Overcoming Challenges

Go ahead and take your Bibles, turn over to 2 Corinthians chapter 4, 2 Corinthians chapter 4 this morning.

2 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention 2 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

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You know, when the Lord brings a couple together as husband and wife, just as He did when He brought Adam and Eve together in the garden,

the Bible tells us that couple becomes one flesh.

And it really, as we've seen, reveals a relationship and a picture of Christ and His church.

There's a spiritual reality that takes place in that.

But while this relationship, you might say, is divinely designed, and it's divinely designed to last, it is not without its challenges.

You know, life is filled with challenges, problems, struggles.

You know, if I was to ask today, how many had a problem this week?

You know, I don't think there'd be a—nope, nobody could not raise their hand.

Everybody faces something.

You know, the struggles that are well aware, you know, Job, you know, was a man in the Bible that definitely faced struggles and trials.

And Job said this in Job 14, he said,

Man is born of a woman of a few days and full of trouble.

You know, it's like the reality is if you come into this life, there's going to be problems.

There's going to be challenges.

There's going to be things that we face.

And while we might not want to hear that truth, it is a reality that we'll face and deals with things we have to deal with because we're going to be confronted with these challenges.

And the problem with the challenges oftentimes is they are confusing and they're conflicting in our life.

You know, sometimes challenges aren't as clear that we'd like to make them.

You know, we oftentimes like things to be black or white.

And oftentimes there's a lot more struggle involved because it involves all these different elements of our life, our emotions, our thoughts, our desires, all play into that.

When we realize that as we're going to overcome challenges, you know, challenges are something God gives us for a reason.

You know, oftentimes we look at challenges.

Why did God give this to me?

Or why do I have to go through this?

But instead, we ought to be looking at least logically at it and say, why did God allow this?

What's going on?

How is God going to use this in my life?

Because we're going to see here that the Apostle Paul here, 2 Corinthians chapter 4, reveals a very important dynamic of dealing with struggles and what takes place.

2 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

Because when we look together, life is just that.

When we come together, it's a blessing.

But those trials and struggles are often those things which can break us, which often break the ones involved.

You know, why would God allow challenges to break us?

You know, some challenges break your heart.

Some break you physically.

Some break you spiritually, you might say, of just getting things right with God.

But, you know, how are you going to navigate those things and to walk through those challenges?

And we're going to see here that the role that faith and unity and understanding play in overcoming life's challenges here this morning.

Because as we, before we read the passage, I just want to kind of set the stage here a little bit.

Because Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 that the ministry that you have is not without challenges.

2 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

You know, marriage is a ministry that you've been given.

You know, family is a ministry that everybody's been given.

Those are things that are there.

So when we talk about ministry, those are things that are your responsibility as a believer to do that.

And here in 2 Corinthians 4, Paul reminds us that ministry will have challenges and it requires God's mercy to continue.

And it's in these times that take place in the life of a believer that it becomes clear of what's happening.

Because he speaks here about every believer possesses something.

He talks about every believer believes the light of the gospel that's shown in your heart.

And then the Holy Spirit comes and dwells within every believer.

You are a vessel that possesses something of great power.

You possess the Spirit of God when you're saved.

He dwells within you.

And we see here as this becomes clear in this, let's take a look here in the scripture.

If you want to stand together for honor reading of the Word of God in 2 Corinthians chapter 4.

2 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

We'll pick up in verse 7 here this morning.

It says this,

Let's pray.

Heavenly Fathers, we come before you this morning.

Lord, we just thank you for your Word.

Lord, we're thankful for the reality of who you are, the power that we have through your Spirit that lives and dwells within every believer here this morning.

Lord, I pray just have your hand upon each heart, each life here today to realize how you use these challenges, these obstacles,

the things that often break us in life.

And Lord, how you use those for your glory and your honor.

And Lord, our responsibility to recognize those things.

And Lord, to be willing to submit to your will and your way in our life.

And Lord, we just ask it all here this morning.

In Jesus' name, amen.

May we be seated.

You know, we see here that Paul makes a statement here this morning describing us.

The Word of God describes us throughout.

Oftentimes we're described as vessels.

You know, we're a vessel.

We're often compared to a vessel.

And he speaks about here being an earthen vessel.

What's he talking about?

He's talking about a clay pot.

You know, he's basically talking about a storage container.

And the one thing that you realize if you understand anything about a clay pot, it's a fragile item.

Some may be slightly more durable than others.

And they might serve different purposes and uses.

But the one reality is, is they're all fragile.

They're all breakable.

You know, that's the reason it's...

Have you ever noticed when they do archaeology, what do they always find?

They find what?

Broken vessels.

Broken pots.

Pieces of pottery.

Because they get used for their purpose, but yet they almost always get broken.

Rarely do they find one that's not broken.

Why?

Because it's been put into service.

And when it's been put into service, some things happen.

And we see here that this weak vessel, the weakness of the vessel, that the light is revealed that is in it.

Now notice here verse 7 with me this morning.

Notice what it says.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels.

Think about what treasure is he talking about.

You know, what treasure is there in an earthen vessel?

In our vessel is exactly what he's speaking of in verse 6.

He's talking about the reality that once you're saved, the power of God dwells within you.

That reality is very present, a very actual and factual thing.

And we say, why would God want to indwell?

Why would he want to put himself into a fragile vessel?

And we're going to look at that this morning.

But, you know, look back into 1 Corinthians chapter 1 for a moment.

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

1 Corinthians chapter 1.

1 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

Think about what's being said here.

Because oftentimes what we think and what God thinks is totally different.

You know, his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts than our thoughts.

Because our thinking would be, if I have something of value, I'm going to put it in the most secure, the most stable, the most indestructible item that we have.

You know, you think about that, we call them safes.

I mean, we build safes to say nothing can happen to what's valuable within.

But, you know, God does it a little differently.

He gives what is the most valuable thing we can possess.

And he allows it to be put into something that's fragile.

And look at what he says here in 1 Corinthians 1 verse 27.

1 Corinthians 1:27

He says, but God hath chosen what?

The foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty.

And the base things of the world, the things that are despised, God hath chosen.

Yea, the things which are not, to bring to naught the things that are.

You know, I want you to see here, God intentionally uses things that are fragile.

He uses us.

God allows us to have his power within.

And so, how do we come through challenges?

Because remember, challenges are going to be detrimental to something that's fragile.

Challenges that we face, the things that we come up in life, the struggles.

But I want you to see here that when struggles come, oftentimes it does crack the pot.

But I want you to see this morning, God allows it for a reason.

Because, you know, until we are broken, it's hard to let God shine through.

Because our pride gets in the way.

Our pride desires what we want.

We're going to see here this morning, because when it comes to recognizing struggles and getting through struggles,

the one thing we need to realize is, especially in marriage, the one with you is as fragile earthen vessel as you are.

When we realize we're dealing with people who are fragile earthen vessels,

but yet if they're saved, they contain the same power of God.

They contain God's spirit within them.

And we need to recognize God's power in weakness.

When we recognize what God is doing, because we don't understand this picture,

we have expectations of somebody else to say, why didn't you do differently?

But, you know, when things are broken, I want you to see here,

God, this whole picture here is that when it's broken, God's glory shines through.

What is within comes out.

You know, that's pretty simple.

If you fill a pot with something and you put a lid on it,

when you break it, what do you do?

You find out exactly what's inside.

You find, because what is inside is clearly revealed to us,

because consider what we're compared to.

You know, we like to think of ourselves as powerful and strong.

You know, we like to think of ourselves, well, I can endure anything.

But think about it.

God refers to us many times in scriptures as a weak vessel, an earthen vessel,

something that can be easily cracked, something that can be easily broken.

And we oftentimes don't want to think of ourselves in that context,

but these vessels that are spoken of here are specifically believers,

because notice what he says here.

Look again at verse 7.

It says that we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.

You know, fragile jars of clay have been formed to contain what is within.

These are believers that he's talking about,

those who have called upon the name of the Lord,

whose presence and power of God is within.

Think about what the scripture tells us.

He tells us this in Colossians 1.27.

It says,

Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

You know, when we get saved, you have Christ in you.

2 Corinthians 1.22 says,

Who have also sealed us and give us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Matter of fact, if you don't have the Spirit of God, you're in trouble.

Notice 1 John 4.13 tells us this,

Hereby we know that we dwell in him and that he in us,

because he has given us his Spirit.

The Spirit of God dwells within every believer.

If you have not the Spirit, you're not born again.

I want you to understand the two go hand in hand.

There is no, I hope so or I think so.

You either have or you don't.

There's no in between.

Oftentimes people want to make a contrast to say,

Well, maybe so or maybe not.

I want you to understand when it comes to salvation, there's no maybe so.

It's either you are or you're not.

You know, and when these challenges come,

especially in the life of a believer,

it reveals what is within.

Because when we have the light and the glorious hope of the gospel within,

when we face challenges, even things that break us,

you know what happens?

What is within comes out.

It's revealed in it.

Oftentimes it's uncomfortable to understand this.

But let's take a picture of what the Bible shows us here,

of what the apostles talking about.

Because when challenges come, it reveals what's within.

And the picture here is displayed.

Turn to Judges chapter 7 for a moment.

Judges 7 · chapter mention

Judges chapter 7, because here we have Gideon.

Judges 7 · chapter mention

And here is Gideon.

And he comes through in chapter 7.

And he starts up,

Weeding down the number of people to go up against the enemy.

You know, they're facing a great foe.

And so Gideon puts out the call.

And all these guys come.

And God looks around and tells Gideon there's too many.

And they start going through a process of weeding all this down.

And he gets down to 300.

And as he's down to 300,

look at verse 16.

It says,

And he divided the 300 men into three companies.

And he put a trumpet in every man's hand

with empty pitchers.

And notice this.

And lamps within the pitchers.

So I want you to get the picture here.

What he has?

He has an earthen vessel.

And they put the lamp inside the torch.

The light is now inside the vessel.

Now, I want you to see here what happens here.

Because he's hiding within the vessel the light.

Now, these 300 guys,

this is a great battle plan, really.

But I want you to see the picture that's shown here

because there's something that happens

when the vessel's broken.

When the vessel's broken,

something amazing takes place.

Notice here down in verse 20,

it says,

And the three companies blew the trumpets.

And notice what?

They break the pitchers

and held the lamps in their left hands

and trumpets in their right hand

to blow withal.

And they cried,

The sword of the Lord and of Gideon.

Now, I want you to see here.

This is the same picture

because what happened is

is when the light was revealed

within the broken vessel,

the power of God was revealed

because God used this

to defeat the enemy.

The power was revealed

not when the vessel was whole,

but when that was within,

when the vessel was broken.

They broke the vessel.

The light lit up.

It startled all the enemy.

And what's the picture?

It's a picture of God's power.

300 overwhelmed,

a force that should have

never even been able

to take on with 300 people.

God used that

when the light within

was showing forth.

It changed everything.

Now, notice here,

look back up in verse 6

of our text

where we were earlier.

Now, notice here in verse 6,

chapter 4,

it says in 2 Corinthians,

for God who commanded

the light to shine out

of darkness

has shined in our hearts

to give the light

of the knowledge

of the glory of God

in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure.

What treasure do we have?

We have the light

of the glorious gospel

of Jesus Christ within.

That God has changed us.

You know,

it's in that time

of brokenness

that God is revealed.

You know,

when God allows

challenges in life,

none of us sign up.

But you know,

those challenges

God permits

reveals what's within.

It allows the light

of the power

of the gospel

of Jesus Christ

a changed life

to shine forth.

You know,

as a believer,

we ought to respond

to tragedies

and struggles

and trials

differently.

oftentimes we want

to react like

the world reacts.

But you know,

as a believer,

if the light of Christ

is going to shine through,

when something

breaks the pot,

the light of within

ought to shine out.

It ought to have

an impact

on those around.

Because it's in times

of brokenness

that God has revealed.

It's not by our strength

that we overcome,

but by His.

And we need to trust

the Lord

in the struggles

of life.

You know,

oftentimes we try

to overcome

Him in our own power.

And God says,

I'm allowing the pot

to be broken

that my power

shall be brought forth.

That it would shine forth.

Because look at the end

of verse 6 here.

Notice what it tells us here.

Or excuse me,

verse 7.

It tells us very clearly.

It says that the excellency

of the power of God,

that the excellency

of the power

may be of God.

And notice that last phrase.

And what?

Not of us.

It's not the vessel,

but it's what's within

the vessel.

You know,

what's within

makes a difference.

Is the power of God

present in you?

That's the Spirit of God

that dwells in you.

It's the Spirit of God

that dwells

in every believer.

The Spirit of God

must be within

each one

that,

but that happens

when they call

upon Him.

But when two people

come together

in a relationship,

you know what happens

sometimes?

There's a lot of conflict

that happens.

And when struggles come,

you know what?

Sometimes when one of them

is broken

or both of them

are broken,

they don't allow

the power of God

within to work through.

Because when God

allows things

to break us,

it ought to reveal

the power of God

that's taken place

in our lives.

It ought to reveal

what God has done

for us.

You know,

that's why it's important

and critical.

You know,

when people get married,

it's important

that we're not

unequally yoked.

You know what happens

when you have a vessel

that's filled

with worldly things

that doesn't have

the Spirit of God

against one

that has the Spirit of God?

You know what's

going to happen

in a relationship?

It's going to be

a big conflict.

Why?

Because they don't

recognize

what's taking place.

They don't recognize

what's,

they're not on the same page,

the same powers

are not working

alongside

and encouraging

one another.

You know,

we need to rely

upon the Lord

to say,

Lord,

why are you allowing

this in our life?

Because notice

how he encourages us

through this.

Because we face

challenges together

in unity.

Notice the next

verse there.

Notice what he says.

He says,

we are troubled

on every side

yet not distressed.

We are perplexed

but not in despair.

You know,

it's very simply this,

the dangers

abound

towards these

earthen vessels.

You know,

there's dangers

all around.

There's troubles.

Those are things

that are going to happen.

The pressures of life

seem to close in.

You know,

this word troubled

means crowded upon.

You know,

have you ever noticed

that when things

get chaotic in life

and trouble comes,

it's not just one thing?

You know,

I think we can all

testify very clearly

that when trouble comes,

it seems like

trouble comes

and trouble comes

and trouble comes

and it seems like

the whole world's

pressing in on you.

Everything going around you

is pressing in.

That's what that word

troubled means,

means pressed.

Means overwhelmed,

like it's just a,

somebody opened

the floodgate

of problems

in your life.

You know,

often that's exactly

what takes place.

Things overwhelm us.

But notice the other thing

he talks about

is perplexed.

He says,

troubled,

you're feeling pressured

and now perplexed.

What's perplexed mean?

Perplexed is often

the result of trouble.

Perplexed is simply this.

It's saying,

I don't know what to do.

I'm at a loss.

I don't know how to deal

with the situation.

Troubled is pressed in.

Perplexed says,

this is overwhelming

and I don't know

what to do.

You know,

that sounds pretty bad,

doesn't it?

But notice how

he contrasts this.

A very simple thing.

He says,

troubled.

Notice what he says.

We are troubled

on every side.

Now notice he says,

yet not,

what?

Distressed.

Not distressed.

He says,

everything is pressing in

and what's he reminding us of?

He's telling us this,

the power that lies within you

is going to provide something

for the situation.

Not distressed

means that God provides

a way through.

God is the one

who makes a pathway,

clears an area,

clears a thing

so we can have a direction

of how do we walk through

when life is overwhelming us,

crowded upon,

all these things happening

and God says,

hey,

you're not hemmed in.

You might think you are

but what's within you

is powerful enough

to overcome

what's without you.

He says,

you're troubled

but not distressed.

That God gives us

a way through.

You know,

throughout the scripture

you'll find that God tells us

to seek his way

because God's the one

that's going to walk us

through those things.

But notice,

perplexed,

at a loss.

You know,

you're not hemmed in

and you're also not in despair.

What's not in despair mean?

It means that you still have hope.

You know,

as a believer,

no matter what happens in life,

there's hope.

There's not hope in this world

but there's hope

in the glorious gospel

of Jesus Christ,

the power of God

that worketh in you.

God gives us a hope

because we realize

that what happens

in this world

is not all that there is.

We realize

that situations

of this life

know how discouraging,

how troublesome,

how overwhelming

that God says,

I'll be there.

I'm there with you.

You know,

it's interesting

that people today,

you know,

you hear a lot about

this health and wealth preaching.

You know what?

Paul is never

a health and wealth preacher.

You know?

Matter of fact,

he's probably,

to most people's minds,

Paul was discouraging

just as much as Jesus.

When you think about

Jesus' message

is often counter

to the health

and wellness

and all this dynamic

that they try.

Just trust Jesus.

Everything's going to go great.

You know,

think about what Jesus said

in John chapter 16.

John 16 · chapter mention

John chapter 16

John 16 · chapter mention

and verse 33

when he's talking

to his disciples

when he goes,

these things

have spoken unto you

that ye might have peace.

Now notice this.

He says,

in the world

ye shall have

what?

You shall have.

You know,

I want you to realize

that Jesus knows

that this world's

going to have problems.

He knows about

your problems.

He says,

there's going to be

problems.

You're going to have

tribulation.

But notice what he says,

be of good cheer.

I have overcome

the world.

He has overcome.

He is the one

no matter what's happening

when we feel

pressed in

and we feel like

we don't know

what to do,

we're at a loss.

I want you to understand

the Spirit of God

reminds us

that you know

you're not hemmed in.

It might seem like

there's no way out,

but you know what?

God's provided a way out.

You know,

think about a picture

within Scripture

that gives us

a good description.

Remember the children

of Israel in Exodus

when they're departing Egypt?

God brings them down

next to the Red Sea.

They're hemmed in.

They cannot escape.

They see no way out.

The Egyptian army

is bearing down on them.

They're hemmed in.

They're troubled.

They're perplexed.

They're like,

what are we going to do?

There is no way out

but God.

God steps in.

You know,

God gives us

literal pictures

of Him stepping in

to make the difference.

Stepping in

to overcome

what the world

looked at

and said

there is no way

to overcome that.

God

stepped in.

We all know

the story

of what happened

as Moses

there

goes down

to the Red Sea

and they all

cross over safely

and God destroys

the very thing

that was troubling them.

He wasn't capable

of themselves

but God

was capable.

when they realize

and see

what God

has done

that He

was there

throughout everything

and the unity

of having that

same Spirit

dwelling within

us

ought to unite us

and strengthen us

allow us to face

difficulties together

to persevere

by faith

because you know

the reality is this

even as a couple

when we recognize

the other party

your spouse

is nothing

but an earthen vessel

but when moments

of trouble

come in a relationship

you know what

ought to happen

it ought to draw us

closer to see

how God is working

in the life

of broken people

because the problem

is until we come

to that point

we're going to see

here in just a minute

until you come

to the point

of realizing

that there's some

things in your life

that need to be

broken for God

to use you

because otherwise

it's of yourself

and not of God

when we see

this picture

throughout the

Scripture

we can understand

that dynamic

of a common faith

you know

what binds us

together

is that common faith

what binds

a married couple

together

ought to be

a common faith

a commonality

with the Lord

it brings

together

you know

think about

what a common

faith does

I mean

you think about

Ruth and Naomi

here

and Ruth

you know

you realize

that here's a bond

between a mother-in-law

and a daughter-in-law

that I don't know

if anybody would say

they didn't have

some troubles

they were desperate

they needed help

and Ruth chapter 1

Ruth 1:16

verse 16

tells us this

and Ruth said

entreat me not

to leave thee

or to return

from following after thee

for whither thou

now goest

I will go

and whither thou lodgest

I will lodge

thy people will be

my people

and thy God

my God

you know

what bound them together

their faith in God

they say

we're in trouble

but you know

what God's going

to provide a way through

you know

what the picture

in the book of Ruth

is God providing

a way through

God providing

a redeemer

God providing

to take care

even though

they had a midst

of struggles

and trials

and things

that seemed

overwhelming

you know

often times

like when we read

Old Testament stories

the accounts

of the believers

in the Old Testament

we

often times

we mistakenly

leave out

because we see

the problem

and we see

it resolved

and we think

it's like boom

it's all taken care of

you know what

there's a lot of times

when you start

considering time

there's a long time

struggle between

when the trouble began

to when the problem

was resolved

or that God

led them through

or dealt with

allowed them to walk

through the circumstances

you know

how do we do that

the fact is

that trusting God's

word is essential

when it comes time

when we're

brokenness

of this earthen vessel

as God shines through

we need to trust

his word

you know

to say

God

I know what you say

and I need to respond

to what you say

and that involves

the second thing

and that's following

God's will

you know

because often times

our will

and our way

is totally different

than God's will

and his way

there's a lot of troubles

I wish I could have avoided

you know

if it was our choice

we would have said

God

not me

but the reality is

we don't have a choice

troubles are going to come

troubles are going to be a part

are you going to trust

God's word

what does God

have to say about it

what's God's will

for my life

and this

God

what's your way

through

this situation

because that's what's going to turn

obstacles

into opportunities

to say

God

how are you working

because remember

when a vessel is broken

what's within

is revealed

you know

when the power of God

is revealed

miraculous things happen

powerful things happen

when God is revealed

through us

I want you to see here

that trusting God's faithfulness

through the struggle

take a look at verse 9

here this morning

notice what he says here

he says

persecuted

but not forsaken

cast down

but not destroyed

I want you to understand

that we can trust

the one

that has promised

to never leave you

or forsake you

persecution

the term here

what they're talking about

is to be driven away

that people are going to

drive you out

this is the same picture

we see

in the early church

at Jerusalem

what happened

it says there was a great

persecution

what happened

it dispersed

them

it drove

them out

you know

sometimes

we stop to consider

they left everything

their homes

all the things

that they had

their means of income

and all sorts of stuff

because of persecution

God allowed persecution

to come in their life

and we see here

it drove them away

but the Lord

didn't forsake them

we see God

using that

to do great things

they're not

forsaken

literally

we're not

left to ourselves

that's what that word

forsaken means

it means you're not

left to yourself

you're not left alone

that God is there

even in those

trying and struggling

times

no matter what

the circumstances

even in the worst

of things

you can imagine

God is still

there

you know

as Paul was writing this

I want you to understand

he wasn't writing from

well

my life's been good

but yours is going to be

a problem

you know what Paul's saying

hey

I've walked this road

I've seen

God

work

I've seen

what's happened

look over to Romans

Romans 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8

for a moment

Romans chapter 8

Romans 8 · chapter mention

and verse 38

in context of this

think about what

Paul says here

he says

for I am what

I'm what

how does somebody

become persuaded

is persuaded

just an intellectual

conquest

persuaded

has an implication

to say

I might know it

intellectually

but I've

experienced

I've seen

I've witnessed

these things

it's not an abstract

he says

it's something

that let me tell you

he says

I am persuaded

that neither death

nor life

nor angels

nor principalities

nor powers

nor things present

nor things to come

nor height

nor depth

nor any other creature

shall be what

able to separate us

from the love of God

which is in Christ Jesus

our Lord

you know what Paul said

he said

hey let me tell you

every time God

broke me

the troubles

and struggles of life

broke me

you know what

God never left me

God shined through

the problem

God was there

to walk me

through the situation

to show forth

what was needed

because notice

that next phrase

cast down

cast down

this word

literally means

to be thrown

down

now let me ask you

a question

if you had a clay pot

up here this morning

and I threw it down

what's going to happen

to it

it's going to break open

he said

cast down

literally throwing down

this earthen vessel

is going to be broken

I want you to understand

sometimes there's things

in life that are going

to break you

there's things

that are going to seem

so overwhelming

but I want you to understand

it's not the end

we are not destroyed

in those moments

because notice

he says

not destroyed

this is quite a contrast

he says

an earthen vessel

that's broken down

and destroyed

so somebody cast it down

he said

but not destroyed

those are two opposite things

God says

life might cast you down

but he says

I'm the one

that's still there

to keep things together

I'm the one

that's going to be there

to overcome

this word

not destroyed

literally means

will not perish

you know what

if you're saved

what's the Bible tell us

that you're not going to

perish

God says

that if you're his child

you are secure

you're sealed

no matter what happens

in life

no matter what

the challenges

of this life may be

it's in those moments

that we see

the light

that is within

every believer

the power of God

the presence of his spirit

in our lives

when the vessel is broken

it always reveals

the contents

in marriage

in family

in life

when we trust the Lord

knowing he is faithful

in the midst of trials

and tribulations

that's what's within

will always sustain

and keep you

because when life

appears to be

falling apart

is when we must

encourage one another

to hold on

to the hope

that is within us

you know think about

the prophet Isaiah

look over Isaiah chapter 40

Isaiah 40 · chapter mention

here's Isaiah the prophet

speaking here

in a time of great

trial and struggle

he says this

hast thou not known

hast thou not heard

that the everlasting God

the Lord

the creator

of the ends of the earth

fainted not

neither is weary

you know what

when life is upside down

and life is breaking us

I want you to understand

God is still the same

he says he hasn't

gotten tired

he hasn't forgot about you

he's not weary

but it says this

there is no searching

of his understanding

he giveth power

to the faint

and to them

that have no might

he increases strength

you know what God says

he's saying

we're cast down

but not destroyed

he says

when life is coming apart

he says

I'm there

I'm what can keep life together

I'm the one that overcomes

to increase

the strength

for the need

even the

notice in verse 30

even the youth

shall faint

and be weary

and the young men

shall utterly fail

but they that wait

upon the Lord

shall what

renew their

strength

and they shall

mount up with wings

as eagles

they shall run

and not be weary

they shall walk

and not faint

I want you to understand

there's hope

even when life

breaks us

there's hope

God allows

this earthen vessel

to be broken

that his glory

might shine

through

look at verse 10

for a moment

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

you ever ask yourself

why does God

allow us

to be broken

very simply

is that his power

might shine forth

in our life

the power

of who he is

and the reality

of even dying

to ourself

it says

always bearing

about in the body

the dying

of the Lord Jesus

you know today

the problem is

often times

we want to protect

everything around us

we want to try

to control

everything around us

and God says

I'm going to allow

some things to happen

and some of those things

are even going to break you

but I'm going to break you

for a purpose

I'm going to break you

with reason behind it

and you say

well I don't want

to be broken

take a look

at what Jesus says

look over to Luke chapter 9

Luke 9 · chapter mention

for a moment

Luke chapter 9

Luke 9 · chapter mention

Jesus looked at his

disciples

and he said this

he says

if any man

come after me

let him what

deny

himself

and take up his cross

daily

and follow me

you know

often times

when we hear that word cross

we've been misled

to think it's a burden

the cross is not a burden

the cross is a place

of death

he says

if you're not willing

to die to yourself

if you're going to follow Jesus

you have to be willing

to die to yourself

to say

Lord my hand

who I am

is in your hands

to take up the cross

daily

and follow

me

now think back to verse 10

always

bearing about

in the body

the dying

of the Lord Jesus

what's the purpose

behind this

we're going to follow him

what

that the life

also of Jesus

might be made

manifest

in our body

I want you to understand

that when we're broken

Jesus shines forth

not only in your life

but it shines forth

to others

because how we respond

in those moments

make a difference

how we walk through

the trials

and struggles

of life

when we understand

we must rely upon him

and work together

in faith

and unity

in the struggles

when life breaks you

what shines through

is the light

of the knowledge

of the glory of God

if you're a believer

that's what's to shine through

because it's either

going to reveal

the glory of God

that's within you

or it's going to reveal

brokenness

without hope

as a believer

we have hope

what it reveals

in you

when you face

life challenges

what is revealed

it will be that

what is within

is it the light

and hope

of Christ

or is the hopeless

lost and lonely

life without Christ

today

you have to be sure

that you know

who Jesus is

that you know

what he's done

for you

to realize

the necessity

of calling upon him

as savior

that you might

understand

the power of God

unto salvation

for all those

that have believed

upon the name

of the one

that came

and died

for you

you know

this morning

troubles are going

to break us

life's going to be

filled with troubles

but the question is

are you going to rely

upon God's

word

his will

and his way

that it might

shine through

when the trials

and struggles

and challenges

of life

happen

what shines

through

when life

breaks you

as heads are

bowed

and eyes are

closed

this morning

what about you

today

is there a need

in your life

in your heart

maybe God's been

working in your life

in a way

that you're like

I don't

like it

this is

hard

this is

difficult

but you know

what God

wants you

be able to shine

through

what's within

the reality

of the power

of the gospel

of Jesus Christ

that transforms

lives

heavenly fathers

we come before you

this morning

Lord we just

thank you

and praise you

for the day

Lord we're thankful

for that you'll

never leave us

you'll never forsake

us Lord

in the most

down moments

that you're

always there

Lord when we

feel life

pressing in

that Lord

you've

already

provided

what's needed

you've not

forsaken

or denied

us

Lord even

when we

think life

is broken

we're not

destroyed

because of

you

Lord you

know each

heart

each life

here today

Lord you

know the

trials

and struggles

of life

you know

the condition

of each

one before

you today

whether they

truly had

that time

and moment

when they've

called upon

you as

Savior

Lord that

your spirit

bears witness

with their

spirit

Lord I pray

it's just

work in a

mighty way

even here

this morning

Lord that

we might

just turn

to you

knowing that

even in the

moments that

this earthen

vessel is

broken Lord

that you're

going to

shine

through in

a mighty

way

and Lord

we just

ask it all

in your

precious name

as piano

plays what

about you

today

is there

some things

you need

to spend

some time

with the

Lord