TREASURES IN EARTHEN VESSELS

 TREASURES IN EARTHEN VESSELS - PART 3 "ENEMIES IN OUR CANAAN"

2 Corinthians 4:7(kjv)"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us".

2Timothy 2:20 "But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonor".

Happy New month God's people. It shall be a fruitful month for us all.

Last month, we looked into a topic "TREASURES IN EARTHEN VESSELS". And from the two articles released, we were made to understand that there is Treasure in all our Earthen vessels; that as children of God, deposited in us are potentials that are of benefit first to God and then to ourselves. The latter part of the scripture 2Corinthians 4:7 says that the Excellency may be of God. We were also made to understand that no man is ever created an accident; lack of this understanding is what makes a man think he has no usefulness. But by the reason of the treasures in our jars of clay, we have been called to live a useful life.

(if you haven't read the previous articles; please take time to read them, as they will form the foundation for this new part). Remember, no house is built from the roof; it has to first be dug right out of the ground. 

Today, we will be looking at What things spoil or bring shame to our treasures?

The Bible makes us to understand in 2 Timothy 2:20 paraphrased, "some unto honour and some unto dishonour".

We must understand that God created these two categories but why then must some inherit honour and others dishonour. We will understand these things.

First, the devil is man's greatest adversary. 1Pet 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour".We must understand that the devil is aware of the great things God has put into us. He is aware of our inheritance as God is aware. We see this in Job 1:10, when he told God paraphrased, "is it not because you have made an hedge of protection round about him". Also in Matthew 4 when he tempted our Lord Jesus Christ using the word of God. The devil knows your inheritance, so He fights it's fulfilment in our lives. One great problem a child of God may have is if the devil knows his place (the child's) more than He himself is aware. Ignorance to allow the devil control or foolishness to not resist the devil's control (James 4:7). 

We understood from the garden of Eden (Genesis 3) when the serpent tempted Eve and brought both Adam and Eve to dishonour in the sight of God. Remember, God had great things in store for them, and which he showed them already but the devil, our adversary will not let us enjoy these things, so we must resist him. Verse 9 says "whom resist steadfastly in the faith".

Why will the enemy not want good for man? One reason is because he is the enemy of man. Your enemy is your opponent whim you must always contend with. Secondly, he also lost his inheritance. The devil was one of the best Angels; He was an archangel, revered and honoured but He let pride set in and then got dishonoured in return. And thus, He is never happy seeing God's children enjoy all He (God) has for them. The more reason, He wants to take them with him to hell and deny them of the glorious beauty in Heaven. But Apostolic Paul says in one of his writings, we are not ignorant of his wiles (2Corinthians 2:11). We are self aware... this is to tell us that ignorance and foolishness will bring dishonour to our treasures. It's a foolish clay; a clay without understanding, that will say to it's master, "I have no use for you" or "why did you make me this way"(Isaiah 45:9, Romans 9:21)

From God's word, we see the following ways the devil robs man. Apart from his ignorance and foolishness; the antidote to this is just "be wise", just "have understanding", "seek knowledge".

2. Sin: Sin is one major operation of the devil by which He corrupts our good and fertile land rendering it bad and cursed. The devil knows God hates sin and that He will only hide his face from sin, so He makes God's people sin against him either by disobeying him or living a life that is far from God's word in order that they be denied access to their glorious destiny. Isaiah 59:1-2 "verse 2 says "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have his his face from you, that he will not hear". We clearly see this here. 

From our earlier articles, we understood that God is the source of our treasures, our sustainer and also our multiplier. The honour and glory is of God (2 Corinthians 4:7) but when we are distanced or separated from Him, what we begin to operate in is shame and dishonour. Proverbs 14:24 "Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people". 

2Timothy 2:21 "if a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every God work". Then he went on to tell us what "these" we have to be purged from.The only way to live a sin less life is to live a righteous life. The only way out of sin is through Sanctification, Total cleansing..."Father, I have renounced my sins, purge me and make me clean".

2Corinthians 4:16 "for which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day". If sin is an everyday adventure, then living holy must be our everyday culture. Only Righteousness can quench Sinfulness.

TO BE CONTINUED

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