The 1^st Sunday After Epiphany

SERMON

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-10

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

In the name of the LORD our God who has miraculously shone into our hearts to give us the knowledge of His glory—dear fellow redeemed:

If time travel were possible and you were given the opportunity to personally visit the site of just one New Testament miracle, which would it be? You only have one chance and only a brief visit so you must choose wisely.

Would you go back to Cana of Galilee to see Jesus’ first miracle—changing water to wine; or would you choose the time when Jesus spat on the ground to make clay, then put it on a man’s eyes and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and when he did so, he could see?

Maybe you would most like to see Jesus cast out a demon so that a man who was both blind and unable to speak would be healed; or would you rather see someone who was lame get up and walk?

Maybe you’d like to be tossed around on the Sea of Galilee so you could be there when Jesus stilled the storm; or instead see one of the resurrections from the dead—the youth at Nain, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, or Jesus Himself?

Or…if you could travel back in time to see a miracle, would you instead choose to sit with Mary and hear Jesus teach; or walk with the two disciples on their way to Emmaus and feel your hearts burn within you as Jesus spoke the Word of God? Or would you like to stand at the foot of the thief’s cross to see him die, but witness his repentance and coming to faith? Or perhaps you’d most like to see Jesus die to understand the significance of your sin and witness the miracle of God’s love that sent His Son to die for you.

You don’t need a time machine. You don’t need to choose just one. You can and have witnessed ALL of these things in the Word of God. All of the examples just mentioned and many more like them are recorded for you to SEE and BELIEVE! All of these examples are ways in which Jesus was revealed to be the Son of God and Savior for all people. This revelation that Jesus is our Savior is what we celebrate in the Epiphany season which we begin today.

We have witnessed the “Christmas Miracle” in Bethlehem, namely, that God sent His Son to be born as our Savior from sin. Today we witness and celebrate an “Epiphany Miracle”— RIGHT HERE! —Right here among us and in each one of us. It is a miracle demonstrated in part simply by the fact that we are here—as Immanuel congregation and as individual believers in that congregation. This morning we consider the MIRACLE ON NORTH SECOND STREET. We’ll see three miraculous truths: I. We can see! II. We can speak! III. We can persevere!

I.

When Paul addressed his second letter to the Corinthians he noted that the letter also came from Timothy. So throughout the letter, Paul’s use of “we” refers to Himself and Timothy. In the section of the letter we’re studying this morning, Paul is describing (and in many ways defending) the Gospel ministry which he and Timothy were conducting. While Paul is writing specifically about their ministry, everything he says is true for any child of God because God has given all of us the “ministry of reconciliation” and has made us all “ambassadors for Christ” (cf: 2 Corinthians 5:18ff; Matthew 28:19, etc.).

The most dramatic and miraculous work of God in the Old Testament is creation itself. With the power of His Word God created a magnificent universe, perfect in every way. That universe still never ceases to amaze and fascinate. It still holds secrets and mysteries that we cannot understand. All of this is true, even though it is far less than God’s original creation because it has been tainted by sin.

Paul puts the miracle of our conversion on the same level as creation. “It is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” [v. 6]

Remember how things were before God created the earth: “…the earth was WITHOUT FORM AND VOID AND DARKNESS WAS ON THE FACE OF THE DEEP…GOD SAID LET THERE BE LIGHT AND THERE WAS LIGHT!” (Genesis 1:2-3). We were equally “deep darkness.” Our hearts were without faith and empty. Just as God’s Word gave light to the earth, so His Word gives light to our hearts and souls, shining into them and giving us faith in Christ, our Redeemer.

Human nature doesn’t like to hear this verse. Human nature wants SOMETHING—it doesn’t have to be much, it wants just a little something to be there from which God created faith. Human nature wants to find something in us, some human quality, that God just enhanced when we were brought to faith. But, there was NOTHING! There was no more in our hearts than there was in the earth when God called it into existence—without form and VOID! No more could we bring ourselves to faith than could that clay form on the ground rise up and become Adam had not God breathed into it the breathe of life.

Scripture consistently describes the darkness and sin into which we are all born, and out of which we cannot save ourselves. Isaiah writes, “…darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people” (Isaiah 60:2). To the Ephesians Paul writes, “[you] were DEAD in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Later in the same letter Paul writes, “…you WERE once DARKNESS…” (Ephesians 5:8)—not just a tendency toward darkness & sin as suggested on a radio broadcast this morning, you WERE DARKNESS! …Nothing but thick darkness…no candle…no light…no hope.

It is the WORD of God with which God shines into our hearts to give us light and life. Peter writes, “We have a prophetic word confirmed which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)

Into our sad, dark, sinful spiritual state God shines the LIGHT of the truth of His Word. God shines light and life into the heart of a dead sinner who hates Him. That Light shining and as a result, our hearts believing is a MIRACLE!!

What we are able to see as a result of this miracle is Jesus as our Savior: “…the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God…” [v.4b]. “…who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” [v.6b]. Paul is here describing much the same thing that John wrote in the opening words of his gospel account, namely, that when we see Jesus we are seeing the very face of God. For Jesus is the Son of God made flesh and come to the earth. John wrote: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth…no one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:14,18). Jesus Himself said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father also; and from now on you have known Him and have seen Him” (John 14:9).

The LIGHT shining into our hearts does more than give us simply a “head knowledge” of Jesus—more than just an historical knowledge that Jesus of Nazareth lived on the earth and preached for awhile and was then crucified. That LIGHT shining into our hearts gives us the firm conviction that when we look at Jesus, when we hear what He says, and when we see what He does, we are seeing God Himself in action!

Having that light shine in our hearts gives us SO much blessing. We are able to see that blessing because of the LIGHT God gives. Again in Ephesians, Paul offers the prayer that “…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may KNOW what is the hope of His calling what are the riches of the glory of His saints…” (Ephesians 1:18). We can SEE and CLING TO the HOPE that is ours through Christ because of the miracle of God’s light shining into our dark hearts making it possible for us to see.

If you have ever SEEN in your heart the faith to say (or sing), “I am trusting thee Lord Jesus…” you’ve witnessed a miracle for “No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). If you’ve ever been able to see joy in the midst of sorrow because you know that God is leading you…you are seeing that because of the miracle of God’s grace. We SEE opportunity to show our faith, to live our lives for Christ—all part of the MIRACLE. Without “the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” shining in our hearts, we’d be on the outside looking in. We would then not experience what its like to know Jesus has our Savior. We’d have no hope. We’d have no vision of what heaven will be.

Think of the most outrageous attack you’ve ever heard on God or His Word…think of the most faith-deprived remark you’ve ever heard…think of something you read or heard and afterwards you thought, “how could any one be so blind to the truth?” THAT’S WHERE YOU WERE and where you’d still be if not for the miracle of God shining into your hearts with the light of the knowledge of His glory.

Paul writes in the text, “Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” [vv.3-4] The glories of the Gospel are hidden from unbelievers because they have been blinded by the Devil. The Devil seeks to blind thoughts and does blind the thoughts of the faithless with the express PURPOSE of keeping the light of salvation from them. The Devil is not neutral toward you. He OPPOSES you! The Devil is out there working with his ONLY GOAL to keep people blind. When people are blinded by the Devil and his temptations it is no wonder that they cannot “see” or understand the things of God. They make statements that we can’t fathom, because they have not the LIGHT shining in their hearts.

It is a miracle that we have been equipped by God to stand against the Devil and his temptations. No longer are we blinded by the Devils work. Now we renounce “the hidden things of shame” [v.2] We were dead in sin, we live now in faith…The Devil is working against us, but he can’t touch us…We renounce the sinful deeds that our flesh so loves—THIS IS ALL A GREAT MIRACLE!

We have an ongoing need for this miracle to continue daily in our sinful hearts so we pray with the psalmist, ““For You will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness” (Psalm 18:28).

The hymn writer sums up this miracle very well, “I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I SEE!” (Amazing Grace).

II.

It is also a miracle that we have been called to speak this wonderful news of salvation. “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy…”[v.1] Just as it is by God’s free grace and mercy that we have our sins forgiven and can “see” Jesus as our Savior; so it is equally out of His mercy that we have His Word to speak. Just as salvation is a miracle so too is our ability to speak God’s Word. Our ministry is serving Jesus—speaking His Word. It is a privilege, a gift of God’s grace.

WHAT do we speak? Paul says, “We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.” [v.5] We DO NOT preach ourselves. This in itself is a miracle, for who do you know that does not (at least to some degree) like to talk about themselves? If you have a captive audience or even perhaps in a position for hundreds of people to hear you, what a great opportunity to preach…YOURSELF! It is human nature to exalt yourself, to “toot your own horn.” It is a miracle that anyone can set that aside and preach the wonders of God. Our flesh would like to parade itself, but no, we speak CHRIST CRUCIFIED! We portray our Savior who came to live and died on the cross to wash away all our sins.

Paul writes, “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” [v.2] We renounce the hidden things of shame in what we speak. We do not speak nor follow those things that are sinful in our ministry Nor do we approach the Gospel ministry in such a way that it is corrupt, self-serving, or damaging to the Word of Truth. Paul defended his ministry as one that did NOT walk in craftiness, that is, walking about in life with a readiness to do anything regardless of what that would mean for the ministry. There were those in Paul’s time (even as there are now) who did conduct themselves in just that way.

In his first letter Paul told the Corinthians that he was ready to do or become anything for the sake of the Gospel. “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews…to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake…” (1 Corinthians 9:19ff). Paul was willing to do ANYTHING for the sake of the Gospel, but NOTHING that would compromise the Gospel.

There are a great many things WE could do. I’m sure that we could do a survey of our community and come up with all sorts of things that people WANT (according to their flesh) in their “religion” and “in their church.” We could add, or subtract, or change something to get “this many new people.” We could add, or subtract, or change something to attract this many youth…this many families. We could, I am sure, think of something that would fill our church until it could hold no more…but it wouldn’t be preaching Christ crucified. “Not falsifying the Word of God, nor handling it deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” [v.2]

We are able to speak the TRUTH—the truth of the Gospel. This is a miracle and a privilege—a miracle and privilege that guides our approach to the work of God’s Kingdom. In a previous chapter of this same letter, Paul wrote: “For we are not, as many, peddling the Word of God (adulterating it for gain), but as of sincerity but as from God we speak in the sight of God in Christ”(2 Corinthians 2:17).

It is a miracle that we have been given this ministry and opportunity to preach the wonderful things of God. The miracle also goes further, for God says that when we do speak He will give us the words to say. Jesus promised His disciples—speaking especially about being put on trial, but it applies at other times as well—“…when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak” (Matthew 10:17).

Everything Paul describes about his ministry is what we desire for OUR ministry. What Paul speaks against is what we seek to shun in every way. It is a MIRACLE that this Christian congregation has held fast and remained faithful and is still here for us to enjoy today. It certainly is not we who have kept this congregation. It wasn’t the generations who have gone before us who have kept it. It hasn’t been the people at all! It is a MIRACLE OF GOD that this congregation has remained steadfast and sure.

Paul preached in such a way that the people’s faith “should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God…” (1 Corinthians 2:5). God highlights this truth by entrusting His Word to us even though we are such weak and helpless sinners. “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” [v.7]

So then, every time we are remaining steadfast in the faith. Every time we have the courage to speak His Word faithfully. Every year that goes by during which this congregation stands and remains a faithful witness to the Word, the excellency is not in us, it is in the power of God—it is a MIRACLE!

III.

When we see the magnificent treasure that we have through God’s Word and the ministry of it, but then also see the frailty that we have in ourselves it would be easy to doubt whether we could persevere in faith. How can we who are just clay and weak, sinful vessels possibly continue faithfully and come out as victors in the end?

The frailty that we have is something every sinner faces. It was a frailty that Paul understood and experienced. He had the thorn in his flesh that gave him trouble. He had his sinful flesh in which he knew nothing good dwelt for the good that he wanted to do he did not; but the evil that he didn’t want to do that he always found himself doing (cf: Romans 7:18-19).

Paul writes of the perseverance that was his and is ours through Christ…

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed;

Things in this world press and press, they squeeze us mightily…but can never crush us.

we are perplexed, but not in despair;

At times we may be very unsure, perplexed, even doubting; but these uncertainties do not lead to despair, they do not lead us to be without hope.

persecuted, but not forsaken;

We may face much because of who we are—God’s children. Nevertheless, there is no persecution in which we will be left alone or forgotten. God Himself gives you this promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

struck down, but not destroyed

We will at times be defeated, but not destroyed. We may lose some battles but with Christ we will never win the war.

Paul continues, “—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” Paul and Timothy gladly bore the “death” of Christ, i.e. the persecution in their bodies, for the greater glory of life with Christ. Flesh may be subject to death and decay, but in the believers through Christ the almighty power of God lives on…therefore they go forward in strength and persevere. The psalmist writes, “The steps of a good man (believer) are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand” (Psalm 37:23-24).

In a sermon on this section of 2 Corinthians, Luther once wrote: “Man is weak, becomes angry quickly…is arrogant, and he is handicapped by other frailties whereby the Devil can shatter the vessel before long…” We are weak vessels and the Devil wants nothing more than to throw us down and totally smash us. It is a wonder that we could persevere with the Devil working against us, the troubles that surround us, and facing persecution because of our faith…but we can and will persevere—another miracle!

Having God work so miraculously in our hearts and lives means that we can go forward and, in Paul’s words, “…we do not lose heart.” [v.1]

I wouldn’t advise that you go around saying, “I’m a living miracle…and my church is a miracle too!” because it would be misunderstood as arrogant. But when properly understood it is true. You see and believe in Jesus your Savior; you have the privilege and ability to SPEAK about your Savior; and clinging to Your Savior you will PERSEVERE through all the temptations and trials of this life.

Impossible? It would seem that way and it WOULD be if not for the miraculous and undeserved love which God has shown us through Christ Jesus.

So you see, there’s no need to day dream of time travel and long for miracle watching—you’ve been watching a miracle in process since the day God brought you to faith in Him.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

—Wayne C. Eichstadt