Jars of Clay

Pastor Calvin Lee

1 Corinthians 4:1-18

"Lose Heart" was mentioned twice in this passage

Lose Heart means becoming discourage, give up, to stop believing that you can succeed, dispondant, stop believing that you can succeed

What kept Paul steadfast in the ministry and in the lord?
(1) He recognised he has a priceless possession
a. We have a ministry (v1)
What is this ministry?
- ministry of the new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6)
- new covenant is Jesus Christ died on the cross for us
- we have been made alive
- we have experienced this ministry of giving life to others through Jesus Christ is priceless possession

b. We have this treasure (v7)
- we have received the gospel
- this treasure is in you and me
- we are the jars of clay, easily bruised, easily broken, we are weak yet the treasure of God is in us

5 very important points that we need to understand about this jars of clay :
I. that we have received this gospel, this treasure from the Gracious God
II. identify with the source of our strength. Look to the Lord. Learn to draw strength from the holy spirit
III. distinguishing the content from container
IV. remembering the fragility and fraility of clay jars, we are earthern vessels, cracked pots
V. recognizing that clay pots like us can be powerfully used by God

The devil wants to bring discord and division

Dis - Courage
(devil) (God)

(2) A Proper Posture (v13-15) - Paul has a trustful heart, a restful heart and a faithful heart

(3) A Powerful Perspective (v16-18)
- Whenever you see a "therefore" in the bible, ask yourself what it is "there for"?

Everyone see Goliath as so big, how can we kill him? David see Goliath as so big, how can I miss him?

A. Inward Renewal
B. Upward Revelation

Jeremiah 31:25
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint


Tomorrow Never Comes
Time flies as the day goes by.
But what goes around must surely comes back around.
There's always yesterday, today and tomorrow.
But tomorrow never comes.

Our debtors plead for tomorrow.
Our parents hope for tomorrow.
Our dreams rely on tomorrow.
But tomorrow never comes.

Children are the leaders of tomorrow.
A slogan that seem endless.
A day we always await.
But tomorrow never comes.

If today becomes yesterday,
and the future is tomorrow.
Where is the future?
If tomorrow never comes.