2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that

the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God and not from

ourselves. - (WEB)

2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us

in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his

knowledge in every place. - (WEB)

1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving

one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various

forms. - (WEB)

John 7:37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood

and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! 38

He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him

will flow rivers of living water.” - (WEB)

God puts His treasures into jars of clay

1. God chose ordinary jars for His eternal treasure

2. The vessel must never contaminate His treasure

3. Discover the treasure God has entrusted to you

4. Live according to the treasure and not to the jar

5. Let the treasure flow and His grace touch many

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper

than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and

spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts

and intentions of the heart. - (WEB)

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to pay greater attention to the

things that were heard, lest perhaps we drift away. - (WEB)

Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there might be in

any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the

living God; 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is

called “today”, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness

of sin. - (WEB)

Ecclesiastes 10:10 If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the

edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

(WEB)

Restoring the Edge

1. Humanity loses its edge when it drifts from God

2. An edge is not lost suddenly, it is lost by neglect

3. A dull tool doesn’t stop work but slows progress

4. A sharp edge must be utilized for positive benefit

5. God sharpens his sons to be useful for a harvest

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from

above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom

can be no variation nor turning shadow. 18 Of his own

will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should

be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. - (WEB)

Ephesians 5:20 And give thanks for everything to God

the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - (NLT)

Psalms 9:1 I will thank the Lord with all my heart! I will

tell about all your amazing deeds! 2 I will be happy and

rejoice in you! I will sing praises to you, O sovereign

One! - (NET)

Don’t take gifts for granted, know their origin

1. People get used to the harvests & forget to give thanks

2. We need to recognize the good & giving hand of God

3. Ungratefulness is a widespread dilemma of humanity

4. Giving thanks creates loving harmony among people

5. People who give thanks receive additional blessings

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and

perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the

cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the

throne of God. - (NIV84)

Revelation 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the

throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven

seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice,

“Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But

no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the

scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one

was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of

the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to

open the scroll and its seven seals.” - (NIV84)

Only the Lamb can Finish the Work

1. The Scroll: God has a plan that must be completed

2. The Lion: Christ, the lion of Judah has conquered

3. The Lamb: He has conquered through His sacrifice

4. Worthy: The Father entrusts completion to the Son

5. Worship: All creation will acknowledge the Finisher

John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will

but to do the will of him who sent me. - (NIV84)

Hebrews 2:8 ... and put everything under his feet.” In putting

everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him.

Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9 But

we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now

crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that

by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. - (NIV84)

John 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the

work you gave me to do. - (NIV84)

1 Corinthians 15:24 Then the end will come, when he hands over

the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion,

authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his

enemies under his feet. - (NIV84)

Perfect submission leads to perfect authority

1. The Mandate: Christ sent by the Father with purpose

2. The Reign: Christ rules until every enemy is subdued

3. Submit: The Son does only what is the Father’s will

4. Complete: Christ hands all things back to the Father

5. Kingdom Order: Living under the rule of heaven daily

Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to

hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man

welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable:

4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he

not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he

finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes

home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with

me; I have found my lost sheep.’ - (NIV84)

Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and

repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice

and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him

who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame

and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear

what the Spirit says to the churches.” - (NIV84)

TRUE LOVE WILL PURSUE COMMUNION

1. Christ desires communion with the people He made

2. Communion must flow from first love to our Saviour

3. Communion means sitting at the table with our Lord

4. Holy Communion: Our desire to participate in Christ

5. Present communion will lead to eternal communion

Daniel 2:11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the

king except the gods, and they do not live among men.” 12 This made the

king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of

Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men

were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. - (NIV84)

Daniel 2:25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found

a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream

means.” ... 29 “As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to

come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. ...

45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not

by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and

the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in

the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy.” - (NIV84)

The Kingdom that shall never end

1. Statue portrays temporary glory of human kingdoms

2. Everything build without God has a weak foundation

3. Jesus Christ is the Stone cut without human hands

4. Designed before creation, build today, ever enduring

5. The kingdom of Christ will survive the final shaking