Page 23

17 Pots Of Clay 1 Cor 3v10-17
Bible emphasis not on the age or size of our body, but its purpose.
Bodies meant to be temples of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 3v16-17
We have a responsibility to look after our body. 1 Cor 6v19-20
Knowing Jesus, changes our attitude towards our bodies.
Temple are building dedicated to the service and worship of God.
Our bodies are like tents, temporary places we live in. 2 Cor 5v1
God has great plans for us in eternity. 2 Cor 5v2-7
With this hope in us our lives will be different now. 2 Cor 5v9-10
Our bodies are made from the dust of the ground. Gen 2v7
Sin came in and the fate of all of us was changed. Gen 3v19
Jesus who came to free us from the curse brought on the world.
Our bodies still turn to dust but the future is far greater now.
Our bodies are also described as pots made of clay.
God, the potter, shapes people and nations with his hands.
Adam was literally formed out of dust by God.
Nations and individuals are still on the potter’s wheel.
Jeremiah was told to go to the potter's house. A potter was working
at the wheel but the pot was damaged in his hands; so the potter
formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
God was doing to Israel as the potter had done. Jer 18v6-10
No potter continues shaping `disobedient' clay. So it was with Israel.
If God says a nation will be destroyed and they repent he stops.
The warning comes and people must respond. Isa 29v15-16
Need to trust the potter wants the best for his creations. Isa 45v9
Earth made to be inhabited. Must not striving with our Creator.
We have a personal responsibility while God works. Rom 9:19-21
God shapes the nations and us as a potter shapes clay.
He doesn't discard the clay at the slightest sign of imperfection.
He warns the clay, if the clay responds, he continues to work with it.
Jonah took a clear warning message was to Nineveh.
They repented and God relented and stopped the planned disaster.
The potter warned, and the clay responded.
God does not shape us for his amusement but because he loves us.
Like Nineveh we can respond and repent.
We all die and return to dust but the potter will recreate us making
the faithful immortal, a real hope for the future. 2 Cor 4v16-18
Not the process but the finished work that is important. Rev 21v1-4
Submit to God as the master potter as his loving hands work.

18 All Are Sinners 2 Peter 3 v 3 - 9
We are in what the Bible says are the last days? 2 Tim 2v1-5
God judged the world’s sin before Noah’s Flood came. Gen 6v5
Noah preached righteousness as he built the Ark. All mocked him.
Jesus is coming soon. Gospel will be preached to all people groups.
Cities and even nations are being transformed by the Gospel.
Preach a message of hope but don’t ignore holiness and faith.
The message of the Bible is very clear, if we are willing to receive it.
The need of every person is made clear.
All are sinners. Eccl 7v20, Prov 20v9, Isa 53v6, Rom 3v23, 1 Jn 1v8
Our works cannot save us. Isa 64v6, Jas 2v10, Rom 3v20
Jesus is Good News for all people. Rom 5v8, Rom 3v21–22,
Eph 2v4+5, Tit 3v5
People need to be confronted by a holy God. 1 Cor 14v24-25
The Holy Spirit comes to convict the world of guilt. John 16v8
Telling people God loves them is essential.
Without a call for repentance people think all will go to heaven.
Universalism, taught by some, is not Biblical.
There’s heaven to gain but a hell to be shunned. Jn 3v16-18
Other religions teach there are things to do to achieve or earn our
own salvation. Jesus said I am the WAY.
Others claim their teachings are true or all truth is relative or that
there are no absolute truths. Jesus said I am the TRUTH.
Other religions claim there is a life force within us that needs to be
brought to perfection through self effort. Jesus said I am the LIFE
The focus should be on Jesus; knowing him and seeking by the
power of the Spirit to walk in obedience to him. Heb 9v27+28
Need to be sure where you stand. Is your future heaven or hell?
Do you say your prayers or have fellowship with God?
Are you religious or do we have a relationship with Jesus?
Judgement is coming and we need to be ready. 2 Pet 3v 9-11
To know that by God’s standards we have missed the mark is good
if we then respond by turning to Jesus and find his cleansing.
To know that our best efforts will not get us to heaven is good if we
turn to Jesus and trust in his work on the cross.
Only God can justify us (declare us not guilty) as we trust in Jesus.
The holiness and good works that God accepts to are not produced
through self effort, but flow out of a right relationship with God.
Grace cannot be earned - it is a free gift - we just need to receive it.

19 Living in the Power of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the promise of the Father. Acts 1v4
John the Baptist speaks of the Baptism in the Spirit. Luke 3v16
‘Baptism’ means saturated or immersed.
It is a supernatural power from on high, Luke 24v49
It is a guarantee, the seal of the Spirit. Eph 1v13-14
The Holy Spirit comes for our personal growth.
The Holy Spirit brings understanding. John 16v13-15
As he comes he changes our lives as the fruit of the Holy Spirit
grows in our lives. Gal. 5v22-23
It brings Church growth through effective preaching.
He empowers witnesses giving them boldness to preach. Acts 1v8
He releases works of power in the ministry. Acts 4v29-31
The gift of tongues is an evidence of being filled.
It is God's will for all. l Cor l4v5
They build up the individual believer. l Cor 14v4I
They are an effective way to pray. l Cor l4v15
The Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. Rom 8v26-27
Speaking in tongues is an initial evidence of being baptised in the
Holy Spirit. Acts 2v4, Acts 10v44-46, Acts 19v6
Validity of gift not dependent on being understood. 1 Cor 14v14
Every Christian should receive the Holy Spirit.
The first step is you thirst. John 7v37-39
You then need to ask. Lk 11v9-13
You must believe it is for you. Mk 11v24
God fills in a response to our prayer. 1 Jn 5v14-15
To speak in tongues, you speak, the Spirit gives the words. Acts 2v4
Know that it is the will of God for you to be filled. 1 Cor 14v2
To be Baptised in the Holy Spirit is just the beginning.
We need to continue being filled. Eph 5v18
The conditions to continue need to be applied.
Keep on desiring more. Matt 5v6
Keep giving your life over to the Lord. Rom. 12v1
Keep walking in obedience. 1 Jn 2v3
Deal with sin through confession. 1 Jn 1v9
For constant power meet the conditions keep on asking. Eph 5vl8
Remember it is not by works just keep trusting. Gal 3v2-5
Signs and wonders cannot come by human effort.
The miracles and power will come as we are filled with the Spirit.

20 Where Is Your Treasure Matt 6v19-24
Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. Matt 6v21
Our desires or reactions are not as godly and pure as we want.
The trials of life expose will any pretence of holiness.
Temptation has no power unless our heart has evil in it. Jas 1v14-15
Death means separation from God’s presence.
Only confession and repentance bring back the peace of God.
Even then some compulsion can draw us back into the old habits.
We can deal with the outward acts but the heart has to be changed.
We need to admit we sin because we enjoy sinning.
Yield not just the act of sin to God but the pleasure of sin to.
We need Jesus to come as our healer and deliverer.
We must consider the cost of commitment.
When temptation comes will you stop and bring it to the cross?
Will you continue when God or his people seem far away?
Will you give up when God is not meeting your expectations?
God’s grace demands our allegiance; that he is our first love.
God searches and refines our hearts so we put him first.
Every false way we try to meet our own needs must be laid down.
The cost of commitment and obedience may seem too great but the
truth is yielding control to Jesus is worth it.
If we unsure any repentance is shallow and bad habits will return.
We can weep over our failures but it may not be for our self.
To feel we failed others or God may not be evidence of repentance.
We need to repent for ourselves, and to be set free from sin
because of the death it brings in our lives.
We need to be rooted firmly in Jesus and the church.
Do not resist God’s word or put what you want before God’s word.
Even Christians struggle with sin; living in two camps. Matt 6:24
The first commandment is ‘you shall have no other gods before me’
What do you treasure? Ps 66:18
Do you want the pleasures of the world or Jesus? 1Jn 2v15-17
We will experience God’s resurrection power as we truly die to self.
True repentance is to confess that the real problem is you and that
you cannot resolve it yourself; being vulnerable to God and others.
God wants to meet our needs but he wants us to repent when we
engage in false and destructive ways of meeting our needs.
Real pleasure comes from real intimacy with God.
Whatever the situation Jesus want us to have our undivided loyalty.

21 Real And False Ps 23
Need to know the difference between the real and the counterfeit.
Adam and Eve knew there are consequences to acting on a lie.
The problem is not hearing the lies it is acting on them.
Good results come from acting on the truth. Jn 8v31-32
Holding to Jesus’ teaching means action. Jas 1v22
We cannot blame others if we know what is right but do not do it.
When God speaks you can trust him completely. Hab 2v2-3
Israel was warned they were being led astray. Lam 2:14
Listening and acting on false teaching leads to problems. Jer 23v16
A common lie is everything is alright so do nothing.
God wanted Israel to deal with their rebellion, change their ways
and turn back to him. Without change he could not protect them.
We are warned to be careful about who we listen to. 1 Jn 4v1-3
Need to test what seems to be from God.
1st test is about a doctrinal truth. Jesus Christ came in the flesh.
This is Jesus existed before his coming to earth in human form.
He was a real man then and still has a real resurrection body today.
If a word that denies this truth it is not from God. 1Tim 6v3-5
2nd test: No true word of God would deny who Jesus is or
contradicts the clear teaching of Jesus in the gospels.
3rd Test: There can be a wrong motivation behind any teaching.
Unhealthy interest in controversies, quarrels about words.
Money and power over people are another wrong motivation.
We’re responsible to work out what is and is not truth. Matt 7v15-20
Tell by the fruit, a persons own walk with God and with others.
The problem of false teachers is to be expected. 2 Pet 2v1-3
Common heresy is who Jesus is as with the JW’s and Mormons.
A forth test is concerns the second coming of Jesus.
Nobody will have to tell you about the arrival of Jesus. Mk 13v21-23
While God is performing miracles, Satan is also at work seeking to
confuse us. Reject false signs but don’t ignore true miracles of God.
True signs always point to Jesus not man. 2 Thess 2v9-12
We are saved only by believing the truth so to deny the need to be
saved and of saving faith in Christ alone cannot be of God. Jn 14:6
The Holy Spirit sent to teach what is truth or error. 1 Jn 2v26-27
Don’t reject the supernatural in case it’s not God. 1 Thess 5v19-24
These are days of increased supernatural activity.
Expose the counterfeit but allow God to do what he wants in you.

22 Revelation Explosion Joel 2v23-32
Quoted on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2v17-18
Early church expected and received revelation, signs and wonders.
Expect an increase of dreams and visions all over the world.
All people means Christians and non Christians. Joel 2v28-29
There will be an increase of prophesy, dreams and visions.
Unbelievers will experience this outpouring of revelation.
God’s servants in particular, both men and women, will prophesy.
We are to operate the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 14v1-3
Prophecy is for strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
Saul’s unusual experience of prophesying. 1 Sam 10v5-7; 10v9-11
Others were touched in this way. 1 Sam 19v19-21
Evil plans didn’t stop God’s Spirit coming on them or prophesy.
Saul’s people all ended up under God’s control and all prophesied.
Saul decided to try to take David himself. 1 Sam 19v23-24
Will it be like when this as revelation explosion takes place?
Persecutors will just end up prophesying.
The church needs this kind of revelation experience. Amos 3v7
Holy Spirit Gifts and Ministries still God’s plan. 1 Cor 12:27-31
Still need to be careful and check things out. 1 Jn 4v1
Don’t let it stop moves of God. 1 Cor 14v5; 1 Cor 14v39-40
People need to know God exists is cannot be interested in them.
God’s word is powerful, Heb 4v12-13
God knows right word for everybody. 1 Cor 14v24-25, Job 33v14-16
Applies both in church meeting and on the streets.
Prophesy opens up people to God’s word that can change our lives.
Jesus used prophetic ministry. Jn 4v15-19, Jn 4v28-30, Jn 4v39-42
Paul wanted the Ephesians church to have revelation. Eph 1v16-17
Fear of getting it wrong stops us but the more you prophesy into the
lives of others, the more you will get it right and see a harvest.
Every Christian should expect to use revelation ministry.
Access to heaven not determined by how we use the gifts.
God is more concerned with character than gifts.
Manifest the fruit of the Spirit. Gal 5v22-23 But do not dismiss gifts.
Must believe God speaks to us and give God time to speak.
Jesus our chief example. Jn 12v49-50, Jn 14v10, Jn 17v8, Jn 5v30
Unbelievers and doubters will have more visions and dreams
Prophesy explosion in church to give the interpretations of visions.
God is looking for servants who will prophesy.