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] --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? 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