Pressure! It Brings Treasure!

1 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed
10 Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (NKJV)

We often complain about how pressed and perplexed we are as believers. We have heard verses 8 and 9 above preached again and again. We know that we are going through these things for a reason, yet we just do not understand quite why.

I want to draw your attention to the verses before and after, 7 and 10. What you have not realized is that you are being pressed and perplexed in every circumstance of your life because there is TREASURE within YOU!

You are going through trials, suffering, and death to the flesh, because Jesus wants to be manifest in YOUR body!

The pressures you are facing in your marriage, with your children, in your workplace, even in social events, it is there as a part of your journey to shape you and bring the treasure out of you.

This fire has come so that your flesh dies and Jesus can live His life through you. Don't you see... it is this very journey that you are walking, hardships included, that will qualify you to stand as the vessel that God intends for you to be.

So take a deep breath and be confident as you go through those fiery trials. God is performing a miraculous work in you. He is bringing out the treasure inside of you so that you can carry out His plan.

With Love and Blessing,

Nathan Berry
Pastor Teacher School Principal
Apostolic Movement International