Hallelujah. Amen. Have you had a peaceful week? Let's greet the person next to us with bright faces. Have you been well? Let's greet each other. Have you been well? Have you been well?
Every year, there are new words that emerge. These are newly created terms. When I was younger, there were new terms like "반가반가" (bangabangga), but these days, it seems to be on a higher level. There are some new words that are so obscure that it’s hard to understand their meanings even when spoken. Have you heard of the term "난리잡으라" (nallijabeura)? It’s a new term used when chaos breaks out. And do you know "잼민" (jaemmin)? It refers to those who ask AI for every decision they make. When talking with younger generations, even though we are speaking Korean, there are times when I have no idea what they are saying, and I feel the urge to ask what it means, but I refrain from asking because I think they might not want to play with me, so I just smile and pretend to understand.
As time passes and eras change, new terms sometimes get added to our vocabulary. One word that gained attention at the end of the 20th century and into the 21st century is "루키즘" (rookism). This term combines "look" and "ism," which embodies a philosophy or ideology. The meaning of this term is as follows: when you judge everything in the world, what do you have? What are you doing? What have you achieved? It describes an era where everything is evaluated based on what is visible. The world tries to diagnose our failures and successes based on what we possess. How much have you learned? What is your educational background? What kind of house do you live in? How much is your salary? How much do you own? These are the criteria by which our value and everything about us are judged. Consequently, living in such a time makes our lives quite difficult. We are still in a process of preparation, being shaped and molded, yet the world keeps pressuring us to show something immediately.
As a result, wherever we go and whoever we meet, we tend to hide our shortcomings and weaknesses by claiming to have more than others and portraying ourselves as stronger than we really are. In trying to conceal our weaknesses, we sometimes wear a mask and live as if we have what we do not. However, the Bible does not evaluate our worth based on what we possess. The Bible tells us that we are clay pots. A clay pot is made of earth, and it breaks when it falls. When a clay pot and a porcelain pot meet, the clay pot shatters. When wet, it gets covered in dirt, and it is so ordinary that it can be discarded after just one use. This is what the Bible defines us as — weak clay pots. But living in an era of rookism, we feel that we cannot be clay pots. Despite being weak and lacking, we are told that we must appear strong like diamonds and valuable like gold.
Because of this, there are many times when we encounter difficulties in our lives and want to cry but cannot. Even when we want to lean on someone and share our struggles, we hesitate to show our weaknesses for fear of what others might say. When we go to our small group or training meetings, we want to share the pain of our lives, but as soon as it’s prayer time, we snap to attention and say, "I have no problems. My family has no issues, and my children are doing well, and my business is thriving." Sometimes we even say, "Please don’t pray for me; pray for others instead." We live with the thought that we have difficulties, but we must not let anyone find out about them. Even when we want to come out personally to pray at church, attend early morning prayer, Wednesday prayer, or Saturday vision service, we feel that as soon as we come to pray, rumors start. For example, if someone sees you at early morning prayer, they might say, "Did you see Mr. Kim at early morning prayer? I wonder if something is wrong." When attending Wednesday service or Friday prayer, we worry that people will notice we are there because we might be struggling. We think, "Maybe they came because their business is failing." On Sundays, we come to worship, and even if the pastor’s sermon isn’t particularly tear-jerking, we might hear, "Did you see Mrs. Choi? She was crying during prayer." Because of this, we live in a time when we cannot even shed tears. We live in a time where we must hide and conceal ourselves.
When I first went to study in the U.S. with my children when they were three and one years old, it was natural for parents to speak better English than their children. So when I spoke English, my children would say, "Dad, you speak English well. Mom, you speak English well." But once they entered elementary school, by the time they were in 2nd or 3rd grade, the roles reversed, and they began to speak better English than I did. One day, when my son was in 3rd grade and my daughter was in 1st grade, we went to a restaurant we had never been to before. During the ordering process, something went wrong in communication, and I was fumbling and couldn’t speak properly. At that moment, my 3rd-grade son offered to help me. I felt a bit offended at that time, and my pride was hurt, so I told him, "Son, just stay there. I’ll handle it." I then ordered the food and waited for it to arrive. But when the food came, my son said, "Dad, this isn’t what we ordered." I felt hurt again and said, "Just eat what they give us." I realized that I wanted to protect my pride and wanted everything to seem like it was planned.
The Apostle Paul clearly tells us that we are clay pots. No matter how great you think you are, the Bible speaks of our worth by saying that we are clay pots. They are so ordinary and unremarkable, but we need to pay attention to the fact that the Apostle Paul does not focus solely on the fact that we are clay pots. He acknowledges that we are indeed clay pots — fragile, lacking, and trembling in the face of problems — but he also tells us that within these clay pots, we hold the precious treasure of Jesus Christ. We are weak, but the powerful Jesus Christ, our precious Lord, resides within us, and the Apostle Paul focuses on that. While the world focuses on the visible clay pot, the Apostle Paul tells us that even if the world focuses on what is visible, we must concentrate on the power of Jesus Christ who is within us. Amen.
Sometimes, when we focus on what is visible, we meet truly good people. A few years ago, I was exercising with a pastor friend in the U.S., and after showering, we spent some time in the sauna. After sweating, we entered the sauna room, and there were only the two of us. We exchanged various church stories. After about 2 or 3 minutes, two men in their 60s entered. They were quiet and awkward at first, but after about 2 minutes, one of the men asked us, "Are you pastors?" He said we looked like pastors in the sauna. He then asked which church we attended. I told him, and he mentioned which church he attended. As we were leaving, my pastor friend said, "Even if we want to hide, our spirituality cannot be hidden," and we encouraged each other. It was a kind moment. You see, the visible me is not me; because of the Jesus Christ within me, we are precious and blessed. Amen.
However, the world keeps telling us that we must become great people, that we must be golden vessels, and that we must be strong like diamonds. But the Bible clearly tells us, "You are clay pots." Who is within us? The precious Jesus Christ is within us. Therefore, the Apostle Paul says in today’s text, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” Amen. Our power is not in what is visible. Our power is in the invisible Jesus Christ who is within us.
So how can we, as clay pots containing the precious Jesus, live a life empowered by Jesus Christ? The Bible clearly states that we are weak and lacking, and it acknowledges our many mistakes. How can we walk the path of victory in the name of the powerful Jesus Christ? Through today’s text, I want to share two things with you. The first thing we must remember to live by Jesus is that you and I must first acknowledge that we are clay pots. Clay pots can break. In fact, it is natural for them to break. It is strange if a clay pot does not break. A clay pot must break. When someone tells me, "You are always trembling. You are always fearful. You always make mistakes. You are always weak. You are always lacking," I don’t need to feel ashamed or hurt by those words. I must acknowledge it myself. Yes, I am weak and lacking. I tremble in the face of problems and cower when faced with difficulties. I must recognize that I am a breaking clay pot.
In today’s verses 8 and 9, it is written: "We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." The Bible clearly tells us that we are hard-pressed, abandoned, perplexed, and struck down. These things come into our lives regardless of our efforts or abilities. Regardless of our opinions or choices, when we encounter such things, we may crumble, fall, and lose hope. However, the Bible speaks differently to us. It tells us that even when we are hard-pressed, we will not be crushed; even when we are perplexed, we will not despair; even when we are persecuted, we will not be abandoned; and even when we are struck down, we will not be destroyed. The Bible defines us this way, but why do we crumble and fall when we face such things? Why do we experience lives that are contrary to the Bible? The decisive reason is that we try not to break. We try to endure. We attempt to handle everything with our own strength and effort. We say to ourselves, "I can do it. I can do it." Living with that confidence, even when we cannot, makes it difficult for the power of Jesus Christ within us to manifest.
There is a perfume jar. For the fragrance to be revealed, what must happen first? The perfume jar must break. Just as the fragrance can only be released when the jar breaks, we, as clay pots, must break and shatter in the face of problems, events, and situations for the power of Jesus Christ within us to begin to manifest. Amen. For this to happen, we must acknowledge it ourselves. Yes, I am lacking. I am weak. I make many mistakes. I tremble in the face of problems. I am a lacking person. But the powerful Jesus Christ is within me. He is alive and working. When we believe this, the precious power of Jesus Christ within us will manifest. Amen.
The Apostle Paul was someone who preached the gospel until the end and lived for the gospel until the end. However, his path of the gospel was filled with many difficulties. He faced persecution from the Jews and also from Christians. The Jews persecuted him, saying, "You claim to be a true Jew, from the tribe of Benjamin, yet you have betrayed us by believing in Jesus." When he went to Christians, they would say, "You were the one who tried to kill Jesus and destroy the church. What qualifications do you have to come and teach us?" He was imprisoned everywhere he went, beaten, and faced life-threatening storms more than once. Despite these difficulties and crises, he was able to complete the path of the gospel because it was not due to his extensive knowledge, good connections, or Roman citizenship that guaranteed him safety. Rather, he considered all that others desired as rubbish.
So what was the reason that the Apostle Paul was able to live a powerful Christian life until the end? In Romans 8, at the end of chapter 7, he expresses, "I am the worst of sinners. Where is there anyone as hardened as I am? Where is there anyone who cannot be forgiven by the Lord like me? I am the worst of sinners." He acknowledges his own weakness, trembling in the face of problems, and asks, "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" He concludes that only Jesus Christ can save him. Amen. When he recognized that he was the worst of sinners and a wretched person, he looked to the Jesus Christ within him and lived with hope. Amen.
The reason the Apostle Paul could continue without losing heart was that he knew he was weak and believed that Jesus Christ was alive within him. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Apostle Paul confesses, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" Amen. What does it mean that Christ's power rests upon us? It means that when we acknowledge our weaknesses, when we recognize that we are clay pots, and when we realize that without the Lord, we can do nothing, we can boast of our weaknesses. When we boast of our weaknesses, the power of Christ will rest upon us. In contrast, when people boast of their strength, they stumble. The Bible warns us to be careful lest we fall when we think we are standing. When we feel like we can do everything with our own strength and effort, we may encounter a fall. However, those who acknowledge their weaknesses and recognize their shortcomings will never fall. Why? Because they know that without God's grace, they cannot have power.
The world keeps telling us that the strong will succeed. It is true that being strong is good. Yes, being strong is good. It is believed that the path to success opens up for the strong. However, Christians do not live for success. Christians live to bear fruit. Amen. Yes, being strong may lead to success, but being strong does not guarantee that one will bear fruit. However, if we acknowledge our weaknesses, if we confess that we are weak, the Lord will help us bear fruit. Amen. I hope that all members of our church will recognize that we are weak clay pots every day and live by the grace of the precious Jesus Christ. Amen.
Secondly, what must we do to live by Jesus? The first is to acknowledge our weaknesses as clay pots. The second is that we must confess Jesus Christ as Lord every day. To live by Jesus, He must dwell within us, and the first step is to recognize and confess that we are sinners and that Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins and that He rose again, believing that He is the Son of God. When we believe that Jesus is our Savior, He will dwell within us, and the Holy Spirit will guide our lives until the day He returns. Amen. On that day, we will be fully glorified, but until then, those who confess Jesus as Lord will be led as His children.
Today’s text also conveys this message. In verse 10, it says, "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." Amen. For the life and power of Jesus to be revealed in our bodies, the first thing it says is that we must carry the death of Jesus in our bodies. This seems different from what we have learned. After all, the Lord has carried the burdens of our weak flesh, so why must we carry the death of Jesus? To understand this meaning more deeply, we need to look at Galatians 2:20. Let’s read Galatians 2:20 together. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Amen. This means that for Jesus Christ to dwell within us, the first thing we must do is confess Jesus as our Lord. At the moment we confess Jesus as Lord, our sins are crucified with Christ, and at that moment, our self, our desires, our pride, our weaknesses, and everything about us is crucified. Amen.
When we confess Jesus as Lord, everything about us is crucified. Then what happens? The life of living with Christ begins. In Galatians 2:20, there is a tendency to linger on the part about being crucified with Christ. It can feel very sad and heartbreaking, as if the Lord died because of us, leaving us unsure of what to do. However, Galatians 2:20 does not end with death. Being crucified with Christ is a one-time event, but it speaks of living four times afterward. It says, "I have been crucified with Christ; I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." It speaks of living. It speaks of living with Christ. When we confess Jesus as Lord, we begin to live a life led by Jesus. Amen. The Lord becomes the master of our lives.
The Lord has clearly told us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved. Amen. This salvation does not only refer to the salvation of our souls. It encompasses our entire being. It is the work of salvation that rescues us from our thoughts, hearts, pains, sorrows, and everything. Amen.
Isn’t it amazing? From the moment we confess Jesus as Lord, our thoughts change. Our attitude toward life changes. Our mindset when dealing with people changes. Because the Lord is our master, we can endure whatever others say. Before, when I was the master of my life, I would tremble at every problem and want to give up at every event. But from the moment Jesus became my master, no matter what problems I face, I can say, "This is all the Lord's work. If it doesn’t work out, I will be thankful, and if it does, I will rejoice." My heart does not waver because the Lord is the master; my life is not led by me but by the Lord.
There is a significant difference between living as the master of my life and living with Jesus Christ as my master. Let me illustrate this. Imagine I give you a shovel. If you were to dig for 24 hours without using any of your skills or abilities, how much ground could you dig? Those who have served in the military might have an idea of how much they could dig with a shovel. But no matter how hard you try, even if you dig for 24 hours, you might only manage to dig a one-meter square hole. This is because it relies solely on your effort. No matter how much you toil, if you live your life with the control in your hands, that is all you can achieve. However, when we believe that Jesus is the master of our lives, what happens? The Lord’s excavator comes and digs it all in an instant. What you couldn’t achieve in 24 hours, the Lord can accomplish in a moment. This is the work of God, amen. This is the difference between those who have Jesus as their master and those who live as their own masters.
When the Lord is my master, worries and concerns disappear. No matter what problems or events we face, we will find hope and peace. I always try to remember this in my ministry: the master of the ministry is our Lord. It is not me. The master of the church is our Lord. The master of my life is our Lord. Therefore, I only need to watch what the Lord does. I live with this mindset. Therefore, there is nothing that does not bring me joy. There is nothing that does not make me happy. Look at my face; I am always joyful. I am always happy. Why? Because even when I encounter difficulties, I know the Lord will resolve them. When I encounter joyful things, I am even happier because the Lord has given me good things. Those who possess the gospel and have Jesus will naturally have bright faces. If you look at our third service, everyone has bright faces. They cannot help but be bright because Jesus Christ is within us. What is there to be sad about?
When I was about to become the senior pastor, an elder who had been in charge of our church told me, "Pastor Yoon, you must pastor with a bright smile." I once thought, "What does this mean?" but it was a reminder to keep smiling while pastoring. We have no reason to cry; we just need to smile. The Lord will accomplish everything, and if we keep trying to be the master, it becomes difficult. Why do conflicts arise? It is because we want to be the master. Why do conflicts start in marriage? It is a power struggle. I once heard that you should not lose the power on your wedding night. Conflicts arise from these power struggles. Why do parents and children fight? It is a power struggle. Children think, "This time, I will take control." Parents think, "This time, I will put my child in their place." Conflicts arise from these struggles for control. Why do conflicts arise in church ministries and communities? It is because we want to be the master. When masters meet, there will inevitably be conflicts. When servants meet, there will be no conflicts. They just need to follow what the master says. They just need to obey.
Beloved family in Christ, every time we confess Jesus as Lord, I believe that the many complicated matters in our lives will be resolved by the Lord. Amen. May we live by Jesus, and I bless you in the name of the Lord. Amen. Amen.
When I was young, I observed my parents and church elders. No matter what happened, they would always say, "Oh Lord, thank you," even in good times. Even in sad times, they would say, "Oh Lord." Even when my mother burned the rice while cooking, she would say, "Oh God." Everything belongs to the Lord. Since everything belongs to the Lord, there is no reason to worry or be anxious. When I was young, if I had a stomachache, I would say, "Oh, my stomach hurts." But my mother would say, "Oh Lord, oh Lord." Because she entrusted everything to the Lord, she lived with the faith that God would take care of everything. Therefore, her heart was not shaken.
Beloved family in Christ, there is an eternal truth that will never change: Jesus Christ is the sovereign of all creation and the King of kings. Every power will kneel before the name of Jesus. Amen. Every area of our lives — family, work, relationships — will all be subjected to Christ. Amen. In the world we live in, is there any area where the Lord does not reign? Therefore, to live by Jesus, may we confess Jesus as Lord every day. Amen.
Shall we conclude? Beloved family in Christ, we are clay pots. It is natural for us to break. It is natural for us to tremble in the face of problems. At that moment, do not try to endure. Acknowledge your weakness. Yes, I am weak. I am weak. I am lacking. But the precious Jesus Christ who is within me is powerful. Amen. Amen. I bless you to live by holding onto Him. And confess Jesus as Lord every day. Call upon the name of Jesus every day. I believe that the Lord will guide your lives. Amen.
Let us pray. Loving God, thank you for helping us realize that we are clay pots through today’s message. May we acknowledge our weak lives and become those who rely on Jesus. Amen. Since the precious Jesus Christ is within us, we may feel fearful when looking at the world, but may we gain new strength by looking to the Lord. Every time we call upon the name of Jesus, may the Lord come to us and say, "Here I am. Here I am," and may we be led by the powerful hand of the Lord who says, "I will guide you." Amen. We thank you and pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.