Participants: John Lomacang (Host), Dr. Morgan Medlock
Series Code: FDOF
Program Code: FDOF000035A
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00:19 Hello, and welcome to Foundation of Our Faith,
00:23 a production of the Dare to Dream network. 00:25 My name is John Lomacang, 00:27 and I am your host for this program. 00:30 I am so pleased to be able to introduce to you 00:33 Dr. Morgan M. Medlock, 00:35 who is our presenter for this message 00:38 which is entitled "Treasure in Clay Jars". 00:43 Now, sometimes we think of our value 00:45 and where we stand in the sight of God, 00:47 but I believe that our presenter today 00:48 is going to give us a wonderful message of encouragement 00:51 to know that God can use clay jars 00:54 to reflect His glory. 00:57 Dr. Medlock is a graduate of Oakwood University. 01:01 In 2007, she graduated 01:02 with a degree in biology and premed. 01:05 In 2011, graduated from Andrews University 01:07 with an MDiv in theology. 01:09 And in 2013 01:11 from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine 01:13 with an M.D. in medicine. 01:15 Well qualified 01:17 but also a very spiritual individual 01:19 centered in the Word of God. 01:22 She is currently in residency in psychiatric medicine 01:25 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. 01:29 And this school is affiliated 01:31 with the Harvard Medical School. 01:33 More than all of that, 01:35 she wants to dedicate her life to uplifting Jesus 01:37 and one day hopes to specialize in addiction treatment 01:40 to help people break the chains of mental, 01:43 physical and spiritual bondage. 01:46 And I believe that's the reason why God has filled her 01:49 with such a depth of scriptural knowledge 01:51 and anointed the work that He has called her to do. 01:54 Before she comes to bless us, 01:57 we're gonna have a song by a young man 01:58 by the name of Jason Bulgin. 02:01 He is from, a native of Toronto, Canada, 02:04 a young man who desires to live his life on purpose. 02:08 As he comes to sing, 02:10 I'm gonna open with a word of prayer, 02:12 after I pray, after he sings, 02:14 the next voice that you will hear 02:16 will be that of Dr. Morgan Medlock. 02:18 Let's bow our heads together. 02:20 Gracious Father in heaven, 02:22 we thank You for the power 02:23 and privilege of speaking in behalf of heaven. 02:27 We pray an anointing on your servants today, 02:30 your servant in song, your servant in message. 02:34 Unify in these hearts and lives 02:37 the power and the presentation needed 02:40 that Jesus might be seen, might be exalted, 02:44 might be uplifted and hearts will be melted and drawn 02:48 into a saving relationship with Him. 02:50 Bless now your servant in song, 02:52 and then bless your servant 02:54 in message in Jesus name, I pray. 02:57 Amen. 03:04 I count it as a privilege to worship the master, 03:07 the wonderful, the awesome name of Jesus. 03:10 I count it as a privilege to lift His name on heart. 03:12 He's worthy of my praise. 03:15 He's worthy of our praise. 03:23 Lord, we've come to give praise 03:27 Jesus Your name most high 03:31 How we love to call Your name 03:35 Jesus Your name most high 03:39 Lord, we've come to sing praise 03:43 Jesus Your name most high 03:47 How we love to call Your name 03:51 Jesus Your name most high 03:55 Lord, we lift high our hands 03:59 Jesus Your name most high 04:03 Giving praise to Your name, 04:07 Jesus Your name most high 04:11 Lord, we lift high our hands 04:15 Jesus Your name most high 04:19 Giving praise to Your name 04:23 Jesus Your name most high 04:27 When I think of what You've done 04:31 Jesus Your name most high 04:35 How you hung, bled and died 04:39 Jesus Your name most high 04:43 So we've come to sing praise 04:47 Jesus Your name most high 04:51 How we love to call Your name 04:55 Jesus Your name most high 05:05 Jesus has been so many things in my life, 05:08 a healer, a provider, He's been everything. 05:13 So we call His name, 05:15 shelter, provider, 05:19 Jesus. 05:21 Your name most high. 05:23 Shelter, 05:25 provider, 05:27 my Jesus. 05:29 Your name most high. 05:31 Shelter 05:32 Provider Provider 05:34 Jesus Jesus 05:36 Your name Your name most high 05:39 Shelter Shelter 05:40 Provider Provider 05:42 Jesus Jesus 05:45 Your name most high 05:46 Shelter Shelter 05:48 Provider Provider 05:49 He is my Jesus Jesus 05:52 Is your name Your name most high 05:54 Shelter Shelter 05:56 Provider Provider 05:58 Jesus Jesus 06:00 Your name Your name most high 06:01 You're my ruler Ruler 06:04 Redeemer Redeemer 06:06 Jesus Jesus 06:08 Your name Your name most high 06:10 Ruler Ruler 06:12 Redeemer Redeemer 06:14 Jesus Jesus 06:16 Your name Your name most high 06:18 You're my master Master 06:20 Savior Savior 06:22 Jesus Jesus 06:24 Your name Your name most high 06:26 I love you Master 06:28 I adore you Savior 06:30 Jesus Jesus 06:32 Your name Your name most high 06:33 Cry Jesus Jesus 06:36 Jesus Jesus 06:38 Jesus Jesus 06:40 Your name Your name most high 06:42 Hallelujah. 06:50 A name above every name, 06:53 and just as much as we love to praise Him, 06:56 He loves to hear our praises. 07:00 Thank you 07:01 for that ministry in song. 07:06 You know something. 07:07 I have been on a journey 07:09 of not only contemplating Jesus Christ 07:12 as being our provider, 07:15 but contemplating Him 07:17 as being the gift that is above all. 07:21 And so our message today will challenge us 07:25 to consider whether Jesus is the most important person, 07:30 the most important treasure in our lives. 07:33 I'm so much looking forward to sharing this word with you. 07:36 So I want to invite you to turn with me 07:39 to 2 Corinthians, 07:41 2 Corinthians 4. 07:46 2 Corinthians 4. 07:49 And our focus today will be on verses 1-7. 07:57 The Bible says, 08:00 "Therefore, 08:02 since we have this ministry, 08:06 as we have received mercy we did not lose heart, 08:11 but we have renounced the hidden things of shame. 08:14 Not walking in craftiness 08:16 nor handling the word of God deceitfully, 08:20 but by manifestation of the truth 08:22 commending ourselves to every man's conscience 08:25 in the sight of God. 08:27 But even if our gospel is veiled, 08:30 it is veiled to those who are perishing, 08:33 whose minds the God of this age has blinded, 08:37 who do not believe, 08:39 lest the light of the glory 08:42 of the gospel of Christ 08:45 who is the image of God should shine on them. 08:50 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus, 08:54 and ourselves your bond servants for his sake, 08:57 for it is the God who commanded light 09:00 to shine out of darkness 09:02 who has shown in our hearts 09:05 to give the light of the knowledge 09:08 of the glory of God 09:10 in the face of Jesus Christ. 09:13 For we have this treasure in earthen vessels 09:19 that the excellence of the power 09:22 may be of God and not of us." 09:26 I like you to consider with me today the subject 09:29 "Treasure in Clay Jars". 09:33 Treasure in Clay Jars. 09:38 Let us pray. 09:39 Father, You are here already 09:43 and so we pray 09:45 that the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ 09:48 would now shine into each and every heart, 09:51 in Jesus' name we pray. 09:53 Amen. 09:56 What is the most valuable thing 10:01 you possess? 10:03 You see the Bible teaches 10:05 that Jesus Christ should be the most valuable treasure 10:10 that anyone possesses. 10:13 The Bible compares Jesus to a pearl of great price. 10:18 A treasure that a man finds in a field 10:22 and when He has found it, 10:24 he immediately goes and sells all that he has 10:27 in order to purchase that field. 10:29 The Bible says that Jesus is like a pearl of great value 10:33 that when He is found, 10:35 a person is willing to sell all that he has 10:38 in order to possess it. 10:41 The Apostle Paul realized 10:43 that Jesus has immense value. 10:46 In fact, Paul considered himself merely a clay jar 10:51 which contained a vast treasure, Jesus Christ. 10:55 You see in the Greco-Roman world where Paul lived, 10:59 it was common for things of great value 11:02 to be hidden in clay jars. 11:05 This was a deterrent to thieves who would assume that 11:08 because the container was not valuable 11:11 that there was nothing valuable on the inside. 11:14 But Paul says, 11:16 "I am like a clay jar 11:18 which seems to be of little value, 11:21 but I contain the greatest treasure 11:24 in the entire universe, Jesus Christ." 11:28 You see in 2 Corinthians, 11:30 Paul is responding to his critics 11:34 who have judged his ministry, 11:36 not according to the content of his message 11:39 but by his human limitations. 11:42 You see Paul was being judged 11:45 not as the container of the gospel 11:48 but they were judging the contents of his message. 11:51 The Bible says that they felt 11:53 that Paul was not lofty enough in his speech, 11:56 that Paul did not command the respect 11:58 that they felt a great apostle should. 12:01 And in response Paul says 12:03 that my value is not based on who I am 12:08 but on who Jesus is. 12:10 He says, "I am like a clay jar, 12:13 I am fragile, 12:14 I may not have the most eloquent speech, 12:17 I may not be a man of tall stature." 12:20 In fact it is believed that Paul struggled 12:22 with a physical infirmity. 12:24 But Paul says 12:25 that in spite of me being a fragile clay jar, 12:29 I contain something of exceeding value. 12:33 The Gospel of Jesus Christ is inside of me. 12:38 See Paul says, 12:39 I have not preached according to my own wisdom 12:42 but I have preached Christ. 12:45 I have not ministered out of my own abilities 12:47 but I have ministered 12:49 through the abilities of Jesus Christ. 12:51 He says, I have this treasure, Jesus Christ 12:55 that the excellence of the power 12:59 may be of God and not of us. 13:04 And this ought to encourage someone 13:07 who believes that your value, 13:09 who would recognize today that your value 13:11 is not determined by external attributes, 13:15 not but by what is on the inside of you. 13:18 And according to Paul 13:20 if you have Jesus inside of you, 13:23 then Paul says you have a great treasure. 13:28 I love this scripture 13:31 because it is one of the clearest statements 13:34 in all of the New Testament regarding Jesus Christ 13:39 as the treasure of the gospel. 13:42 See, this message takes us 13:45 beyond receiving God to treasuring God. 13:51 What is the difference between 13:53 receiving God and treasuring God? 13:58 Have you ever received a gift that frankly 14:01 it wasn't what you desired? 14:04 Perhaps you are a person who makes wish list. 14:08 Maybe before some holiday you were careful 14:10 to distribute this list to your loved ones to be sure 14:14 that you got exactly what you wanted. 14:17 And despite your best efforts, maybe you receive something 14:20 that did not fulfill your deepest longing. 14:24 So what did you do? 14:25 Maybe you received the gift 14:28 but it's likely you did not treasure the gift, 14:32 maybe it was placed in some corner, 14:34 some closet and has never been used again. 14:38 Well, unfortunately for many people 14:40 Jesus Christ has been received 14:44 but he has never been treasured. 14:47 You see, for many people 14:48 there was something else in their lives 14:51 that they value more than Jesus. 14:53 There is something else in their lives 14:55 that they seek more than Him. 14:58 Many have asked God to give them some blessing, 15:02 some fame from Him, 15:04 but they have not actually treasured Him. 15:08 So Paul says that the treasure of our lives 15:12 should be Jesus Christ, 15:14 not even the blessing He gives are greater than Him. 15:18 Yes, He gives blessings, 15:20 but He is the greatest blessing. 15:23 Yes, He gives gifts, but He is the greatest gift. 15:29 Have you ever treasured something? 15:33 How do we act when we treasure something? 15:36 Do we not put it in a special place? 15:38 Do we not show admiration for it? 15:42 Do we not become anxious 15:44 lest any one should mishandle our precious gift? 15:48 See, Paul is saying that Jesus 15:51 should be the greatest treasure in our lives. 15:55 He should have a special place. 15:57 He should be comparable 15:58 to nothing else that we possess. 16:00 He should be so valuable 16:01 that we have to tell others about Him. 16:06 Now for us to grow in treasuring Christ, 16:10 we should reflect on 16:11 why the gospel of Jesus Christ is such good news. 16:16 2 Corinthians 4, returning to our passage. 16:20 In verse 6, the Bible says, 16:22 "For it is God 16:24 who commanded light 16:26 to shine out of darkness 16:30 who has shone in our hearts 16:32 to give the light of the knowledge 16:34 of the glory of God 16:36 in the face of Jesus Christ." 16:40 You see the initiative of God 16:43 is what makes the gospel good news. 16:46 So you see, it begins, it begins with God 16:49 commanding His light to enter our hearts. 16:52 None of us came to Christ by our own initiative. 16:56 None of us is saved 16:57 because we somehow deserve to be saved by our own merits. 17:01 No, it was God who commanded His light 17:05 to enter our hearts. 17:08 Now because Paul is a Hebrew, 17:11 he is calling forth a remembrance 17:14 of how the world was created 17:16 which is recorded in the Hebrew scriptures, 17:18 the Old Testament. 17:20 For he says that in the same way 17:22 that God commanded light to enter the world 17:25 at the beginning of time, 17:27 so he commanded light 17:28 to enter our souls at our rebirth. 17:32 You see, when the earth was without form 17:34 and void in the beginning, 17:36 and darkness was upon the face of the deep. 17:39 But it was God who commanded light, 17:42 and there was light. 17:44 Paul says that in a similar manner, 17:46 "Before we met Christ, 17:48 our lives were without form and void, 17:51 but God commanded His light 17:54 to enter our hearts." 17:57 And, so now for Paul, 17:59 his experience of conversion 18:02 was very much reminiscent of light 18:05 suddenly flooding into his heart. 18:08 For we know Paul's biography that before meeting Christ, 18:12 he was a persecutor of Christians. 18:15 Paul says in Philippians, 18:17 "I knew the law, but I didn't know Christ. 18:20 I was persecuting the church of God." 18:22 In fact it was while Paul was on the road to Damascus, 18:26 he was on a journey to actually incarcerate Christians 18:29 while he was riding along on his beast, 18:32 the Bible says that Jesus met him. 18:37 You know, God can meet you 18:39 in the most uncanny circumstances. 18:41 Why does He do that? 18:43 Because He is that desperate 18:45 to reveal His glory to us. 18:50 You remember your conversion story. 18:53 Do you remember what you were and who you were 18:55 when God commanded His light to enter your heart. 18:58 I remember where I was. 19:00 I was a 12 year old girl, 19:03 and I remember that 19:04 as I was growing up in the church 19:05 that many had thought 19:07 that I was overactive and anxious 19:09 and they had diagnosed me with ADHD, 19:12 they didn't have medical licenses 19:13 but they felt that my behavior was consistent with that. 19:17 I was a rambunctious child. 19:19 But I remember at the age of 12, 19:22 being asked to provide a sermon for Youth Day. 19:25 And I remember at the moment that I took the pulpit 19:28 that I felt God's love in His heart 19:31 and His Holy Spirit take control of me 19:34 and speak through me, 19:36 and it was at that very moment 19:38 that God's light entered my heart. 19:41 And since that moment I have never been the same. 19:44 Do you remember 19:46 where you were and who you were 19:48 when God reached you for the very first time? 19:51 Maybe there's someone here 19:53 who has not experienced God's light ever before. 19:56 This message is for you 19:57 because even now I believe that God 20:00 is commanding His light of the gospel of Jesus Christ 20:04 to enter your heart. 20:06 At the cross, at the cross says that great song, 20:09 where I first saw the light 20:11 and the burden of my heart rolled away. 20:15 It was there by faith I received my sight 20:19 and now I am happy all the day. 20:23 Amazing grace, 20:24 how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, 20:30 I once was lost, but now I'm found, 20:33 was blind but now I see. 20:37 Praise God. 20:39 Seeing the light of the gospel 20:43 is never a neutral experience. 20:47 Countless individuals have described the difference 20:50 Jesus has made in their lives. 20:53 See, once we experience Christ glory, 20:56 we can never be the same. 20:59 "The purpose of the light of the gospel", 21:01 follow the text, 21:03 "the purpose of the light of the gospel 21:05 is to reveal the glory of Jesus Christ." 21:09 For Paul says 21:10 that it is the light of the knowledge 21:13 of the glory of God 21:14 visible in the face of Jesus. 21:19 It may surprise you to hear me say 21:24 that the gospel does not primarily reveal 21:27 how we can be saved. 21:31 It may surprise you to hear me say 21:33 that the gospel does not primarily reveal 21:37 how we can make it to heaven. 21:39 It may surprise you to hear me say 21:42 that the gospel does not primarily reveal 21:45 how we can be blessed. 21:47 No, it is the gospel 21:50 which primarily reveals the glory of God 21:54 in the face of Jesus Christ. 21:59 See, Paul and the apostles saw the glory of Jesus Christ. 22:03 This was their essential and qualifying experience. 22:07 John 1:14, 22:09 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, 22:12 and we beheld his glory. 22:15 The glory as of the only begotten of the Father, 22:18 full of grace and truth." 22:22 1 John 1:1, turn there. 22:25 1 John 1:1, 22:27 "That which was from the beginning, 22:29 which we have heard, 22:31 which we have seen with our eyes, 22:33 which we have looked upon 22:35 and our hands have handled concerning the word of life. 22:40 It was manifested and we have seen it 22:43 and we bear witness to it." 22:47 See, it is essential 22:50 that we see the glory of Christ. 22:55 How can we see His glory? 22:57 How can we see it? 22:59 Seeing refers to an experiential knowledge 23:04 of Jesus' glory. 23:05 It refers to the glory of Christ 23:08 which is known through His Holy Spirit. 23:11 You see, it is the Holy Spirit's work 23:13 in our lives to reveal the glory of Christ. 23:17 Think about it, John 7:39, John 7:39, the Bible says, 23:23 "That the spirit was not yet given, why? 23:26 Because Jesus was not yet glorified." 23:30 And then we turn over to John 16:14. 23:34 Jesus is describing the work 23:36 and the function of the Holy Spirit, 23:38 and He says, 23:39 "He shall glorify Me for he shall receive a mind 23:44 and shall show it unto you." 23:46 So to glorify Jesus Christ 23:49 is the primary role of the Holy Spirit. 23:53 In fact, the focus of the entire gospel, 23:57 the entire message of God 23:59 is to reveal the glory of Jesus Christ. 24:05 And so I want to challenge someone today. 24:08 Don't stop at just joining a church. 24:12 Don't stop at reading the Bible. 24:15 Don't stop at doing acts of Christian service, 24:18 all of these things are good things 24:21 but they are not the gospel. 24:23 The gospel is seeing the glory of Jesus Christ. 24:27 Ask God today 24:29 for greater revelation of Christ's glory. 24:33 You see, in 2 Corinthians 3, 24:36 Paul leads us through the historical account 24:39 of the only person, listen, the only person 24:43 who has ever asked to see God's glory. 24:47 Wow. 24:49 Paul tells us the story of Moses, 24:52 the great prophet 24:53 who was leading the children of Israel 24:56 and given this great and serious 24:57 and momentous task before him, 25:00 he was desperate according to the scriptures 25:03 for God's presence and direction. 25:06 Moses was hungry for the glory of God. 25:09 He said, "God, if Your presence does not go with us, 25:13 please, do not lead us up from here." 25:17 And finally, he asked God, 25:19 "Please, 25:20 show me Your glory. 25:24 Please, 25:26 show me your glory." 25:30 And isn't it amazing that when Moses asked 25:35 to see the glory of God 25:38 that God honored his amazing request. 25:42 God said, "No one can actually see my face and live, 25:46 but I will put you in a place beside me, 25:50 and I would declare My name before you." 25:53 And so the Lord pass before Him and proclaim the Lord, 25:57 the Lord God, merciful and gracious, 26:00 longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth, 26:04 keeping mercy for thousands 26:06 but forgiving iniquity and transgression 26:10 and sin, hallelujah. 26:12 You see, Moses was so transformed 26:15 by the glory of God 26:18 that when he returned from the mountain, 26:20 his face shone with God's glory, 26:25 so much so that the people begged him 26:30 to cover his face. 26:34 It's a fact 26:35 that God had invited the entire nation 26:39 to meet with him 26:41 but only Moses saw God's glory. 26:47 Notice, that Moses experienced 26:51 the transforming power of the gospel. 26:55 While the multitude never went beyond the law. 26:59 What did they say? 27:01 Everything God has said we will do 27:04 but in the end 27:05 they not only failed to keep the law 27:06 but that entire generation also failed 27:10 to enter the Promised Land. 27:13 You see, anything we have, 27:15 even if it is a good thing, 27:20 if it is disconnected 27:22 from seeing the glory of Christ, 27:25 then it is of no spiritual value. 27:31 But, oh, how tempting it is 27:33 to make good things the gospel. 27:37 Heaven may seem like for gospel. 27:40 What a wonderful promise that we have in John 14. 27:45 "In my father's house, says Jesus, are many mansions, 27:50 if it were not so I would have told you. 27:54 I go to prepare a place for you." 27:57 And many stopped there and say that's the gospel. 28:00 That is the good news. 28:02 But as we read on, 28:04 we discover that the real beauty of this promise 28:07 is not the place 28:09 but the person who has promised. 28:11 For it says, "If I go and prepare a place for you, 28:16 I will come and receive you," where? 28:19 Not to mansions, He said, 28:20 "I will receive you to Myself that where I am, 28:25 there you will be also." 28:28 See, heaven is not about going to some place. 28:32 Heaven is about dwelling 28:35 in the glory of Jesus Christ. 28:39 That's why David could lift up his eyes 28:41 and say in Psalms 27, 28:43 "One thing have I desired of the Lord, 28:48 and that will I seek after, that I may dwell in His house, 28:53 to behold the beauty of God 28:57 and to enquire in His temple." 29:00 God's glory is all that matters. 29:04 But how easy it is 29:06 to make good things the gospel? 29:09 God's miracles may seem like the gospel. 29:12 For isn't it a great thing 29:14 to receive some miraculous deliverance, 29:17 some sudden and unexpected answer to prayer? 29:22 And we do serve a God who works miracles. 29:26 I love hearing stories 29:28 about miraculous healings and answers to prayer 29:31 by those who have put their trust in God. 29:33 Indeed, God is a mighty healer, 29:36 I acknowledge that today. 29:39 But miracles, my friends, 29:41 are not the gospel. 29:44 You see, Jesus taught this clearly in John 6, 29:48 this was after the great miracle 29:49 of the loaves and fish. 29:51 Jesus fed over 5,000 people 29:54 with two fish and five loaves of bread, 29:57 but the crowd was stunned with what Jesus shared 30:01 after He fed this great multitude. 30:04 He said, "Wait a minute, wait a minute, 30:06 you are impressed 30:07 because you had your fill of the bread and the fish, 30:10 but I am the bread of life. 30:15 He that cometh to me shall never hunger 30:19 and he that believeth on me 30:22 shall never thirst." 30:25 He went on to say, "Verily I say unto you, 30:29 except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man 30:34 and drink His blood, 30:37 you have no life in you." 30:41 What was Jesus saying? 30:42 Jesus was teaching 30:44 that He is as essential to our spiritual life 30:48 as bread is to our physical life. 30:51 If we only receive miracles and blessings from Him 30:54 but we fail to partake of who He is, 30:58 then we have missed the beauty of the gospel. 31:03 But how easy it is 31:05 to even make our message the gospel? 31:08 Our message is a good thing. 31:10 What a beautiful message that we have, 31:12 but if we only have that, if we only have doctrine, 31:18 if we only have the written word 31:20 and not the living word, 31:22 then we have not yet experienced the gospel. 31:28 For John 5:39 says that, "You may search the scriptures, 31:33 thinking that, in them you have life, 31:36 but they testify of me." 31:42 See, Paul also talks about 31:44 how many in his day 31:47 had become overconfident in their message 31:50 to the point that they lost focus 31:52 on Jesus Christ. 31:54 They used clever language and eloquent speech, 31:58 they put confidence in the flesh according to Paul. 32:01 Paul certainly could have joined them in their boasting, 32:04 for according to Philippians 3, he says, 32:07 "If anyone else thinks 32:08 he may have confidence in the flesh, 32:11 I more so, 32:13 for I was circumcised the eighth day. 32:15 I was of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, 32:18 a Hebrew of Hebrews, concerning the law of Pharisee, 32:22 concerning zeal, persecuting the church, 32:25 concerning the righteousness which is of the law, 32:27 I was blameless..." 32:28 But Paul goes on, he says, 32:30 "All the things that were gain unto me, 32:34 I have counted loss for Jesus Christ, yet indeed, 32:39 I also count all things loss 32:41 for the excellence of the knowledge 32:44 of Christ Jesus, my Lord, 32:46 for whom I have suffered the loss of all things 32:50 and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ." 32:56 Oh, that great treasure. 32:58 "And that I may be found in Him, 33:00 that I may know Him 33:02 and the power of His resurrection 33:05 and the fellowship of His suffering 33:09 that I may be conformed to His death. 33:12 If by any means, 33:14 I may attain to the resurrection 33:17 from the dead." 33:19 Paul is saying 33:21 that his greatest joy and pleasure 33:24 is to know Jesus Christ. 33:27 1 Corinthians 2:2 says, "I resolve, says Paul, 33:31 to know nothing among you, except Jesus Christ 33:34 and Him crucified." 33:37 Friends of mine, 33:38 have you reached that point in your life 33:41 where you have resolved to know nothing else, 33:45 except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 33:50 See, Paul says 33:52 that the God of this age 33:54 Satan, our enemy 33:56 will do anything possible 33:58 to keep us from seeing the glory of Christ. 34:03 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, it says, 34:07 "But even if our gospel is veiled, 34:09 it is veiled to those who are perishing, 34:12 whose minds with god of this age has blinded, 34:16 who do not believe, 34:17 lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ 34:22 should shine on them." 34:24 How does the enemy keep us 34:26 from seeing the glory of Christ? 34:28 I want you to know 34:29 that he cannot overcome Christ's light. 34:31 The only thing that he can do 34:33 is attempt to place a veil over our eyes 34:37 so that we cannot see Christ. 34:40 Paul explains this veil 34:43 in 2 Corinthians 3:14. 34:47 He is speaking again about the children of Israel 34:50 and he says that, 34:52 "Their minds were blinded for until this day, he says, 34:56 the same veil remains un-lifted 34:59 in the reading of Moses, 35:01 because the veil is taken away only in Christ. 35:05 But even to this day, when Moses is read, 35:08 a veil lies on their heart." 35:11 What does it mean to have a veil over one's eyes? 35:15 It means that we fail to see 35:17 the glory and the value of Christ. 35:21 Even in spiritual things, 35:24 if we look up on them 35:25 but fail to see Christ, 35:28 then a veil 35:31 is over our eyes. 35:35 But thank God. 35:38 Thank God 35:40 that we do not have to remain in this condition. 35:44 For Paul goes on to say in verse 16 of chapter 3, 35:48 "Nevertheless..." 35:49 What a powerful word that is in scripture. 35:52 "Nevertheless 35:54 when one turns to the Lord, 35:58 the veil is taken away." 36:02 See, just like Moses 36:04 who would not settle 36:05 for an intellectual knowledge of God 36:08 without experiencing His glory. 36:10 When he turned to the Lord, asking to really see 36:14 and experience Him, the veil was taken away. 36:18 Thank God that this experience is not just for Moses, 36:23 God wishes that all of us would see the glory of Christ. 36:28 Where He says in 3:18 that, 36:31 "We all with unveiled faces, 36:35 hallelujah, can behold the glory of the Lord." 36:41 It's not just the preacher who can see God's glory. 36:44 It's not just some privileged group 36:46 who are invited to see God's glory. 36:49 All of us have the opportunity 36:52 to see His glory. 36:55 Therefore, let us come boldly before Him, 36:57 for God desires to reveal 36:59 the glory of Jesus Christ to us. 37:03 Let's go back to our passage. 37:05 2 Corinthians 4:6, 37:09 "For it is God who commanded light 37:12 to shine out of darkness, 37:16 who has shone in our hearts 37:19 to give the light of the knowledge 37:22 of the glory of God 37:24 in the face of Jesus Christ." 37:28 The same glory that had been reflected 37:32 on the face of Moses 37:34 has now been seen 37:37 on the face of Jesus Christ. 37:40 To see God's glory in the face of Jesus 37:44 is an amazing privilege. 37:46 Peter, James and John saw the glory of Christ. 37:50 In Matthew 17, 37:52 we find the story of Jesus' transfiguration. 37:55 The Bible says that He took His disciples up 37:58 unto a high mountain by Himself 38:01 and He was transfigured before them, 38:03 His face, look at the text, 38:06 "His face shone like the sun..." 38:08 That was the glory of God. 38:10 "And His clothes became as white as the light 38:13 and behold, even Moses and Elijah 38:15 came and appeared to Him and talked with Him." 38:18 And Peter was so stunned by what he was seeing, 38:22 the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, 38:25 that all he could say is, 38:26 "Lord, it is good for us to be here." 38:29 In any time we are privileged 38:31 to see the glory of God in Jesus Christ, 38:35 certainly we can say, 38:36 "Lord, it is good for us to be here." 38:41 Now a voice from heaven was heard saying, 38:44 "This is my beloved Son 38:48 in whom I am well pleased." 38:52 Seeing Jesus' glory 38:54 is the focal point of the gospel. 38:58 I want to return to John 1:14, 39:00 "And the Word became flesh 39:03 and dwelt among us and we beheld His," what? 39:07 "His glory, 39:08 the glory of the only begotten of the Father, 39:11 full of grace and truth." 39:14 Colossians 1:15 and 19, 39:18 "He is the image of the invisible God, 39:21 for it please the Father 39:23 that in Him all the fullness..." 39:26 That means all the glory of God 39:28 should dwell in a person. 39:31 And what about 2 Peter 1:17-18? 39:35 I imagine that is... 39:37 Peter is writing this sacred text 39:39 that he is still in awe as he thinks about 39:42 what he experienced that day 39:44 on the mountain of transfiguration. 39:46 For he is recalling his experiences 39:48 with Jesus Christ and he says that, 39:50 He, meaning Jesus, 39:52 received from God, the Father, honor and glory 39:57 when such a voice came to Him from the excellent glory, 40:00 "This is my beloved Son 40:03 in whom I am well pleased." 40:07 You see, Jesus has received glory from the Father, 40:11 for the Father has highly exalted Him 40:13 and given Him a name that is above every name. 40:17 So, the light of the gospel 40:19 reveals the glory of Jesus Christ. 40:22 Jesus Christ 40:24 is the greatest treasure of the gospel. 40:26 In fact, He is the gospel. 40:30 He is the good news. 40:34 This is counter to what many of us 40:38 have experienced as the gospel. 40:41 But the treasure of the gospel 40:44 is Jesus Christ Himself. 40:48 Friends, the things we have shared today, 40:51 the enemy does not want you to know it. 40:54 The light of the gospel is shining all around us 40:58 and the enemy doesn't want you to see it. 41:00 See, glory, glory frightens the enemy. 41:04 He will allow religiosity 41:06 as long as we never see 41:08 the glory of Jesus Christ. 41:11 Paul says that the enemy inserts a veil 41:15 to block Christ's glory. 41:18 For the Jews, 41:20 that veil was legalism, 41:22 for the gentiles, 41:24 that veil was idolatry. 41:27 So the question today, 41:29 what is the veil 41:31 that is blocking our view 41:34 of Christ's glory? 41:38 Through this message 41:39 God is inviting us to turn to Christ. 41:43 For when one turns to Christ, 41:45 the veil is taken away, praise God. 41:49 Seeing the glory of God is critical for the Christian 41:53 because it is the only thing that will liberate us 41:56 from Satan's power. 41:58 2 Corinthians 3:17, 42:01 "Now the Lord, says Paul, is the spirit, the Holy Spirit, 42:04 and where the Spirit of the Lord is, 42:07 there is liberty." 42:09 See, when we turn to the Lord 42:12 through His Spirit, 42:14 see the glory of Christ, 42:16 the enemy's veil is taken away. 42:20 We are liberated 42:21 from spiritual blindness. 42:25 Seeing the glory of Christ is critical 42:29 because it is the only thing 42:31 that would transform our very being. 42:35 2 Corinthians 3:18, 42:37 "But we all with unveiled faces 42:40 beholding as in a mirror, 42:42 the glory of the Lord are being transformed 42:46 into the same image 42:47 from glory to glory 42:50 just as by the Spirit of the Lord." 42:54 The plan of redemption 42:56 aims to restore the image of God in man. 43:01 And this transformation, listen carefully, 43:04 this transformation comes about 43:08 by our contemplating Christ. 43:13 Galatians 4:19, "My little children, 43:16 for whom I labor in birth again 43:19 until Christ is formed in you." 43:22 How is Christ formed in us? 43:24 By our beholding His glory. 43:26 I love this quote 43:28 from my favorite Christian author, 43:30 Ellen White. 43:31 She says, "By beholding we are to become changed. 43:35 And as we meditate upon the perfections 43:38 of the divine model, 43:40 we shall desire to become holy transformed 43:44 and renewed in the image of His purity. 43:47 It is by faith in the Son of God 43:50 that transformation takes place in the character 43:54 and the child of wrath 43:56 becomes the child of God." 43:59 Yes, my friends, by beholding 44:01 we are changed. 44:03 It is the contemplation of the image of Christ 44:07 which acts upon our nature 44:10 to transform us into His likeness 44:13 just as the presence of God transformed Moses 44:17 and transformed Paul and transformed all the others 44:21 who saw His glory. 44:24 And I'm so thankful 44:26 that it's not just the great men and women of scripture. 44:30 But it's the humblest Christian 44:33 who constantly looks to Christ 44:36 as the redeemer 44:37 who will also be granted the privilege 44:40 to reflect in his own life 44:43 the glory of Jesus Christ. 44:46 And this is true, my friends, 44:48 at every stage of our spiritual walk, 44:52 so often we begin our journey with Christ. 44:56 By faith we believe in His merits 44:59 and His righteousness 45:02 but often we go from there, 45:05 and we begin looking at ourselves, 45:07 and we begin to strive for godliness 45:09 through our own power. 45:11 Friends, that is not the Christian experience, 45:14 rather we are to continue 45:16 to faithfully look upon Christ, 45:19 and by beholding we are changed. 45:22 You see, it is God's will that by beholding Christ, 45:26 we will go from glory to glory 45:28 in our personal Christian experience. 45:31 2 Peter 1:5 says, 45:33 "But also for this very reason, 45:36 giving all diligence 45:38 add to your faith virtue, 45:41 to virtue knowledge. 45:44 To knowledge self control, 45:47 to self control, 45:49 perseverance, to perseverance, 45:52 godliness, to godliness 45:54 brotherly kindness, 45:56 and to brotherly kindness, love." 46:00 The spiritual transformation that proceeds from Christ 46:05 takes place only through 46:06 the operation of the Holy Spirit 46:08 who having access to the heart renews and glorifies our nature 46:13 and makes it over 46:15 into the likeness of Christ's perfect life. 46:18 What the Holy Spirit gives us is not some attribute 46:22 that we feel we are at His absence 46:24 from our experience. 46:26 What He gives us is Christ. 46:29 So many times when we face temptation, 46:32 we say, "God, please make me more loving. 46:34 God, please make me more longsuffering. 46:37 God, please give me patience." 46:39 But God does not impart His attributes to us, 46:42 He imparts Jesus Christ. 46:45 Notice that the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives 46:49 is to bring forth fruit, 46:51 singular not plural. 46:54 The fruit of the spirit is not biblically understood 46:57 as being character traits 46:59 that we can posses one by one 47:01 as something that God impart as the need arises. 47:05 No, He gives Christ to us. 47:08 And at every point in our lives, 47:10 Christ becomes our love, Christ is to become our joy, 47:14 Christ is to become our patience, 47:16 Christ is to be our holiness. 47:19 Christ 47:21 becomes our very life. 47:24 So, when we face temptation, 47:27 we should not pray for some improvement 47:30 in our character 47:31 but we should say, "Lord, 47:33 please give me more of Christ." 47:38 For it is only by possessing more of Christ 47:42 that we are changed. 47:46 "We have this treasure," says Paul, 47:48 Jesus Christ 47:50 because we have experienced the gospel 47:53 which reveals the glory of Christ. 47:55 Paul says, "We also have a ministry," 47:58 2 Corinthians 4:1. 48:00 "Since we have this ministry, he says, 48:03 we do not lose heart." 48:06 There are those who sought to discredit Paul 48:08 and his message 48:09 but Paul says, "Jesus is too valuable 48:12 for me to stop sharing Him 48:13 and to stop preaching Him 48:17 because I have experienced and treasured the gospel. 48:20 I do not share the Word of God deceitfully. 48:24 I acknowledge who I was 48:25 and what I was before Christ delivered me." 48:28 There are some who when sharing the gospel 48:30 may delete all of the scenes that may cause embarrassment 48:34 but Paul says, 48:35 "I did not share the Word of God 48:37 to deceive anybody. 48:39 I commended myself 48:40 to each and every man's conscience, 48:42 seeking to impart to as many as possible 48:45 a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ." 48:50 We have desperate communities 48:52 that need to see the glory of Christ. 48:55 With all that is going on in our world, 48:57 Christ and His glory needs to be seen. 49:02 Paul says that "The gospel of Christ 49:05 is not only critical for us 49:06 to be liberated from Satan's power, 49:09 it's not only critical for us to be transformed 49:12 into Christ's image, 49:13 it's not only critical for our ministry 49:16 and our message to a dying world, 49:18 but it is having the treasure of Christ 49:21 which allows our faith to withstand 49:25 testing and persecution." 49:28 You see, Paul had endured 49:29 a great deal of suffering in his life. 49:32 After being called to ministry he had endured suffering, 49:35 he acknowledges that when he met Jesus Christ, 49:38 he was a persecutor of Christians 49:40 but once converted, 49:41 he endured the most severe test for Christ's sake. 49:45 In 2 Corinthians 11, 49:46 he lists all of the terrible persecution 49:49 he experienced. 49:51 He said, "I have been beaten with rods, 49:53 I have been stoned. 49:55 Three times I was shipwrecked. 49:58 I was in perils of waters, 50:00 in perils of robbers, 50:03 in perils of my own country men, 50:05 in perils of the gentiles, 50:08 in perils in the city. 50:10 I was in danger in the wilderness, 50:12 I was in danger among the sea, 50:15 I was in danger among false brethren, 50:17 in wariness, in toil, in sleeplessness often, 50:21 in hunger and thirst, 50:23 often in cold and nakedness." 50:26 But Paul said, "I learned one thing 50:28 that God's grace is sufficient for me 50:32 and that by His strength, 50:34 His strength has made perfect in weakness." 50:37 How did Paul make it? 50:39 He tells us the secret in Philippians 4. 50:41 "Not that I speak in regard to need, 50:45 for I have learned 50:47 in whatever state I am to be content. 50:51 I know how to be abased and how to abound: 50:55 every where and in all things 50:57 I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, 51:01 both to abound and to suffer need." 51:04 But this is one thing he learned, 51:06 "I can do all things through Christ 51:10 who strengthens me. 51:14 I can do all things through Christ 51:18 who strengthens me." 51:22 See, possessing 51:23 the treasure of the gospel 51:27 gave Paul staying power 51:30 in times of trouble. 51:33 For he concludes his message by saying, 51:35 "We have this treasure in earthen vessels 51:39 that the excellence of the power 51:42 may be of God and not of us." 51:44 He says, "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. 51:49 We are perplexed but not in despair, 51:53 persecuted but not forsaken, 51:56 struck down but not destroyed," why? 52:00 Because we carry about in our bodies 52:03 the dying of the Lord Jesus 52:05 that the life of Jesus Christ 52:07 may also be manifested in our bodies. 52:11 See as Paul concludes his message, 52:13 he still using the metaphor of the clayed jar. 52:17 See, damage and breakage of the jar 52:20 does not change the value of the contents. 52:23 In fact, every crack 52:25 that the jar sustains 52:27 only serves to allow the glory 52:30 on the inside to become visible. 52:33 Paul says that, 52:34 "The treasure of the gospel is inside of me, 52:37 so even though I am broken, 52:39 God's glory is shining 52:41 through this scarred clay vessel." 52:45 So Paul says, 52:46 "My suffering has served to reveal God's glory. 52:50 You can step on me, you can crush me, 52:53 you can break me, you can crack the jar, 52:56 says Paul, 52:57 but it only works out to God's advantage. 53:01 Because when I'm broken, 53:04 His glory spills out." 53:08 As I conclude, 53:10 I'm reminded that Jesus, 53:13 the light of the gospel 53:15 wrapped His divinity in humanity. 53:18 He wrapped Himself in flesh. 53:22 The immense treasure of God 53:25 was contained in flesh. 53:28 But the Word was made flesh 53:30 and dwelt among us. 53:33 But because He knew where He had come from 53:35 and He knew where He was going, the Bible says, 53:39 "He did not avoid the suffering, 53:41 the Father had ordained for Him." 53:43 Referring to His sufferings, He said, 53:46 "This is the hour of My glory." 53:49 There's that word again. 53:51 Why was He so compelled to receive glory 53:54 through His suffering? 53:56 What was the source of Jesus' passion? 54:00 I believe that Jesus understood 54:02 that when His humanity was cracked open, 54:07 when He gave up His life for us, for our sake 54:10 that it would only allow His glory to be seen. 54:15 So, He allowed them to whip Him with lashings 54:18 because He knew that by His stripes 54:20 we would be healed. 54:21 He allowed them to pierce His side 54:24 because He knew that out of that wound 54:26 would flow healing and redemption and life. 54:31 He said, "If I am lifted up, 54:33 if My glory is seen, 54:38 then I would draw all men unto me." 54:42 Can you see the glory of Christ today? 54:45 He wants you to see Him in all of His glory. 54:49 The gospel is good news 54:51 because it reveals the glory of Christ who died 54:55 so that every obstacle that prevents us 54:57 from seeing Him can be removed. 55:01 See, when we turn to Christ, 55:03 the veil is removed. 55:05 Someone today needs to experience 55:08 the glory of Christ. 55:13 May be there is someone here 55:15 who is not yet surrendered to Christ, 55:18 maybe you have never seen His glory. 55:22 Today, if you hear His voice, 55:24 please do not harden your heart. 55:27 He wants to reveal Himself to you today. 55:31 Maybe there is someone else who knows 55:33 that your religious experience has become something 55:36 that is not focused 55:37 on the glory of Christ. 55:41 Today, He is inviting you to look upon Him, 55:44 to treasure Him 55:46 and to see His glory. 55:50 It is only in the past year 55:51 that I have begun to really see 55:53 the glory of Christ in my experience. 55:56 And it has transformed my very being. 55:58 His glory has been revealed thus He has brought me 56:01 through trials and painful experiences. 56:04 I couldn't understand the purpose at that time 56:06 but I now realize that it was all ordained by God 56:10 to bring me to Him 56:11 and so that I could see 56:13 and experience His glory. 56:16 The gospel is not about having an easy life. 56:20 It's not about God giving us good things 56:22 although He does that. 56:24 It's about God giving us Himself 56:28 and allowing us to see His glory. 56:32 So, Paul would invite us today 56:35 to consider whether we possess 56:38 this treasure. 56:40 To consider today whether Christ 56:42 is really ours 56:44 to contemplate in this moment, 56:47 if we really have Christ 56:49 as the most valuable thing in our lives. 56:53 For Paul, Jesus Christ was everything 56:57 and his message in this text 57:00 is that there is nothing greater 57:02 than possessing Jesus Christ. 57:05 So, I invite you to consider 57:07 whether you have Him in your life 57:09 and in your experience. 57:11 And if you desire to possess Him completely, 57:14 please join me in this prayer. 57:17 Father, thank You for Jesus Christ 57:21 who is the fullness of God. 57:24 We thank You, God, 57:26 for the opportunity to see the Lord 57:29 in all of His glory. 57:31 We pray, oh, God, that you would remove 57:34 whatever veil is blocking our ability to see Christ. 57:39 We pray God that by Christ's glory 57:41 that we would be liberated, 57:42 that we would be transformed 57:44 that You would God, use us in ministry 57:47 to share this great message 57:49 and God that it would be allowing, 57:51 that it would allow our faith 57:52 to endure even times of testing. |
Revised 2017-03-20