We must be convinced that pain and feelings of weakness do not equal failure. They are not to be avoided at all costs. Can we learn to give thanks for weakness and pain because we believe that is the vehicle God most often chooses for the gospel to travel forward?
Pastor Jason Meyer
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
The gospel of Jesus Christ compels his people to move outward towards others - even when it hurts. For the Northern Irish, there is much remembered pain caused by many years of conflict. But where pain is, where weakness is found, there the strength of God is found in fullest measure.
Simply consider the cross. At the point of apparent weakness, the Son of God, mangled and bleeding in the most horrific way imaginable, God's power was fully on display. The Son was sustained through the Cross, faithful unto death. And unto resurrection. And unto eternal reign.
So too ministers of the gospel today as sustained as their weakness (and oh, we are weak!) is made known through trying circumstances, through subtle and overt persecution, and through the sin-sick bodies and souls that we carry through this fallen world. But there is a Lord and Savior who bids us go... go and preach the gospel. Go and share our very lives.
So, we go! Tomorrow! Pray for us that the weakness that is evident... through nervous energy, sickness, and whatever the Lord has for us in Northern Ireland... will display in full measure the "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6) That is the treasure! Jesus himself, on display in weak vessels. And that is our prayer.
Simply consider the cross. At the point of apparent weakness, the Son of God, mangled and bleeding in the most horrific way imaginable, God's power was fully on display. The Son was sustained through the Cross, faithful unto death. And unto resurrection. And unto eternal reign.
So too ministers of the gospel today as sustained as their weakness (and oh, we are weak!) is made known through trying circumstances, through subtle and overt persecution, and through the sin-sick bodies and souls that we carry through this fallen world. But there is a Lord and Savior who bids us go... go and preach the gospel. Go and share our very lives.
So, we go! Tomorrow! Pray for us that the weakness that is evident... through nervous energy, sickness, and whatever the Lord has for us in Northern Ireland... will display in full measure the "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4:6) That is the treasure! Jesus himself, on display in weak vessels. And that is our prayer.
Would you pray with us?
For your encouragement, two sermons are embedded below. The first is Jason Meyer, Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church. The text is 2 Corinthians 2:12-14... on weakness and evangelism.
The second sermon is by recent Bethlehem Seminary grad Jeff Lacine, on 2 Corinthians 4:7:
Jeff Lacine from Bethlehem College and Seminary on Vimeo.
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