A treasure in clay vessels
Isaías Rivera
(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY: In Second Corinthians chapter 4 verses 7-12, the apostle Paul reminds us that we are like clay vessels that hold the treasure of God's glory within us. We may be fragile and flawed, but God's power is manifested in our weakness. We may face troubles and persecution, but we are not destroyed. Just like a Steinway piano that goes through a meticulous manufacturing process, we too are shaped and refined through our trials and sufferings. But no matter how many times we are broken, God will always rebuild us. We should embrace our weaknesses and allow God's strength to shine through us.
The speaker shares a personal story about a family member's accident and recovery, and how it taught him to rely on God's power and not his own abilities. He encourages listeners to embrace their human weaknesses and allow God to use them as vessels for His glory. The message is that it is not about the vessel itself, but what it contains, and that hope in Jesus Christ should be our source of strength in difficult times.
We may feel like dirty and imperfect vessels, but God has filled us with His presence and placed us where we are for a purpose. We carry the glory of the Lord within us, and it is not our own power but God's power that shines through us. Even in times of trouble and persecution, we can stand strong because we possess the hope and strength of Jesus Christ.
The speaker shares a personal story about a family member's accident and recovery, and how it taught him to rely on God's power and not his own abilities. He encourages listeners to embrace their human weaknesses and allow God to use them as vessels for His glory. The message is that it is not about the vessel itself, but what it contains, and that hope in Jesus Christ should be our source of strength in difficult times.
We may feel like dirty and imperfect vessels, but God has filled us with His presence and placed us where we are for a purpose. We carry the glory of the Lord within us, and it is not our own power but God's power that shines through us. Even in times of trouble and persecution, we can stand strong because we possess the hope and strength of Jesus Christ.
This morning I am going to be talking about Second Corinthians chapter verses from 7 to 12, it is a passage from our friend and brother, the apostle Paul. And he says: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of power belongs to God and not to us; that we are troubled in everything, but not anguished. In trouble, but not desperate. Persecuted, but not helpless. Struck down, but not destroyed; Always carrying in the body, everywhere, the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always delivered to death for the sake of Jesus, so that also the life of Jesus is manifested in our mortal flesh; So that death acts in us, and life in you." God bless His Word this morning.
I was reading an article about how they build Steinway pianos, pianos that are very famous and are used by very famous pianists. And it struck me that a company that is more than one hundred and forty years old still in the 21st century maintains the same sequence in the process of manufacturing a piano. It's interesting that they use two hundred different craftsmen for a piano, and a Steinway piano has twelve thousand parts. Those who have gone to hall concerts and see the grand piano, they look very nice, right? they seem to be in one piece, but there are twelve thousand parts there and that is the work of two hundred craftsmen.
I was reading an article about how they build Steinway pianos, pianos that are very famous and are used by very famous pianists. And it struck me that a company that is more than one hundred and forty years old still in the 21st century maintains the same sequence in the process of manufacturing a piano. It's interesting that they use two hundred different craftsmen for a piano, and a Steinway piano has twelve thousand parts. Those who have gone to hall concerts and see the grand piano, they look very nice, right? they seem to be in one piece, but there are twelve thousand parts there and that is the work of two hundred craftsmen.
