“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”

2 Corinthians 4:7

A lady once approached her Pastor after service one Sunday and said, “I want you to know that I’m leaving this church!” He asked her why, to which she replied, “Because there is no love in this church!” He asked her, “Do you have love?” She said sharply, “Yes, I do!” He said, “Well why are you leaving? You have everything the church needs!”
The point is that many times we are looking to others when we have a treasure within US that is lying dormant, untapped, and pregnant with possibilities. That treasure gives us the ability to change what we perceive as wrong, establish the kind of fellowship we truly desire, and build a culture of excellency that cannot be mistaken for anything other than the excellency of God!

Releasing the Treasure Within
When Joseph, who had been an imprisoned slave for 13 years released the treasure within, Pharaoh saw the excellency of the power of God when Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams. That was an Old Testament gift that was also given to Daniel. More importantly, though both accounts of Daniel and Joseph show that they were promoted to greatness (Gen. 41:38-45; Dan. 2:48), we need to understand that we have a greater Covenant based on better promises (Heb. 8:6) than they had! And, through the Holy Spirit, we have many more gifts available to us than Joseph or Daniel had! Yet, they were promoted to the highest positions of their day!
We’re talking about excellent power! Power that identifies us with God! Power that elevates a nation and brings us out of chaos and confusion, and establishes righteousness! The Author of the scriptures, the Holy Spirit, is telling us that we have this treasure in our earthen vessel! It is the treasure every born-again believer has in their earthen vessel! This brings limitless possibilities to life in simple vessels such as we are!
So next time you find yourself waiting for God to do something, or for others to fulfill your expectations, you might want to look within – to the treasure God says is in you – and release it!

With Love,
Pastor Tom