WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:04.960 Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to Wednesday Service, episode forty six. 2 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:07.360 I'm your host, Josh Monday. If you're um me, I'm 3 00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:12.439 a Christian rapper, devoted husband and father, and an Army veteran. 4 00:00:12.640 --> 00:00:16.280 And this is brought to you by Cult of Conspiracy Podcast. 5 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:18.719 Thank you guys so much for tuning in. Sorry about 6 00:00:18.760 --> 00:00:23.199 the the blotched intro, but uh yeah, thank you guys. 7 00:00:23.239 --> 00:00:27.039 We are moving right along in Second Corinthians. Now we're 8 00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:30.640 on chapter four. Like I always do, like the shout 9 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:33.479 out people that commented. Last week, we had a total 10 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:37.359 of seven comments thank you on Wednesday Service MDMP twenty two, 11 00:00:37.479 --> 00:00:42.799 Angela Kelly, Catalyst Jones, b J Con forty four to twenty, 12 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.119 Whiskers White, and No There. Thank you so much. I 13 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:49.159 appreciate all of your comments. Like I said, I always 14 00:00:49.159 --> 00:00:50.679 like to shout you guys out and let you know 15 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:54.439 that I do appreciate you. And also last week we 16 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:58.280 had MDMP twenty two and Angela Kelly on Sunday Service. 17 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:02.039 So if you haven't watched Sunday Service, guys, I definitely 18 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:05.280 suggest you go back watch Sunday Service episode sixty two. 19 00:01:05.640 --> 00:01:10.519 I go over First Kings Chapter four, through seven. It 20 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:12.840 was a pretty good episode. I really enjoyed going through that. 21 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:16.079 And like I said, tonight, we're gonna be going over 22 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:19.640 Second Corinthians chapter four, so let me just go ahead 23 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:23.200 and go over the intro for that. It says Second 24 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:26.920 Corinthians four shines a light on the power of God's 25 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:33.439 Gospel that transcends our weaknesses, trials, and afflictions. It encourages 26 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:37.159 us to force on the eternal unseen realities and understand 27 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:40.719 our sufferings in the light of the surpassing glory to come. 28 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:43.719 As jars of clay, we are reminded that we carry 29 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:48.359 the precious treasure of the Gospel, showcasing God's power and 30 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:52.280 our frailty. So yes, interesting, I like the way Paul 31 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:55.400 puts that were jars of clay. So let me go 32 00:01:55.400 --> 00:02:01.680 ahead and pull up on the screen two Corinthians four, 33 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:08.599 and guys, please do me a favorite, continue to comment, 34 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:12.240 continue to share the show with your family and friends. 35 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:16.400 I really appreciate that it assists on getting the you know, 36 00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:19.039 the algorithm up when it's when the show is being shared. 37 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:22.120 Also when there's comments, it pushes the show up the algorithm, 38 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:24.840 which is what I want. I always tell you, guys. 39 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:27.680 I don't get paid any more or any less. If 40 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:31.400 there's a million viewers, or if there's one hundred thousand, 41 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:33.080 you know what I mean. Or if there's three thousand, 42 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:35.639 or if there's five, I don't get I get paid 43 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:38.800 the same from Cult to Conspiracy. Okay, it's a set deal. 44 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:42.199 So I just want the show to get out there. 45 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:44.759 I want this show to get out there to as 46 00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:47.159 many people as possible. Everybody that's going to be listening 47 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:50.080 to this on YouTube on my channel, please share the show. 48 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:51.599 I need this to be to, you know, go to 49 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:54.680 as many people as possible. We are talking about the gospel. 50 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:57.800 We're talking about people's salvation here, and people need to 51 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:00.400 hear this, So please do that if you can. Everybody 52 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:04.520 that's listening on both Patreon's Mine and Cult the Conspiracies, 53 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:06.800 thank you for all of your comments. I do see 54 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:08.840 a few of them once in a while. I don't 55 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:11.520 really get to check on that so often, and I 56 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:14.439 don't get any notifications from them, obviously, but I do 57 00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:16.479 get to see once in a while, like a comment 58 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:20.479 or two on some of the videos. When you guys 59 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:23.159 do comment, Thank you. I appreciate you so much and 60 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:26.680 everybody that's commented on my show as well and my YouTube. 61 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:29.280 Love all of you and I really appreciate you. Plus 62 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:32.120 the moderators, thank you so much for being here. I 63 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:33.960 always like to give shout out, So let's go ahead 64 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.879 and start. Two Corinthians, chapter four, Verse one. The light 65 00:03:38.039 --> 00:03:41.680 of Christ's Gospel is what the title is. Therefore, since 66 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:45.000 we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we 67 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:47.960 do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden 68 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:52.360 things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the 69 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:55.680 word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth, 70 00:03:55.759 --> 00:04:00.439 commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 71 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:06.520 But even if our gospel is valied, it is valied 72 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:10.280 to those who are veiled. I'm sorry, even if our 73 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:13.639 gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 74 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:21.319 whose minds, whose minds the God of this age has blinded. 75 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:24.879 It's a lowercase G, so obviously it's not talking about 76 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:28.519 God is talking about the God of this age has 77 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.480 blinded who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel, 78 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:35.399 of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, 79 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:39.720 should shine on them. So for we do not preach ourselves, 80 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:42.879 but Christ, Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bond servant 81 00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:45.839 for jesus sake, For it is the God who commanded 82 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:48.920 light to shine out of darkness, who has shown in 83 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:52.000 our hearts to live the light of the knowledge of 84 00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:56.000 glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So 85 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:57.800 I like to read that whole section and kind of 86 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:03.279 go over some notes. First we have Second Corinthians. Verse one. 87 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:07.160 Paul begins by emphasizing the ministry he is. He and 88 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:11.199 his companions have received by God's mercy. Therefore they do 89 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:16.560 not lose heart. This underscores the importance of recognizing God's 90 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:22.000 grace and our calling. And then and then in verse two, 91 00:05:22.519 --> 00:05:26.240 Paul stresses the importance of integrity and ministry, rejecting shameful, 92 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:31.199 underhanded ways and instead setting forth the truth plenty renouncing 93 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:34.639 deception deception. So let me just go ahead and check 94 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:39.759 look into that real quick. It's an important renouncing deception. 95 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:44.279 Renouncing deception is a significant theme in the Bible, emphasizing 96 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:47.160 the call for believers to live in truth and integrity. 97 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:53.439 The scriptures constant consistently highlight the importance of honesty and 98 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:57.240 the rejection of falsehood, both in personal conduct and in 99 00:05:57.279 --> 00:06:02.240 spiritual matters. The Bible explicit condemns deception and falsehood, urgent 100 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:05.920 believers to embrace truth. And Proverbs twelve twenty two, it 101 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:09.240 is written, lying lips are detestable to the Lord, but 102 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:13.079 those who deal faithfully are his delight. This verse underscores 103 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:16.079 God's disdain for deceit and his pleasure in those who 104 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:20.560 practice honesty. The New Testament further reinforces this principle. In 105 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:24.319 Ephesians four twenty five, the apostle Paul instructs, therefore, each 106 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:28.040 of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to 107 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:32.560 his neighbor, for we all are members of one another. 108 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:36.680 This command highlights the communal aspect of truthfulness, emphasizing the 109 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:40.800 deception that deception harms not only the individual, but the 110 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:47.480 entire body of Christ. So the Christian community plays a 111 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:51.279 vital role in supporting individuals and their commitment to truth. 112 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:55.759 James five sixteen advises, therefore, confessor sins to one another 113 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:58.759 and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. 114 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:03.399 This mutual confession in prayer foster and environment of accountability 115 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:07.199 and encouragement, helping believers to resist the temptation of deceit. 116 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:10.720 In summary, renouncing deception is a fundamental aspect of the 117 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:13.839 Christian life, rooted in the character of God and the 118 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:17.759 teachings of the Scripture. It requires a conscious deception to 119 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:22.000 reject falsehood and embrace truth, both personally and within the 120 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:27.319 community of faith. All right, perfect, all right, and let's 121 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:30.079 go ahead. And I had a few more things on 122 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:34.720 the light of the Gospel in tewod Corinthians four, verses 123 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:38.199 three through four. The chapter highlights the spiritual blindness of unbelievers, 124 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:42.639 whose minds are veiled by the God of this age, 125 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.920 preventing them from seeing the light of the Gospel. Okay, 126 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:50.920 so yeah, very interesting stuff there, And I have some 127 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:58.959 more notes on on Psycho Crinthians four, verses one through six. 128 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:01.519 It teaches that ministry of the Gospels should not cause 129 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:06.600 believers to become discouraged despite hardship. The passage emphasizes integrity 130 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:10.639 and transparence, parency and ministry, rejecting deception and instead openly 131 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:14.120 showing the truth of Jesus Christ. It explains that those 132 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:16.920 who don't believe are blinded by the God of this age, 133 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:19.600 but God has shone his light and the hearts of 134 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:21.839 believers to give them knowledge of God's glory in the 135 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:28.160 face of Christ. And what I would say is, okay, 136 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:38.639 held something happened. So some people believe that. Some people 137 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:41.519 believe that verse right there that talks about the God 138 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:44.720 of this age has blinded those who do not believe. 139 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:51.120 Some people believe that that's speaking of God, which I 140 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.720 don't know why they would think that, because it's actually lowercase. 141 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:58.320 Let's see tewod Corinthians. For the pastor that I was 142 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:06.639 listening to seem to four verse four. Let me see 143 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:11.000 the pastor that I was listening to was staying that 144 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:18.600 it's so let's see if there's two different So on 145 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:20.960 tewod Christians four to four, the God of this age 146 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:23.200 is understood to be Satan, who blinds the minds of 147 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.559 unbelievers to the Gospel of Christ. This, oh yeah, so 148 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:28.399 that's what That's what this guy was saying. So what 149 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:32.200 the pastor was saying is it's not an excuse to God, 150 00:09:32.279 --> 00:09:36.000 you know, just because Satan is not literally blinding you. 151 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:39.000 What he's doing is he's tempting you with sin and 152 00:09:39.039 --> 00:09:42.080 you're taking it and you're doing it. So this is 153 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:44.480 kind of the message I kind of wanted to teach on. Sorry, 154 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:47.159 I kind of I got sidetracked because I know somebody 155 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:49.639 came on my show. They believe that was actually not Satan, 156 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:53.960 but this. But I do think this particular verse is 157 00:09:54.039 --> 00:09:58.840 so so he blinds the minds of the Gospel. This 158 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:02.360 phrase indicates the signific against influence over the world's presence 159 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:05.840 system and the people in it. The verse explains that 160 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:07.879 Satan blinds the minds of those who do not believe, 161 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:10.679 preventing them from seeing the light of the Gospel. Now, 162 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:14.720 if you see there's some people that there's some people 163 00:10:14.759 --> 00:10:18.320 that you see that are like I was at one time, 164 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:20.440 and probably a lot of us were. I know, some 165 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:22.919 of you maybe you know, have probably gone to church 166 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:25.080 your whole life. And you know, you wrote wrote you're 167 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:27.759 raised in a Christian home and you never veered away 168 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:31.360 from the Gospel or never veered away from God. But 169 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:36.120 people like me, like I was raised in a somewhat 170 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:39.080 Christian home, you know, I mean, my my parents were Christian, 171 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:41.759 but then they were you know, my dad was uh, 172 00:10:42.279 --> 00:10:44.919 my dad and my mom kind of were involved in 173 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:47.399 you know, smoking weed, stuff like that. And you know, 174 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:50.399 my mom was always good you know, did a great job. 175 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:52.080 But I'm just saying my dad. On my dad's side, 176 00:10:52.120 --> 00:10:55.600 he kind of had some issues, you know, pornography, weed, 177 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:57.519 and then my parents got a divorce. You know, there's 178 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.120 all these different things I would tell you guys about, 179 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:00.679 but I don't really want to get into my testimony. 180 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:02.840 But what I want to say is I veered off 181 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:05.919 from the age of fourteen all the way to probably 182 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:09.440 like twenty six, twenty seven. So I was being blinded 183 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:12.600 by Satan as well. I was thinking that all I 184 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:14.240 got to do is just say, you know, Father, God 185 00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:15.639 of the name of Jesus, forgive me for all my 186 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:17.879 sins and the past, feature and present, and I'm good. 187 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:20.279 The next day I can continue to sin. And then 188 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:23.320 right before I go to bed, just you know, case 189 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.519 I die, Lord, please forgive me for all that sins 190 00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:28.080 I committed the past feature of the president boom, wake 191 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:30.120 up again, keep sending the rest of the day. So 192 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:32.639 I had just a whole totally was blinded to what 193 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:35.240 the actual gospel message was. Okay, that's just an example 194 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:38.159 of that. So it's not like I can use that 195 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:40.679 as an excuse. Like God, the reason why I'm sinning 196 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:42.720 is because Satan is blinding me, and he's like, Okay, 197 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:44.960 no problem, you're good. That's not the way it works. 198 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:49.000 I think that that Paul's just saying that. It says, 199 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.039 but even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled 200 00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:54.759 for those who are perishing, because the wages of sin 201 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:56.799 is death. So we are perishing when we're sitting right 202 00:11:57.039 --> 00:12:01.320 Whose whose minds the God of this age has blinded? 203 00:12:01.720 --> 00:12:04.120 Who do not believe lest the light of the Gospel, 204 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:06.360 the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, 205 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:09.399 should shine on them. So what happens I was that 206 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:13.000 that type of person. What happened is God he kind 207 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:16.200 of started slowly peeling back the onion and finally got 208 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.240 to me and then you know, pulling me out of 209 00:12:18.240 --> 00:12:20.720 the sin I was in, you know. And when I 210 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.240 went to Calbriy Chapel, I was assisted by my wife. 211 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:25.879 My wife you know, had me, you know, kept telling me, 212 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:27.720 you know, get up there to go to the altar. 213 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.080 They're doing an altar call, and she keeps like nudging me, 214 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:33.120 and I'm all like, I'm not going to go. That's embarrassing, 215 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:35.919 and all this other stuff, you know, basically fighting spiritual 216 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:38.399 battle in my mind at the time, right, And then uh, 217 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:41.720 finally I went and you know, kind of just you know, 218 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:44.879 kneeled down and just felt like a way it was 219 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:47.080 lifted off of me, you know. And and I'm not 220 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:50.000 saved by that, okay, but that's basically just giving God 221 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:56.000 an opportunity to know, like, hey, I'm ready to uh submit, 222 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.720 you know what I mean. So that's what I felt 223 00:12:57.759 --> 00:13:01.000 that was, and so he started working on me, you know, 224 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:02.679 And and that's what it That's what it for me, 225 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:05.039 that's what it took. Other people different, But I was 226 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:08.279 blinded by by Satan, right, he was blinding me from 227 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:11.480 the Gospel because I was getting blinded by the sins 228 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:13.240 I was doing. And the more you sin, the more 229 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:15.759 you separate from God. So that's how that Satan is 230 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:18.120 blinding you. He's having you sin, you're being you're not 231 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:22.360 you're not being obedient to God. That's how you're getting blinded. 232 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:25.200 So that's what's happening. And that's what happened to me. 233 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.039 And I'm sure there's a lot of you out there 234 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:30.720 that maybe did go away from God for a while 235 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:33.279 and not then came back, and that's that's I feel 236 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:35.240 like I was blinded. Now some of you, like I said, 237 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:38.279 have been following the Lord the whole time and never 238 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:40.519 really had any issues with sin and didn't. You're not 239 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.960 not saying that you don't sin at all, but you 240 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:44.159 probably didn't have any major sins that were kind of 241 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:47.919 weighing you down like I had. So yeah, so that 242 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:50.159 would be an example of that. Just you know, I 243 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:53.960 don't mean to get sidetracked there, but yeah, sorry, I 244 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:58.000 kind of got caught up there. But when I read 245 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.639 that verse, I was like, yeah, someone was trying to 246 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:02.840 say that as God. But either I mistake that part 247 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:06.879 or whatever. But I remember the pastor I was studying 248 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:09.799 did talk about that that portion, and I was thinking 249 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:12.279 about myself, you know, like, wow, I've been blinded before. 250 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:14.759 So anyways, hopefully you guys kind of got the message 251 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:18.679 I was trying to teach there. And then let's go 252 00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:25.960 back to Okay that some of the key themes that 253 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.600 we could take from Second Corinthians two or four verses 254 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:31.759 one through six don't lose heart. Believers should not become 255 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:34.720 discouraged because their ministry is a gift from God and 256 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:39.919 they have the hope of future glory even through suffering. Yeah, 257 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:42.759 and James even talks about that going through trials and 258 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:46.120 tribulations is going to create patients and and you know, 259 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:49.840 and it's it's gonna you know, even going through suffering 260 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:52.759 creates like a you know, like a diamond, Like is 261 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:55.240 you crush a diamond or you press on a diamond. 262 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:57.519 That's how when you press, press, press, it takes a 263 00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.679 lot of pressure to create a diamond. And that's kind 264 00:14:59.679 --> 00:15:03.480 of how it with your salvation. Sometimes in your walk 265 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.799 with God, you know, sometimes you go through suffering and 266 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:08.080 pain and then you get closer to God. You know, 267 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:12.799 it doesn't bring you further away from Him. Right. So also, 268 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:15.799 instead of using deceit or shameful methods, ministers of the 269 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:19.200 Gospel should plainly set forth their truth to commend themselves 270 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:27.600 to everyone's conscience. And yeah, so it also says here 271 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:30.080 that the reasons some people don't accept the Gospel is 272 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:33.120 not because of the message itself, but because Satan, the 273 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:36.120 God of this age, has blinded their minds. And you 274 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:38.759 can tell, like I mean, I do. I you know, 275 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:42.960 I've debated atheists and I've debated people that don't believe 276 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:46.240 in God, and you could tell that they are they 277 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:50.600 are very heardhearted and stubborn about God. Right, So they're 278 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:56.360 Satan is completely blinding them about any gospel message or 279 00:15:56.440 --> 00:15:58.480 anything biblical. When you read to them, it sounds like 280 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.679 I'm going blah blah blah blah blah, or it's like 281 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:03.559 it's annoying them. And when you talk about God, it's 282 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.720 annoying them, and they think, Oh, they're trying to think 283 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:10.879 of all these different ways to counter argument about God 284 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:13.639 and things that he did in the Bible that they pick, like, 285 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:17.919 you know, twenty five verses out of sixty six thousand verses, 286 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:22.120 and like this is slavery. This right here, God killed 287 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:24.120 these people in the flood. God did this. He killed 288 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:26.559 all the wind menament of children of this tribe. He 289 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.480 did this. And you know, it's as you could tell 290 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:31.720 that they're not they're not understanding the context of any 291 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:35.320 of that. Plus they're not accepting anything that the Bible says. 292 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:37.919 All they're looking for is negative things that they feel 293 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:40.519 like they could bring up the people to convince them 294 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:43.279 not to believe the Bible. Right, So, I see it 295 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:47.120 a lot. And then the christ centered message of this, 296 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:50.039 the focus is not self promotion, but I'm proclaiming Jesus 297 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:52.440 Christ as Lord, and as the ministers of servants of 298 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:58.039 jesus sake. So yeah, all right, So and we went 299 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:01.000 ahead and read verses one through six. So now let's 300 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:07.279 go to verse seven through. We'll do seven through fifteen, 301 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:11.599 and then we'll stop. Cast Down but unconquered, is what 302 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:17.400 the title says. Two Christians, Chapter four, verse seven. But 303 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:25.319 we have the treasure and earthen vessels, that the excellence 304 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:28.599 of the power may be of God and not of us. 305 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:35.400 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. 306 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:40.759 We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, 307 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:45.119 struck down but not destroyed. Always caring about in the 308 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:48.480 body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life 309 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:52.480 of Jesus also may be manifested in our body, for 310 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:56.920 we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus's sake, 311 00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:59.319 that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our 312 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:02.799 mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but 313 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:11.319 life in you. Okay, And we'll stop there really quick. 314 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:16.759 So treasures and jars of clay. Paul uses the metaphor 315 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:19.160 of treasures and jars of clay to illustrate that the 316 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:22.319 surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. And 317 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:26.160 second Corinthians four, verse seven, and I think that earthern 318 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:30.640 vessels is the jars and clay that's used. In a 319 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:33.920 different version it says jars of clay, but here it 320 00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:37.759 says eurthern vessels. So I'm sure. Let's see, all right, 321 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:45.119 let me check something real quick. Second Corinthians for verse 322 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:49.920 seven and the let's see the NIV. Let's see what 323 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:55.720 it says. Yeah. So in the NIV it says, but 324 00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:57.960 we have the treasure in jars of clay to show 325 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:01.000 that this surpassing power of God and not from us. 326 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:06.960 So yeah, so it says jars of clay and other verses, 327 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:11.839 but it says earthern vessels in the New King James. Okay, 328 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:15.960 So I just want to let you guys know that 329 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:18.720 that's why it says that here in my notes. So 330 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:21.400 it says, Paul uses the metaphor of treasure in jars 331 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:24.200 of clay to illustrate that surpassing power belongs to God 332 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:27.400 and not to us. This speaks of the fragilty of 333 00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:33.680 human vessels and the divine power within. Yeah. So, and 334 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:36.640 we were made from what in the Book of Genesis 335 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:41.319 were made from dust. And if you you know, if 336 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:44.400 you broke our compounds down in a scientific fashion, a 337 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:49.240 scientific way we have, we basically are would break down 338 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:51.160 to dust. And that's what we go to too. So 339 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:59.000 we do have a earthern vessel. So that's why it 340 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:00.960 says that the excellent of the power may be of 341 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.960 God and not of us. That's why it's talking about 342 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:06.960 the power of God and not of us. So and 343 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:10.799 then eight through nine perseverance in trials, despite being hard 344 00:20:10.839 --> 00:20:14.240 pressed on every side, Paul and his companions are not crushed, 345 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:18.599 demonstrating resilience through God's strength. And then I told you 346 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:24.640 guys about perseverance in trials, and it's actually going to 347 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:29.240 be in James one Versus two through four, where it says, considered, 348 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:33.119 consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you're when you 349 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:35.680 encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the 350 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:41.319 testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish 351 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:44.200 its work. That's the end of the verse. Allow perseverance 352 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:46.200 to finish at work, so that you may be mature 353 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.839 and completely not lack and anything. I'm sorry, that's the 354 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:50.960 finish of the verse that's going to be first James h. 355 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:55.559 Two through four. This passage highlights that trials are a 356 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:59.160 means through which God refines and matures as people. And 357 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:01.200 if you were like a pottery, he was like a 358 00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:04.599 potter kind of putting together this pottery, then that's kind 359 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:08.039 of how he's molding you is through trials and tribulations, right, 360 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:10.799 And that's what happens. We go through that, and then 361 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:13.440 we become stronger. You know, what doesn't kill you makes 362 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:17.200 you stronger, is what some people would say. But you 363 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:19.279 know that's it's it's really interesting. And then we have 364 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:22.960 Romans Vibe verses three through five. It says not only that, 365 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:25.680 but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know 366 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:31.519 that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character, hope, and 367 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:34.839 hope does not disappoint us because God's love has been 368 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:38.759 poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who 369 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:43.000 has been given to us. Okay, yes, amen to that. 370 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:46.240 So yeah, I just wanted to go over that because 371 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:49.319 part of that verse is talking about perseverance and trial 372 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:55.799 perseverance or sorry, perseverance in trials. Okay, so right, we 373 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:59.079 have that, and let me just check my other notes 374 00:21:59.079 --> 00:22:01.319 and see if I have anything for four through seven. 375 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:07.480 So Second Corinthians four versus seventh through Actually I'm going 376 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:10.440 to do first. I'm going to do thirteen through fifteen, 377 00:22:10.440 --> 00:22:11.839 and then I'll go back to my notes and kind 378 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:16.039 of go over a few meanings of the passage and thirteen. 379 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:22.559 Second Corinthians four, verse thirteen. And since we have the 380 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:25.799 same spirit of faith according to what is written, I 381 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:29.480 believe that. Therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore 382 00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:32.359 speak knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus 383 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:35.920 will also raise us up with Jesus and will present 384 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:40.519 us present us with you, for all things are for 385 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:43.960 your sakes, and grace having spread through the many, may 386 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.440 cause thanksgiving to a bound to the glory of God. Okay, 387 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:50.359 So I just want to go over that. So let 388 00:22:50.359 --> 00:22:55.400 me just go over so sewod. Corinthians four verses seven 389 00:22:55.440 --> 00:23:00.960 through fifteen explains that the gospel power comes from God, 390 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:05.000 not from the believers, which I talked about earlier. Despite suffering, persecution, 391 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:07.400 and weakness, believers are not crust or destroyed because of 392 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:12.440 the power and endure is from God. This passage encourages 393 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:16.960 perseverance by showing that suffering is purposeful revealing God's power 394 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:20.359 and the life of Jesus in and through believers for 395 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:24.480 the benefit of others. I already talked about the treasure 396 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:29.319 in the Jar's clay Believers affliction and power. Believers are 397 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:33.000 afflicted in every way, but not crust. Their struggles like 398 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:37.240 being perplexed, persecuted, or struck down, don't lead to total 399 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:41.480 despair or destruction because the power of keep going comes 400 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:45.200 from God life and death. The suffering is so that 401 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:47.640