LESSONS FROM THE POTTER’S HOUSE
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 52:12
0 ratings
· 47 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Jer.18:1-6
items needed: dirt, water, molding clay, small shovel, a mallet
Intro:
God uses many images to describe His relationship to His people.
He speaks of the shepherd and sheep relationship,
the husband and wife relationship,
a Father and His children, just to name a few.
All of these are wonderful and teach us many valuable lessons about life, ourselves and our Lord.
However, while we like sheep are protected and provided for by the shepherd; and as a wife, we are loved without condition by the husband; and like children we are constantly under the Father’s loving watch care; there is another aspect of our lives that needs to be factored into the equation.
After all, Jesus did not save us from our sins just so we could go to Heaven and avoid Hell. He saved our souls so that we might be actively engaged in His service here on the earth.
Now, if we are to be His servants, we are going to need His power to get the job done. Never let the child of God think that he can do it on his own. John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Therefore, perhaps one of the greatest portraits of God and His people to be found in the entire Bible, related to this matter of service, is this picture of the Potter and the Clay.
In these brief verses, we can see the plan of the Heavenly Potter on display. Let’s take a few minutes tonight and look into these verses together as we consider the subject, Lessons From The Potter’s House.
I. THE POTTER AND HIS MISSION
I. THE POTTER AND HIS MISSION
vs.1-4a
A. The Potter’s Intentions
A. The Potter’s Intentions
- The Potter has a singular purpose.
He plans to take clay and from that clay and produce vessels.
He wants to make vessels that will reap a profit; that will be found useful; and that will bring honor unto him.
(Ill. This is God’s intention as well.
He excels in taking old worthless clay and transforming it by His grace into vessels of honor and glory.
He takes those things that are the worthless and turns them into vessels of honor. (Ill. Israel – Eze. 16:1-19)
Jesus saves the sinner by His grace and then He begins the process of changing that vile sinner into a vessel that will produce a profit for the Kingdom of God,
one that will be useful to Him in His work, and
one that brings honor and glory to His Name.
God is interested in taking the worst He can find and changing it into the best Heaven has to offer.)
B. The Potter’s Ingredients
B. The Potter’s Ingredients
- In order to accomplish this lofty goal, the Potter must work with materials that leave much to be desired.
Ill. The condition of the clay as it is found:
Clay as it is found in the ground is not suitable for use.
Lets just think about this for a second...
Take dirt and show it...
Now is this any good for making pottery? No of course not.
To make pottery clay it is quite the process...
It is dug out of the ground and brought to the vicinity of the pottery and allowed to weather for weeks. The dry material is then dumped into a cement-lined tank or wooden trough and covered with water. When the lumps have softened they are stirred in the water until all have disintegrated and a thin slimy mud or "slip" has been formed. In coast cities-the potteries are all near the sea, as the sea-water is considered better for the "slipping" process.
The slip is drawn off into settling tanks. All stones and lumps remain behind. When the clay has settled, the water is drawn off and the plastic-like material is worked by treading with the feet. The prepared clay is finally packed away and allowed to stand another six months before using, during which time the quality, especially the plasticity, is believed to improve.)
(So the clay, as it is taken from the ground, is worthless.
to be useful It must be transformed into a useable state and this is a process that takes time and energy on the part of the Potter.
This is a perfect portrait of those lost in sin.
We are worthless to God in our natural condition.
However, He is able to see the vessels that we can become.
Therefore, He begins the process that will bring us to a place of usefulness.
He digs us out, washes us clean and dries us up.
This is a clear picture of the process a sinner must go through prior to salvation.
The heart is pricked and the conviction of God begins to work in the heart.
The sinner is led along in little baby steps until he reaches the place where he receives Christ as Savior.
At that point, God begins the molding process.
Do you remember the dirt and filth you were in when The Potter dug you out?
(Ill. It‘s seems pretty evident that the Lord doesn’t have a whole lot to work with when He finds us.
After all, we are all made from the same clay - Rom. 3:23; Rom. 3:10; Gal. 3:22)
C. The Potter’s Instruments
C. The Potter’s Instruments
- The potter uses several instruments to bring the clay to a place where it is usable.
1. A Shovel
1. A Shovel
This is the tool he uses to dig the clay from the earth.
show the shovel
This is a picture of the Spirit of God who comes to where we are in our sin and speaks to us in convicting power and draws us to Jesus,
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Praise the Lord for the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
This may be where some of you are right now.
If the Potter is digging around in your life, He is calling you to come to Him. Please do that today! You will never regret it!
2. A Mallet
2. A Mallet
- After the clay has been cleansed and processed, it is placed on a table and beaten with a wooden mallet.
show the mallet
The Potter does this to remove any air bubbles that might be trapped in the clay.
If he doesn’t the air bubble will form a pocket that will produce a weak spot and cause the vessel to be fragile and unusable.
This is a picture of the trials, calamities and chastisements of life that tend to work together to shape us in the image of the Lord Jesus Christ - 2 Cor. 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
We may not like the pounding of the mallet, but its sole purpose is to make us more usable and pliable in the Potter’s hand.
You see, the Heavenly Potter is in the business of making us look like Jesus – Rom. 8:28-29
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
3. The Wheels
3. The Wheels
- Describe the wheels -
A large bottom wheel, usually made of stone is mounted upon a shaft that sits in a stone socket.
Coming out of this large stone is an upright shaft that extends some 3 feet with another, smaller wheel mounted on top. The Potter, using his feet, spins the large, lower wheel. As he does, the upper wheel is turned.
This is where the clay is placed. As the clay turns, the Potter will place His hands upon it and shape it according to his will.
.
(Again, these wheels are symbolic of the circumstances and situations that life brings our way. Life often times seems like a large circle. It seems that we just get past one trial when here it comes around again.
These things are hard to take and leave us confused and burdened, but we must remember that the Potter controls the speed of the wheels and they only rotate according to His will. Never forget that God is still in control, regardless of what you are facing in life, and that all things are eventually going to work out to your good - Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:17.)
4. His Hands
4. His Hands
- While the clay spins around on the wheels, it is never out of contact with the Potter’s hands.
He is in constant contact, molding, shaping and bringing the clay along through His loving guidance.
If he were to ever remove His hand, the clay would spin right off the wheel and would be lost.
Therefore, he remains there with the clay and brings along until it become what He desires it to be
What a picture of the Heavenly Father.
There are times when God seems remote, removed and millions of miles away from us and from our needs.
However, He has promised us that He will never leave us, nor forsake us and that He will ever be with His children, Heb. 13:5 Matt. 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
The child of God need never fear that the Lord will walk out on us and leave us to spin out of control.
No matter how fast the wheels spin, or what comes our way, we can rest assured that the Lord of glory will never remove His hand from us. He is always in touch with His clay!)
5. The Water
5. The Water
The water that a potter uses is just as important as the mallet that was used to get out the air bubbles.
If the potter did not have water, then while he is molding the clay he is producing heat and heat dries things out.
So the potter will scoop up some water and pour over the clay to sort of refresh the clay so it stays pliable.
Thank God for His Word that is used to refresh us and keep us pliable.
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Dont think that just because life seems to be hitting you on all sides, that God is not in control. Sometimes the Potter has to make indentions in the pottery depending on what He is making. So, child of God keep your head up high, keep your eyes to the skies. The Potter is just making a unique piece out of you.
We are custom ordered my friend.
II. THE POTTER AND HIS MINISTRY (v.3-4)
II. THE POTTER AND HIS MINISTRY (v.3-4)
The Potter has a ministry that no other person can do.
When a potter grabs a ball of clay, he already knows what he is going to make.
When God made us, through His foreknowledge He knew exactly what we were going to be.
So lets look at this ministry....
A. The Perception Of The Potter
A. The Perception Of The Potter
- Because his hand is resting on the vessel, the Potter knows instantly when a problem arises.
He senses the changes in the clay and begins taking whatever steps are necessary to correct the problem.
The same could be said for the Lord.
There are times when we are all just cracked pots.
Yet, because He knows everything about us and because His hand rests on our lives, He is instantly aware when things aren’t as they should be.
At that moment, He takes the necessary steps to get us back in usable condition.
Never think, even for a second, that you are going to hide something from the Lord.
He sees it all, Pro. 15:3; Heb. 4:13 He is aware of every thought, every deed and every motive and will allow none to pass before His gaze unchallenged.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
If God knows when I have a need, it stands to reason that He also knows when I have a sin or some flaw in my attitude that needs correction.
I am kidding myself if I think I am keeping a secret from the Lord.
The best thing I can do is be responsive to His touch and yield to His activity in my life.
The sooner I reach the place He desires me to be, the sooner He can begin to use me for His glory.
B. The Patience Of The Potter
B. The Patience Of The Potter
- Even though the clay is misshapen and deformed, it is still in His hand.
The Potter takes the marred vessel, presses it back into a lump and begins again.
This time, the vessel may turn out well, but it may also be deformed once again.
If so, as long as the clay is moldable and pliable in His hand, the Potter will rework it and reform it until he is able to produce a vessel that satisfies Him.
Again, this is a picture of the work of our heavenly Father in our lives.
There are many times along the way that I can look back to and see myself deformed and misshapen upon the Potter’s wheel.
At those times, He loving pressed upon me with His hands and began the process once again.
Ill. This process is not always pleasant!
There are times when the Lord has to bring His chastisement into our lives.
He does this because He loves us and seeks His best in our lives.
However, it isn’t a pleasant thing when the Lord has to press us down, Rev. 3:19 Heb. 12:6-11)
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
(Ill. When the vessel is marred, the Potter does not throw the clay away and start fresh with a new piece.
There is a reason for this.
He has already invested too much time in salvaging the clay from the soil and in preparing it for use.
He has a vested interest in what happens to the clay.
Therefore, He can afford to be patient and to keep working in the clay until it begins to resemble that image that He desires it to bear.
By the same token, never has the Heavenly Potter thrown His clay away. He is very patient with us His clay. 2Pet.3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
He has paid the ultimate price for His clay.
He died for it to redeem it from sin and from disuse.
Now, He is determined that He will make something special out of it.
Therefore, the Christian need never fear being thrown out by the Potter.
What God saves, God saves to keep forever!
(Ill. Now, I will say this, there are times when the clay becomes no longer pliable to the Potter’s touch. When this happens, the Potter has no choice but to set aside that hardened vessel and chose another lump of clay with which to work. That is not a picture of losing one’s salvation, but it is a picture of being shelved. There are times when the Lord removes His hand of blessing and places us aside and uses another vessel instead. However, we can assure that this never happens to us by always being moldable and yielded to His hand - 1 Cor. 9:27.)
III. THE POTTER AND HIS MESSAGE
III. THE POTTER AND HIS MESSAGE
v.5-6
A. A Message About Control
A. A Message About Control
- According to verse 6, the Potter has absolute control over what becomes of the clay. It is in His hand and He makes of it what He desires.
(Ill. What a message to the people of God!
He is in control of our lives and He makes of us what He wishes.
Some are sturdy vessels that are used over and over again.
Others are very fine and delicate like expensive china.
They are used only on special occasions, but are glorious to behold at any time.
Whatever the usage, it is according to the will of the Potter and those types of choices are totally up to Him.
The clay has no right to question the Potter’s judgment in the matter of what kind of vessel He makes of it
- (Ill. Isa 45:9, “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou?”)
The whole point here is that God decides what He wants you to do and to be. You duty is to submit to His will for your life, Rom. 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
B. A Message About Compliance
B. A Message About Compliance
- As I was saying, the only duty that the clay has to yield to the will of the Potter.
If we want the blessings of the Lord and want to be vessels of honor unto Him, then let us be what He has equipped us to be.
All I am saying is that we are to grow where we are planted and use our gifts for His glory.
If we will place ourselves in His hands and genuinely allow the Lord to work His will in us, then we will be blessed and will be vessels of honor unto the glory of the Lord.
Can you honestly say today;
“I am totally yielded to the will of God for my life.”?
Or, would you have to say,
“There are areas where I am still in control. There are parts of me that I haven’t given to the Potter. There are circumstances that I face that I still try to control and work out.”?
Are you like “putty in the Master’s hands” today?
(Many years ago in the "horse and buggy" days, a man and his wife were driving along a very narrow and dangerous stretch of road. The woman became extremely nervous, and in her fright she grabbed one of the reins. As calmly as possible the husband responded by offering her the other strap, "Oh, no," she cried, "I don't want them both! I could never manage that animal alone!" "Well, then," he said gently, "you must make your choice. It's either you or me. We can't both drive the same horse!" The frightened soul quickly surrendered full control of the carriage to her husband. Everything was once again in good hands, and they journeyed safely onward.)
(Many of us are like the fellow who rode in his car as it was being towed to be repaired. When they arrived at the repair shop, the tow truck driver told him, "I didn't think I was going to make it up that big hill." The man replied, "I didn't either. That's why I kept the brakes on so we wouldn't roll backwards." To live without total dedication to Christ is the same as trying to go forward and to hold back at the same time.)
Conclusion
Conclusion
As you fly around on the wheels of life, are you confident that God’s will is being done in your life as it should?
Can you sense the hands of the Heavenly Potter and He patiently, lovingly molds your life into His image?
If you are a vessel that is refusing to yield in your life, here or there, there is no better time that the present to take care of that need.
Will you come to Jesus today and place yourself afresh and anew into the miracle working hands of the Heavenly Potter?
Will you allow Him to work His will in your life so that you can be a vessel of honor and glory unto the Lord?
If you have never been saved by God’s grace, you need to know that God loves you and that He will save you if you will come to Him through Jesus Christ His Son. He wants to take your life and make it into a thing of beauty for His glory. Will you come to Him?