POWERFUL PREACHING IN PITIFUL POTS

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-12

NASB

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled [a]to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this [a]world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving [b]so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants [a]for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.

4:3 [a]Lit in 4:4 [a]Lit age [b]Or that the light...image of God, would not dawn upon them 4:5 [a]Two early mss read through Jesus

NLT

1 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way,[*] we never give up. 2 We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

5 You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.[*] This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

11 Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. 12 So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

[4:1] Or ministry. [4:7] Greek We now have this treasure in clay jars.

Power-mad people do not know what to do with Christ and the cross. Somehow, the idea of the omnipotent God of the universe handing Himself over to death on a cross does not fit into any of the world’s categories. When we think of power, we think of strength. When nations want to display their power, they goose-step their soldiers up and down Main Street and follow them around with rumbling tanks and huge missiles capable of blowing holes in anything. Or they launch those missiles into the air and test massive bombs, rattling their sabers and flexing their military muscles so everybody around them will consider them a force to be reckoned with. In the minds of the political world, that is power.

On a personal level, we build up our biceps and get ourselves into shape. We wear “muscle shirts” to show off our mighty physiques so nobody will mess with us. On the other hand, when we cannot make ourselves look like the Incredible Hulk, we seek to find power in our positions. We look for the careers that will make us the most money or allow us to handle people with the greatest control. We flex our metaphorical muscles by manipulating circumstances, calling the shots, and influencing people’s lives with our smallest decisions.

That kind of power bears no resemblance to the power of God displayed through Jesus Christ. The most significant paradox in the history of time occurred about two thousand years ago when God in the flesh died. Omnipotence surrendered to impotence. The Lord, who had the power to call down angels from heaven and wipe all of those evildoers from the face of the earth, in fact, did not. Instead, He became a lifeless corpse, dragged down from a cross and placed in a borrowed tomb.

With this “power paradox,” in which strength is made perfect in weakness and the foolishness of the world becomes the wisdom of God, none of us should be surprised that the ministry by which God reconciles the world to Himself is also characterized by paradox. In fact, in 2 Corinthians 4:1-12, Paul highlights the great paradox of God’s chosen messengers: The less these frail and fragile earthen vessels attract people to themselves, the more they display the glory of God.

— 4:1-6 —

Continuing to build on the argument of 2 Corinthians 3 regarding the new covenant ministry of the Spirit, Paul builds a framework for his picture of effective, authentic ministry: “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart” (4:1). Just as we have received mercy from Christ, we in turn show mercy toward others. When we floundered without help, neck-deep in misery, God stooped down through Christ and rescued us from our helpless predicament. Though we were muddied, soiled, and battered, He cleaned us and healed us by His great mercy.

When we come to terms with God’s amazing love for us, expressed through His mercy toward us, we will have consistent stability. Paul says, “We do not lose heart” (4:1). Instead of returning to the mire of our old life, alienated from the mercy of God, we stand on our own two feet, enabled by His Spirit to walk strong and tall. God’s mercy should lift our spirits, turn our attention outward toward others, and motivate us to share this mercy far and wide.

Though a correct mentality of mercy and stability sets us on the right path, it must translate into action. Paul delineates how our lives, once useless and ineffective, can be used by God to accomplish great things (4:2-4). He uses himself as an example of the purposeful possibilities for cleansed vessels prepared for the Master’s service.

Paul modeled for us how to reject deceit, having renounced “things hidden” —secretive and underhanded deception. This stands in contrast to the charge of Paul’s accusers in Corinth, who suggested he had been fickle and misleading in his ministry. Paul turns the tables, subtly indicating that his accusers, not he and his associates, had been walking in “craftiness” and “adulterating the word of God” (4:2). Paul remained the same person in public as in private. He did not tolerate duplicity in his life or in the lives of those who would seek to be ministers of the gospel.

Unlike many popular preachers and teachers today, Paul refused to rely on cleverness, wit, and charm to woo people into the kingdom. He had no place for gimmicks and tricks in order to get results. He refused to play on people’s emotions. He knew that when you appeal to emotion to draw people in, you need to keep giving them an emotional fix to keep them coming. Rather, Paul relied upon the unadulterated word of God to do its work (4:2). Paul’s strategy might appear quaint compared to that of the glitz and glamour preachers we have today. He simply presented the plain, unvarnished truth of the gospel, depending on the Spirit of God to do His work through His word.

True, Paul’s plain preaching of the truth did not always result in massive numbers of converts or impressive emotional responses from his listeners. Often, such an approach to ministry feels like communicating with people who have no ability to hear, no way to see, and no disposition to believe (4:3). The gospel, indeed, is “veiled” to those who are perishing, who remain on the fence or who run from the truth.

Even though the hearts and minds of unbelievers are blinded by Satan (4:4), authentic ministers of the gospel need to continue to display the truth, steering clear of manipulation and guilt-inducing tactics that do not produce real, permanent results. Only the conviction of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God can bring about a change of heart:

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. (Heb. 4:12-13)

It is not our job to do spiritual heart surgery; only God can accomplish that. Therefore, manipulative methods and tactics should never be part of our ministry method. Rather, we should let the Spirit do His work through the Word, leaving us only one foolproof method for removing the veil (2 Cor. 3:14–4:6) and piercing the dark cloud of deception that shrouds the hearts of unbelievers. We must preach the Word, even in our frailty. We must not preach ourselves —drawing attention to our talents, gifts, resources, and abilities. We must rather preach “Christ Jesus as Lord,” to whom we are merely bond-servants upon whom God has shown mercy (4:5).

Any leader, spiritual or otherwise, can easily become a celebrity in the eyes of those being led. When pastors build their egos on every word of praise, when they begin experiencing the phenomenon of fame, or when they start promoting themselves excessively, we have a real problem brewing. If your church’s website mentions your pastor’s name more than Jesus’ name, that’s a problem. When a popular preacher’s name and image are pasted all over the church, there are serious issues with pride and priorities. Paul continually pointed to Jesus Christ as Lord, never allowing those he taught to view him as anything more than an earthen vessel carrying a priceless treasure.

How do you know when you have let pride creep into your ministry? When you frequently talk about yourself and your accomplishments. When you expect special treatment and flaunt your privileges. When you pursue promotion, bigger job titles, and higher pay. When you convince yourself that you must have a private jet to travel here and there. When you expect others to submit to your every word while allowing nobody to hold you accountable. When these attitudes and actions crop up in your life, you are headed for trouble. You need to step down until the Lord regains firm authority. Also, when you see these attitudes in other leaders, it is time to distance yourself from them. Those are the makings of a cult of personality, not a Christ-exalting church.

— 4:7-12 —

In 2 Corinthians 4:7 Paul introduces the heart of the matter —something he has been touching upon lightly in the previous verses. Every believer is the recipient of a priceless treasure: the message of the gospel (4:7). This saving message brings the light of knowledge to our darkened minds and empowers us to overcome our pride as we preach Christ alone by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because of the indwelling Spirit, we have power to preach the gospel in purity —yet this powerful preaching is contained in pitiful pots. The NIV translation describes the containers of this blessing as “jars of clay.” By this, Paul means saved, sealed, born-again human believers —himself included. We are the bearers of “the light of the gospel of the glory (doxa [1391]) of Christ, who is the image of God” (4:4).

In our “earthen vessels” —that is, our physical bodies (Gen. 2:7) —we carry about the presence of the Creator God who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness” (2 Cor. 4:6). Yet Paul’s emphasis is not strictly on the presence of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit, true as this is and essential as it is for carrying out the work of the ministry. Rather, Paul primarily has in mind here the gospel message itself. He likens this powerful message to a treasure proclaimed through pitiful and brittle pots.

Paul likens authentic gospel ministers to ordinary earthen vessels —fragile clay pots that nevertheless contain the priceless treasure of the gospel.

God could have displayed His light through angelic beings, direct visions and dreams, or even through personal divine revelations to each individual. He could have, because God is bound by nothing but His own plans and promises. Yet God, for His own purposes, has decided to reveal the treasure through us. Us! Some days I wake up and wonder, “Why, God? Why us? Why me?” Considering our frailties, fallenness, and outright folly, it’s a fair question. Let’s face it: When Paul likens us to “earthen vessels,” in some ways he is being optimistic! Some days we are just unshaped and unattractive lumps of clay (Rom. 9:21), or wispy clouds of dust (Gen. 3:19), or stony hearts (Prov. 28:14), or withering grass (1 Pet. 1:24).

We should be honored and humbled in the extreme to be included in God’s plan to preserve and proclaim His priceless message. Yet somehow in the process we often forget the “clay pot” reality. Even in our churches, we work hard to impress each other, especially visitors. We try to handle the Scriptures with ease and finesse. We polish our performances to perfection. We downplay our flaws and patch up the cracks in our finish. We place our most treasured pots on display for all to see, failing to actually reveal the invaluable treasure inside. Yes, we’re motivated to minister with excellence, to offer service to God with our whole heart. God is not pleased with a “just wing it” attitude or a hapless, shoot-from-the-hip approach to ministry. That kind of attitude does not honor the treasure. God delights in thoroughness, hard work, and excellence (Col. 3:23). But a noble offering to God can easily cross the line into shameless showmanship. Though we must do and give our best in service to our Savior, we must never shine the spotlight on ourselves. Rather, we are to let His light shine through us, just as 2 Corinthians 4:7 concludes: “that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”

The next two verses reveal not only what Paul felt but how we often feel as fragile earthen vessels: afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down (4:8-9). The adjectives in these verses present powerful images. “Afflicted” carries the idea of pressure, as when grapes get squeezed dry by a winepress. The Greek root is related to our word for “tribulation,” an especially intense and usually prolonged trial. But while the extreme pressure may squeeze us, it will not crush us (4:8). The word “perplexed” means “to be at a loss,” unable to explain things, disoriented by the barrage of problems, mishaps, tragedies, and challenges. We are sometimes, as William Barclay puts it, “at our wit’s end but never at our hope’s end.”[120] This confusion does not lead to ultimate despair as if we had no hope (4:8). Both the external tribulations and internal consternation come as a result of being persecuted and beaten up, either physically, mentally, or emotionally. Yet these attacks leave us neither undefended nor destroyed. God will fight for us (4:9). We are, so to speak, “knocked down but not knocked out.”[121]

Christ is never more visible in us than when others can find no other explanation for our hope and endurance through trials than His sustaining, strengthening inner work. When the clay pots are worn, chipped, or cracked, then the glorious treasure can shine through. When the minister of the gospel reveals his own struggles, hardships, and weaknesses, it becomes much easier to see the truth that it is God who is at work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).

Powerful preaching in pitiful pots: That is the paradox of the Christian life in general and Christian ministry in particular. In these temporary jars of clay, we are “always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Cor. 4:10). As we are delivered over to the pain, suffering, and even death of this world, then the world can see the life of faith, hope, and love that comes only through the power of Jesus living in and through us (4:11). Paul himself —and his other apostolic companions —carried the physical scars of suffering on behalf of Christ. These constant, visible reminders authenticated Paul’s ministry, backing up his words with wounds.

When Paul refers to being “delivered over to death” (4:11), he does not mean a literal death, although he would eventually be martyred. He means the cracking of our pots, the affliction and persecution inherent in authentic ministry (4:8-9). When we die to self, Jesus lives in us. When we lose, He wins. When we are weak, He is strong. When we are last, He is first. When we are dependent, He is dependable. When our weaknesses show, people realize it is not the pot that is significant, but God’s power within that matters most. When others see this “death” in us, it changes them.

When Paul reminded the Corinthians of the marks of suffering and lifestyle of self-surrender displayed in him and his fellow workers, it should have challenged and changed them, too. Or, as Paul put it, “death works in us, but life in you” (4:12). As an authentic minister of reconciliation, Paul was willing to “spend and be expended” for the Corinthians (12:15).

APPLICATION: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-12

Hide It under a Bushel? No!

The last time I checked, children still like to sing “This Little Light of Mine” in Sunday school —hand motions and all. What a great way to instill in the hearts and minds of our little ones the passion to let the light of the gospel shine through our lives: “Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine!” . . . “Won’t let Satan blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine!” . . . “Let it shine till Jesus comes, I’m gonna let it shine!”

The same idea stands behind Paul’s principles for Spirit-empowered, Christ-centered ministry in 2 Corinthians 4:1-12. The light of the message of salvation shines from the pitiful pots of our mortal lives. We don’t hide those pots under a bushel. We let the light shine out of them. We don’t let Satan hijack the pot and paint it with his worldly designs to distract people from its glorious content. We let the glory of the gospel shine through. We don’t let our trials and tribulations drive us to despair and cause us to surrender the battle. We let the light shine until Jesus comes.

To better understand and apply the principle of powerful preaching in pitiful pots, take some time to answer these ministry questions that must be asked. Let me give you two warnings, though. First, don’t rush through them. If you think hard enough about them, the Spirit will use them to transform you. So think carefully. Second, don’t use these principles to judge the ministries of others, such as your pastors, teachers, professors, or friends. Instead, apply them to your own Christian walk and ministry first.

First set of questions: How do you live up to Paul’s example of a faithful, effective minister of the gospel? Do you exhibit an abundance of mercy? A consistent stability? A rejection of deceit? An unwillingness to resort to manipulative gimmicks? A refusal to mishandle Scripture? A steadfast submission to Christ’s lordship? A devotion to keeping the focus on the person and work of Christ and not on yourself? Are the leaders and mentors in your life exhibiting these qualities, too, or have they adorned their earthen vessels so much that the message is being obscured?

Second set of questions: How brightly does your light shine before others? Do you avoid spiritual topics for fear of your own inadequacies? Do you change the subject when your personal faith and convictions come up? Does your lifestyle reflect the purity of the gospel or the filthiness of the world? In short, how brightly does your light shine from the earthen vessel to which it has been entrusted?

Third set of questions: Have you let the cracks, chips, and scratches on your earthen vessel distract you from keeping your own focus on the message? Nobody’s perfect. In fact, through our imperfections Christ is seen most clearly. Think of your own particular imperfections, scars, and challenges. How can they be used to point to Christ’s grace, mercy, and power? Think about times in your life during which you were most broken. How has God used these things to influence others?

Do you want to let your light shine before others? Make an impact in your work? Reach your school? Touch your neighbors? Heal your family? Then take the lid off your jar of clay and let the light of the glory of the gospel of Christ shine out of and through even the cracks of your broken life.