This Power in Earthen Vessel, Bro Gbenga Oladele.
2 Corinthians 4:7
[7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
This treasure means the Holy Spirit, the gospel, the light of the gospel, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, and ministry. This power in the earthen vessel is the treasure.The power in the believer is the treasure in the believer. This power represents God in man. As much as you understand that you are an earthen vessel, you must also recognize that you carry God.
2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV referred to this power as all-surpassing power.
2 Corinthians 4:7 TPT referred to this power as the extraordinary overflow.
2 Corinthians 4:7 (MSG) referred to this power as God’s incomparable power.
So the believer must always know this: you are a clay jar pot, but there’s something God has placed in you that makes you different. This power resides within you. God uses men and not angels.
The context of the Epistles will be Acts, the context of the book of Acts will be the Gospels, and the context of the Gospels will be the scriptures (Genesis-Malachi).
To comprehend our anchor scripture, we must examine how this power was displayed in Acts.
Luke 24:49 NKJV “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
This occurred after Jesus’ birth, burial, and resurrection. He instructed his disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they were endowed with strength. This means that before now they were not filled with power.
Matthew 28:20 NKJV “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:20 also shows us that even as the disciples were preaching the gospel, Jesus was with them.
Jesus died, was buried, resurrected, and ascended. You might think that Jesus has finished his work on earth. Even after his death, Jesus is still at work
John 14:2-4
“In my father’s house, there are many mansions” means that my father’s household has many dwelling spaces. This dwelling place is not a physical building. The dwelling place is the believer.
According to John 14:16, we already have the comforter, the Holy Spirit, in us. This means the believer possesses the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:9-10, 2:1–4. These scriptures show us simple clay jars filled with the Holy Spirit who went on to accomplish amazing things.
Acts 3:1-5 revealed ordinary men performing miracles. What enabled them to accomplish this? The Holy Spirit, or God’s power. Knowing God’s power is crucial for believers because it enables them to overcome obstacles.
According to Acts 4:31, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the people, they were given boldness. The knowledge of the scripture should give you the boldness to do life.
Acts 7:55 reveals that we can see the plans and purpose of God for our lives because we have the Holy Spirit in us. The all-surpassing power is able to infuse boldness in us and make us see things.
Acts 8 : 26, 39
This treasure produces results. It is up to us to see the actions. This power is working. You can minister healing to yourself by this power. We can do incredible feats because it is an all-encompassing power. It allows us to see and hear things.
Acts 8:4-5 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.
Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them (KJV).
We recognize that this power can provide precise direction.
Acts 9:1-4 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light from heaven:
And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (KJV).
In the vision, he saw someone. We are witnessing firsthand the power of this treasure. Arise and proceed to Straight Street. This power can provide you with accurate directions. Men had evidence. We can see what was said to Ananias. Ananias could hear and had accurate directions. We can see the ability of the Spirit. He has the capacity to make us hear. He can give us precise directions. We can confidently state that we are not confused. We have a clear direction. The Holy Spirit resides inside us. We can see into God’s plans.
We can hear what the Spirit is saying. In the action, we begin to see the possibilities in God. Regardless, we may have high aspirations, but with God, anything is possible. The sufficient power is at work in us and He is able to do all things.
Acts 10:1-8 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band.
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always.
He saw in a vision, evidently about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying unto him, Cornelius.
And when he looked at him, he was afraid and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside; he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
And when the angel who spoke unto Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually.
And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa (KJV).
This is an exact directive. The angel said, “Send men to Joppa and ask for a man named Peter.” The angel knew where Peter was. This was Peter witnessing a vision alongside Cornelius, who was receiving specific directions on what the Lord will have him do.
The believer has precise direction. We often see God’s design for our lives. It is already present in us. The Holy Spirit bears witness to this in us. We do not have power solely through head knowledge. We have the manifestation.
Acts 16:6-7
The Holy Spirit speaks to us, not something inside us. We have direction. No challenge can be difficult for us because we have an advantage.That is what we utilize our power for. That is why he is present with us. He allows us to see and hear. Acts 27:22-25
Beautiful message