The Surpassing Power of God 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. On this side of heaven, life can include periods of hardship. In Ephesians, Paul refers to "evil' or "bad' days—times when we face a sequence of challenging events. Ephesians 6:13 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. It's important to recognize that in every battle and hardship, Paul emphasizes that our victory comes from God's presence within us, as he operates through a surpassing power. This is the power we need today. There are many things that are not God’s will in this life. It is not by chance that Jesus taught us to pray. (Matthew 6:10) “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The treasure Just one verse prior, Paul describes this treasure as the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). It is the glorious gospel of grace and the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ Himself. This leaves no room for human boasting or self-improvement rhetoric. The treasure is the finished work of Jesus Christ deposited into our spiritually bankrupt vessels, providing an inexhaustible supply of unmerited favor. Grace is not theology. It is not a doctrine. Grace is Christ. A jar of clay cannot manufacture its own contents; it can only receive what is poured into it. (John 12:24) “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” We are a seed that needs the shell broken in order to have the life manifested. The problem is that many waste the opportunities of brokenness to go into self-indulgence, overeating, overscrolling, oversleeping, overspending, instead of turning that pressure into an experience with the surpassing power available for the one who cries for His presence. God Hears Our Cry Often, we find ourselves without words to pray, overwhelmed by pain and confusion. When shock hits, we seek words to comfort one another. Today, I want to remind you that God hears our cries and listens to our prayers. He desires to rescue us from all challenging circumstances. Exodus 2:23-25 23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. Notice that God did listen to the groaning and the crying out for help. The Israelites were crying out for rescue from their bondage, and their plea reached God. And God heard. There are different kinds of groaning. Some people groan out of a sense of entitlement, laziness, or unwillingness to do the hard work required of them. Some individuals are accustomed to being spoiled. But there is another kind of cry: a deep, personal desperation born of genuine oppression that truly moves the hand of God. God explained to Moses the plan of deliverance and redemption, emphasizing that he was moved by the cries of the people of Israel and was rescuing them. Exodus 3:7 7 Then the LORD said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, Exodus 3:9 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Different Brokenness, same surpassing power 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. Affliction: For Paul, it was the daily friction, suffering, and opposition faced while carrying out the ministry of Christ. For you, it is the long-term chronic disease, addiction, financial tribulation; these unchanged circumstances that are taking longer than you hoped. That is not God's will for His children. Yet this life has so many fallen things that we may face these kinds of afflictions. Please do not waste the brokenness. The meaning of the word evokes squeezing, or being compressed. It pictures an object placed under a heavy weight or grapes being pressed in a winepress. I understand that the first illustration about the wheat seed involves breaking the seed. However, in winemaking, producers carefully control the pressure so that the seeds stay uncrushed. That’s the point Paul makes: our core, our true self—our new inner spirit—remains never crushed. The way to access the surpassing power is turning to your inner man. Perplexity: perplexed, but not driven to despair; Being "perplexed" points to those moments when our minds are bewildered. When we find ourselves without answers or solutions. That state connects with verse 9: struck down. 2 Corinthians 4:9 struck down, but not destroyed; It’s natural for the clay jar to feel unsure. In unfamiliar situations, we often feel perplexed. Many of us felt thrown to the ground a few days ago. The image here is a physical contest or a wrestling match. Moments where we are knocked off our feet by adversity or spiritual attack. Should I despair or lose hope? When we reach the end of our human wisdom and resources. We pray. Wisdom is always available for those who seek it. James 1:5 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Your future is defined by the Treasure, not by your current confusion. You are not destroyed because the Treasure inside you cannot be destroyed. Being struck down is simply an event that happens to the earthen vessel; it is not a reflection of your spiritual worth, nor does it mean God is judging you. Persecuted: 2 Corinthians 4:9 9 persecuted, but not forsaken Persecutions are misunderstandings. The suffering caused by lies and slander. People spreading false information. The word “Dioko" carries the meaning of to be pursued, chased, or harassed. Here I like to remind myself that if there is one third of fallen angels against me, I still have two thirds fighting for me. Mark 15:34 tells us that on the cross, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” So now, like Paul, you and I can also say: 2 Corinthians 4:9 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; Paul closes this passage with astounding affirmations. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. There are brokenesses that are the way to victory. The brokenness that leads to victory The Bible says in the book of Judges, chapter 7, that the people were oppressed by the Midianites. The Midianites were a terrible people, and in the Bible they represent the work of evil spirits. Historically, the Midianites were a nomadic group of raiders. They did not conquer cities or set up governments; instead, they waited for the Israelites to do all the hard work of planting and cultivating crops. Right when the harvest was ready, the Midianites would sweep in like a plague of locusts, devouring the provisions. The Midianites did not attack Israel's army directly; they attacked their food supply. God then calls Gideon while he was beating out wheat in the winepress, that is, beating wheat in the place meant for treading grapes. He was hiding there. And then the angel arrives and says to him, Judges 6:12 12 And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” God never mocks you. God never gives you bad nicknames to tease you and provoke you. When God gives you a name, it is because that is your real identity. The Bible says that Gideon thought he was so small, but the angel says, "You are strong." If it were me, I would look to the side and say, "But who are you talking to? Is it really to me? No, my clan is the weakest, and I am the least in my father's house." And the Lord said to him, "Go in this might of yours and save Israel." God uses the improbable. This is to show His surpassing power. Hell must be perplexed to see how a weak, broken vessel like us can be used. You know, there is no glory if the big guy defeats the small one. If Goliath had defeated David, there would be no honor at all for the giant. But when it is the small David who defeats a giant, then there is glory. Goliath was David's glory. The size of your problem, of your enemy, is also your glory. "Oh, pastor, I am going through a struggle, you have no idea, it is very big.” The bigger it is, the greater your glory will be. Those who know you will have jaws dropped, astonished, saying, "What is this that is happening?" Because the Lord chose you. Gideon makes the call, and 32,000 men show up to fight. (Judges 7:3) God says, "It's too many people. We are not going to war with this many people. Judges 7:2 2 The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their