~Open in prayer~
Icebreaker
• What do you believe your God-given purpose is?
• If you could do anything in your life with no restrictions, what would it be?
• What’s your biggest dream in life?
Message Review
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 NKJV says,
11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”[b] Since we have that same spirit of[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says that we have treasure in earthen vessels, and this means when we become saved the Spirit of God comes and lives inside of people. Adam was made from the dust of the Earth, and we are clay shells. Our bodies are not the real us, it’s just a house…a temple for the Holy Spirit. The real us goes to be in eternity with God and our “shell” goes back to dust which it came from. When we go to Heaven we get a new body, house, and temple. God has put a great thing, the Holy Spirit of God behind a not-so-great thing. Why did God do that? We have this treasure in earthen vessels and until
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all- surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
We learn how to not be repelled by the vessel, you’re never going to learn how to extract the treasure. Some of us get so repelled by the clay that it’s behind, we can never be touched by the raw power of God that’s on the inside of our lives. We may be turned off if someone is different from us or dresses strange, but they may be the main person that can bless us. Don’t get caught up on the looks, get caught up on the anointing that people have. That’s how God works, He hides the great stuff behind the stuff that’s not so great. He’ll make us love the part that isn’t so great so that He can extract the thing that is great! God puts treasure is earthen vessels so that the excellency is found in the power of God and not of man.
Share with the group a time where you almost missed a blessing because you were not focused on the treasure found in someone or something?
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:26 NKJV, not many mighty, not many noble are called. In 1 Samuel 16, Samuel goes into Bethlehem to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king as God had instructed. Jesse brought Abinadab, one of his sons that was tall and looked like a King, but he was not the one. The Lord told Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 God sees the treasure and the purpose in us that others can’t see. If God did not warn Samuel, he would have missed the right king which was David.
1 Samuel 16:9-11 9 Then Jesse had Shammah come to Samuel. “The Lord has not chosen this one either,” Samuel said. 10 So Jesse brought seven more of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these. 11 Are these all the sons you have?”
“There’s still the youngest one,” Jesse answered. “He’s tending the sheep.” Samuel told Jesse, “Send someone to get him. We won’t continue until he gets here.”
12 So Jesse sent for him. He had a healthy complexion, attractive eyes, and a handsome appearance. The Lord said, “Go ahead, anoint him. He is the one.”
What stuck out to you about this story in Bible?
Our treasure is found in earthen vessels…it’s about the internal and not the external. David was recognized by God internally and not externally. God could see what was inside David and what He would be used to do. He was called for an assignment and specific purpose. It didn’t matter if he was young or small. Others saw him as unequipped, but God saw him as great. He was known as one of the greatest Kings and a man after God’s own heart. So, remember today that when you’re on called and on assignment. God looks at the treasure inside you and no man or any other factor can change that. There is greatest in you!
Think to yourself this week, what treasures you have that God has put inside of you.
Prayer Focus and Requests
Ask your members if they have any prayer requests or praise reports. Encourage one another to stir up your faith and pray BIG prayers this week and expect God to blow your mind with His answers.