I Am A Contradiction

2 Cor 4:7-11

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed —  10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

 Pressed – Tired.  Exhausted.  Demands.  Expectations. 

Overworked.  Overwhelmed.  Frustrated

Perplexed – Confused

·       Don’t know what’s happening

Storms keep coming

·       Don’t know why it’s happening

                    I’ve gone to every service, paid in every offering

                 What I’m experiencing is not lining up with what I believe

·       Don’t know what to do

God doesn’t let me know what He’s doing

Persecuted – Hurt, Pain in my life

Coming from different places:  People, Job, Past

Rejection, un-appreciated

Cast – Knocked off my feet

          Nobody there to help me up

“Yet, But” – not just a Conjunction

There’s something on the other side…

But introduces something that is a Contrast

          2 statements, only one is true

Church people understand contrasting statements:

The Challenge of Faith

There are times when I’m right between trusting Him & giving up

         I’m right between shouting & breaking down

         I’m right between praising Him & crying

A Conditional Statement – one happens if the other happens

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name.  Ps 142:7

There’s something different in our verse…

8 Hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed;  constrained

Perplexed, but not in despair;  at a loss

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken;  left behind

Cast down, but not destroyed   perish

Paradox: 2 statements that are contradictory,

Both are true, but both cannot be true at the same time

Para: outside

Dokein: thinking

I Am A Contradiction

I am, but I am not

I cannot, but I can do…

How can I be a Paradox?

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

2 Truths rest on 2 Realities

        1 truth is on the “earthen vessels”

        1 truth is on the “treasure” within

What’s most valuable is on the inside

Something within that holds the reins.

Something within that banishes the pain.

Something within that I can't explain.

10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus,

that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

I’m dying, so Jesus can live in me