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Encounter God Service / November 4, 2011 Jon Boegl We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:7-11) I. God Has Placed a Treasure in You A. The Treasure is the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6) 1. The treasure was both the presence of Jesus in Pauls life, and it was the Word of God that he preached. 2. The treasure that Paul is speaking of is the real, living presence of Jesus Christ at work within every born-again believer. Jesus promises, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. (John 14:23) Paul writes to the Galatians: I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. (Galatians 4:19) Paul also writes about this stunning reality in his letter to the Corinthians: ...do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? (2 Corinthians 13:5) 3. Every sacrifice we make to pursue the increase of this treasure within us testifies to the great worth and value of this treasure. I love hearing the many stories of individuals and families at IHOP-KC who have sacrificed family, homes, jobs and monetary wealth to pursue the increase of Jesus presence through lifestyles of prayer and fasting. B. The Treasure in You is Vibrant 1. I have noticed that people who intentionally and prayerfully position their hearts before the burning revelation of Jesus glory, with a yes in their spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18) are made increasingly brilliant; transformed by an intensifying weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17). While it is more fully manifested in the next age, this treasure is meant to shine ever brighter (Prov. 4:18) in this age within our minds, spirits, emotions, will and loving attitudes toward others. 2. Jesus described John the Baptists life as the burning and shining lamp whose light caused many to rejoice. (John 5:35) This brilliance is more than a side-benefit. This intensifying glory is nothing less than the increase of the glory of Jesus who is in you. It is the heart of our witness to the authenticity of Jesus Christ. C. The Treasure in You is Viral 1. Around the world, God is expanding His Kingdom and filling believers with His life-giving presence in ways that can only be described as viral; meaning, in ways that are very free from the mediation of human agency. We are sober to carry Jesus primary mandate to go and preach the gospel - but we rejoice (Acts 10:40) whenever we find that Jesus is doing so much of the work ahead, and often, completely independent from us. 2. Jesus promises to build His Church. (Matt. 16:18) And it is God who commanded light to shine out of the darkness, who has shone in our hearts. (2 Cor. 4:6) I love stories that display the viral nature of Gods love and transformative activity. Each of us are recipients of His mercy and none may take credit for the gracious movements of His Spirit. 3. In my opinion, the House of Prayer movement has exploded in sovereign, viral ways. My own introduction to the wealth of IHOP came through a series of God-orchestrated events; not through the strategic initiative of man, or my own deductive reasoning.