Note for 2024/05/25 - ‭2 Corinthians 4:1-18 KJV‬ - Treasure in Earthen Vessels (Extended)

 

‭2 Corinthians 4:1-18 KJV‬

[1] Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; [2] but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. [3] But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4] in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. [5] For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. [6] For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. [7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. [8] We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; [10] always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. [11] For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. [12] So then death worketh in us, but life in you. [13] We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; [14] knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. [15] For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. [16] For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; [18] while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

https://bible.com/bible/1/2co.4.1-18.KJV

Note for 2024/05/25

Shabbat Shalom, friends.

There is so much moving in me at this moment. Do you know the feeling that when you read or hear the Word it seems that it was written just for you? The seen things of this world press so hard on us, it demands attention. How often we fail to shake loose of it. How often does it take a grip of us, we fear will not let go.

Even in those circumstances, we go to The Lord with it, not? When we fail, we plead with GOD for mercy, in the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior. It is a truth that we need help, we cannot do it on our own. The Glory for all the good that we may do, is then for Christ, because in ourselves we know how easily we fail. Our hope is in Jesus, because we are not reliable enough. Or is it just me? Paul said, The things he wants to do, that he does not do; and the things that he does not want to do, that he does. Have we not all that thorn in the flesh, we pray to GOD to remove? Even though we may know by now that the Grace of GOD is sufficient for us, still we are remorseful when we fail, right?

Friends, this morning I am struggling with this again. And I yearn for perfection. I yearn not to fail, not even once. So, I will tell you what the Lord made me see. When we work in our own efforts to overcome, we may not see victory yet. There are things that trouble us, but the Lord may still be working on us at something else. Shall I say it like this for understanding, "we do not see the full picture yet?" We may not know the root of that thing that troubles us so much. The Lord is working at the root of it, so when deliverance comes it will be complete. In our suffering, we can also know what it is to fail, less we become puffed up and look at others in judgment. We can understand the grief and turmoil of man, because we have suffered because of it too. We know the struggle, because we struggled too. We may preach deliverance, but it is Christ Jesus that brings it.

I am a fellow traveler, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. My victories are His, when I overcome it is because of Him. When I struggle, when I judge myself, it is the Holy Spirit in me that comes to my rescue, to comfort me. I am reminded of the Grace and Mercy of GOD for those that believe in His Son. GOD said, that whosoever believes in His Son, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. It is a declaration, even a decree. While we may be weak and fail, God will not fail. Our deliverance and salvation is not of us, it is of GOD. So is our Hope and our Faith on Him, not us. Like little children, we try and so often we fail. But when we overcome, we then know it is of Him, because we tried and failed. We know that the power is His and so is the Glory for all our victories.

This text meets me on the right day. I hope that it meets you perfectly too.

Shalom

May God Bless and Keep us.

Verse of the Day

(YouVersion, extended from verse 2)

‭Isaiah 43:1-13 KJV‬

[1] But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. [2] When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. [3] For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. [4] Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. [5] Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; [6] I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; [7] even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. [8] Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. [9] Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. [10] Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. [11] I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. [12] I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. [13] Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it? 

https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.43.1-13.KJV

Extended Reading:

(For those with a bit more time than most)

‭Matthew 18:1-35 KJV‬

‭[1] At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? [2] And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, [3] and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [5] And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. [6] But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. [7]  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! [8] Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. [9] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. [10] Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. [11] For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. [12] How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? [13] And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. [14] Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. [15]  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. [17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. [18] Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. [21] Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? [22] Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. [23] Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. [24] And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. [25] But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. [27] Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. [28] But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. [29] And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. [30] And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. [31] So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. [32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: [33] shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? [34] And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. [35] So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.18.1-35.KJV

Previous Note

(The note below is a private one that was written in the past. It covers both 2 Corinthians 4 and Matthew 18)

Today, I attach here all that I have read this morning, as it was by planned reading and also that which was given in the moment. I do not remove one word of it.

With the eyes we read, by the mind we receive, but only by the Spirit is the intended message revealed. That which is revealed is the message crafted in the Spirit for us that received the Word of GOD. It speaks to accounts given, statements made, morals decoded in the text; but it is the Way, which is in Christ Jesus, that is revealed. So, then, the labor is of the Spirit. Note how Paul explains the servitude to Christ and for what purpose it is performed. Who then can receive it is like that lost sheep Christ spoke of. Without making it too complex (I hope), trying to make it available even to a child. The mountains, is it then not kingdoms, people's, as we learn from prophetic speech? The lost is out there in the world, so we permit the Light of GOD to shine in us in darkness. Even just to show that the light of GOD can shine in man, as we are forgiven of all our debt. Then forgiving as we go, and bringing liberty to those that hear us. Who then is the Light of God, but Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior? Who then is the Word of GOD?

Yes, we look at things unseen, everlasting; while we are yet within the seen and temporary. For what is everlasting must be taken from the temporary and placed on the Way of Christ to reach the unseen and everlasting.

Shall I speak as those before me? Shall I say, Little Children? I can, but instead, I call you friends in Christ. Have you heard how the world refers to sheep, the new common term is "sheeple." With Matthew 25 in mind, call me a sheep all day long, please.

Friends, I am no better than you, in fact I am worse. For so great was my debt that Christ forgave me of. I am no Shepard, I am a sheep. A fellow traveler on this journey through this life. There are many, by their own choice, even blinded by it; that will reject the message of the kingdom of GOD. As they reject the kingdom, they reject The King and we lament for their loss. We have this; free will, given to us by GOD. As in the text, I urge you too; do not grab the one that is indebted to you by the throat and bring a charge against him. For your Father in Heaven is observing all. Much is forgiven, so must we forgive too, all.

Day by day, even in our own households, man is so easily offended. Here in the text, Christ gives the way to deal with it. Do not make a public noise. Do not accuse in front of others, and keep forgiveness in mind. There are matters that require us to act, but what is the purpose of that action? Is it to be repaid, or to show something to another that he might not have seen or understood? Is it to point out right and wrong, or to be paid in full? Liberty in Christ Jesus, remember that too.

For this, I try my best, to remember the matter of the log/beam in my eye, before attempting to remove a splinter. If a matter can be dealt with privately, is it not better. For then, the matter is before GOD and forgiveness is greater, when the trespass is not proclaimed to all the world. Once proclaimed in the world, the world can opt to bring a charge too, and then, even the lord of this world can prosecute. Are we then workers of condemnation or workers for salvation?

So, to milk the message down as far as I possibly can in plain speech. Before you throw a tantrum about unwashed dishes, maybe do the dishes in servitude to mercy. So then is your reward with GOD. Yes, I told you, this matter reaches even to our households, our family and friends. Does the Word then not say in Matthew 25, what you have done for the least of these, you have done for Christ? Oh! And what a correction I have just received. In private, on my couch, with no people around. So, the Holy Spirit corrects us in privacy too, if only we will listen, before the matter is brought before two or three witnesses. Understand?

There is much more that can be said here. But let me cease writing here, and permit the Spirit of God to continue in you.

Shalom