SF310 - IF YOU NEED TO, YOU CAN JUST START OVER (Jeremiah 18 1-6)
SF310
IF YOU NEED TO, YOU CAN JUST START OVER
Jeremiah 18:1-6
INTRODUCTION
Our Goal:
(2 Timothy 2:20‑21) In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. {21} If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Our Dilemma:
Every felt like you have blown it with God?
Ever felt like God has given up on you?
Good news God doesn’t give up as easily as we do.
God’s Design:
How God works in our lives...
If we are going to be constantly and effectively used for God we must learn 3 principles from Jeremiah...
Read Jeremiah 18:1-6...
1A. SURRENDER TO THE POTTER - Get on the Wheel (3)
1B. It is the Potter that draws you...
(John 6:44) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him...
You Must Trust The Potter
As Savior
As Lord
You Must Ask The Potter
For forgiveness
To enter your life
You Must Confess The Potter
Publicly
Scripturally - baptism
2A. SUBMIT TO THE POTTER (4)
1B. We Must Realize That We A Ruined Vessel
Married = to decay, ruin
Ruined by our sin
The scars of sin...
Ruined by our self-centeredness
Self-centeredness is a form of idolatry!
(Luke 9:23) Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Ruined by our stubbornness
(Hosea 4:16) The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?
(Leviticus 26:19) I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.
2B. We Can Become A Remade Vessel
When we submit to his hand
This involves change in me
When we submit to his plan
This involves change in methods
“The clay has no say”
3A. STAY WITH THE POTTER - Stay in the Potter’s Hand! (6)
Give the Lord The First Thoughts of Every Day
(Psalms 5:3) In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Give the Lord The First Day of Every Week
This is the beginning of the week!!!!
Notice What The Early Church Did...
They preached and studied the Bible
(Acts 20:7) On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people...
They gave
(1 Corinthians 16:2) On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, ...
They worshiped
(Hebrews 10:25) Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another...
Sunday has become the leisure day - not the Lord’s day
Give the Lord The First Fruit of All Your Income
(Proverbs 3:9‑10) Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; {10} then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Be careful not to give God your leftovers...
Illustration: Birthday cake - who gets the first slice?
The reason you do not have enough left is because you have not learned to honor God.
Give the Lord The First Consideration in Your Decisions
(2 Corinthians 8:5) And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
Give yourself to God first
ASK “What will honor God?”
Give the Lord The First Devotion of Your Heart
(Revelation 2:4) Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
APPLICATION
Let the Potter use you as he sees fit!
Hannah Ruth learning to write...Magic Slate!