Jeremiah 18:1-10 LESSONS FROM THE POTTER’S HOUSE 3. I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. The story of the Vase.
The grandmother spots a beautiful vase, in the shop.
The vase says to the grandparents. “Thank you for the compliment, but I wasn’t always beautiful.” “once I was just an ugly soggy lump of clay. But one day a man with dirty wet hands threw me on a wheel. Then he started turning me around and around until I got dizzy I couldn’t see straight. Stop..Stop I cried. But the man said, Not Yet! Then he started to poke me and punch me until I hurt all over, Stop..Stop I cried, but the man said “Not Yet”. Each time I thought he was through, he would crumble and roll me up and began to poke and punch me again.
Finally he did stop. But then he did something much worse, he put me into a furnace. It got hotter and hotter until I couldn’t stand it. Stop..Stop.. I cried. But the man said, “Not Yet”. Finally when I thought I was going to burn up, the man took me out of the furnace. Then some lady began to paint me, and the fumes got so bad that they made me feel sick. “Stop…Stop..” I cried. “Not Yet” said the lady. Finally she did stop, but then she gave me back to the man and he put me back into that awful furnace. This time it was hotter than before. “Stop…Stop” I cried, but the man said “Not Yet”.
Finally he took me out of the furnace and let me cool. When I was completely cool, a lady put me on this shelf, next to this mirror. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I was amazed, I could not believe what I saw. I was no longer ugly, soggy and dirty; I was beautiful, firm and clean. It was then I realized that all the pain was worthwhile. Without it I would still be an ugly, soggy lump of wet clay. The pain had passed, but the beauty has remained. I. HE SAW A PICTURE OF THE DIVINE POTTER. 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. HE SAW :- A. The Authority of God. (vs. 6) As the potter has full authority over the clay, God, the Divine Potter, has full authority over our lives. B. The Ability of God. It is interesting to see what a potter can do with dirt.
His ability to Create . To make something out of nothing. His ability to Recreate. There is no vessel to damaged but can be redeemed. C. The Activity of God. 3 and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. I. He Put His Thoughts On You Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. II. He Put His Eyes on You Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; III. He Will Put His Hands On You
Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
IV. He Will Put His Anointing On You The Painting & Glazing of the vessel to make the vessel attractive
V. Finally He Will Put His Name On You
1. Every good artist puts his name on his work Rev. 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads
2. The quality must go in, before the name goes on.
II. HE SAW A PICTURE OF A DIVINE PURPOSE. and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. We need to remember: (1) The Place is Important "on the wheels" James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (2) The Period is Important His purposes may not be suddenly known. Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. The Potter doesn’t make instant vessels. (3) The Process is Important Behold the potter and the clay, He forms his vessels as he please: Such is our God, and such are we, The subjects of his high decrees. Doth not the workman's power extend O'er all the mass, which part to choose And mold it for a nobler end, And which to leave for viler use? May not the sovereign Lord on high Dispense his favors as he will, Choose some to life, while others die, And yet be just and gracious still? [What if, to make his terror known, He lets his patience long endure, Suff'ring vile rebels to go on, And seal their own destruction sure? What if he means to show his grace, And his electing love employs To mark out some of mortal race, And from them fit for heav'nly joys?] Shall man reply against the Lord, And call his Maker's ways unjust, The thunder of whose dreadful word Can crush a thousand worlds to dust?
But, O my soul! if truths so bright Should dazzle and confound thy sight, Yet still his written will obey, And wait the great decisive day. Then shall he make his justice known, And the whole world before his throne With joy or terror shall confess The glory of his righteousness. (4) The Purpose is Important He purposes always our best interests. Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. :9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.(5) The Plan is Important His purpose is to make vessels that are useful. Eph.2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. III. HE SAW A PICTURE OF DIVINE PERSISTENCE. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. There is Disappointment Here. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand A. HIS Problem With The Vessel -. 4 the vessel was marred (a) How Soon Marred ( in the hand of the potter:) (b) How Suddenly Marred (c) How Severely Marred so he made it again another vessel, The Bible tells of lives that began well and ended poorly. Hymaneaus and Alexander - 1 Tim. 1:19-20; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Demas - 2 Tim. 4:10.For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; B. HIS Perception Of The Vessel - Because his hand is resting on the vessel, the Potter knows instantly when a problem arises. C. HIS Patience With The Vessel - Rev. 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.;
D. HIS Purpose For The Vessel There is Determination Here. vs. 4, so he made it again another vessel There is Direction Here . as seemed good to the potter to make it. Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 2 Cor.5 v 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. E. HIS Pleasure In The Vessel vs. 4, so he made it again another vessel Malachi 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. IV. HE SAW A PICTURE OF DIVINE PLAN. V. 5-6 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. A. A Message About Control - as the clay is in the potter’s hand 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?” Rom. 12:1 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. 2 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 - so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. car as it was being towed to be repaired. "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." C. A Message About Completion Lesson of the Potter's Work ... "It's Constant Always at Work on the Clay" of the Potter's Will ..."It's Consistent Shaping the Clay to a Purpose" of the Potter's Word ."It's Conclusive it's Sure and Can be Trusted" Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
