WEBVTT 00:00:01.229 --> 00:00:03.950 Welcome to Healing Scars with Pastor Burton, 00:00:04.129 --> 00:00:07.269 the official podcast of Cross Christian Fellowship, 00:00:07.290 --> 00:00:10.769 Route 66, in the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico, 00:00:10.990 --> 00:00:14.150 where Burton is the lead pastor. We're glad you're 00:00:14.150 --> 00:00:17.829 here. Hey everybody, welcome back to the Sanctuary. 00:00:17.949 --> 00:00:20.429 It's great to have you with us as always. So, 00:00:20.469 --> 00:00:23.570 last time we met, we were taking a look at the 00:00:23.570 --> 00:00:27.370 first half of 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and discussed 00:00:27.370 --> 00:00:31.219 how we need to make sure That when we teach, 00:00:31.320 --> 00:00:34.079 we're pointing the way to Jesus and not taking 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:37.799 credit for the things he's done. You know, it's 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:40.579 really easy to get caught up in things and say, 00:00:40.619 --> 00:00:44.880 I did this and I did that. There are those who 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:47.899 still elevate themselves to the level of Christ 00:00:47.899 --> 00:00:51.479 by saying, I did things because I live like Christ. 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:55.280 The fact of the matter is, it wasn't you and 00:00:55.280 --> 00:00:58.969 it's not me. We're simply the tools that Jesus 00:00:58.969 --> 00:01:05.310 uses to affect good in the world. Now, this week, 00:01:05.390 --> 00:01:08.290 we're going to pick back up where we left off. 00:01:08.489 --> 00:01:11.689 So let's jump right in and open our Bibles to 00:01:11.689 --> 00:01:15.989 2 Corinthians 4, verse 7. And the word says, 00:01:16.269 --> 00:01:19.730 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, 00:01:19.909 --> 00:01:23.870 that the excellence of the power may be of God 00:01:23.870 --> 00:01:28.359 and not us. You see, here Paul is emphasizing 00:01:28.359 --> 00:01:33.599 that we as frail and fallible humans have been 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:37.719 entrusted with the message of salvation in Jesus 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:43.040 Christ. Really, the most important message that 00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:45.519 could ever be delivered to anyone on this earth, 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:50.719 right? However, we need to remember that the 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:56.840 value isn't in the earthen vessels. Or some translations 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:03.299 put it pots. Some even say jars of clay. These 00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:07.819 earthen vessels, these jars, these are containers. 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:13.759 And they won't last a test of time. We are those 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:18.900 vessels. You and I are the vessels. Plain and 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:24.919 simple. And what is the value here? What's in 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:28.800 the vessels. That is what's of value. The real 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:31.979 value is what is inside. Not the vessel itself. 00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:36.479 And what that is, is the priceless item that's 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:41.500 freely given to everybody in God's word and God's 00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:46.080 power living within us. It is his message of 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:55.870 love, hope, mercy, and grace. God uses us, all 00:02:55.870 --> 00:02:59.430 right? He uses us to spread his word. And at 00:02:59.430 --> 00:03:03.330 some point, we're all going to pass away, right? 00:03:03.509 --> 00:03:08.689 And his word will be carried in other vessels. 00:03:09.569 --> 00:03:12.330 All the more reason why we need to make sure 00:03:12.330 --> 00:03:14.930 that we're inviting people to join us for service 00:03:14.930 --> 00:03:18.210 or Bible study or even just a meal where we can 00:03:18.210 --> 00:03:20.430 make the introduction to Jesus. That's why we 00:03:20.430 --> 00:03:22.750 need to invest in our youth and our kids, right? 00:03:23.689 --> 00:03:26.530 So picking back up before I go on a rabbit trail 00:03:26.530 --> 00:03:35.509 here, 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verses 8 through 00:03:35.509 --> 00:03:43.009 12. Paul writes, We are hard -pressed on every 00:03:43.009 --> 00:03:48.689 side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but 00:03:48.689 --> 00:03:55.439 not in despair. persecuted, but not forsaken, 00:03:55.479 --> 00:04:01.000 struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying 00:04:01.000 --> 00:04:05.099 about in the body of the dying of the Lord Jesus, 00:04:05.300 --> 00:04:09.939 that the life of Jesus also may be manifested 00:04:09.939 --> 00:04:16.699 in our body. For we who live are always delivered 00:04:16.699 --> 00:04:21.149 to death for Jesus' sake. that the life of Jesus 00:04:21.149 --> 00:04:26.470 also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, 00:04:26.470 --> 00:04:33.290 then death is working in us, but life in you. 00:04:34.990 --> 00:04:38.970 There's times that we're going to feel a struggle. 00:04:39.110 --> 00:04:40.949 You know, the struggle's real, right? It's how 00:04:40.949 --> 00:04:43.269 we say it these days. You know, these are those 00:04:43.269 --> 00:04:46.269 moments when we're not sure we can even make 00:04:46.269 --> 00:04:48.370 it any further. You know, you can't take another 00:04:48.370 --> 00:04:53.899 step. And, you know, it's these points, you know, 00:04:53.899 --> 00:04:55.360 we're not sure we could go any further. And I 00:04:55.360 --> 00:04:58.720 want to remind you that even though it may feel 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:01.319 like you're at your wit's end, you know, you 00:05:01.319 --> 00:05:05.959 are never truly at the end of your rope. God 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:09.540 is always present. God's always with us. And 00:05:09.540 --> 00:05:12.959 because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in you, 00:05:13.220 --> 00:05:19.689 you always have hope. Yes, our bodies here on 00:05:19.689 --> 00:05:23.350 earth are subject to aging, pain, sickness, sin, 00:05:23.350 --> 00:05:28.370 and suffering. However, God doesn't leave us. 00:05:28.470 --> 00:05:33.209 He doesn't abandon us. And because Christ has 00:05:33.209 --> 00:05:36.689 already beaten death and gotten the victory over 00:05:36.689 --> 00:05:41.129 it, we have eternal life through Him. He has 00:05:41.129 --> 00:05:45.579 already promised it to us. Let's turn to John 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:52.779 14 now. So John 14, verses 1 through 4. So John 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:56.399 14, 1 through 4, Jesus says, Let not your heart 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:00.699 be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:05.060 in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:10.579 If it were not so, what I have told you, I go 00:06:10.579 --> 00:06:14.050 to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare 00:06:14.050 --> 00:06:17.129 a place for you, I will come again and receive 00:06:17.129 --> 00:06:23.430 you to myself, that where I am there you may 00:06:23.430 --> 00:06:28.709 be also. And where I go you know, and the way 00:06:28.709 --> 00:06:35.250 you know. Jesus promised us, you know, he's promising 00:06:35.250 --> 00:06:38.649 us that we are going to have a place with him 00:06:38.649 --> 00:06:44.160 in the kingdom. So while we'll have to face and 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:47.819 deal with the issues here and now, in the big 00:06:47.819 --> 00:06:50.920 picture, those things are all fleeting. All the 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:56.660 pain, the humiliation, the troubles, these are 00:06:56.660 --> 00:07:01.180 all opportunities for us to let go and let Christ 00:07:01.180 --> 00:07:05.379 work through us and shine His light into the 00:07:05.379 --> 00:07:09.410 world. Remember what I said when we were getting 00:07:09.410 --> 00:07:11.949 started today? It's not us. It's not our accomplishments. 00:07:12.430 --> 00:07:15.709 While, yes, they are blessings in our lives, 00:07:15.889 --> 00:07:19.810 it is still Christ at work in the world. Not 00:07:19.810 --> 00:07:25.709 us. Did a hammer build a house on its own? Did 00:07:25.709 --> 00:07:31.930 grain make bread on its own? Did water create 00:07:31.930 --> 00:07:38.120 life and plants all on its own? No! Each and 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:41.720 every single one of these things are one of several 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:46.660 things that when combined with others in order 00:07:46.660 --> 00:07:50.379 to do the task God intended them for. Right? 00:07:52.360 --> 00:07:54.959 They're all just one of several things that are 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:56.819 combined with other things in order to do the 00:07:56.819 --> 00:08:01.740 task God intended them for. Just like us. These 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:04.699 are blessings and gifts in their own right. Yes, 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:10.180 each and every single one of them. In every case, 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:17.319 though, things come together in God's will. And 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:20.019 any good that you do, any good that I do, is 00:08:20.019 --> 00:08:24.420 the same thing. Blessings and gifts that have 00:08:24.420 --> 00:08:29.839 come together to fulfill God's word. James 1, 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:33.539 verse 17, the word says, Every good gift and 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:36.639 every perfect gift is from above and comes down 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:40.440 from the Father of lights, with whom there is 00:08:40.440 --> 00:08:44.480 no variation or shadow of turning. Let me remind 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:49.840 you, it's not about you. It is about God. In 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:53.120 and of ourselves, we are nothing. Absolutely 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:57.139 nothing. But with God in us, we are something 00:08:57.139 --> 00:09:01.879 and someone. Amazing. And it's all because of 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:05.639 Him. There is no, I did it because I'm in Christ 00:09:05.639 --> 00:09:08.259 and Christ is in me. It's not the force. It's 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:11.399 not the Schwartz. It's not the universe. It is 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:19.779 all God and His glory. Plain and simple. Going 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:22.860 back to our passage in 2 Corinthians, it's written 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:28.200 by Paul. Paul, he's a man of authority, yeah? 00:09:28.570 --> 00:09:34.389 However, Paul is not somebody that anyone would 00:09:34.389 --> 00:09:37.710 have considered a successful man from a worldly 00:09:37.710 --> 00:09:42.230 perspective, even in his time. However, God, 00:09:42.529 --> 00:09:46.649 God worked through him. And because of that work, 00:09:46.830 --> 00:09:50.610 many souls have been reunited with the Father 00:09:50.610 --> 00:09:55.490 in Jesus. And like him, we need to do the work 00:09:55.490 --> 00:10:00.620 God has set. out for us. And we need to look 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:04.220 to Him for strength, especially when we feel 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:06.720 like we're at our weakest, those lowest points. 00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:10.360 You're going to face the fire of all weapons 00:10:10.360 --> 00:10:13.860 that Satan and his minister have working against 00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:16.980 you. And that's just a fact. When you live for 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:19.840 Christ, Satan and his ministers are going to 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:23.710 take aim straight at you. But no matter how heavy 00:10:23.710 --> 00:10:27.710 that barrage is, no matter how tough it is when 00:10:27.710 --> 00:10:31.330 that enemy makes contact, that enemy cannot rob 00:10:31.330 --> 00:10:34.230 you of the victory that has already been won 00:10:34.230 --> 00:10:39.649 by Jesus. They can't. And they cannot destroy 00:10:39.649 --> 00:10:47.350 what God has built in you. Let's turn back to 00:10:47.350 --> 00:10:51.129 our reading now. So 2 Corinthians 4 verses 3 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:55.639 13 through 18, Paul writes. So 2 Corinthians 00:10:55.639 --> 00:10:59.980 4, 13 through 18. And since we have the same 00:10:59.980 --> 00:11:03.100 spirit of faith according to what is written, 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:09.080 I believed and therefore I spoke. We also believe 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:13.399 and therefore speak, knowing that he who raised 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:17.159 up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:37.169 Jesus and will present us. Therefore, we do not 00:11:37.169 --> 00:11:41.009 lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, 00:11:41.029 --> 00:11:44.149 yet the inward man is being renewed day by day 00:11:44.149 --> 00:11:48.330 for our light affliction. which is but for a 00:11:48.330 --> 00:11:54.929 moment, is working for us a far more exceeding 00:11:54.929 --> 00:11:59.269 and eternal weight of glory. While we do not 00:11:59.269 --> 00:12:02.950 look at the things which are seen, but the things 00:12:02.950 --> 00:12:08.409 which are not seen. For the things which are 00:12:08.409 --> 00:12:11.870 seen are temporary, but the things which are 00:12:11.870 --> 00:12:25.190 not are eternal. You see, when things get hard, 00:12:25.350 --> 00:12:29.590 it's easy to lose heart, isn't it? It's really 00:12:29.590 --> 00:12:32.149 easy to just quit and walk away, just give up. 00:12:33.009 --> 00:12:38.029 It's especially hard and hurtful when it comes 00:12:38.029 --> 00:12:43.350 to relationships. So many people end marriages 00:12:43.350 --> 00:12:48.649 or sleep around because things get hard. So they 00:12:48.649 --> 00:12:53.940 quit. We go to work and things don't work out 00:12:53.940 --> 00:12:56.779 the way we planned. Maybe we have an overbearing 00:12:56.779 --> 00:13:00.279 boss. Extra work that's being piled on or work 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:03.539 that's not even in your skill set, that scope 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:06.879 of practice, that area of expertise. Long hours, 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:10.379 picking up that slack of others, but instead 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:15.460 confronting it and speaking up. People quit. 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.120 We need to be confronting it and speaking up. 00:13:18.830 --> 00:13:24.190 These are times when, like Paul, we need to look 00:13:24.190 --> 00:13:26.549 to the Holy Spirit for that inner strength that 00:13:26.549 --> 00:13:30.809 He provides. Instead of giving up, we need to 00:13:30.809 --> 00:13:36.309 learn to lean into our God, to lean into Jesus, 00:13:36.450 --> 00:13:41.470 and renew our commitment to serving Him. Today's 00:13:41.470 --> 00:13:48.720 pains are temporary. God's rewards for dealing 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:56.080 with them, are eternal. Don't allow your temporary 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:58.659 pain weakening you to the point that you forget 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:02.720 to look for Christ and His power and His strength, 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:06.629 which can and will carry you through. In the 00:14:06.629 --> 00:14:09.429 Marine Corps, we have a saying. You've probably 00:14:09.429 --> 00:14:11.129 heard this before because it's plastered in gyms 00:14:11.129 --> 00:14:12.669 all over the place and we wear it on a lot of 00:14:12.669 --> 00:14:15.970 our moto wear, our t -shirts and stuff. It says, 00:14:16.009 --> 00:14:19.809 pain is weakness leaving the body. Jesus is telling 00:14:19.809 --> 00:14:26.889 you, He will carry you through. When we carry 00:14:26.889 --> 00:14:30.669 out what God has for us and proclaim Christ as 00:14:30.669 --> 00:14:34.289 our Lord and Savior, life is going to face struggles. 00:14:35.210 --> 00:14:38.929 Our life is going to face struggles constantly. 00:14:39.210 --> 00:14:42.509 The struggle is real. However, God cares deeply 00:14:42.509 --> 00:14:45.350 about these struggles. And we need to remember 00:14:45.350 --> 00:14:48.789 we can't and we are not supposed to do everything 00:14:48.789 --> 00:14:51.830 on our own. We are supposed to lean into him 00:14:51.830 --> 00:14:56.600 and trust that he is going. to get us through. 00:14:56.899 --> 00:15:00.320 That he's allowing certain things to happen so 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:04.679 that others can see his work. Ephesians 2 verses 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:08.000 8 through 9. So Ephesians 2, 8 through 9, the 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:11.019 word tells us, for by grace you have been saved 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:14.700 through faith and that not of yourselves. It 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:18.919 is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:22.519 should boast. Again, it is about him. It is not 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:28.389 about you. Our suffering also allows us to let 00:15:28.389 --> 00:15:32.950 down our guard so that He can mold our character. 00:15:33.570 --> 00:15:35.570 Let me say it again. Our suffering allows us 00:15:35.570 --> 00:15:38.509 to let down our guard so that He can mold our 00:15:38.509 --> 00:15:41.950 character. God will mold our character. And we 00:15:41.950 --> 00:15:44.509 have to let that guard down so that He can shape 00:15:44.509 --> 00:15:47.429 us into the people that we are meant to be as 00:15:47.429 --> 00:15:51.470 a new creation in Christ. We learn to persevere 00:15:51.470 --> 00:15:55.639 and look beyond. the world in front of us, and 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:59.039 we look to find hope in Jesus. Sometimes our 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:02.419 pain is overwhelming, but it's not for nothing. 00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:06.159 God is there. God loves you, and he will see 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:09.960 you through this, but you need to trust in him 00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:16.500 and his ways. Paul faced pain, distress, trials, 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:21.019 tribulation, but he knew, just as each of us 00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:25.330 knows, that it's not going to last forever. The 00:16:25.330 --> 00:16:28.929 day is going to come that as believers who hold 00:16:28.929 --> 00:16:34.350 true, we will be united with the Father in heaven 00:16:34.350 --> 00:16:37.210 and will reap the eternal rewards He has for 00:16:37.210 --> 00:16:41.129 us. We have to look Beyond this life, though, 00:16:41.169 --> 00:16:44.230 we have to look to the eternal and focus on that. 00:16:44.370 --> 00:16:46.509 We have to keep our eyes on the prize. And the 00:16:46.509 --> 00:16:49.730 prize, let me tell you, is Jesus. Jesus who came, 00:16:49.889 --> 00:16:53.269 took on your sin, paid that price for it on the 00:16:53.269 --> 00:16:57.250 cross, in blood, died, and then rose again and 00:16:57.250 --> 00:17:01.029 is coming back to break you from the bondage 00:17:01.029 --> 00:17:03.830 of sin and prepare a place for you at the table 00:17:03.830 --> 00:17:11.009 as a family. Plain and simple. Paul reminds us 00:17:11.009 --> 00:17:15.190 that the day is coming when we will be united 00:17:15.190 --> 00:17:18.589 in a place without pain, without sin, without 00:17:18.589 --> 00:17:22.049 suffering, without sorrow. The day is drawing 00:17:22.049 --> 00:17:24.569 closer and closer. So I have to ask you, are 00:17:24.569 --> 00:17:27.670 you ready? Are you proclaiming the gospel of 00:17:27.670 --> 00:17:30.849 Jesus to the world? Are you willing to trust 00:17:30.849 --> 00:17:34.930 that Jesus has your back and endure just a little 00:17:34.930 --> 00:17:39.309 more pain to share the light of Christ? with 00:17:39.309 --> 00:17:44.950 the world. Let me tell you, you got this. And 00:17:44.950 --> 00:17:49.450 Jesus will not let you fail in the mission he 00:17:49.450 --> 00:17:53.569 has for you. All right, that's our time for this 00:17:53.569 --> 00:17:58.069 episode. Guys, the live broadcast are going to 00:17:58.069 --> 00:18:00.470 be coming back soon as well. Like I said, we 00:18:00.470 --> 00:18:02.269 have that new soundboard plugged in and ready 00:18:02.269 --> 00:18:05.849 to go. All right, so keep your prayer requests 00:18:05.849 --> 00:18:08.390 coming. Keep your questions coming. You can find 00:18:08.390 --> 00:18:12.470 us on the web and have a contact us via email 00:18:12.470 --> 00:18:16.950 or even on Facebook at thecross66 .org or on 00:18:16.950 --> 00:18:19.089 Facebook, like I said, just look up Cross Christian 00:18:19.089 --> 00:18:21.450 Fellowship Route 66 right here in Albuquerque. 00:18:21.869 --> 00:18:24.769 Remember, you are loved and you are blessed. 00:18:25.269 --> 00:18:53.380 Now go and be the church. Until next time, take 00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:54.940 care and God bless.