Sermon Tone Analysis

*Text: 2 Cor.

4:7-18*

*Introduction:*

        - The Tupperware Sales-lady

*        - *Valuable Containers Commercial

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I.         God's Containers Carry the Demonstration of Power (vv.

7-9) \\ /2 Corinthians 4:7 through 2 Corinthians 4:9 (NIV)// /7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

!! A.   His Power

 *** What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Leadership, Vol. 12, no.

2.

 

***   A small boy tried to lift a heavy stone.

Despite his huffing and puffing, he couldn't budge it.

His father, watching nearby, finally asked him, "Are you using all your strength?"

"Yes, I am," the boy cried, exasperated.

"No, you're not," the father replied.

"You haven't asked me to help you."

--Mark Mohnkern

 

 

!! B.   through our weakness

***The power of God was suddenly released when I gave up being invulnerable.

-- Bruce Larson, Leadership, Vol. 5, no. 4.

***   Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible.

There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible.

Faith begins where man's power ends.

-- George Muller.

Leadership, Vol. 12, no.

4.

 

                        ***   I asked God for strength that I might achieve,

      I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things,

      I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,

      I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,

      I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,

      I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for -- but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men, most richly blessed.

--Max Cleland

!! C.   Unconquerable

\\ */Philippians 4:13 through Philippians 4:14 (NASB) /*13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

14Nevertheless, you have done well to share /with me/ in my affliction.

***   Here are some examples of Christians who triumphed thru

difficulties:

 

1.

John Bunyan - in Bedford prison wrote "Pilgrim's Progress"

 

2.

Fanny Crosby - was blind because of a Doctor's mistake, yet was

used of God to write 3000 hymns.

3.

Samuel Brengel - was educated, but when approaching William

Booth, was told that if he wanted a job to go to the basement and

shine the men's boots.

He was humble and said that if Jesus

washed feet, I can shine boots.

He became a leader in the

Salvation Army.

One day he was hit on the head by a brick thrown

by a rough guy.

During recovery he wrote rich holiness books.

4.

The Apostle Paul stands out as a wonderful example -- see

Philippians 1:12-14, II Corinthians 1:4-6.

 

5.

Other examples include: Jesus and His work (looked like defeat)

on the cross, Peter in Prison (Acts 12:3-11,24), Stephen's

marderdom (Acts 7) which may have brought Paul to Christ, Paul and

Silas' imprisonment and the Jailer's conversion (Acts 16:25-30).

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II.

God's Containers Carry the Death of Jesus (vv.

10-12) \\ /2 Corinthians 4:10 through 2 Corinthians 4:12 (NIV)// /10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.

12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

!! A.   the surrender of life

***When I stand at the judgment seat of Christ And He shows me His plan for me; The plan of my life as it might have been Had He had His way, and I see How I blocked Him here and I checked Him there And I would not yield my will, Shall I see grief in my Savior's eyes; Grief though He loves me still?

Oh, He'd have me rich, and I stand there poor, Stripped of all but His grace, While my memory runs like a hunted thing Down the paths I can't retrace.

Then my desolate heart will well-nigh break With tears that I cannot shed.

I'll cover my face with my empty hands And bow my uncrowned head.

No. Lord of the years that are left to me I yield them to Thy hand.

Take me, make me, mold me To the pattern Thou hast planned.

The Holy Bible, New International Version

 

\\ */Luke 9:24 (NIV) /*24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

!! B.   the revealing of life

***   A brilliant preacher aimed his lectures at a learned infidel who attended.

When the lectures were over, the infidel became a Christian.

"Which one of my lectures brought conviction to you?" asked the gratified preacher.

With a chilling smile the convert answered, "My dear sir, it was not through your lectures that I was converted.

I slept through most of them.

Why, it was an old woman, who used to hobboe up the steps of your church, limping and leaning on her crutches, and between every thump of the crutch on the stone steps exclaimed, "My blessed Jesus.

My blessed Jesus."

As I looked at the poor disabled woman and saw the genuine content and peace on her face, and found out she lived a consistent life in the face of poverty and loneliness, I saw a living book to which I could not reply.

So I wanted the Christ whom she professed."

!! C.   the transmitting of life

***   A young artist had toiled and struggled in his work upon a piece of statuary, until at last the block of marble which held his thoughts imprisoned had given way to the statue of an angel which appeared quite perfect to the beholder.

The young artist wished the criticism of those of greater renown than himself, so he sent an invitation to Michael Angelo among others.

The young artist had hidden himself behind a screen, and wanted to hear the criticism of his friends without being seen.

When Angelo came to look the work over most carefully he was heard to say to one of his friends standing near: "It lacks one thing."

The poor artist was well nigh brokenhearted as he heard this criticism.

He hurried away from his studio and refused either to eat or to sleep, and at last one of his friends made his way into Angelo's presence to ask what it was that the statue lacked.

"Man," said Angelo, "it lacks only life.

If it had only life, it would have been perfect as God Himself could have made it."

This is the picture of the man who is without Christ.

He has many things to commend himself to the world; his disposition may be good, and his character may be beautiful, but if he lacks eternal life, he lacks everything.

--J.