.
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In 2007, she graduated
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with a degree in
biology and premed.
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In 2011, graduated
from Andrews University
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with an MDiv in theology.
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And in 2013
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from the Mayo
Clinic College of Medicine
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with an M.D. in medicine.
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Well qualified
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but also a very
spiritual individual
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centered in the Word of God.
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She is currently in residency
in psychiatric medicine
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at the Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston.
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And this school is affiliated
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with the Harvard Medical School.
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More than all of that,
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she wants to dedicate
her life to uplifting Jesus
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and one day hopes to specialize
in addiction treatment
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to help people break
the chains of mental,
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physical and spiritual bondage.
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And I believe that's the
reason why God has filled her
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with such a depth
of scriptural knowledge
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and anointed the work
that He has called her to do.
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Before she comes to bless us,
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we're gonna have a
song by a young man
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by the name of Jason Bulgin.
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He is from, a
native of Toronto, Canada,
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a young man who desires
to live his life on purpose.
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As he comes to sing,
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I'm gonna open
with a word of prayer,
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after I pray, after he sings,
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the next voice
that you will hear
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will be that of
Dr. Morgan Medlock.
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Let's bow our heads together.
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Gracious Father in heaven,
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we thank You for the power
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and privilege of
speaking in behalf of heaven.
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We pray an anointing
on your servants today,
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your servant in song,
your servant in message.
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Unify in these hearts and lives
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the power and the
presentation needed
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that Jesus might be
seen, might be exalted,
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might be uplifted and
hearts will be melted and drawn
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into a saving
relationship with Him.
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Bless now your servant in song,
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and then bless your servant
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in message in
Jesus name, I pray.
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Amen.
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I count it as a
privilege to worship the master,
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the wonderful, the
awesome name of Jesus.
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I count it as a privilege
to lift His name on heart.
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He's worthy of my praise.
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He's worthy of our praise.
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Lord, we've come to give praise
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Jesus Your name most high
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How we love to call Your name
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Jesus Your name most high
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Lord, we've come to sing praise
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Jesus Your name most high
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How we love to call Your name
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Jesus Your name most high
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Lord, we lift high our hands
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Jesus Your name most high
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Giving praise to Your name,
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Jesus Your name most high
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Lord, we lift high our hands
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Jesus Your name most high
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Giving praise to Your name
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Jesus Your name most high
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When I think of what You've done
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Jesus Your name most high
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How you hung, bled and died
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Jesus Your name most high
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So we've come to sing praise
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Jesus Your name most high
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How we love to call Your name
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Jesus Your name most high
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Jesus has been so
many things in my life,
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a healer, a
provider, He's been everything.
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So we call His name,
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shelter, provider,
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Jesus.
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Your name most high.
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Shelter,
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provider,
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my Jesus.
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Your name most high.
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Shelter
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Provider Provider
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Jesus Jesus
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Your name Your name most high
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Shelter Shelter
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Provider Provider
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Jesus Jesus
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Your name most high
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Shelter Shelter
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Provider Provider
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He is my Jesus Jesus
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Is your name Your name most high
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Shelter Shelter
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Provider Provider
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Jesus Jesus
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Your name Your name most high
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You're my ruler Ruler
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Redeemer Redeemer
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Jesus Jesus
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Your name Your name most high
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Ruler Ruler
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Redeemer Redeemer
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Jesus Jesus
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Your name Your name most high
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You're my master Master
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Savior Savior
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Jesus Jesus
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Your name Your name most high
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I love you Master
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I adore you Savior
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Jesus Jesus
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Your name Your name most high
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Cry Jesus Jesus
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Jesus Jesus
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Jesus Jesus
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Your name Your name most high
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Hallelujah.
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A name above every name,
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and just as much as
we love to praise Him,
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He loves to hear our praises.
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Thank you
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for that ministry in song.
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You know something.
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I have been on a journey
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of not only
contemplating Jesus Christ
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as being our provider,
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but contemplating Him
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as being the gift
that is above all.
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And so our message
today will challenge us
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to consider whether Jesus
is the most important person,
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the most important
treasure in our lives.
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I'm so much looking forward
to sharing this word with you.
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So I want to
invite you to turn with me
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to 2 Corinthians,
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2 Corinthians 4.
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2 Corinthians 4.
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And our focus today
will be on verses 1-7.
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The Bible says,
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"Therefore,
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since we have this ministry,
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as we have received
mercy we did not lose heart,
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but we have renounced
the hidden things of shame.
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Not walking in craftiness
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nor handling the
word of God deceitfully,
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but by
manifestation of the truth
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commending ourselves
to every man's conscience
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in the sight of God.
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But even if our
gospel is veiled,
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it is veiled to
those who are perishing,
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whose minds the God
of this age has blinded,
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who do not believe,
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lest the light of the glory
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of the gospel of Christ
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who is the image of
God should shine on them.
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For we do not preach
ourselves but Christ Jesus,
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and ourselves your
bond servants for his sake,
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for it is the God
who commanded light
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to shine out of darkness
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who has shown in our hearts
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to give the
light of the knowledge
00:09:05.37\00:09:08.34
of the glory of God
00:09:08.38\00:09:10.55
in the face of Jesus Christ.
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For we have this
treasure in earthen vessels
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that the excellence of the power
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may be of God and not of us."
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I like you to consider
with me today the subject
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"Treasure in Clay Jars".
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Treasure in Clay Jars.
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Let us pray.
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Father, You are here already
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and so we pray
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that the light of the
gospel of Jesus Christ
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would now shine into
each and every heart,
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in Jesus' name we pray.
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Amen.
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What is the most valuable thing
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you possess?
00:10:01.36\00:10:03.57
You see the Bible teaches
00:10:03.60\00:10:05.60
that Jesus Christ should
be the most valuable treasure
00:10:05.63\00:10:10.31
that anyone possesses.
00:10:10.34\00:10:13.68
The Bible compares Jesus
to a pearl of great price.
00:10:13.71\00:10:18.75
A treasure that a
man finds in a field
00:10:18.78\00:10:22.35
and when He has found it,
00:10:22.38\00:10:24.15
he immediately goes
and sells all that he has
00:10:24.19\00:10:27.46
in order to purchase that field.
00:10:27.49\00:10:29.86
The Bible says that Jesus
is like a pearl of great value
00:10:29.89\00:10:33.83
that when He is found,
00:10:33.86\00:10:35.46
a person is willing
to sell all that he has
00:10:35.50\00:10:38.80
in order to possess it.
00:10:38.83\00:10:41.10
The Apostle Paul realized
00:10:41.14\00:10:43.44
that Jesus has immense value.
00:10:43.47\00:10:46.78
In fact, Paul considered
himself merely a clay jar
00:10:46.81\00:10:51.31
which contained a vast
treasure, Jesus Christ.
00:10:51.35\00:10:55.78
You see in the Greco-Roman
world where Paul lived,
00:10:55.82\00:10:59.35
it was common for
things of great value
00:10:59.39\00:11:02.02
to be hidden in clay jars.
00:11:02.06\00:11:05.06
This was a deterrent to
thieves who would assume that
00:11:05.09\00:11:08.23
because the
container was not valuable
00:11:08.26\00:11:11.03
that there was nothing
valuable on the inside.
00:11:11.07\00:11:14.67
But Paul says,
00:11:14.70\00:11:16.44
"I am like a clay jar
00:11:16.47\00:11:18.91
which seems to
be of little value,
00:11:18.94\00:11:21.81
but I contain
the greatest treasure
00:11:21.84\00:11:24.81
in the entire
universe, Jesus Christ."
00:11:24.85\00:11:28.65
You see in 2 Corinthians,
00:11:28.68\00:11:30.72
Paul is
responding to his critics
00:11:30.75\00:11:34.16
who have judged his ministry,
00:11:34.19\00:11:36.42
not according to the
content of his message
00:11:36.46\00:11:39.29
but by his human limitations.
00:11:39.33\00:11:42.46
You see Paul was being judged
00:11:42.50\00:11:45.33
not as the
container of the gospel
00:11:45.37\00:11:48.34
but they were judging
the contents of his message.
00:11:48.37\00:11:51.47
The Bible says that they felt
00:11:51.51\00:11:53.01
that Paul was not
lofty enough in his speech,
00:11:53.04\00:11:56.21
that Paul did not
command the respect
00:11:56.24\00:11:58.88
that they felt a
great apostle should.
00:11:58.91\00:12:01.52
And in response Paul says
00:12:01.55\00:12:03.82
that my value is
not based on who I am
00:12:03.85\00:12:08.42
but on who Jesus is.
00:12:08.46\00:12:10.46
He says, "I am like a clay jar,
00:12:10.49\00:12:13.06
I am fragile,
00:12:13.09\00:12:14.46
I may not have the
most eloquent speech,
00:12:14.50\00:12:17.07
I may not be a
man of tall stature."
00:12:17.10\00:12:20.07
In fact it is
believed that Paul struggled
00:12:20.10\00:12:22.37
with a physical infirmity.
00:12:22.40\00:12:24.34
But Paul says
00:12:24.37\00:12:25.71
that in spite of me
being a fragile clay jar,
00:12:25.74\00:12:29.41
I contain
something of exceeding value.
00:12:29.44\00:12:32.98
The Gospel of Jesus
Christ is inside of me.
00:12:33.01\00:12:38.25
See Paul says,
00:12:38.29\00:12:39.79
I have not preached
according to my own wisdom
00:12:39.82\00:12:42.76
but I have preached Christ.
00:12:42.79\00:12:45.09
I have not ministered
out of my own abilities
00:12:45.13\00:12:47.90
but I have ministered
00:12:47.93\00:12:49.43
through the
abilities of Jesus Christ.
00:12:49.46\00:12:51.87
He says, I have this
treasure, Jesus Christ
00:12:51.90\00:12:55.94
that the excellence of the power
00:12:55.97\00:12:59.11
may be of God and not of us.
00:12:59.14\00:13:04.41
And this ought
to encourage someone
00:13:04.45\00:13:07.35
who believes that your value,
00:13:07.38\00:13:09.42
who would recognize
today that your value
00:13:09.45\00:13:11.85
is not determined
by external attributes,
00:13:11.89\00:13:15.29
not but by what is
on the inside of you.
00:13:15.32\00:13:18.69
And according to Paul
00:13:18.73\00:13:20.06
if you have Jesus inside of you,
00:13:20.10\00:13:22.96
then Paul says you
have a great treasure.
00:13:23.00\00:13:28.50
I love this scripture
00:13:28.54\00:13:31.14
because it is one of
the clearest statements
00:13:31.17\00:13:34.91
in all of the New
Testament regarding Jesus Christ
00:13:34.94\00:13:39.75
as the treasure of the gospel.
00:13:39.78\00:13:42.78
See, this message takes us
00:13:42.82\00:13:45.35
beyond receiving
God to treasuring God.
00:13:45.39\00:13:51.26
What is the difference between
00:13:51.29\00:13:53.16
receiving God
and treasuring God?
00:13:53.19\00:13:58.30
Have you ever
received a gift that frankly
00:13:58.33\00:14:01.40
it wasn't what you desired?
00:14:01.44\00:14:04.11
Perhaps you are a
person who makes wish list.
00:14:04.14\00:14:08.38
Maybe before some
holiday you were careful
00:14:08.41\00:14:10.75
to distribute this list
to your loved ones to be sure
00:14:10.78\00:14:14.35
that you got
exactly what you wanted.
00:14:14.38\00:14:17.52
And despite your best efforts,
maybe you receive something
00:14:17.55\00:14:20.92
that did not fulfill
your deepest longing.
00:14:20.96\00:14:24.16
So what did you do?
00:14:24.19\00:14:25.89
Maybe you received the gift
00:14:25.93\00:14:28.26
but it's likely you
did not treasure the gift,
00:14:28.30\00:14:32.23
maybe it was
placed in some corner,
00:14:32.27\00:14:34.50
some closet and has
never been used again.
00:14:34.54\00:14:38.17
Well,
unfortunately for many people
00:14:38.21\00:14:40.58
Jesus Christ has been received
00:14:40.61\00:14:44.15
but he has never been treasured.
00:14:44.18\00:14:47.15
You see, for many people
00:14:47.18\00:14:48.62
there was
something else in their lives
00:14:48.65\00:14:51.22
that they value more than Jesus.
00:14:51.25\00:14:53.96
There is something
else in their lives
00:14:53.99\00:14:55.62
that they seek more than Him.
00:14:55.66\00:14:58.43
Many have asked God to
give them some blessing,
00:14:58.46\00:15:02.26
some fame from Him,
00:15:02.30\00:15:04.20
but they have not
actually treasured Him.
00:15:04.23\00:15:08.30
So Paul says that
the treasure of our lives
00:15:08.34\00:15:12.54
should be Jesus Christ,
00:15:12.57\00:15:14.34
not even the blessing He
gives are greater than Him.
00:15:14.38\00:15:18.85
Yes, He gives blessings,
00:15:18.88\00:15:20.78
but He is the greatest blessing.
00:15:20.82\00:15:23.62
Yes, He gives gifts,
but He is the greatest gift.
00:15:23.65\00:15:29.22
Have you ever
treasured something?
00:15:29.26\00:15:33.33
How do we act when
we treasure something?
00:15:33.36\00:15:36.40
Do we not put it
in a special place?
00:15:36.43\00:15:38.90
Do we not show
admiration for it?
00:15:38.93\00:15:42.04
Do we not become anxious
00:15:42.07\00:15:44.11
lest any one should
mishandle our precious gift?
00:15:44.14\00:15:48.08
See, Paul is saying that Jesus
00:15:48.11\00:15:51.31
should be the
greatest treasure in our lives.
00:15:51.35\00:15:55.32
He should have a special place.
00:15:55.35\00:15:57.05
He should be comparable
00:15:57.09\00:15:58.42
to nothing else that we possess.
00:15:58.45\00:16:00.32
He should be so valuable
00:16:00.36\00:16:01.92
that we have to
tell others about Him.
00:16:01.96\00:16:06.06
Now for us to grow
in treasuring Christ,
00:16:06.09\00:16:09.96
we should reflect on
00:16:10.00\00:16:11.33
why the gospel of Jesus
Christ is such good news.
00:16:11.37\00:16:16.94
2 Corinthians 4,
returning to our passage.
00:16:16.97\00:16:20.41
In verse 6, the Bible says,
00:16:20.44\00:16:22.84
"For it is God
00:16:22.88\00:16:24.58
who commanded light
00:16:24.61\00:16:26.88
to shine out of darkness
00:16:26.92\00:16:29.98
who has shone in our hearts
00:16:30.02\00:16:32.35
to give the
light of the knowledge
00:16:32.39\00:16:34.82
of the glory of God
00:16:34.86\00:16:36.42
in the face of Jesus Christ."
00:16:36.46\00:16:40.26
You see the initiative of God
00:16:40.30\00:16:43.06
is what makes
the gospel good news.
00:16:43.10\00:16:46.53
So you see, it
begins, it begins with God
00:16:46.57\00:16:49.50
commanding His
light to enter our hearts.
00:16:49.54\00:16:52.91
None of us came to
Christ by our own initiative.
00:16:52.94\00:16:56.58
None of us is saved
00:16:56.61\00:16:57.95
because we somehow deserve
to be saved by our own merits.
00:16:57.98\00:17:01.68
No, it was God who
commanded His light
00:17:01.72\00:17:05.55
to enter our hearts.
00:17:05.59\00:17:08.42
Now because Paul is a Hebrew,
00:17:08.46\00:17:11.89
he is calling
forth a remembrance
00:17:11.93\00:17:14.46
of how the world was created
00:17:14.50\00:17:16.73
which is recorded in
the Hebrew scriptures,
00:17:16.77\00:17:18.73
the Old Testament.
00:17:18.77\00:17:20.24
For he says that in the same way
00:17:20.27\00:17:22.57
that God commanded
light to enter the world
00:17:22.60\00:17:25.57
at the beginning of time,
00:17:25.61\00:17:27.21
so he commanded light
00:17:27.24\00:17:28.94
to enter our
souls at our rebirth.
00:17:28.98\00:17:32.71
You see, when the
earth was without form
00:17:32.75\00:17:34.52
and void in the beginning,
00:17:34.55\00:17:36.28
and darkness was
upon the face of the deep.
00:17:36.32\00:17:39.55
But it was God
who commanded light,
00:17:39.59\00:17:42.49
and there was light.
00:17:42.52\00:17:44.26
Paul says that
in a similar manner,
00:17:44.29\00:17:46.56
"Before we met Christ,
00:17:46.59\00:17:48.10
our lives were
without form and void,
00:17:48.13\00:17:51.23
but God commanded His light
00:17:51.27\00:17:54.37
to enter our hearts."
00:17:54.40\00:17:57.31
And, so now for Paul,
00:17:57.34\00:17:59.94
his experience of conversion
00:17:59.97\00:18:02.74
was very much
reminiscent of light
00:18:02.78\00:18:05.71
suddenly
flooding into his heart.
00:18:05.75\00:18:08.82
For we know Paul's biography
that before meeting Christ,
00:18:08.85\00:18:12.79
he was a
persecutor of Christians.
00:18:12.82\00:18:15.62
Paul says in Philippians,
00:18:15.66\00:18:17.16
"I knew the law, but
I didn't know Christ.
00:18:17.19\00:18:20.20
I was persecuting
the church of God."
00:18:20.23\00:18:22.70
In fact it was while Paul
was on the road to Damascus,
00:18:22.73\00:18:26.13
he was on a journey to
actually incarcerate Christians
00:18:26.17\00:18:29.80
while he was
riding along on his beast,
00:18:29.84\00:18:32.71
the Bible says
that Jesus met him.
00:18:32.74\00:18:36.98
You know, God can meet you
00:18:37.01\00:18:39.05
in the most
uncanny circumstances.
00:18:39.08\00:18:41.58
Why does He do that?
00:18:41.62\00:18:42.98
Because He is that desperate
00:18:43.02\00:18:45.59
to reveal His glory to us.
00:18:45.62\00:18:50.13
You remember
your conversion story.
00:18:50.16\00:18:52.99
Do you remember what
you were and who you were
00:18:53.03\00:18:55.30
when God commanded His
light to enter your heart.
00:18:55.33\00:18:58.63
I remember where I was.
00:18:58.67\00:19:00.64
I was a 12 year old girl,
00:19:00.67\00:19:03.04
and I remember that
00:19:03.07\00:19:04.41
as I was
growing up in the church
00:19:04.44\00:19:05.91
that many had thought
00:19:05.94\00:19:07.31
that I was
overactive and anxious
00:19:07.34\00:19:09.44
and they had
diagnosed me with ADHD,
00:19:09.48\00:19:12.05
they didn't
have medical licenses
00:19:12.08\00:19:13.82
but they felt that my behavior
was consistent with that.
00:19:13.85\00:19:17.19
I was a rambunctious child.
00:19:17.22\00:19:19.82
But I remember at the age of 12,
00:19:19.85\00:19:22.12
being asked to provide
a sermon for Youth Day.
00:19:22.16\00:19:25.83
And I remember at the
moment that I took the pulpit
00:19:25.86\00:19:28.90
that I felt
God's love in His heart
00:19:28.93\00:19:31.57
and His Holy
Spirit take control of me
00:19:31.60\00:19:34.57
and speak through me,
00:19:34.60\00:19:36.24
and it was at that very moment
00:19:36.27\00:19:38.51
that God's light
entered my heart.
00:19:38.54\00:19:41.51
And since that moment I
have never been the same.
00:19:41.54\00:19:44.85
Do you remember
00:19:44.88\00:19:46.21
where you were and who you were
00:19:46.25\00:19:48.12
when God reached you
for the very first time?
00:19:48.15\00:19:51.42
Maybe there's someone here
00:19:51.45\00:19:53.02
who has not experienced
God's light ever before.
00:19:53.05\00:19:56.22
This message is for you
00:19:56.26\00:19:57.86
because even now
I believe that God
00:19:57.89\00:20:00.73
is commanding His light
of the gospel of Jesus Christ
00:20:00.76\00:20:04.77
to enter your heart.
00:20:04.80\00:20:06.53
At the cross, at the
cross says that great song,
00:20:06.57\00:20:09.50
where I first saw the light
00:20:09.54\00:20:11.84
and the burden of
my heart rolled away.
00:20:11.87\00:20:15.44
It was there by
faith I received my sight
00:20:15.48\00:20:19.51
and now I am happy all the day.
00:20:19.55\00:20:23.22
Amazing grace,
00:20:23.25\00:20:24.89
how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me,
00:20:24.92\00:20:30.03
I once was lost,
but now I'm found,
00:20:30.06\00:20:33.06
was blind but now I see.
00:20:33.09\00:20:37.77
Praise God.
00:20:37.80\00:20:39.33
Seeing the light of the gospel
00:20:39.37\00:20:43.17
is never a neutral experience.
00:20:43.20\00:20:47.04
Countless individuals
have described the difference
00:20:47.08\00:20:50.55
Jesus has made in their lives.
00:20:50.58\00:20:53.11
See, once we
experience Christ glory,
00:20:53.15\00:20:56.18
we can never be the same.
00:20:56.22\00:20:59.29
"The purpose of the
light of the gospel",
00:20:59.32\00:21:01.79
follow the text,
00:21:01.82\00:21:03.16
"the purpose of
the light of the gospel
00:21:03.19\00:21:05.36
is to reveal the
glory of Jesus Christ."
00:21:05.39\00:21:09.36
For Paul says
00:21:09.40\00:21:10.73
that it is the
light of the knowledge
00:21:10.77\00:21:12.97
of the glory of God
00:21:13.00\00:21:14.67
visible in the face of Jesus.
00:21:14.70\00:21:19.57
It may surprise
you to hear me say
00:21:19.61\00:21:24.05
that the gospel
does not primarily reveal
00:21:24.08\00:21:27.92
how we can be saved.
00:21:27.95\00:21:31.35
It may surprise
you to hear me say
00:21:31.39\00:21:33.82
that the gospel
does not primarily reveal
00:21:33.86\00:21:37.03
how we can make it to heaven.
00:21:37.06\00:21:39.89
It may surprise
you to hear me say
00:21:39.93\00:21:42.26
that the gospel
does not primarily reveal
00:21:42.30\00:21:45.10
how we can be blessed.
00:21:45.13\00:21:47.87
No, it is the gospel
00:21:47.90\00:21:50.27
which primarily
reveals the glory of God
00:21:50.31\00:21:54.91
in the face of Jesus Christ.
00:21:54.94\00:21:59.11
See, Paul and the apostles
saw the glory of Jesus Christ.
00:21:59.15\00:22:03.69
This was their essential
and qualifying experience.
00:22:03.72\00:22:07.76
John 1:14,
00:22:07.79\00:22:09.36
"And the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us,
00:22:09.39\00:22:12.49
and we beheld his glory.
00:22:12.53\00:22:15.36
The glory as of the
only begotten of the Father,
00:22:15.40\00:22:18.67
full of grace and truth."
00:22:18.70\00:22:22.30
1 John 1:1, turn there.
00:22:22.34\00:22:25.87
1 John 1:1,
00:22:25.91\00:22:27.78
"That which was
from the beginning,
00:22:27.81\00:22:29.81
which we have heard,
00:22:29.84\00:22:31.28
which we have
seen with our eyes,
00:22:31.31\00:22:33.82
which we have looked upon
00:22:33.85\00:22:35.68
and our hands have handled
concerning the word of life.
00:22:35.72\00:22:39.99
It was manifested
and we have seen it
00:22:40.02\00:22:43.83
and we bear witness to it."
00:22:43.86\00:22:47.80
See, it is essential
00:22:47.83\00:22:50.53
that we see the glory of Christ.
00:22:50.57\00:22:54.97
How can we see His glory?
00:22:55.00\00:22:57.41
How can we see it?
00:22:57.44\00:22:59.61
Seeing refers to an
experiential knowledge
00:22:59.64\00:23:04.18
of Jesus' glory.
00:23:04.21\00:23:05.91
It refers to the glory of Christ
00:23:05.95\00:23:08.75
which is known
through His Holy Spirit.
00:23:08.78\00:23:11.65
You see, it is
the Holy Spirit's work
00:23:11.69\00:23:13.89
in our lives to
reveal the glory of Christ.
00:23:13.92\00:23:17.76
Think about it, John
7:39, John 7:39, the Bible says,
00:23:17.79\00:23:23.37
"That the spirit
was not yet given, why?
00:23:23.40\00:23:26.67
Because Jesus was
not yet glorified."
00:23:26.70\00:23:30.81
And then we turn
over to John 16:14.
00:23:30.84\00:23:34.31
Jesus is describing the work
00:23:34.34\00:23:36.04
and the function
of the Holy Spirit,
00:23:36.08\00:23:38.21
and He says,
00:23:38.25\00:23:39.58
"He shall glorify Me
for he shall receive a mind
00:23:39.61\00:23:44.05
and shall show it unto you."
00:23:44.09\00:23:46.59
So to glorify Jesus Christ
00:23:46.62\00:23:49.02
is the primary
role of the Holy Spirit.
00:23:49.06\00:23:53.09
In fact, the focus
of the entire gospel,
00:23:53.13\00:23:57.27
the entire message of God
00:23:57.30\00:23:59.77
is to reveal the
glory of Jesus Christ.
00:23:59.80\00:24:05.21
And so I want to
challenge someone today.
00:24:05.24\00:24:08.71
Don't stop at
just joining a church.
00:24:08.74\00:24:12.61
Don't stop at reading the Bible.
00:24:12.65\00:24:15.28
Don't stop at doing
acts of Christian service,
00:24:15.32\00:24:18.59
all of these
things are good things
00:24:18.62\00:24:21.42
but they are not the gospel.
00:24:21.46\00:24:23.53
The gospel is seeing
the glory of Jesus Christ.
00:24:23.56\00:24:27.50
Ask God today
00:24:27.53\00:24:29.03
for greater
revelation of Christ's glory.
00:24:29.06\00:24:33.00
You see, in 2 Corinthians 3,
00:24:33.03\00:24:36.00
Paul leads us through
the historical account
00:24:36.04\00:24:39.34
of the only person,
listen, the only person
00:24:39.37\00:24:43.48
who has ever asked
to see God's glory.
00:24:43.51\00:24:47.55
Wow.
00:24:47.58\00:24:49.22
Paul tells us
the story of Moses,
00:24:49.25\00:24:52.12
the great prophet
00:24:52.15\00:24:53.72
who was leading
the children of Israel
00:24:53.76\00:24:56.02
and given this great and serious
00:24:56.06\00:24:57.89
and momentous task before him,
00:24:57.93\00:25:00.33
he was desperate
according to the scriptures
00:25:00.36\00:25:03.03
for God's
presence and direction.
00:25:03.06\00:25:06.10
Moses was hungry
for the glory of God.
00:25:06.13\00:25:09.70
He said, "God, if Your
presence does not go with us,
00:25:09.74\00:25:13.78
please, do not
lead us up from here."
00:25:13.81\00:25:17.15
And finally, he asked God,
00:25:17.18\00:25:19.08
"Please,
00:25:19.11\00:25:20.45
show me Your glory.
00:25:20.48\00:25:24.89
Please,
00:25:24.92\00:25:26.52
show me your glory."
00:25:26.55\00:25:30.83
And isn't it amazing
that when Moses asked
00:25:30.86\00:25:35.10
to see the glory of God
00:25:35.13\00:25:38.10
that God honored
his amazing request.
00:25:38.13\00:25:42.60
God said, "No one can
actually see my face and live,
00:25:42.64\00:25:46.68
but I will put you
in a place beside me,
00:25:46.71\00:25:50.08
and I would declare
My name before you."
00:25:50.11\00:25:53.82
And so the Lord pass before
Him and proclaim the Lord,
00:25:53.85\00:25:57.69
the Lord God,
merciful and gracious,
00:25:57.72\00:26:00.66
longsuffering and
abounding in goodness and truth,
00:26:00.69\00:26:04.39
keeping mercy for thousands
00:26:04.43\00:26:06.49
but forgiving
iniquity and transgression
00:26:06.53\00:26:09.96
and sin, hallelujah.
00:26:10.00\00:26:12.70
You see, Moses
was so transformed
00:26:12.73\00:26:15.57
by the glory of God
00:26:15.60\00:26:17.97
that when he
returned from the mountain,
00:26:18.01\00:26:20.54
his face shone with God's glory,
00:26:20.58\00:26:25.45
so much so that
the people begged him
00:26:25.48\00:26:30.32
to cover his face.
00:26:30.35\00:26:34.39
It's a fact
00:26:34.42\00:26:35.96
that God had
invited the entire nation
00:26:35.99\00:26:38.99
to meet with him
00:26:39.03\00:26:41.20
but only Moses saw God's glory.
00:26:41.23\00:26:47.17
Notice, that Moses experienced
00:26:47.20\00:26:51.21
the transforming
power of the gospel.
00:26:51.24\00:26:55.61
While the multitude
never went beyond the law.
00:26:55.64\00:26:59.65
What did they say?
00:26:59.68\00:27:01.02
Everything God
has said we will do
00:27:01.05\00:27:04.02
but in the end
00:27:04.05\00:27:05.39
they not only
failed to keep the law
00:27:05.42\00:27:06.96
but that entire
generation also failed
00:27:06.99\00:27:10.46
to enter the Promised Land.
00:27:10.49\00:27:13.09
You see, anything we have,
00:27:13.13\00:27:15.66
even if it is a good thing,
00:27:15.70\00:27:20.40
if it is disconnected
00:27:20.44\00:27:22.50
from seeing the glory of Christ,
00:27:22.54\00:27:25.47
then it is of
no spiritual value.
00:27:25.51\00:27:30.98
But, oh, how tempting it is
00:27:31.01\00:27:33.62
to make good things the gospel.
00:27:33.65\00:27:37.72
Heaven may seem like for gospel.
00:27:37.75\00:27:40.49
What a wonderful
promise that we have in John 14.
00:27:40.52\00:27:45.06
"In my father's house,
says Jesus, are many mansions,
00:27:45.09\00:27:50.00
if it were not so I
would have told you.
00:27:50.03\00:27:54.30
I go to prepare
a place for you."
00:27:54.34\00:27:57.64
And many stopped there
and say that's the gospel.
00:27:57.67\00:28:00.88
That is the good news.
00:28:00.91\00:28:02.94
But as we read on,
00:28:02.98\00:28:04.58
we discover that the
real beauty of this promise
00:28:04.61\00:28:07.95
is not the place
00:28:07.98\00:28:09.52
but the person who has promised.
00:28:09.55\00:28:11.92
For it says, "If I go
and prepare a place for you,
00:28:11.95\00:28:16.22
I will come and
receive you," where?
00:28:16.26\00:28:18.99
Not to mansions, He said,
00:28:19.03\00:28:20.56
"I will receive you to
Myself that where I am,
00:28:20.60\00:28:25.73
there you will be also."
00:28:25.77\00:28:28.94
See, heaven is not
about going to some place.
00:28:28.97\00:28:32.94
Heaven is about dwelling
00:28:32.97\00:28:35.44
in the glory of Jesus Christ.
00:28:35.48\00:28:39.01
That's why David
could lift up his eyes
00:28:39.05\00:28:41.52
and say in Psalms 27,
00:28:41.55\00:28:43.65
"One thing have I
desired of the Lord,
00:28:43.69\00:28:48.16
and that will I seek after,
that I may dwell in His house,
00:28:48.19\00:28:53.90
to behold the beauty of God
00:28:53.93\00:28:57.50
and to enquire in His temple."
00:28:57.53\00:29:00.20
God's glory is all that matters.
00:29:00.24\00:29:04.37
But how easy it is
00:29:04.41\00:29:06.24
to make good things the gospel?
00:29:06.27\00:29:09.71
God's miracles may
seem like the gospel.
00:29:09.74\00:29:12.95
For isn't it a great thing
00:29:12.98\00:29:14.88
to receive some
miraculous deliverance,
00:29:14.92\00:29:17.79
some sudden and
unexpected answer to prayer?
00:29:17.82\00:29:22.19
And we do serve a
God who works miracles.
00:29:22.22\00:29:26.53
I love hearing stories
00:29:26.56\00:29:28.36
about miraculous
healings and answers to prayer
00:29:28.40\00:29:31.30
by those who have
put their trust in God.
00:29:31.33\00:29:33.90
Indeed, God is a mighty healer,
00:29:33.94\00:29:36.50
I acknowledge that today.
00:29:36.54\00:29:38.97
But miracles, my friends,
00:29:39.01\00:29:41.54
are not the gospel.
00:29:41.58\00:29:44.15
You see, Jesus taught
this clearly in John 6,
00:29:44.18\00:29:48.05
this was after the great miracle
00:29:48.08\00:29:49.75
of the loaves and fish.
00:29:49.78\00:29:51.85
Jesus fed over 5,000 people
00:29:51.89\00:29:54.82
with two fish and
five loaves of bread,
00:29:54.86\00:29:57.93
but the crowd was
stunned with what Jesus shared
00:29:57.96\00:30:01.73
after He fed
this great multitude.
00:30:01.76\00:30:04.50
He said, "Wait a
minute, wait a minute,
00:30:04.53\00:30:06.07
you are impressed
00:30:06.10\00:30:07.44
because you had your fill
of the bread and the fish,
00:30:07.47\00:30:10.94
but I am the bread of life.
00:30:10.97\00:30:15.24
He that cometh to
me shall never hunger
00:30:15.28\00:30:19.78
and he that believeth on me
00:30:19.81\00:30:22.88
shall never thirst."
00:30:22.92\00:30:25.75
He went on to say,
"Verily I say unto you,
00:30:25.79\00:30:29.19
except you eat the
flesh of the Son of Man
00:30:29.22\00:30:34.63
and drink His blood,
00:30:34.66\00:30:36.97
you have no life in you."
00:30:37.00\00:30:41.17
What was Jesus saying?
00:30:41.20\00:30:42.87
Jesus was teaching
00:30:42.90\00:30:44.47
that He is as
essential to our spiritual life
00:30:44.51\00:30:48.34
as bread is to
our physical life.
00:30:48.38\00:30:51.01
If we only receive
miracles and blessings from Him
00:30:51.05\00:30:54.95
but we fail to
partake of who He is,
00:30:54.98\00:30:58.82
then we have missed
the beauty of the gospel.
00:30:58.85\00:31:03.53
But how easy it is
00:31:03.56\00:31:05.29
to even make our
message the gospel?
00:31:05.33\00:31:08.73
Our message is a good thing.
00:31:08.76\00:31:10.60
What a beautiful
message that we have,
00:31:10.63\00:31:12.93
but if we only have
that, if we only have doctrine,
00:31:12.97\00:31:18.04
if we only have the written word
00:31:18.07\00:31:20.48
and not the living word,
00:31:20.51\00:31:22.38
then we have not yet
experienced the gospel.
00:31:22.41\00:31:27.98
For John 5:39 says that,
"You may search the scriptures,
00:31:28.02\00:31:33.29
thinking that, in
them you have life,
00:31:33.32\00:31:36.19
but they testify of me."
00:31:36.22\00:31:42.00
See, Paul also talks about
00:31:42.03\00:31:44.83
how many in his day
00:31:44.87\00:31:47.00
had become
overconfident in their message
00:31:47.04\00:31:50.44
to the point
that they lost focus
00:31:50.47\00:31:52.81
on Jesus Christ.
00:31:52.84\00:31:54.74
They used clever
language and eloquent speech,
00:31:54.78\00:31:58.58
they put confidence in
the flesh according to Paul.
00:31:58.61\00:32:01.85
Paul certainly could have
joined them in their boasting,
00:32:01.88\00:32:04.95
for according to
Philippians 3, he says,
00:32:04.99\00:32:07.36
"If anyone else thinks
00:32:07.39\00:32:08.79
he may have
confidence in the flesh,
00:32:08.82\00:32:10.99
I more so,
00:32:11.03\00:32:13.09
for I was
circumcised the eighth day.
00:32:13.13\00:32:15.43
I was of the stock of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin,
00:32:15.46\00:32:18.43
a Hebrew of Hebrews,
concerning the law of Pharisee,
00:32:18.47\00:32:22.30
concerning zeal,
persecuting the church,
00:32:22.34\00:32:25.07
concerning the righteousness
which is of the law,
00:32:25.11\00:32:27.48
I was blameless..."
00:32:27.51\00:32:28.91
But Paul goes on, he says,
00:32:28.94\00:32:30.88
"All the things
that were gain unto me,
00:32:30.91\00:32:34.42
I have counted loss for
Jesus Christ, yet indeed,
00:32:34.45\00:32:39.15
I also count all things loss
00:32:39.19\00:32:41.59
for the
excellence of the knowledge
00:32:41.62\00:32:44.19
of Christ Jesus, my Lord,
00:32:44.23\00:32:46.63
for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things
00:32:46.66\00:32:50.87
and count them as
rubbish that I may gain Christ."
00:32:50.90\00:32:56.10
Oh, that great treasure.
00:32:56.14\00:32:58.24
"And that I may be found in Him,
00:32:58.27\00:33:00.84
that I may know Him
00:33:00.88\00:33:02.68
and the power
of His resurrection
00:33:02.71\00:33:05.81
and the
fellowship of His suffering
00:33:05.85\00:33:09.38
that I may be
conformed to His death.
00:33:09.42\00:33:12.72
If by any means,
00:33:12.75\00:33:14.42
I may attain to the resurrection
00:33:14.46\00:33:17.59
from the dead."
00:33:17.63\00:33:19.89
Paul is saying
00:33:19.93\00:33:21.46
that his
greatest joy and pleasure
00:33:21.50\00:33:24.70
is to know Jesus Christ.
00:33:24.73\00:33:27.70
1 Corinthians 2:2
says, "I resolve, says Paul,
00:33:27.74\00:33:31.21
to know nothing among
you, except Jesus Christ
00:33:31.24\00:33:34.88
and Him crucified."
00:33:34.91\00:33:37.45
Friends of mine,
00:33:37.48\00:33:38.81
have you reached
that point in your life
00:33:38.85\00:33:41.52
where you have
resolved to know nothing else,
00:33:41.55\00:33:45.32
except Jesus
Christ and Him crucified.
00:33:45.35\00:33:50.36
See, Paul says
00:33:50.39\00:33:52.16
that the God of this age
00:33:52.19\00:33:54.23
Satan, our enemy
00:33:54.26\00:33:56.60
will do anything possible
00:33:56.63\00:33:58.73
to keep us from
seeing the glory of Christ.
00:33:58.77\00:34:03.77
2 Corinthians 4:3-4, it says,
00:34:03.81\00:34:07.01
"But even if our
gospel is veiled,
00:34:07.04\00:34:09.61
it is veiled to
those who are perishing,
00:34:09.64\00:34:12.65
whose minds with god
of this age has blinded,
00:34:12.68\00:34:16.18
who do not believe,
00:34:16.22\00:34:17.95
lest the light of the
gospel of the glory of Christ
00:34:17.99\00:34:22.16
should shine on them."
00:34:22.19\00:34:24.13
How does the enemy keep us
00:34:24.16\00:34:26.23
from seeing the glory of Christ?
00:34:26.26\00:34:28.10
I want you to know
00:34:28.13\00:34:29.46
that he cannot
overcome Christ's light.
00:34:29.50\00:34:31.57
The only thing that he can do
00:34:31.60\00:34:33.67
is attempt to place
a veil over our eyes
00:34:33.70\00:34:37.67
so that we cannot see Christ.
00:34:37.71\00:34:40.84
Paul explains this veil
00:34:40.88\00:34:43.11
in 2 Corinthians 3:14.
00:34:43.14\00:34:47.18
He is speaking again
about the children of Israel
00:34:47.22\00:34:50.65
and he says that,
00:34:50.69\00:34:52.02
"Their minds were blinded
for until this day, he says,
00:34:52.05\00:34:56.06
the same veil remains un-lifted
00:34:56.09\00:34:59.16
in the reading of Moses,
00:34:59.19\00:35:01.06
because the veil is
taken away only in Christ.
00:35:01.10\00:35:05.13
But even to this
day, when Moses is read,
00:35:05.17\00:35:08.57
a veil lies on their heart."
00:35:08.60\00:35:11.24
What does it mean to
have a veil over one's eyes?
00:35:11.27\00:35:15.04
It means that we fail to see
00:35:15.08\00:35:17.91
the glory and
the value of Christ.
00:35:17.95\00:35:21.82
Even in spiritual things,
00:35:21.85\00:35:24.22
if we look up on them
00:35:24.25\00:35:25.85
but fail to see Christ,
00:35:25.89\00:35:28.79
then a veil
00:35:28.82\00:35:31.39
is over our eyes.
00:35:31.43\00:35:35.76
But thank God.
00:35:35.80\00:35:38.23
Thank God
00:35:38.27\00:35:40.54
that we do not have to
remain in this condition.
00:35:40.57\00:35:44.07
For Paul goes on to say
in verse 16 of chapter 3,
00:35:44.11\00:35:48.38
"Nevertheless..."
00:35:48.41\00:35:49.74
What a powerful word
that is in scripture.
00:35:49.78\00:35:52.28
"Nevertheless
00:35:52.31\00:35:54.32
when one turns to the Lord,
00:35:54.35\00:35:58.19
the veil is taken away."
00:35:58.22\00:36:02.49
See, just like Moses
00:36:02.52\00:36:04.56
who would not settle
00:36:04.59\00:36:05.93
for an
intellectual knowledge of God
00:36:05.96\00:36:08.13
without experiencing His glory.
00:36:08.16\00:36:10.83
When he turned to the
Lord, asking to really see
00:36:10.87\00:36:14.27
and experience Him,
the veil was taken away.
00:36:14.30\00:36:18.17
Thank God that this experience
is not just for Moses,
00:36:18.21\00:36:23.11
God wishes that all of us
would see the glory of Christ.
00:36:23.14\00:36:28.58
Where He says in 3:18 that,
00:36:28.62\00:36:31.15
"We all with unveiled faces,
00:36:31.19\00:36:35.69
hallelujah, can behold
the glory of the Lord."
00:36:35.72\00:36:41.16
It's not just the preacher
who can see God's glory.
00:36:41.20\00:36:44.43
It's not just
some privileged group
00:36:44.47\00:36:46.30
who are invited
to see God's glory.
00:36:46.33\00:36:49.50
All of us have the opportunity
00:36:49.54\00:36:52.47
to see His glory.
00:36:52.51\00:36:55.18
Therefore, let us
come boldly before Him,
00:36:55.21\00:36:57.78
for God desires to reveal
00:36:57.81\00:36:59.61
the glory of Jesus Christ to us.
00:36:59.65\00:37:03.89
Let's go back to our passage.
00:37:03.92\00:37:05.52
2 Corinthians 4:6,
00:37:05.55\00:37:08.99
"For it is God
who commanded light
00:37:09.02\00:37:12.79
to shine out of darkness,
00:37:12.83\00:37:16.13
who has shone in our hearts
00:37:16.16\00:37:19.13
to give the
light of the knowledge
00:37:19.17\00:37:22.24
of the glory of God
00:37:22.27\00:37:24.37
in the face of Jesus Christ."
00:37:24.41\00:37:28.61
The same glory
that had been reflected
00:37:28.64\00:37:32.35
on the face of Moses
00:37:32.38\00:37:34.92
has now been seen
00:37:34.95\00:37:37.15
on the face of Jesus Christ.
00:37:37.19\00:37:40.39
To see God's glory
in the face of Jesus
00:37:40.42\00:37:44.49
is an amazing privilege.
00:37:44.53\00:37:46.73
Peter, James and John
saw the glory of Christ.
00:37:46.76\00:37:50.60
In Matthew 17,
00:37:50.63\00:37:52.27
we find the story of
Jesus' transfiguration.
00:37:52.30\00:37:55.94
The Bible says that
He took His disciples up
00:37:55.97\00:37:58.61
unto a high mountain by Himself
00:37:58.64\00:38:01.24
and He was
transfigured before them,
00:38:01.28\00:38:03.95
His face, look at the text,
00:38:03.98\00:38:06.08
"His face shone like the sun..."
00:38:06.11\00:38:08.92
That was the glory of God.
00:38:08.95\00:38:10.75
"And His clothes
became as white as the light
00:38:10.79\00:38:13.49
and behold,
even Moses and Elijah
00:38:13.52\00:38:15.69
came and appeared to
Him and talked with Him."
00:38:15.72\00:38:18.93
And Peter was so
stunned by what he was seeing,
00:38:18.96\00:38:22.13
the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ,
00:38:22.16\00:38:25.53
that all he could say is,
00:38:25.57\00:38:26.90
"Lord, it is good
for us to be here."
00:38:26.94\00:38:29.57
In any time we are privileged
00:38:29.60\00:38:31.81
to see the glory of
God in Jesus Christ,
00:38:31.84\00:38:34.98
certainly we can say,
00:38:35.01\00:38:36.34
"Lord, it is good
for us to be here."
00:38:36.38\00:38:41.72
Now a voice from
heaven was heard saying,
00:38:41.75\00:38:44.55
"This is my beloved Son
00:38:44.59\00:38:48.09
in whom I am well pleased."
00:38:48.12\00:38:52.23
Seeing Jesus' glory
00:38:52.26\00:38:54.40
is the focal
point of the gospel.
00:38:54.43\00:38:57.97
I want to return to John 1:14,
00:38:58.00\00:39:00.64
"And the Word became flesh
00:39:00.67\00:39:03.17
and dwelt among us
and we beheld His," what?
00:39:03.20\00:39:07.24
"His glory,
00:39:07.28\00:39:08.61
the glory of the only
begotten of the Father,
00:39:08.64\00:39:11.75
full of grace and truth."
00:39:11.78\00:39:14.25
Colossians 1:15 and 19,
00:39:14.28\00:39:18.25
"He is the image
of the invisible God,
00:39:18.29\00:39:21.69
for it please the Father
00:39:21.72\00:39:23.76
that in Him all the fullness..."
00:39:23.79\00:39:26.09
That means all the glory of God
00:39:26.13\00:39:28.30
should dwell in a person.
00:39:28.33\00:39:31.03
And what about 2 Peter 1:17-18?
00:39:31.07\00:39:35.94
I imagine that is...
00:39:35.97\00:39:37.31
Peter is
writing this sacred text
00:39:37.34\00:39:39.34
that he is still in
awe as he thinks about
00:39:39.37\00:39:42.34
what he experienced that day
00:39:42.38\00:39:44.31
on the mountain
of transfiguration.
00:39:44.35\00:39:46.55
For he is
recalling his experiences
00:39:46.58\00:39:48.62
with Jesus
Christ and he says that,
00:39:48.65\00:39:50.85
He, meaning Jesus,
00:39:50.89\00:39:52.25
received from God, the
Father, honor and glory
00:39:52.29\00:39:57.03
when such a voice came to
Him from the excellent glory,
00:39:57.06\00:40:00.20
"This is my beloved Son
00:40:00.23\00:40:02.96
in whom I am well pleased."
00:40:03.00\00:40:07.64
You see, Jesus has
received glory from the Father,
00:40:07.67\00:40:11.24
for the Father
has highly exalted Him
00:40:11.27\00:40:13.94
and given Him a name
that is above every name.
00:40:13.98\00:40:17.31
So, the light of the gospel
00:40:17.35\00:40:19.18
reveals the
glory of Jesus Christ.
00:40:19.21\00:40:22.65
Jesus Christ
00:40:22.68\00:40:24.05
is the greatest
treasure of the gospel.
00:40:24.09\00:40:26.65
In fact, He is the gospel.
00:40:26.69\00:40:30.96
He is the good news.
00:40:30.99\00:40:34.63
This is counter
to what many of us
00:40:34.66\00:40:38.73
have experienced as the gospel.
00:40:38.77\00:40:41.87
But the treasure of the gospel
00:40:41.90\00:40:44.94
is Jesus Christ Himself.
00:40:44.97\00:40:48.58
Friends, the things
we have shared today,
00:40:48.61\00:40:51.25
the enemy does not
want you to know it.
00:40:51.28\00:40:54.28
The light of the gospel
is shining all around us
00:40:54.32\00:40:58.12
and the enemy
doesn't want you to see it.
00:40:58.15\00:41:00.56
See, glory, glory
frightens the enemy.
00:41:00.59\00:41:04.39
He will allow religiosity
00:41:04.43\00:41:06.46
as long as we never see
00:41:06.49\00:41:08.73
the glory of Jesus Christ.
00:41:08.76\00:41:11.43
Paul says that the
enemy inserts a veil
00:41:11.47\00:41:15.47
to block Christ's glory.
00:41:15.50\00:41:18.74
For the Jews,
00:41:18.77\00:41:20.38
that veil was legalism,
00:41:20.41\00:41:22.81
for the gentiles,
00:41:22.84\00:41:24.31
that veil was idolatry.
00:41:24.35\00:41:27.55
So the question today,
00:41:27.58\00:41:29.58
what is the veil
00:41:29.62\00:41:31.29
that is blocking our view
00:41:31.32\00:41:34.46
of Christ's glory?
00:41:34.49\00:41:37.99
Through this message
00:41:38.03\00:41:39.69
God is inviting
us to turn to Christ.
00:41:39.73\00:41:43.13
For when one turns to Christ,
00:41:43.16\00:41:45.73
the veil is
taken away, praise God.
00:41:45.77\00:41:49.94
Seeing the glory of God
is critical for the Christian
00:41:49.97\00:41:53.41
because it is the only
thing that will liberate us
00:41:53.44\00:41:56.51
from Satan's power.
00:41:56.54\00:41:58.75
2 Corinthians 3:17,
00:41:58.78\00:42:01.05
"Now the Lord, says Paul,
is the spirit, the Holy Spirit,
00:42:01.08\00:42:04.45
and where the
Spirit of the Lord is,
00:42:04.49\00:42:07.02
there is liberty."
00:42:07.06\00:42:09.26
See, when we turn to the Lord
00:42:09.29\00:42:12.19
through His Spirit,
00:42:12.23\00:42:14.00
see the glory of Christ,
00:42:14.03\00:42:16.30
the enemy's veil is taken away.
00:42:16.33\00:42:20.20
We are liberated
00:42:20.24\00:42:21.57
from spiritual blindness.
00:42:21.60\00:42:25.87
Seeing the glory
of Christ is critical
00:42:25.91\00:42:29.61
because it is the only thing
00:42:29.64\00:42:31.38
that would
transform our very being.
00:42:31.41\00:42:35.32
2 Corinthians 3:18,
00:42:35.35\00:42:37.62
"But we all with unveiled faces
00:42:37.65\00:42:40.52
beholding as in a mirror,
00:42:40.56\00:42:42.32
the glory of the
Lord are being transformed
00:42:42.36\00:42:46.16
into the same image
00:42:46.19\00:42:47.93
from glory to glory
00:42:47.96\00:42:50.07
just as by the
Spirit of the Lord."
00:42:50.10\00:42:54.50
The plan of redemption
00:42:54.54\00:42:56.77
aims to restore the
image of God in man.
00:42:56.81\00:43:01.48
And this transformation,
listen carefully,
00:43:01.51\00:43:04.81
this transformation comes about
00:43:04.85\00:43:08.38
by our contemplating Christ.
00:43:08.42\00:43:13.05
Galatians 4:19,
"My little children,
00:43:13.09\00:43:16.59
for whom I labor in birth again
00:43:16.62\00:43:19.13
until Christ is formed in you."
00:43:19.16\00:43:22.36
How is Christ formed in us?
00:43:22.40\00:43:24.17
By our beholding His glory.
00:43:24.20\00:43:26.87
I love this quote
00:43:26.90\00:43:28.24
from my favorite
Christian author,
00:43:28.27\00:43:30.07
Ellen White.
00:43:30.11\00:43:31.44
She says, "By beholding
we are to become changed.
00:43:31.47\00:43:35.78
And as we meditate
upon the perfections
00:43:35.81\00:43:38.45
of the divine model,
00:43:38.48\00:43:40.35
we shall desire to
become holy transformed
00:43:40.38\00:43:44.39
and renewed in the
image of His purity.
00:43:44.42\00:43:47.39
It is by faith in the Son of God
00:43:47.42\00:43:50.53
that transformation
takes place in the character
00:43:50.56\00:43:54.13
and the child of wrath
00:43:54.16\00:43:56.00
becomes the child of God."
00:43:56.03\00:43:59.03
Yes, my friends, by beholding
00:43:59.07\00:44:01.27
we are changed.
00:44:01.30\00:44:03.91
It is the contemplation
of the image of Christ
00:44:03.94\00:44:07.88
which acts upon our nature
00:44:07.91\00:44:10.41
to transform us
into His likeness
00:44:10.45\00:44:13.55
just as the presence
of God transformed Moses
00:44:13.58\00:44:17.52
and transformed Paul and
transformed all the others
00:44:17.55\00:44:21.36
who saw His glory.
00:44:21.39\00:44:24.69
And I'm so thankful
00:44:24.73\00:44:26.70
that it's not just the great
men and women of scripture.
00:44:26.73\00:44:30.43
But it's the humblest Christian
00:44:30.47\00:44:33.20
who constantly looks to Christ
00:44:33.23\00:44:36.17
as the redeemer
00:44:36.20\00:44:37.77
who will also be
granted the privilege
00:44:37.81\00:44:40.54
to reflect in his own life
00:44:40.58\00:44:43.24
the glory of Jesus Christ.
00:44:43.28\00:44:46.92
And this is true, my friends,
00:44:46.95\00:44:48.78
at every stage of
our spiritual walk,
00:44:48.82\00:44:52.82
so often we begin
our journey with Christ.
00:44:52.85\00:44:56.79
By faith we
believe in His merits
00:44:56.83\00:44:59.66
and His righteousness
00:44:59.69\00:45:02.30
but often we go from there,
00:45:02.33\00:45:05.07
and we begin
looking at ourselves,
00:45:05.10\00:45:07.67
and we begin to
strive for godliness
00:45:07.70\00:45:09.47
through our own power.
00:45:09.50\00:45:11.57
Friends, that is not
the Christian experience,
00:45:11.61\00:45:14.44
rather we are to continue
00:45:14.48\00:45:16.14
to faithfully look upon Christ,
00:45:16.18\00:45:19.48
and by beholding we are changed.
00:45:19.51\00:45:22.95
You see, it is God's
will that by beholding Christ,
00:45:22.98\00:45:26.05
we will go from glory to glory
00:45:26.09\00:45:28.66
in our personal
Christian experience.
00:45:28.69\00:45:31.79
2 Peter 1:5 says,
00:45:31.83\00:45:33.83
"But also for this very reason,
00:45:33.86\00:45:36.16
giving all diligence
00:45:36.20\00:45:38.10
add to your faith virtue,
00:45:38.13\00:45:41.67
to virtue knowledge.
00:45:41.70\00:45:44.27
To knowledge self control,
00:45:44.31\00:45:47.48
to self control,
00:45:47.51\00:45:49.01
perseverance, to perseverance,
00:45:49.04\00:45:52.05
godliness, to godliness
00:45:52.08\00:45:54.95
brotherly kindness,
00:45:54.98\00:45:56.65
and to
brotherly kindness, love."
00:45:56.69\00:46:00.86
The spiritual transformation
that proceeds from Christ
00:46:00.89\00:46:05.39
takes place only through
00:46:05.43\00:46:06.76
the operation of the Holy Spirit
00:46:06.80\00:46:08.90
who having access to the heart
renews and glorifies our nature
00:46:08.93\00:46:13.60
and makes it over
00:46:13.64\00:46:14.97
into the likeness of
Christ's perfect life.
00:46:15.00\00:46:18.61
What the Holy Spirit
gives us is not some attribute
00:46:18.64\00:46:22.81
that we feel we
are at His absence
00:46:22.84\00:46:24.91
from our experience.
00:46:24.95\00:46:26.38
What He gives us is Christ.
00:46:26.41\00:46:29.62
So many times when
we face temptation,
00:46:29.65\00:46:32.19
we say, "God,
please make me more loving.
00:46:32.22\00:46:34.69
God, please make
me more longsuffering.
00:46:34.72\00:46:37.13
God, please give me patience."
00:46:37.16\00:46:39.29
But God does not
impart His attributes to us,
00:46:39.33\00:46:42.66
He imparts Jesus Christ.
00:46:42.70\00:46:45.70
Notice that the work of
the Holy Spirit in our lives
00:46:45.73\00:46:49.44
is to bring forth fruit,
00:46:49.47\00:46:51.31
singular not plural.
00:46:51.34\00:46:54.01
The fruit of the spirit
is not biblically understood
00:46:54.04\00:46:57.55
as being character traits
00:46:57.58\00:46:59.31
that we can posses one by one
00:46:59.35\00:47:01.92
as something that God
impart as the need arises.
00:47:01.95\00:47:05.42
No, He gives Christ to us.
00:47:05.45\00:47:08.29
And at every point in our lives,
00:47:08.32\00:47:10.79
Christ becomes our love,
Christ is to become our joy,
00:47:10.83\00:47:14.63
Christ is to
become our patience,
00:47:14.66\00:47:16.70
Christ is to be our holiness.
00:47:16.73\00:47:19.67
Christ
00:47:19.70\00:47:21.67
becomes our very life.
00:47:21.70\00:47:24.91
So, when we face temptation,
00:47:24.94\00:47:27.94
we should not pray
for some improvement
00:47:27.98\00:47:30.11
in our character
00:47:30.15\00:47:31.85
but we should say, "Lord,
00:47:31.88\00:47:33.78
please give me more of Christ."
00:47:33.82\00:47:38.49
For it is only by
possessing more of Christ
00:47:38.52\00:47:42.92
that we are changed.
00:47:42.96\00:47:46.23
"We have this
treasure," says Paul,
00:47:46.26\00:47:48.76
Jesus Christ
00:47:48.80\00:47:50.57
because we have
experienced the gospel
00:47:50.60\00:47:53.13
which reveals
the glory of Christ.
00:47:53.17\00:47:55.50
Paul says, "We
also have a ministry,"
00:47:55.54\00:47:58.31
2 Corinthians 4:1.
00:47:58.34\00:48:00.94
"Since we have
this ministry, he says,
00:48:00.98\00:48:03.48
we do not lose heart."
00:48:03.51\00:48:06.11
There are those who
sought to discredit Paul
00:48:06.15\00:48:08.52
and his message
00:48:08.55\00:48:09.88
but Paul says,
"Jesus is too valuable
00:48:09.92\00:48:12.19
for me to stop sharing Him
00:48:12.22\00:48:13.96
and to stop preaching Him
00:48:13.99\00:48:17.03
because I have experienced
and treasured the gospel.
00:48:17.06\00:48:20.60
I do not share the
Word of God deceitfully.
00:48:20.63\00:48:24.17
I acknowledge who I was
00:48:24.20\00:48:25.63
and what I was
before Christ delivered me."
00:48:25.67\00:48:28.67
There are some who
when sharing the gospel
00:48:28.70\00:48:30.87
may delete all of the scenes
that may cause embarrassment
00:48:30.91\00:48:34.08
but Paul says,
00:48:34.11\00:48:35.44
"I did not share the Word of God
00:48:35.48\00:48:37.08
to deceive anybody.
00:48:37.11\00:48:39.38
I commended myself
00:48:39.41\00:48:40.75
to each and
every man's conscience,
00:48:40.78\00:48:42.62
seeking to impart
to as many as possible
00:48:42.65\00:48:45.75
a personal
knowledge of Jesus Christ."
00:48:45.79\00:48:50.59
We have desperate communities
00:48:50.63\00:48:52.86
that need to see
the glory of Christ.
00:48:52.89\00:48:55.33
With all that is
going on in our world,
00:48:55.36\00:48:57.77
Christ and His
glory needs to be seen.
00:48:57.80\00:49:02.54
Paul says that
"The gospel of Christ
00:49:02.57\00:49:05.11
is not only critical for us
00:49:05.14\00:49:06.78
to be liberated
from Satan's power,
00:49:06.81\00:49:09.21
it's not only critical
for us to be transformed
00:49:09.24\00:49:12.05
into Christ's image,
00:49:12.08\00:49:13.68
it's not only
critical for our ministry
00:49:13.72\00:49:16.35
and our message
to a dying world,
00:49:16.38\00:49:18.79
but it is having
the treasure of Christ
00:49:18.82\00:49:21.79
which allows our
faith to withstand
00:49:21.82\00:49:25.26
testing and persecution."
00:49:25.29\00:49:28.33
You see, Paul had endured
00:49:28.36\00:49:29.70
a great deal of
suffering in his life.
00:49:29.73\00:49:32.23
After being called to ministry
he had endured suffering,
00:49:32.27\00:49:35.30
he acknowledges that
when he met Jesus Christ,
00:49:35.34\00:49:38.14
he was a
persecutor of Christians
00:49:38.17\00:49:40.44
but once converted,
00:49:40.48\00:49:41.81
he endured the most
severe test for Christ's sake.
00:49:41.84\00:49:45.25
In 2 Corinthians 11,
00:49:45.28\00:49:46.88
he lists all of the
terrible persecution
00:49:46.92\00:49:49.78
he experienced.
00:49:49.82\00:49:51.22
He said, "I have
been beaten with rods,
00:49:51.25\00:49:53.96
I have been stoned.
00:49:53.99\00:49:55.76
Three times I was shipwrecked.
00:49:55.79\00:49:58.33
I was in perils of waters,
00:49:58.36\00:50:00.80
in perils of robbers,
00:50:00.83\00:50:03.03
in perils of my own country men,
00:50:03.06\00:50:05.73
in perils of the gentiles,
00:50:05.77\00:50:08.14
in perils in the city.
00:50:08.17\00:50:10.64
I was in danger
in the wilderness,
00:50:10.67\00:50:12.91
I was in danger among the sea,
00:50:12.94\00:50:15.18
I was in danger
among false brethren,
00:50:15.21\00:50:17.78
in wariness, in toil,
in sleeplessness often,
00:50:17.81\00:50:21.72
in hunger and thirst,
00:50:21.75\00:50:23.79
often in cold and nakedness."
00:50:23.82\00:50:26.32
But Paul said,
"I learned one thing
00:50:26.35\00:50:28.72
that God's grace
is sufficient for me
00:50:28.76\00:50:32.39
and that by His strength,
00:50:32.43\00:50:34.83
His strength has
made perfect in weakness."
00:50:34.86\00:50:37.67
How did Paul make it?
00:50:37.70\00:50:39.23
He tells us the
secret in Philippians 4.
00:50:39.27\00:50:41.67
"Not that I speak
in regard to need,
00:50:41.70\00:50:45.17
for I have learned
00:50:45.21\00:50:47.01
in whatever state
I am to be content.
00:50:47.04\00:50:51.18
I know how to be
abased and how to abound:
00:50:51.21\00:50:55.58
every where and in all things
00:50:55.62\00:50:57.85
I have learned both to
be full and to be hungry,
00:50:57.89\00:51:01.29
both to abound
and to suffer need."
00:51:01.32\00:51:04.23
But this is one
thing he learned,
00:51:04.26\00:51:06.16
"I can do all
things through Christ
00:51:06.19\00:51:10.83
who strengthens me.
00:51:10.87\00:51:14.54
I can do all
things through Christ
00:51:14.57\00:51:18.44
who strengthens me."
00:51:18.47\00:51:22.01
See, possessing
00:51:22.04\00:51:23.88
the treasure of the gospel
00:51:23.91\00:51:27.28
gave Paul staying power
00:51:27.32\00:51:30.75
in times of trouble.
00:51:30.79\00:51:33.19
For he concludes
his message by saying,
00:51:33.22\00:51:35.96
"We have this
treasure in earthen vessels
00:51:35.99\00:51:39.73
that the excellence of the power
00:51:39.76\00:51:41.96
may be of God and not of us."
00:51:42.00\00:51:44.43
He says, "We are hard pressed
on every side, yet not crushed.
00:51:44.47\00:51:49.54
We are perplexed
but not in despair,
00:51:49.57\00:51:53.38
persecuted but not forsaken,
00:51:53.41\00:51:56.38
struck down but
not destroyed," why?
00:51:56.41\00:52:00.02
Because we carry
about in our bodies
00:52:00.05\00:52:03.22
the dying of the Lord Jesus
00:52:03.25\00:52:05.45
that the life of Jesus Christ
00:52:05.49\00:52:07.62
may also be
manifested in our bodies.
00:52:07.66\00:52:11.16
See as Paul
concludes his message,
00:52:11.19\00:52:13.33
he still using the
metaphor of the clayed jar.
00:52:13.36\00:52:17.37
See, damage and
breakage of the jar
00:52:17.40\00:52:20.40
does not change the
value of the contents.
00:52:20.44\00:52:23.84
In fact, every crack
00:52:23.87\00:52:25.67
that the jar sustains
00:52:25.71\00:52:27.74
only serves to allow the glory
00:52:27.78\00:52:30.55
on the inside to become visible.
00:52:30.58\00:52:33.11
Paul says that,
00:52:33.15\00:52:34.48
"The treasure of the
gospel is inside of me,
00:52:34.52\00:52:37.59
so even though I am broken,
00:52:37.62\00:52:39.65
God's glory is shining
00:52:39.69\00:52:41.96
through this
scarred clay vessel."
00:52:41.99\00:52:45.16
So Paul says,
00:52:45.19\00:52:46.53
"My suffering has
served to reveal God's glory.
00:52:46.56\00:52:50.00
You can step on
me, you can crush me,
00:52:50.03\00:52:53.30
you can break me,
you can crack the jar,
00:52:53.34\00:52:56.34
says Paul,
00:52:56.37\00:52:57.77
but it only works
out to God's advantage.
00:52:57.81\00:53:01.74
Because when I'm broken,
00:53:01.78\00:53:04.25
His glory spills out."
00:53:04.28\00:53:08.55
As I conclude,
00:53:08.58\00:53:10.59
I'm reminded that Jesus,
00:53:10.62\00:53:13.02
the light of the gospel
00:53:13.05\00:53:15.56
wrapped His
divinity in humanity.
00:53:15.59\00:53:18.96
He wrapped Himself in flesh.
00:53:18.99\00:53:22.86
The immense treasure of God
00:53:22.90\00:53:25.67
was contained in flesh.
00:53:25.70\00:53:28.74
But the Word was made flesh
00:53:28.77\00:53:30.91
and dwelt among us.
00:53:30.94\00:53:33.21
But because He knew
where He had come from
00:53:33.24\00:53:35.78
and He knew where He
was going, the Bible says,
00:53:35.81\00:53:39.01
"He did not avoid the suffering,
00:53:39.05\00:53:41.28
the Father had
ordained for Him."
00:53:41.32\00:53:43.85
Referring to His
sufferings, He said,
00:53:43.89\00:53:46.05
"This is the hour of My glory."
00:53:46.09\00:53:49.49
There's that word again.
00:53:49.52\00:53:51.09
Why was He so
compelled to receive glory
00:53:51.13\00:53:54.66
through His suffering?
00:53:54.70\00:53:56.70
What was the
source of Jesus' passion?
00:53:56.73\00:54:00.54
I believe that Jesus understood
00:54:00.57\00:54:02.80
that when His
humanity was cracked open,
00:54:02.84\00:54:06.98
when He gave up His
life for us, for our sake
00:54:07.01\00:54:10.61
that it would only
allow His glory to be seen.
00:54:10.65\00:54:15.05
So, He allowed them
to whip Him with lashings
00:54:15.08\00:54:18.02
because He knew
that by His stripes
00:54:18.05\00:54:20.49
we would be healed.
00:54:20.52\00:54:21.86
He allowed them
to pierce His side
00:54:21.89\00:54:24.56
because He knew
that out of that wound
00:54:24.59\00:54:26.70
would flow healing
and redemption and life.
00:54:26.73\00:54:31.00
He said, "If I am lifted up,
00:54:31.03\00:54:33.74
if My glory is seen,
00:54:33.77\00:54:38.11
then I would
draw all men unto me."
00:54:38.14\00:54:42.64
Can you see the
glory of Christ today?
00:54:42.68\00:54:45.65
He wants you to see
Him in all of His glory.
00:54:45.68\00:54:49.75
The gospel is good news
00:54:49.78\00:54:51.55
because it reveals the
glory of Christ who died
00:54:51.59\00:54:55.36
so that every
obstacle that prevents us
00:54:55.39\00:54:57.89
from seeing Him can be removed.
00:54:57.93\00:55:01.00
See, when we turn to Christ,
00:55:01.03\00:55:03.00
the veil is removed.
00:55:03.03\00:55:05.63
Someone today
needs to experience
00:55:05.67\00:55:08.17
the glory of Christ.
00:55:08.20\00:55:10.24
May be there is someone here
00:55:13.31\00:55:15.78
who is not yet
surrendered to Christ,
00:55:15.81\00:55:18.48
maybe you have
never seen His glory.
00:55:18.51\00:55:22.55
Today, if you hear His voice,
00:55:22.58\00:55:24.95
please do not harden your heart.
00:55:24.99\00:55:27.76
He wants to reveal
Himself to you today.
00:55:27.79\00:55:31.46
Maybe there is
someone else who knows
00:55:31.49\00:55:33.33
that your religious
experience has become something
00:55:33.36\00:55:36.26
that is not focused
00:55:36.30\00:55:37.70
on the glory of Christ.
00:55:37.73\00:55:41.14
Today, He is
inviting you to look upon Him,
00:55:41.17\00:55:44.47
to treasure Him
00:55:44.51\00:55:46.91
and to see His glory.
00:55:46.94\00:55:50.41
It is only in the past year
00:55:50.45\00:55:51.78
that I have begun to really see
00:55:51.81\00:55:53.38
the glory of
Christ in my experience.
00:55:53.42\00:55:56.02
And it has
transformed my very being.
00:55:56.05\00:55:58.65
His glory has been
revealed thus He has brought me
00:55:58.69\00:56:01.29
through trials and
painful experiences.
00:56:01.32\00:56:04.03
I couldn't understand
the purpose at that time
00:56:04.06\00:56:06.86
but I now realize that
it was all ordained by God
00:56:06.90\00:56:10.17
to bring me to Him
00:56:10.20\00:56:11.83
and so that I could see
00:56:11.87\00:56:13.37
and experience His glory.
00:56:13.40\00:56:16.47
The gospel is not
about having an easy life.
00:56:16.50\00:56:20.14
It's not about God
giving us good things
00:56:20.18\00:56:22.44
although He does that.
00:56:22.48\00:56:24.48
It's about God giving us Himself
00:56:24.51\00:56:28.28
and allowing us
to see His glory.
00:56:28.32\00:56:32.75
So, Paul would invite us today
00:56:32.79\00:56:35.42
to consider whether we possess
00:56:35.46\00:56:38.16
this treasure.
00:56:38.19\00:56:40.30
To consider today whether Christ
00:56:40.33\00:56:42.90
is really ours
00:56:42.93\00:56:44.80
to contemplate in this moment,
00:56:44.83\00:56:47.37
if we really have Christ
00:56:47.40\00:56:49.70
as the most
valuable thing in our lives.
00:56:49.74\00:56:53.61
For Paul, Jesus
Christ was everything
00:56:53.64\00:56:57.91
and his message in this text
00:56:57.95\00:57:00.05
is that there is nothing greater
00:57:00.08\00:57:02.28
than possessing Jesus Christ.
00:57:02.32\00:57:05.55
So, I invite you to consider
00:57:05.59\00:57:06.99
whether you
have Him in your life
00:57:07.02\00:57:09.22
and in your experience.
00:57:09.26\00:57:11.19
And if you desire to
possess Him completely,
00:57:11.23\00:57:14.36
please join me in this prayer.
00:57:14.40\00:57:17.67
Father, thank
You for Jesus Christ
00:57:17.70\00:57:21.37
who is the fullness of God.
00:57:21.40\00:57:24.77
We thank You, God,
00:57:24.81\00:57:26.37
for the
opportunity to see the Lord
00:57:26.41\00:57:29.64
in all of His glory.
00:57:29.68\00:57:31.91
We pray, oh, God,
that you would remove
00:57:31.95\00:57:34.45
whatever veil is blocking
our ability to see Christ.
00:57:34.48\00:57:39.05
We pray God that
by Christ's glory
00:57:39.09\00:57:41.39
that we would be liberated,
00:57:41.42\00:57:42.89
that we would be transformed
00:57:42.92\00:57:44.79
that You would
God, use us in ministry
00:57:44.83\00:57:47.30
to share this great message
00:57:47.33\00:57:49.26
and God that it
would be allowing,
00:57:49.30\00:57:51.07
that it would allow our faith
00:57:51.10\00:57:52.53
to endure even times of testing.
00:57:52.57\00:57:54.94