“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7).
Though we are born again through faith in Christ, we still have the same physical body. We know that if our earthly house, this tent, were to be destroyed, we have an eternal building of God in the heavens, a house not made with hands” (2 Cor. 5:1).
As a new creation in Christ, we still live in the framework of ordinary human lives. Yes, we are “earthen vessels,” frail, vulnerable, inadequate, originally fashioned from dust.
We have been likened to clay pots (see Job 10:9). The Lord fully understands our makeup, and the Lord does not expect anything from us but to be a container for a heavenly treasure. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, the excellency of the power being from God and not from ourselves” (2 Cor. 4:7).
When Jesus was preparing the disciples for His departure in John Chapters 14-16, He knew what they were facing, and He knew they were fragile earthen vessels and they needed help! Read and study these verses in John, because you and I need help walking in this world.
John 14:16-17 (NKJV) says: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you..” This truth assures us that we are never alone.
How will the Holy Spirit help us? “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:25-26). Once again, Jesus uses the word “Helper” to describe the promise of the Father. He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance the Word that you need to face any temptation or challenge you face in this world.
In John 16:7, Jesus once again confirms to the disciples He is leaving, but they will not be alone. “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” The disciples were full of grief that Jesus was leaving. He was their leader, He was the way maker, the miracle worker!
Jesus understood their feelings. He explains more about the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives in John 16:12-14 (MEV): “I have yet many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own authority. But He will speak whatever He hears, and He will tell you things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will receive from Me and will declare it to you.”
These verses are full of amazing promises, Jesus wants to tell them more, but He understands where they are. He also understands where you are in your daily walk with God. You and I, as born-again children of God, have the same promise of the Holy Spirit, a treasure in our earthen vessel!
The bottom line is quite simple: We need help as we walk the runway of life!
First Corinthians 2:12 tells us, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.”
The Word of God is full of treasures waiting to be discovered. We have been given everything for life and godliness through the promises in God’s Word (See 2 Pet. 1-3). These treasures are not hidden from us, but for us so that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God!
You, child of God, have Someone living in you who knows the will of God for your life! You are invited to a friendship with this treasure that is within you. You don’t have to stumble in this world. All you have to do is ask!
John 16:24 says, “Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
God’s plan is to impart heavenly treasures into ordinary earthen vessels so that the attention will go to the contents, not the container, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. {eoa}
Joyce Tilney is an author and teacher. Her heart is learning together with the body of Christ to become the men and women God created us to be. Information about her ministry can be found on her website: joycetilney.com
