WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS - by Russ Fochler

What does this mean for us?   We each have God’s radiant life - revealed by Jesus the Messiah living in us, living in our mortal body.   Wow!  What an astounding privilege.

And the challenging part?   We are vulnerable.  Jesus sends us out as sheep among wolves.  ““Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves” (Matthew10:16 NASB) 

The apostle Paul the puts it this way: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”  (2 Cor 4:8-9 NKJV) 

While living on earth as a human, Jesus revealed the Kingdom of God through his actions and words.  In John 15, Jesus calls his disciples - and now us to live from the truth we are deeply connected (abiding) with Him.  Jesus is our source of life.  God’s Kingdom is not a matter dietary rules but rather righteousness, shalom, and joy in the Holy Spirit (see Romans 14:17).  Even while we live from these earthen vessels, God’s love, kindness, wisdom, and power are meant to be our present reality.

In my talk, I shared from Jamie Winship’s teaching about two worldviews: Living Separated (a pervasive false belief) vs. Living Connected.  The separated worldview began when our ancestor (Eve) was tempted by the serpent.  She wanted to be like God and judge for herself what is good and what is evil.  When Adam joined Eve in eating the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they both fell into a delusion of independence and separation from God.  The connected worldview comes as we “eat” and “drink” from Jesus (who is the Tree of Life) and begin to experience living connected with the Trinity again

The Separated Worldview - each of us deciding good and evil for ourselves inevitably results in a perception of Scarcity, and an anxious drive to have certainty, strive for perfection, and a constant focus on self-protection and self promotion (gaining “glory”).

Returning to living in Connection with God (Abba, Jesus, Holy Spirit) releases us to ask and receive what we truly need (having Enough), to accept Mystery with childlike wonder, curiosity, and trusting when we don’t understand,  To accept our Fallibility - embracing sweet freedom to try, make mistakes, learn, grow, and be playful.  And because we live connected with God’s loving heart for us, we are free then to simply love others and give of ourselves to bless them.

Here's a link to a talk by Jamie Winship called The Connection Worldview
And here is a link to Saturday, May 3rd's worship service.

The whole service felt orchestrated - each part connected to the other parts.  Todd leading worship, Susan and Todd flowing together in the transition time, Bill ministering, Brent sharing how even when our own heart judges or condemns us, our Abba doesn’t condemn us.  My talk on 2 Cor 4:7-10 starts at about 1:36:40

With Affection, Russ Fochler

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