No matter how difficult your situation is, never give up!

(Audio: Spanish)

SUMMARY: The Apostle Paul talks about the treasure of the Gospel that we have in clay vessels, which are our fragile and limited selves. He emphasizes that the excellence of the power is from God and not from us, so that God may receive all the glory. Paul acknowledges that trials and tribulations may come, but we should not despair and always seek God's help. He uses a series of paradoxes to describe how we can be troubled but not anguished, in trouble but not desperate, persecuted but not helpless, knocked down but not destroyed. In summary, we should always recognize our weaknesses and give glory to God, while also being aware of the power and promises of God.

Life can be difficult, but as children of God, we have a positive and hopeful attitude. We may be in tight situations, but we are not strangled or desperate. Our position as children of God is to get ahead and never give up, even in the midst of trials and difficulties. We have an almighty God on our side who will always bring us forward. We must cultivate a positive attitude and trust in God's provision. We may be knocked down, but we are not destroyed, and we must always get back up and push forward. Our trials and difficulties can be used to grow and become stronger in Christ. We must never lose hope or panic, but trust in God's faithfulness and power.

The Apostle Paul says, Second Corinthians, chapter 4, verse 7: “…but we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the excellence of the power is from God and not from us. That we are troubled in everything but not anguished, in trouble but not desperate, persecuted but not helpless, knocked down but not destroyed, always carrying the death of Jesus everywhere in our bodies so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. Because we who live are always delivered to death because of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. So that death acts in us and life in you, but having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed by which I spoke, we also believe by which we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus, we too will be raised with Jesus and presented together with you. For we suffer all these things out of love for you, so that grace may abound through many, thanksgiving may abound to the glory of God. Therefore, we do not faint, before although this our outer man is wearing away, the interior nevertheless is renewed from day to day. Because this slight momentary tribulation produces in us an ever more excellent and eternal weight of glory. We do not look at things that are seen but at things that are not seen, because things that are seen are temporary but those that are not seen are eternal..."

Amen. Glory to God. We go to verse 7 where the Apostle Paul says, 'but we have this treasure in earthen vessels'. That word 'but we have this treasure', that expression, tells us that he was thinking of something else. He's talking, he's referring to something that he's already mentioned before this moment. What is he referring to and why does he say, 'but do we have this treasure? And what is the treasure that the Apostle Paul is talking about?