From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2003 6:54 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: Joyous Greetings

A couple of weeks ago one of the Scriptures included in the messages concerning the Lord being the Light was 2 Corinthians 4:6, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

The following verse (the one I'd like to focus on today), 2 Corinthians 4:7 in the Amplified Bible says, "However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."

"...in earthen vessels..." which speaks of human weakness and is manifested in all men.  In Numbers 11:14 we see Moses telling God of his inability to meet the needs and desires of the Israelites (Read verses 1-15), "I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome
(heavy) for me."

Matthew 26:40, After asking Peter, James and John to stand watch with Him while he prayed, Jesus came and found them asleep and Scripture says, "And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'So you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour?'"

Jesus speaking to the disciples in His farewell discourse,
"I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now."  John 16:12

Earthen vessels also speaks of frailty:
"But man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain;
 He is like the beasts that perish."  Psalm 49:12

"For He [earnestly] remembered that they were but flesh,
 A wind that goes and does not return."  Psalm 78:39

"For He Himself knows our frame;
 He is mindful that we are but dust."  Psalm 103:14

Man is completely dependent upon God!
 "I know, O Lord that a man's way is not in himself;
 Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps."  Jeremiah 10:23

"John (the Baptist) answered and said, 'A man can receive nothing,
unless it has been given him from heaven.'"   John 3:27

Jesus said,
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who asides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me YOU CAN DO NOTHING." John 15:5 (My emphasis)

The Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians,
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God."  2 Corinthians 3:5

Our verse tell us the reason why this treasure is in earthen vessels: "...that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."

God is in control!  It is Christ who lives His life in us.  We are vessels who contain the indwelling Christ. As Paul tells us in Galations 2:20, "...It is no long I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God..."  How awesome that Holy God would choose to dwell in earthen vessels.  What a wondrous thing!

I close with 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 which tells of the gloriousness of our precious Lord God Almighty, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and the earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and Yours it is to be exalted as Head over all.  Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In your hands are power and might; in Your hands it is to make great and to give strength to all."

We sing this song in our Fellowship:

He is holy, He is holy, and we praise His holy name.
He is holy, He is holy, He is holy.
Exalt the Lord, our God.
Worship at His throne.
Praise His great and awesome name for the faithfulness He's shown. He is holy, He is holy, He is holy.