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[0:00] Go ahead and take your Bibles, turn over to 2 Corinthians chapter 4, 2 Corinthians chapter 4 this morning.! You know, when the Lord brings a couple together as husband and wife, just as He did when He brought Adam and Eve together in the garden, the Bible tells us that couple becomes one flesh.

[0:42] And it really, as we've seen, reveals a relationship and a picture of Christ and His church. There's a spiritual reality that takes place in that.

[0:54] But while this relationship, you might say, is divinely designed, and it's divinely designed to last, it is not without its challenges.

[1:06] You know, life is filled with challenges, problems, struggles. You know, if I was to ask today, how many had a problem this week? You know, I don't think there'd be a—nope, nobody could not raise their hand.

[1:18] Everybody faces something. You know, the struggles that are well aware, you know, Job, you know, was a man in the Bible that definitely faced struggles and trials.

[1:29] And Job said this in Job 14, he said, Man is born of a woman of a few days and full of trouble. You know, it's like the reality is if you come into this life, there's going to be problems.

[1:41] There's going to be challenges. There's going to be things that we face. And while we might not want to hear that truth, it is a reality that we'll face and deals with things we have to deal with because we're going to be confronted with these challenges.

[1:57] And the problem with the challenges oftentimes is they are confusing and they're conflicting in our life. You know, sometimes challenges aren't as clear that we'd like to make them. You know, we oftentimes like things to be black or white.

[2:10] And oftentimes there's a lot more struggle involved because it involves all these different elements of our life, our emotions, our thoughts, our desires, all play into that.

[2:22] When we realize that as we're going to overcome challenges, you know, challenges are something God gives us for a reason. You know, oftentimes we look at challenges.

[2:33] Why did God give this to me? Or why do I have to go through this? But instead, we ought to be looking at least logically at it and say, why did God allow this?

[2:45] What's going on? How is God going to use this in my life? Because we're going to see here that the Apostle Paul here, 2 Corinthians chapter 4, reveals a very important dynamic of dealing with struggles and what takes place.

[3:00] Because when we look together, life is just that. When we come together, it's a blessing. But those trials and struggles are often those things which can break us, which often break the ones involved.

[3:14] You know, why would God allow challenges to break us? You know, some challenges break your heart. Some break you physically. Some break you spiritually, you might say, of just getting things right with God.

[3:28] But, you know, how are you going to navigate those things and to walk through those challenges? And we're going to see here that the role that faith and unity and understanding play in overcoming life's challenges here this morning.

[3:44] Because as we, before we read the passage, I just want to kind of set the stage here a little bit. Because Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 that the ministry that you have is not without challenges.

[3:56] You know, marriage is a ministry that you've been given. You know, family is a ministry that everybody's been given. Those are things that are there. So when we talk about ministry, those are things that are your responsibility as a believer to do that.

[4:12] And here in 2 Corinthians 4, Paul reminds us that ministry will have challenges and it requires God's mercy to continue. And it's in these times that take place in the life of a believer that it becomes clear of what's happening.

[4:30] Because he speaks here about every believer possesses something. He talks about every believer believes the light of the gospel that's shown in your heart. And then the Holy Spirit comes and dwells within every believer.

[4:43] You are a vessel that possesses something of great power. You possess the Spirit of God when you're saved. He dwells within you. And we see here as this becomes clear in this, let's take a look here in the scripture.

[4:58] If you want to stand together for honor reading of the Word of God in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. We'll pick up in verse 7 here this morning. It says this, Let's pray.

[5:35] Heavenly Fathers, we come before you this morning. Lord, we just thank you for your Word. Lord, we're thankful for the reality of who you are, the power that we have through your Spirit that lives and dwells within every believer here this morning.

[5:50] Lord, I pray just have your hand upon each heart, each life here today to realize how you use these challenges, these obstacles, the things that often break us in life.

[6:03] And Lord, how you use those for your glory and your honor. And Lord, our responsibility to recognize those things. And Lord, to be willing to submit to your will and your way in our life.

[6:16] And Lord, we just ask it all here this morning. In Jesus' name, amen. May we be seated. You know, we see here that Paul makes a statement here this morning describing us.

[6:26] The Word of God describes us throughout. Oftentimes we're described as vessels. You know, we're a vessel. We're often compared to a vessel. And he speaks about here being an earthen vessel.

[6:38] What's he talking about? He's talking about a clay pot. You know, he's basically talking about a storage container. And the one thing that you realize if you understand anything about a clay pot, it's a fragile item.

[6:51] Some may be slightly more durable than others. And they might serve different purposes and uses. But the one reality is, is they're all fragile. They're all breakable. You know, that's the reason it's...

[7:03] Have you ever noticed when they do archaeology, what do they always find? They find what? Broken vessels. Broken pots. Pieces of pottery. Because they get used for their purpose, but yet they almost always get broken.

[7:19] Rarely do they find one that's not broken. Why? Because it's been put into service. And when it's been put into service, some things happen. And we see here that this weak vessel, the weakness of the vessel, that the light is revealed that is in it.

[7:37] Now notice here verse 7 with me this morning. Notice what it says. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. Think about what treasure is he talking about. You know, what treasure is there in an earthen vessel?

[7:51] In our vessel is exactly what he's speaking of in verse 6. He's talking about the reality that once you're saved, the power of God dwells within you.

[8:02] That reality is very present, a very actual and factual thing. And we say, why would God want to indwell? Why would he want to put himself into a fragile vessel?

[8:17] And we're going to look at that this morning. But, you know, look back into 1 Corinthians chapter 1 for a moment. 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Think about what's being said here. Because oftentimes what we think and what God thinks is totally different.

[8:34] You know, his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts than our thoughts. Because our thinking would be, if I have something of value, I'm going to put it in the most secure, the most stable, the most indestructible item that we have.

[8:51] You know, you think about that, we call them safes. I mean, we build safes to say nothing can happen to what's valuable within. But, you know, God does it a little differently.

[9:01] He gives what is the most valuable thing we can possess. And he allows it to be put into something that's fragile. And look at what he says here in 1 Corinthians 1 verse 27.

[9:13] He says, but God hath chosen what? The foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty. And the base things of the world, the things that are despised, God hath chosen.

[9:27] Yea, the things which are not, to bring to naught the things that are. You know, I want you to see here, God intentionally uses things that are fragile.

[9:38] He uses us. God allows us to have his power within. And so, how do we come through challenges?

[9:49] Because remember, challenges are going to be detrimental to something that's fragile. Challenges that we face, the things that we come up in life, the struggles.

[10:00] But I want you to see here that when struggles come, oftentimes it does crack the pot. But I want you to see this morning, God allows it for a reason.

[10:13] Because, you know, until we are broken, it's hard to let God shine through. Because our pride gets in the way. Our pride desires what we want. We're going to see here this morning, because when it comes to recognizing struggles and getting through struggles, the one thing we need to realize is, especially in marriage, the one with you is as fragile earthen vessel as you are.

[10:37] When we realize we're dealing with people who are fragile earthen vessels, but yet if they're saved, they contain the same power of God. They contain God's spirit within them.

[10:50] And we need to recognize God's power in weakness. When we recognize what God is doing, because we don't understand this picture, we have expectations of somebody else to say, why didn't you do differently?

[11:09] But, you know, when things are broken, I want you to see here, God, this whole picture here is that when it's broken, God's glory shines through. What is within comes out.

[11:22] You know, that's pretty simple. If you fill a pot with something and you put a lid on it, when you break it, what do you do? You find out exactly what's inside. You find, because what is inside is clearly revealed to us, because consider what we're compared to.

[11:39] You know, we like to think of ourselves as powerful and strong. You know, we like to think of ourselves, well, I can endure anything. But think about it. God refers to us many times in scriptures as a weak vessel, an earthen vessel, something that can be easily cracked, something that can be easily broken.

[12:02] And we oftentimes don't want to think of ourselves in that context, but these vessels that are spoken of here are specifically believers, because notice what he says here.

[12:12] Look again at verse 7. It says that we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.

[12:25] You know, fragile jars of clay have been formed to contain what is within. These are believers that he's talking about, those who have called upon the name of the Lord, whose presence and power of God is within.

[12:40] Think about what the scripture tells us. He tells us this in Colossians 1.27. It says, Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. You know, when we get saved, you have Christ in you.

[12:52] 2 Corinthians 1.22 says, Who have also sealed us and give us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Matter of fact, if you don't have the Spirit of God, you're in trouble.

[13:03] Notice 1 John 4.13 tells us this, Hereby we know that we dwell in him and that he in us, because he has given us his Spirit.

[13:14] The Spirit of God dwells within every believer. If you have not the Spirit, you're not born again. I want you to understand the two go hand in hand.

[13:26] There is no, I hope so or I think so. You either have or you don't. There's no in between. Oftentimes people want to make a contrast to say, Well, maybe so or maybe not.

[13:42] I want you to understand when it comes to salvation, there's no maybe so. It's either you are or you're not. You know, and when these challenges come, especially in the life of a believer, it reveals what is within.

[13:57] Because when we have the light and the glorious hope of the gospel within, when we face challenges, even things that break us, you know what happens? What is within comes out.

[14:11] It's revealed in it. Oftentimes it's uncomfortable to understand this. But let's take a picture of what the Bible shows us here, of what the apostles talking about.

[14:22] Because when challenges come, it reveals what's within. And the picture here is displayed. Turn to Judges chapter 7 for a moment. Judges chapter 7, because here we have Gideon.

[14:34] And here is Gideon. And he comes through in chapter 7. And he starts up, Weeding down the number of people to go up against the enemy.

[14:45] You know, they're facing a great foe. And so Gideon puts out the call. And all these guys come. And God looks around and tells Gideon there's too many. And they start going through a process of weeding all this down.

[14:59] And he gets down to 300. And as he's down to 300, look at verse 16. It says, And he divided the 300 men into three companies. And he put a trumpet in every man's hand with empty pitchers.

[15:14] And notice this. And lamps within the pitchers. So I want you to get the picture here. What he has? He has an earthen vessel. And they put the lamp inside the torch.

[15:26] The light is now inside the vessel. Now, I want you to see here what happens here. Because he's hiding within the vessel the light.

[15:39] Now, these 300 guys, this is a great battle plan, really. But I want you to see the picture that's shown here because there's something that happens when the vessel's broken. When the vessel's broken, something amazing takes place.

[15:54] Notice here down in verse 20, it says, And the three companies blew the trumpets. And notice what? They break the pitchers and held the lamps in their left hands and trumpets in their right hand to blow withal.

[16:08] And they cried, The sword of the Lord and of Gideon. Now, I want you to see here. This is the same picture because what happened is is when the light was revealed within the broken vessel, the power of God was revealed because God used this to defeat the enemy.

[16:28] The power was revealed not when the vessel was whole, but when that was within, when the vessel was broken. They broke the vessel. The light lit up.

[16:38] It startled all the enemy. And what's the picture? It's a picture of God's power. 300 overwhelmed, a force that should have never even been able to take on with 300 people.

[16:52] God used that when the light within was showing forth. It changed everything. Now, notice here, look back up in verse 6 of our text where we were earlier.

[17:03] Now, notice here in verse 6, chapter 4, it says in 2 Corinthians, for God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

[17:18] But we have this treasure. What treasure do we have? We have the light of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ within. That God has changed us. You know, it's in that time of brokenness that God is revealed.

[17:32] You know, when God allows challenges in life, none of us sign up. But you know, those challenges God permits reveals what's within.

[17:44] It allows the light of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ a changed life to shine forth. You know, as a believer, we ought to respond to tragedies and struggles and trials differently.

[18:00] oftentimes we want to react like the world reacts. But you know, as a believer, if the light of Christ is going to shine through, when something breaks the pot, the light of within ought to shine out.

[18:16] It ought to have an impact on those around. Because it's in times of brokenness that God has revealed. It's not by our strength that we overcome, but by His.

[18:27] And we need to trust the Lord in the struggles of life. You know, oftentimes we try to overcome Him in our own power. And God says, I'm allowing the pot to be broken that my power shall be brought forth.

[18:43] That it would shine forth. Because look at the end of verse 6 here. Notice what it tells us here. Or excuse me, verse 7. It tells us very clearly. It says that the excellency of the power of God, that the excellency of the power may be of God.

[18:58] And notice that last phrase. And what? Not of us. It's not the vessel, but it's what's within the vessel. You know, what's within makes a difference.

[19:08] Is the power of God present in you? That's the Spirit of God that dwells in you. It's the Spirit of God that dwells in every believer.

[19:19] The Spirit of God must be within each one that, but that happens when they call upon Him. But when two people come together in a relationship, you know what happens sometimes?

[19:35] There's a lot of conflict that happens. And when struggles come, you know what? Sometimes when one of them is broken or both of them are broken, they don't allow the power of God within to work through.

[19:47] Because when God allows things to break us, it ought to reveal the power of God that's taken place in our lives. It ought to reveal what God has done for us. You know, that's why it's important and critical.

[19:59] You know, when people get married, it's important that we're not unequally yoked. You know what happens when you have a vessel that's filled with worldly things that doesn't have the Spirit of God against one that has the Spirit of God?

[20:10] You know what's going to happen in a relationship? It's going to be a big conflict. Why? Because they don't recognize what's taking place. They don't recognize what's, they're not on the same page, the same powers are not working alongside and encouraging one another.

[20:25] You know, we need to rely upon the Lord to say, Lord, why are you allowing this in our life? Because notice how he encourages us through this. Because we face challenges together in unity.

[20:38] Notice the next verse there. Notice what he says. He says, we are troubled on every side yet not distressed. We are perplexed but not in despair.

[20:49] You know, it's very simply this, the dangers abound towards these earthen vessels. You know, there's dangers all around. There's troubles. Those are things that are going to happen.

[21:00] The pressures of life seem to close in. You know, this word troubled means crowded upon. You know, have you ever noticed that when things get chaotic in life and trouble comes, it's not just one thing?

[21:12] You know, I think we can all testify very clearly that when trouble comes, it seems like trouble comes and trouble comes and trouble comes and it seems like the whole world's pressing in on you. Everything going around you is pressing in.

[21:25] That's what that word troubled means, means pressed. Means overwhelmed, like it's just a, somebody opened the floodgate of problems in your life. You know, often that's exactly what takes place.

[21:37] Things overwhelm us. But notice the other thing he talks about is perplexed. He says, troubled, you're feeling pressured and now perplexed.

[21:47] What's perplexed mean? Perplexed is often the result of trouble. Perplexed is simply this. It's saying, I don't know what to do. I'm at a loss.

[22:00] I don't know how to deal with the situation. Troubled is pressed in. Perplexed says, this is overwhelming and I don't know what to do.

[22:11] You know, that sounds pretty bad, doesn't it? But notice how he contrasts this. A very simple thing. He says, troubled. Notice what he says. We are troubled on every side.

[22:22] Now notice he says, yet not, what? Distressed. Not distressed. He says, everything is pressing in and what's he reminding us of?

[22:34] He's telling us this, the power that lies within you is going to provide something for the situation. Not distressed means that God provides a way through.

[22:49] God is the one who makes a pathway, clears an area, clears a thing so we can have a direction of how do we walk through when life is overwhelming us, crowded upon, all these things happening and God says, hey, you're not hemmed in.

[23:08] You might think you are but what's within you is powerful enough to overcome what's without you. He says, you're troubled but not distressed. That God gives us a way through.

[23:20] You know, throughout the scripture you'll find that God tells us to seek his way because God's the one that's going to walk us through those things. But notice, perplexed, at a loss.

[23:33] You know, you're not hemmed in and you're also not in despair. What's not in despair mean? It means that you still have hope.

[23:44] You know, as a believer, no matter what happens in life, there's hope. There's not hope in this world but there's hope in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God that worketh in you.

[23:56] God gives us a hope because we realize that what happens in this world is not all that there is. We realize that situations of this life know how discouraging, how troublesome, how overwhelming that God says, I'll be there.

[24:13] I'm there with you. You know, it's interesting that people today, you know, you hear a lot about this health and wealth preaching. You know what? Paul is never a health and wealth preacher.

[24:24] You know? Matter of fact, he's probably, to most people's minds, Paul was discouraging just as much as Jesus. When you think about Jesus' message is often counter to the health and wellness and all this dynamic that they try.

[24:38] Just trust Jesus. Everything's going to go great. You know, think about what Jesus said in John chapter 16. John chapter 16 and verse 33 when he's talking to his disciples when he goes, these things have spoken unto you that ye might have peace.

[24:53] Now notice this. He says, in the world ye shall have what? You shall have. You know, I want you to realize that Jesus knows that this world's going to have problems.

[25:05] He knows about your problems. He says, there's going to be problems. You're going to have tribulation. But notice what he says, be of good cheer.

[25:17] I have overcome the world. He has overcome. He is the one no matter what's happening when we feel pressed in and we feel like we don't know what to do, we're at a loss.

[25:31] I want you to understand the Spirit of God reminds us that you know you're not hemmed in. It might seem like there's no way out, but you know what? God's provided a way out. You know, think about a picture within Scripture that gives us a good description.

[25:43] Remember the children of Israel in Exodus when they're departing Egypt? God brings them down next to the Red Sea. They're hemmed in. They cannot escape. They see no way out.

[25:55] The Egyptian army is bearing down on them. They're hemmed in. They're troubled. They're perplexed. They're like, what are we going to do? There is no way out but God.

[26:08] God steps in. You know, God gives us literal pictures of Him stepping in to make the difference. Stepping in to overcome what the world looked at and said there is no way to overcome that.

[26:22] God stepped in. We all know the story of what happened as Moses there goes down to the Red Sea and they all cross over safely and God destroys the very thing that was troubling them.

[26:35] He wasn't capable of themselves but God was capable. when they realize and see what God has done that He was there throughout everything and the unity of having that same Spirit dwelling within us ought to unite us and strengthen us allow us to face difficulties together to persevere by faith because you know the reality is this even as a couple when we recognize the other party your spouse is nothing but an earthen vessel but when moments of trouble come in a relationship you know what ought to happen it ought to draw us closer to see how God is working in the life of broken people because the problem is until we come to that point we're going to see here in just a minute until you come to the point of realizing that there's some things in your life that need to be broken for God to use you because otherwise it's of yourself and not of God when we see this picture throughout the

[27:41] Scripture we can understand that dynamic of a common faith you know what binds us together is that common faith what binds a married couple together ought to be a common faith a commonality with the Lord it brings together you know think about what a common faith does I mean you think about Ruth and Naomi here and Ruth you know you realize that here's a bond between a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law that I don't know if anybody would say they didn't have some troubles they were desperate they needed help and Ruth chapter 1 verse 16 tells us this and Ruth said entreat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee for whither thou now goest I will go and whither thou lodgest I will lodge thy people will be my people and thy God my God you know what bound them together their faith in God they say we're in trouble but you know what God's going to provide a way through you know what the picture in the book of Ruth is God providing a way through God providing a redeemer

[28:44] God providing to take care even though they had a midst of struggles and trials and things that seemed overwhelming you know often times like when we read Old Testament stories the accounts of the believers in the Old Testament we often times we mistakenly leave out because we see the problem and we see it resolved and we think it's like boom it's all taken care of you know what there's a lot of times when you start considering time there's a long time struggle between when the trouble began to when the problem was resolved or that God led them through or dealt with allowed them to walk through the circumstances you know how do we do that the fact is that trusting God's word is essential when it comes time when we're brokenness of this earthen vessel as God shines through we need to trust his word you know to say God I know what you say and I need to respond to what you say and that involves the second thing and that's following

[29:47] God's will you know because often times our will and our way is totally different than God's will and his way there's a lot of troubles I wish I could have avoided you know if it was our choice we would have said God not me but the reality is we don't have a choice troubles are going to come troubles are going to be a part are you going to trust God's word what does God have to say about it what's God's will for my life and this God what's your way through this situation because that's what's going to turn obstacles into opportunities to say God how are you working because remember when a vessel is broken what's within is revealed you know when the power of God is revealed miraculous things happen powerful things happen when God is revealed through us I want you to see here that trusting God's faithfulness through the struggle take a look at verse 9 here this morning notice what he says here he says persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed

[30:54] I want you to understand that we can trust the one that has promised to never leave you or forsake you persecution the term here what they're talking about is to be driven away that people are going to drive you out this is the same picture we see in the early church at Jerusalem what happened it says there was a great persecution what happened it dispersed them it drove them out you know sometimes we stop to consider they left everything their homes all the things that they had their means of income and all sorts of stuff because of persecution God allowed persecution to come in their life and we see here it drove them away but the Lord didn't forsake them we see God using that to do great things they're not forsaken literally we're not left to ourselves that's what that word forsaken means it means you're not left to yourself you're not left alone that God is there even in those trying and struggling times no matter what the circumstances even in the worst of things you can imagine

[32:13] God is still there you know as Paul was writing this I want you to understand he wasn't writing from well my life's been good but yours is going to be a problem you know what Paul's saying hey I've walked this road I've seen God work I've seen what's happened look over to Romans chapter 8 for a moment Romans chapter 8 and verse 38 in context of this think about what Paul says here he says for I am what I'm what how does somebody become persuaded is persuaded just an intellectual conquest persuaded has an implication to say I might know it intellectually but I've experienced I've seen I've witnessed these things it's not an abstract he says it's something that let me tell you he says I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be what able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord you know what Paul said he said hey let me tell you every time God broke me the troubles and struggles of life broke me you know what

[33:32] God never left me God shined through the problem God was there to walk me through the situation to show forth what was needed because notice that next phrase cast down cast down this word literally means to be thrown down now let me ask you a question if you had a clay pot up here this morning and I threw it down what's going to happen to it it's going to break open he said cast down literally throwing down this earthen vessel is going to be broken I want you to understand sometimes there's things in life that are going to break you there's things that are going to seem so overwhelming but I want you to understand it's not the end we are not destroyed in those moments because notice he says not destroyed this is quite a contrast he says an earthen vessel that's broken down and destroyed so somebody cast it down he said but not destroyed those are two opposite things

[34:33] God says life might cast you down but he says I'm the one that's still there to keep things together I'm the one that's going to be there to overcome this word not destroyed literally means will not perish you know what if you're saved what's the Bible tell us that you're not going to perish God says that if you're his child you are secure you're sealed no matter what happens in life no matter what the challenges of this life may be it's in those moments that we see the light that is within every believer the power of God the presence of his spirit in our lives when the vessel is broken it always reveals the contents in marriage in family in life when we trust the Lord knowing he is faithful in the midst of trials and tribulations that's what's within will always sustain and keep you because when life appears to be falling apart is when we must encourage one another to hold on to the hope that is within us you know think about the prophet Isaiah look over Isaiah chapter 40 here's Isaiah the prophet speaking here in a time of great trial and struggle he says this hast thou not known hast thou not heard that the everlasting God the Lord the creator of the ends of the earth fainted not neither is weary you know what when life is upside down and life is breaking us

[36:09] I want you to understand God is still the same he says he hasn't gotten tired he hasn't forgot about you he's not weary but it says this there is no searching of his understanding he giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increases strength you know what God says he's saying we're cast down but not destroyed he says when life is coming apart he says I'm there I'm what can keep life together I'm the one that overcomes to increase the strength for the need even the notice in verse 30 even the youth shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fail but they that wait upon the Lord shall what renew their strength and they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint I want you to understand there's hope even when life breaks us there's hope God allows this earthen vessel to be broken that his glory might shine through look at verse 10 for a moment always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body you ever ask yourself why does God allow us to be broken very simply is that his power might shine forth in our life the power of who he is and the reality of even dying to ourself it says always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus you know today the problem is often times we want to protect everything around us we want to try to control everything around us and God says

[37:47] I'm going to allow some things to happen and some of those things are even going to break you but I'm going to break you for a purpose I'm going to break you with reason behind it and you say well I don't want to be broken take a look at what Jesus says look over to Luke chapter 9 for a moment Luke chapter 9 Jesus looked at his disciples and he said this he says if any man come after me let him what deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me you know often times when we hear that word cross we've been misled to think it's a burden the cross is not a burden the cross is a place of death he says if you're not willing to die to yourself if you're going to follow Jesus you have to be willing to die to yourself to say Lord my hand who I am is in your hands to take up the cross daily and follow me now think back to verse 10 always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus what's the purpose behind this we're going to follow him what that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body

[38:59] I want you to understand that when we're broken Jesus shines forth not only in your life but it shines forth to others because how we respond in those moments make a difference how we walk through the trials and struggles of life when we understand we must rely upon him and work together in faith and unity in the struggles when life breaks you what shines through is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God if you're a believer that's what's to shine through because it's either going to reveal the glory of God that's within you or it's going to reveal brokenness without hope as a believer we have hope what it reveals in you when you face life challenges what is revealed it will be that what is within is it the light and hope of Christ or is the hopeless lost and lonely life without Christ today you have to be sure that you know who Jesus is that you know what he's done for you to realize the necessity of calling upon him as savior that you might understand the power of God unto salvation for all those that have believed upon the name of the one that came and died for you you know this morning troubles are going to break us life's going to be filled with troubles but the question is are you going to rely upon God's word his will and his way that it might shine through when the trials and struggles and challenges of life happen what shines through when life breaks you as heads are bowed and eyes are closed this morning what about you today is there a need in your life in your heart maybe God's been working in your life in a way that you're like

[41:03] I don't like it this is hard this is difficult but you know what God wants you be able to shine through what's within the reality of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ that transforms lives heavenly fathers we come before you this morning Lord we just thank you and praise you for the day Lord we're thankful for that you'll never leave us you'll never forsake us Lord in the most down moments that you're always there Lord when we feel life pressing in that Lord you've already provided what's needed you've not forsaken or denied us Lord even when we think life is broken we're not destroyed because of you Lord you know each heart each life here today Lord you know the trials and struggles of life you know the condition of each one before you today whether they truly had that time and moment when they've called upon you as Savior Lord that your spirit bears witness with their spirit

[42:05]  Lord I pray it's just work in a mighty way even here this morning Lord that we might just turn to you knowing that even in the moments that this earthen vessel is broken Lord that you're going to shine through in a mighty way and Lord we just ask it all in your precious name as piano plays what about you today is there some things you need to spend some time with the Lord