Amen.

All right, let's get started.

Second Corinthians chapter four today.

We're going to do something we haven't done in quite some time on a Sunday morning,

and that is we're going to cover an entire chapter.

So yeah, why are you laughing again? Oh ye of little faith. No, it's a relatively

short chapter but I think as you'll see here momentarily it's kind of a chapter that

needs to be studied and taught in its entirety.

And so why don't we, if you're already turned there, if you're able, stand.

You can follow along as I read.

The Apostle Paul, by the Holy Spirit is writing in verse 1 says,

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose

heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not use deception, nor do

we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves

to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. And verse 3, even if our gospel is veiled, it is

veiled to those who are perishing. The God of this age has blinded the minds of

unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the

glory of Christ who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves but

Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake, for God,

who said, let light shine out of darkness, made His light shine in our hearts to give

us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.

But verse 7, we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.

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