Subject : The Life of Jesus By: DR. David Yonggi Cho
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:7-11
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that
the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of
us. We are troubled on every side, yet not
distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; 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. For
we which live are always delivered unto death for
Jesus` sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made
manifest in our mortal flesh.
The distinction between a man who believes in Jesus
and a man who does not believe lies not in his
exterior appearance but in his inner person. The
unbelieving man is controlled by a spirit of
disobedience. The Bible clearly states in Ephesians
2:1-2 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in
trepasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked
according to the course of this world, according to
the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that
now worketh in the children of obedience.” However in
Christians there is a treasure. This Treasure died on
the cross to save us. He died, was buried and He
resurrected in three days. Therefore even the best
theology, philosophy or ethics can never compare with
this Treasure.
Today`s scripture passage states that we are like the
vessels of clay, containing a priceless treasure. We
are unworthy humans like plain jars of clay. If the
world is placed in a broken jar, the world in it shall
also be broken and gone. However the matter becomes
totally different when the treasure is placed in the
jar. The treasure and the vessel become one. Paul said
in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in
earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may
be of God, and not of us.” So a Christian`s life is
not lived by human wisdom, understanding, knowledge or
schemes, but by the wisdom, understanding, knowledge,
discernment and power of God. Just like a treasure may
be found in a vessel of clay, we must discern that
this Treasure is dwelling in us and make every effort
to learn how to trust in our Treasure within us. Too
many Christians have not relied on the Treasure
within. They continually rely only on the vessel of
clay – themselves. They rely on the jar instead of the
Treasure, although they already possess the Treasure
by faith. So God constantly allows small or big
hardships to touch Christians so that they will learn
to lean on their Treasure – Jesus Christ, the Wisdom,
Knowledge and Power of God.
The Apostle Paul teaches that the power of God will be
revealed when Jesus, the Treasure, dwells within us.
We must believe and understand clearly what Paul
teaches us the possessing of our Treasure, Jesus.
First, Paul says we are troubled on every side, yet
not distressed. On our journey of life, we cannot know
how many times we will be distressed spiritually,
mentally, physically, or circumstantially by big or
small troubles. Jesus said God takes care of a mere
sparrow and knows the number of hairs on a man`s head
according to His good providence. God did not promise
the Christian life would be exempt from trouble. Then
for what purpose does God allow believers to be
distressed? He wants to teach us great lessons. He
desires that we learn to trust Him instead of
ourselves.
We try our very best not to lose wealth, honor and
value of life by our human ways. But when we are
pressed down, we begin to realize we are just clay
vessels but Jesus Christ within us is everything. He
created the heavens and earth, possessing all the
authority and power in it. He died in our place on the
cross, was resurrected in three days and now He lives
in us. The Treasure is Jesus Christ! As we realize
that He is in us, we become broken at His feet and
begin to trust in Him alone. If we discover the truth
that Jesus Christ lives in us and then we totally
trust in Him, we will not be distressed though we may
be attacked. The human vessel may be distressed, but
Jesus Christ within can never be distressed. Who would
dare doubt the Almighty God?
When the enemy surrounded the city, Elisha`s servant
panicked. “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” Elisha
prayed, “Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may
see.” Elisha knew his servant did not realize the
treasure they both possessed. As God opened his eyes,
he saw the mountains full of horses and chariots of
fire around Elisha. Our Christian walk is the same.
When we are surrounded by troubles, we could easily
collapse if we look at the troubles with our own
senses – taste, smell, sight, hearing, and touch. We
should be reminded that God is within us. He calls
things that are not as though they actually appear to
us. As we humbly seek Him, we will receive His
strength to rise out of any kind of distress.
Our greatest resources come from our heart. “The
spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a
wounded spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14) No
matter how hard our financial or circumstantial
difficulties distress us, as long as we know we
possess the Treasure within us, we will not be
distressed by them. But if one`s heart contains
anxiety, fear and despair, one could be destroyed when
distressed. Why is it so good to believe in Jesus
Christ? Though Christians face difficulty, Jesus is
our Source so we can pray to the Father and overcome
all our difficulties.
Second, though we may be perplexed, we will not be in
despair. In our daily living we often encounter many
perplexing matters. Like mosquitoes from a summer
forest come upon men, difficult problems always come
into our lives.
Recently I had a suffocating experience. A small group
of people from another denomination in Korea attacked
me and our church severely by spreading a false rumor.
Though this became such a heavy burden, I did not
cancel previously arranged meetings in Korea or in
foreign countries. I went to Paris to preach. Before
going up to the pulpit, I earnestly prayed to God and
my pain and anxiety disappeared. I preached God`s word
with great peace and the Holy Spirit confirmed the
Word with many sick people being healed. I had such a
marvelous experience that 10,000 people were
wonderfully moved by the grace of God. I felt
“chilled to the bone”, because I realized that my
Treasure, Jesus Christ, who is within my earthen
vessel of clay, is so precious and powerful under any
circumstance, in spite of attacks from the enemy!
Unbelieving people of the world fall into despair when
they are perplexed over difficult situations, but
Christians are different. In the same predicament,
Christians can pray to God and receive comfort. How
great is our Lord`s comfort! Today people hurt each
other. Many people are easily wounded because nobody
cares or comforts them. Other people commit suicide.
The “you and I” relationships are becoming cold in the
individualized industrial urban life setting and
consequently people feel powerless when bad things
happen. If you have the Treasure of Jesus Christ in
your vessel, you can seek His comfort and you can
trust Him in any hardship.
For us to live in true happiness, we must pray to our
Lord and receive His comfort. As businessmen, you
especially need comfort. I know there are countless
company owners struggling with sleepless nights
because of the recent recessions. Small businesses
have small problems and big scale businesses have big
problems. I urge all our business people to draw
closer to God, pray more, and worship more. Tightly
cling to the Treasure in you - Jesus Christ. Then you
will be able to relax in life and business because you
are living with His comfort, courage and victory.
We are persecuted but we will not be forsaken.
Throughout the world, you will not find anyone who is
not persecuted if he is eagerly advancing and doing
better than other people. When you find that you are
persecuted by your competitors or peers know that your
business is growing rapidly. There would be no
persecution from your peers if your business was not
strong. People think persecution is a bad thing;
however, it can be a gauge for measuring your work.
When you are persecuted while operating your business,
do not complain. Do not become resentful, or become
discouraged. Rather, thank God! Forerunners in any
field must accept the fact that persecution by other
people is unavoidable.
Throughout my ministry I have always been persecuted.
As a result of pasturing the biggest church in the
world, I naturally became the object of peer
persecution. The fact that I am being persecuted tells
me our church has grown. If our church were small
there would be no need for Christians to persecute me.
I am especially attacked in Korea by Korean
Christians. However when I travel through Europe and
America for crusade meetings, the attitude is
different. Americans are very receptive and cry out
for help. “Let us learn from the Yoido Full Gospel
Church,” they say.
So I try not to allow myself to be discouraged by my
neighbor`s persecution because my Treasure, Jesus
Christ, is in me. I minister daily with the hope and
joy that I will never be forsaken, though I am
persecuted. Those standing Christ-centered will not be
forsaken because of persecution. Being Christ centered
is already a great blessing from God. Then who can
dare take away God`s blessing? When God opens a door,
no one can shut it! When God shuts a door, no one can
open it! When God promotes a man no man can drag him
down! So I pray this prayer often, “Lord, if I do not
live according to Your will, make me to repent. If I
live according to the will of the Father, I believe I
never be forsaken by You even though the entire world
would persecute me.”
Dear believers, businessmen, I do not have any
personal ambitions now. Recently someone came to me
and shared shocking news. He said he heard from a
certain believer that I had deposited a huge amount of
money in a bank in Switzerland. I do not know any bank
in Switzerland. I do not know how to deposit or
withdraw money! Momentarily, I was so hurt by that
news, that I complained to the Lord, “Lord, call me
home to be with You. I have run with the gospel
business for the past twenty five years and what is
this rumor about? What is this evil rumor about me? I
have worked hard for the Church – Your Church. Is this
the reward?” As I lamented in this way, all of a
sudden, the 200,000 members of our church at that time
suddenly appeared in my heart and I determined to be
strong instead of having resentment. A sense of duty
is really something I asked of the Lord and I felt He
gave me that sense of duty. I got my bearings and
strengthened myself; then I asked myself, “What if I
had wavered? What would happen to these members, these
children of God?”
That same year, we saved money in our budget so that
we could help finance many churches on the Korean army
compounds throughout our nation. They are all small
churches; however, those Christian leaders who were
persecuting and criticizing our church said that I
built many palace-like church buildings throughout the
Korean Army compounds and that I greatly boasted about
it. We did not build big size churches on the army
compounds and those critics did not offer a single
penny. If had not been standing Christ-centered, I
would easily have been crushed and broken by such
persecution. But my Treasure, Jesus, is within me. So
I can overcome this persecution through prayer and
hard work for the sake of missions and evangelism.
During persecution, when I cling to the Lord through
prayer, He comforts me through His word: “Cho, who are
you looking at? You behold Me only and obey My words!
I will never forsake you!” Then I always respond with,
“Hallelujah, Lord I thank You and as long as You use
me I will do my best in evangelism. I will do Your
works!” When you are persecuted by other people,
please thank God! As long as you are living
Christ-centered, Christ is at your side. Christ will
be at your side so you will not be forsaken but rather
you will become a great witness.
Last, today`s passage says, “We will be cast down but
not destroyed.” How much courage are we given by this
word? As long as God is with us even if we are cast
down a thousand times, we will not be destroyed. We
will bounce back because God is with Christians. Then
who can destroy us as long as we are not cast down by
God? We are not to be cast down.
You, Full Gospel Businessmen, are doing great things
now! It does not matter if other denominations attack
us. We are doing evangelistic work around the world.
Because of the financial support of our members of the
Full Gospel Businessmen`s Fellowship, the soul-winning
movement through radio and television is rapidly
spreading. Our Lord Jesus clearly states in Mark 16:15
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to
every creature.” If we disregard the mass
communication vehicles that are very powerful for
preaching the good news, we will be rebuked by the
Lord later. Even people of the world use the TV
networks to advertise their products. How can we
ignore these networks in spreading this supreme,
valuable and eternally precious gospel of Christ?
Today Korean Christians boast of our centennial, the
600,000 Christians and 20,000 churches. But Koreans
are ignoring the soul-winning potential through the
tools of mass communication. Most of the Korean
churches take a very passive attitude to this very
important subject. You, Full Gospel Businessmen,
realized the significance of using mass communication,
such as TV and radio in witnessing the gospel. We are
gradually increasing our use of television networks as
well as Japanese television networks. In the United
States we are broadcasting on television networks
coast to coast. Which church in Korea has achieved
this much? I am not saying this to boast of our
church. I am saying that we try our very best to
preach the gospel and we will not be cast down by God.
Clay vessels can not do these kinds of things. It is
only possible because in our clay vessels we have a
treasure – Jesus Christ. You possess the Treasure
within you. You will never be destroyed by people
because within you is Jesus Christ, the son of God,
who created the heavens, the earth, and all the things
in it. Christians will never be destroyed.
Though we may be distressed, persecuted and cast down
we must continue to preach the gospel to the end of
the world resisting the devil so that we can
evangelize all of Korea and the people of the world to
prepare for our Lord Jesus Christ to come.
God is with us and within us. Our Treasure, Jesus
Christ, lives! We will never be destroyed because the
life of Jesus was given to us. You Christian
businessmen sacrificed your time and finances to
preach the gospel. Your sowing for the kingdom`s sake
must be written in the kingdom of heaven. God will
reward you with His great glory. Do not look at the
vessel of clay. Look at the Treasure in it. Do not be
discouraged under any circumstances. March on! Let us
always pray for the great miracles of Christ in our
lives. As long as we are holding the flag of the
gospel of Christ we cannot withdraw. Our Lord says,
“No man, having put his hands to the plough, and
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke
9:62) Until Jesus` second coming we will march
forward with His gospel.
Prepared by :
Ev.Bambang Wiyono
e-mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Millist : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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