SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(2 Timothy 2: 20, 21) (20) "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor." (21) " If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."
(Jeremiah 18:1–6) NKJV (1) "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:" (2) “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” (3) "Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel." (4) "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make." (5) "Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" (6) “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord.“ Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!"
(Isaiah 64:8) " But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."
(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."
PREFACE SUMMARY
Dear readers, this is a timely message on the life of the prophet Jeremiah that will help open our eyes to the way God uses the trials and heartbreaks of energy to break our stubborn will and produce Godly character that will prepare us to be leaders in the coming battle with the kingdom of darkness.
Beloved, the prophet Jeremiah lived in a dark time in Israel's history, and he is known as the weeping prophet because of his burden for his people to turn from their wickedness and turn back to the Lord who gracefully delivered them from Egypt's bondage but instead of embracing his message, the people turned on him. They placed him in solitary confinement with sand in the bottom.
Dear readers, did you know there was a time in the prophet's life when he said he would not mention the name of God again but later recanted that statement, saying, "It was like fire shut up in my bones, and I could not stay? (Jeremiah 20:9)
God wanted the prophet Jeremiah to realize that his ways are not like man's ways and he does not see the way man sees; therefore, he instructed his prophet to go down to the potter's house and observe the work that the skilled potter would work in making a vessel upon the wheel.
Beloved, the message these scriptures present for us today helps us understand the pruning process needed to produce Godly character by breaking our self-centered ways, including our fleshly desires, which can only lead to destruction.
Dear readers, in this study, the author will use the hate and unrest in the age we live in that is putting pressure upon church pastors, causing them to resign because it is affecting their ability to lead, for they know they have no one they can trust to help them with their problems but God because other leaders will expose their secrets to make themselves look good.
Beloved, in this study, the author will give the vessel being fashioned on the potter wheel a voice that it might talk back to the potter, complaining about the way it was made and its reluctance to go through the fire that is designed to harden its exterior and cause it to stay together.
Did you know that Judas hanged himself in what they call the potter's field, and did you know that that field was called that because it was a place they used to discard their broken pieces of pottery? And did you know that if pottery has a flaw, no matter how often they moist and put it back on the wheel, they can never remove the spot?
Beloved, did you know that someone once discovered that if they find a specific tick that has been sucking the blood of a lamb, the mixture of that tick's blood, which represents the world, and the lamb's blood, which means the blood shed by our Lord on seven different places on this Earth during the atonement for our sins, will cause the piece of pottery to go back flawless?
Dear readers, Jesus may have never had the kind of entrance into this world like King Solomon, but God wrapped his birth and destiny in creation. Even today, if we were to go to a courthouse to get a deed or some other important document, the critical document would read, " In the year of our Lord A.D."
Dear readers, I want to clarify the abbreviations used in important documents. The acronym 'A.D.' means 'Anno Domini,' a Latin phrase that means 'in the year of the Lord.' This system of counting years is based on the estimated birth of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, the abbreviation 'BC' stands for 'Before Christ,' which is a system of counting years before the estimated birth of Jesus Christ. I hope that this information is helpful to you.
Dear readers, in closing, let me leave a word of encouragement, saying from experience that our heavenly father knows just when to take us out of the fire because his desire is for us to become seasoned warriors that he will use in the coming clash with the kingdom of darkness which is now upon us.
God never promised a life free of troubles but promised that he would never leave us, and we do not have to face the trials alone. The bottom line to this entire message is to remember that to mature in faith and be used by God; we must be willing to endure the fiery trials in the furnace of affliction.
" HE KNOWS MY NAME"
(Jeremiah 18:1–20) (1) "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:" (2) “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.”
(Jeremiah 18:3–6) (3) "Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel." (4) "And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make."
Dear readers, it's interesting that God once instructed the prophet Jeremiah to visit the potter's house and observe the potter at work. The prophet was not told to speak to the potter but to watch him work.
The potter was making a beautiful vessel out of clay, but it turned out to be smaller than what he had in mind. So the potter destroyed it, but because the clay was still moist, he could reshape it.
Can you imagine what the prophet must have thought as he watched the potter put the vessel back on the wheel and use his hands to reshape it?
As we read this story, we should remember that the Lord is our father, and we are the clay, and he is the potter shaping us into what he wants us to be (Isaiah 64:8).
The potter then put the vessel into the fire to harden it and make it durable. But what if we apply this story to our present day, where pastors are resigning and, churches are closing down due to pressure from the world, and people are becoming lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God?
If this newly-created vessel had a voice, it might complain about how it was made and refuse to enter the fire. But the potter would not use a stubborn vessel that did not want to be shaped and hardened.
If the vessel continues to resist the potter's plan, it will eventually become useless and discarded. But if it submits to the potter's will and undergoes the fire, it will become a beautiful and durable vessel.
Remember that just as the potter shapes the clay, God shapes us according to his will. We must be willing to submit to his plan and undergo the trials and disappointments of life, knowing that it is for our ultimate good.
A few days late, the potter comes to check on the vessel and discovers that it is falling apart, and all it has left is a broken shell with a trembling voice.
Beloved, realizing that time was of the essence, the potter asked the vessel if it had changed its mind about going through the fire, and without hesitation, the potter received a different reply. it did not care how it looked, or whether it had a big ministry or little ministry for all it knew was that it had nothing left but a voice which it used to ask the potter to place it back on the wheel.
Beloved Saints, during testing times, a vessel may realize that it is falling apart not only on the outside but also on the inside. At that point, it no longer cares about its appearance or what kind of ministry it is meant for. Instead, it just wants to exist and be a part of the body of Christ.
Picture the potter carefully moistening the clay to assemble the vessel. Notice the kind words the potter speaks to the ship, asking how it wants to be fashioned. The humble vessel would say that it doesn't matter how it looks or what kind of ministry it is for. All it wants is to be in the body of Christ.
The potter delicately places the vessel into the fire, where the hardening process begins. The ship feels the change in its structure and begins to sing. The potter knows that the boat is ready to come out of the fire when it begins to ring like a bell, singing praises to Jesus.
As the vessel goes through persecutions, trials, and hurts, it becomes hardened like glass and matures in its walk with the Lord. It no longer falls for the same temptations it used to, realizing that time is short. The vessel becomes a work of grace, a prized possession bought and purchased by the blood of Jesus.
The potter takes the vessel out of the fire and brushes it off, placing it on the white sacred tablecloth on his father's table. The Father removes the top covering from the vessel and pours the precious blood of his Son into the newly formed container. The Glory of God permeates the room, and we glimpse what the prophet Jeremiah saw when he visited the potter's house.
Beloved, are you ready to go through the fire? Inward pressure tends to wear us down day after day, but God's grace abounds much more than sin. If you feel like the pressure on the outside is trying to get on the inside, remember that God engraves us on the palm of his hand. Christ, our Lord, is in the fire with us to deliver us.
" PRESSED OUT OF OURSELVES INTO CHRIST"
Dear readers, our recent study revealed that if a vessel does not go through the fire, the trials and unforeseen circumstances it may encounter in life will cause it to come apart and end up in the potter's field of discarded broken pieces of pottery.
To better understand these trials, we can look at the life of the Apostle Paul and learn from his experiences. Despite suffering shipwrecks, being thrown in jail, stoned and left for dead, bitten by a poisonous serpent, and beaten severely, Paul was able to say in Romans 8:18 that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy of being compared with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Beloved, how could this man of God make such a statement? It's because after he met the Lord on the Damascus Road, he endured the fire, realizing that he desired to please the one who called him to be a soldier. Before his experience with Christ, he was responsible for the death of Christians, but after that experience, his name was changed from Saul to Paul.
Dear readers, the way to have more power in our spiritual life is to have an increase of pressure, and the only way we can endure the stress is to be willing to come off the potter's wheel and go through the fire. Do you still think you can embrace the trials life throws at you without going through the fire designed to mature you in the things of God?
Dear readers, Paul faced intense pressure during his mission in Ephesus, Asia. Although he did not give any details, he mentioned that trouble erupted in the city, and he had just escaped death. He spoke of being under such intense pressure that he and the men with him despaired even of their own lives. Some scholars believe the pressure could have been caused by sickness or mob violence.
Beloved, standing firm fully grounded in his faith, Paul informed the people with him that they needed to trust God, who could raise the dead. He stated that they were pressed beyond their human strength, and their only hope was God. This is why there are no shortcuts to God.
Dear readers, once we are called into his service, we must be willing to go through the fire. Without the maturity gained through the trials in life, we cannot stay together because the pressures we encounter will press us out of ourselves.
beloved, the bottom line is, we will have gained great courage if we have embraced the fiery trials designed to harden and develop our character. We will know that we were not in the fire without his fantastic love and were ready to come out of it. This is because we have understood the process and have begun to praise his holy name, even amid the hot flames.
Dear readers, the way we handle the trials that come upon us will determine our level of trust in God. If we channel the pressure right, we will allow it to lead us to a place of sincere prayer, bringing us to a place of power. It is in this place that we will find the Living Christ ready to deliver us from the strain and stress, which, if allowed to go unchecked, could cause us physical harm.
Beloved, there is not one person in the whole world worth allowing them the power to control your life. Only God has that right if you have completely turned it over to him. God does not expect you to become someone's trash can. There are some people that you have to love at a distance.
The pressures we endure must be significant enough to press us beyond our human strength and any outside source of hope we may be hanging on to. The pressure needs to be robust and sufficient till we see no hope, and if God does not intervene, we will surely suffer defeat.
As we walk in faith, we must learn to be pliable in the hands of the potter. This requires us to reach the end of our abilities and put our hope in the living God. When we recognize our limitations and surrender to His power, we can see the victory of the cross shining before us.
Have you heard the old gospel song, "When I Looked Up, and He Looked Down?" It reminds us that as we trust God, He reaches down with His nail-scarred hands to lift us and set us in high places. He makes us strong and enables us to do more than we could ever do.
The truth is that God allows us to experience suffering and impossible situations to learn to rely on Him and be equipped to comfort others who are going through similar struggles.
Through these trials, we can grow in our faith and become more like Christ, and when I leave a severe trial, I will have more of God's anointing in my life and ministry. We are anointed to go through the trial beforehand. God has called us for the position before He places us in it. He does not place us in the position and then anoint us.
The devil does not realize that the more he is allowed to test us, the more power we will have with God when His grace brings us out on the other side.
There is no such thing as skipping over the mountain tops without going through a valley. These valley experiences teach us how to develop and strengthen our spiritual muscles for the warfare ahead.
Dear readers, It is okay to miss the mark in target practice, so, what are you waiting for, be ready to flex your muscles and endure hardship as a good soldier so that when life gives you a lemon, you, through your maturity, can use it to make lemonade.
Dear readers, pray that you will be counted worthy to be a faithful soldier of the cross of Jesus Christ, and in closing, I encourage you to allow yourselves to be pressed, and experience a profound transformation as you shift from a limited sense of self to embody the essence of Christ, allowing yourself to be fully immersed in this transformative process and witness the remarkable changes it brings forth within you.
"GROUNDED IN GRACE "
Dear reader, we have learned from a study that if a vessel does not go through the fire, its trials and challenges will cause it to break and end up in the potter's field as discarded broken pieces of pottery. To better understand these trials, we can look at the life of the Apostle Paul, who was able to say that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.
Paul suffered many trials, including shipwrecks, imprisonment, stoning, poisonous bites, and severe beatings. However, he could endure these trials because he met the Lord on the Damascus Road and desired to please Him, who called him a soldier.
Before his experience with Christ, Paul was responsible for the death of Christians. But after that experience, his name was changed from Saul to Paul, and he gained spiritual power by enduring the pressure and going through the fire. To understand this process, we can study (2 Corinthians 1:8-10) in the Word of God.
(2 Corinthians 1:8-10) (8) "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:" (9) "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raised the dead:" (10) "Who delivered us from so great a death, and doeth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us?"
Dear readers, when Paul was in Ephesus (which was in Asia), it seemed as though he had gained nothing from his mission. He faced some trouble in the city and barely escaped death. As he journeyed from there, it seemed like no hope left for him.
Paul didn't provide details about what happened in Ephesus, but he did talk about being under intense pressure, to the point where he and the men despaired even of their lives. While it's unclear what could have caused this pressure, some scholars believe it could have been a sickness or mob violence. Interestingly, the Corinthian people appeared to know what had happened.
Beloved, despite all this, Paul remained faithful and urged the people with him to trust in God. He reminded them that God could raise the dead and that their only hope was in Him. We all face pressures in life, and there are no shortcuts with God. If we are called into His service, we must be willing to go through the fire because, without the maturity we gain through trials, we cannot withstand the pressures of life.
If we embrace the fiery trials designed to harden and develop our character, we will gain great courage and understanding. We will know that we were not in the fire without God's love and that He is with us every step of the way.
Dear readers, how we handle the trials that come our way will determine our level of trust in God. If we channel the pressure right, we can allow it to lead us to a place of sincere prayer, where we can find the Living Christ ready to deliver us from the strain and stress that could cause us physical harm.
Remember, there is not one person in the world worth giving the power to control your life. Only God has that right if you have completely turned it over to Him. God does not expect you to become someone's trash can.
Beloved, there are some people that you have to love at a distance, so, let the pressure you endure be powerful enough to press you beyond your human strength and any outside sources of hope. If God does not intervene, you may suffer defeat. But if you trust in Him, you will find the strength to persevere.
Dear readers, growing in the walk of faith requires us to reach the end of ourselves and place our trust entirely in the living God. This is when we become helpful in the hands of the potter. As we sink and have no hope in human strength, the victory of the cross comes into view.
Beloved, do you recall the old gospel tune, “When I looked up, and He looked down"? When we trust Him, the Living God reaches through the clouds with His nail-scarred hands and lifts us.
God allows us to suffer and be put in a no-win situation so that we can realize our dependence on Him. Through this struggle, we are equipped to comfort others and put more trust in God. When we emerge from a severe trial, we have more of God's anointing in our lives and ministry.
We are anointed to go through trials beforehand. God prepares and anoints us for the position before placing us in it. We will be the ones with new ideas and able to solve problems that will arise because of the one that dwells within us, who knows the end from the beginning.
The devil does not realize that allowing him to test us gives us more power with God when we emerge on the other side. We cannot skip over the mountain tops without going through the valleys. The valley experience is like doing regular exercises that strengthen our muscles.
Beloved, missing the mark in target practice is not a bad thing. Therefore, let us pray that we will be counted worthy to be faithful soldiers of the cross of Jesus Christ. Are you ready to flex your muscles and endure hardness as a good soldier? When life gives you a lemon, will you use your maturity to make lemonade?
Dear readers, I feel led to emphasize again that if you feel like the pressure on the outside is trying to get on the inside, know that God has us engraved on the palm of his hand, and Christ is in the fire with us to deliver us by His grace, for we are grounded in him, and when we realize this reality in its fullness, we do not feel the pressure of the trial. Still, we think of his abiding love, presence, and grace.
By His grace, we are not consumed, and when we are grounded in him, we do not feel the pressure of the trial, for we are too busy being centered on the peace that comes with his indwelling, abiding love.
It is by his Grace that we are not consumed, and it is because we are grounded in him, and beloved, when we realize this reality in its fullness, we do not feel the pressure of the trial , for we are too busy being centered on the peace that comes with his indwelling abiding love.
Beloved, "Grounded in Grace" is not only the phrase used in the title of this chapter, but it serves as a powerful reminder to stay true to our values and beliefs, even in difficult times. It reminds us to stay connected to the qualities that make us better people - forgiveness, kindness, and compassion.
Dear readers, with grace as our foundation, we can approach challenges with strength and resilience, knowing that our beliefs will guide us through life's ups and downs. Let us embrace this phrase, and let it serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration as we navigate our way forward to bigger and better things.
"ANOINTED TO SERVE'"
Dear readers, if we study the anointing, we will discover that all the temple furniture and items used for worship were to be anointed with a special oil made from a recipe given by God to Moses. It's interesting to note that a death sentence was placed on anyone using this oil for any other purpose.
This recipe provides insight into what we need in our lives to do the works of God. It gives us a vivid picture of God's refining process for a person set aside for His divine plan and purpose.
1. Liquid Myrrh - This special ingredient that was used in making this special anointing oil speaks of death because it was used to prepare dead bodies for burial, and with that said, may I ask you if you know that this particular ingredient had to be crushed to bring forth its sweet aroma?
Dear readers, now see and get a clearer picture of why you have had to suffer through many trials and temptations that would drive someone with no knowledge of God to feel like they are losing their mind?
If we are going to be used by God, especially in the day we live in, with violence waiting and lurking around every corner, we must come to an end for ourselves, for there can be no anointing unless we die to ourselves, our plans, our desires, our fantasies, and our way of thinking.
God has his way for those specially set aside and chosen for special ministries to suffer through crushing trials and circumstances that appear when we least expect them.
Beloved, these fiery trials are designed to bring us to the end of ourselves so that we may be able to be like the Apostle Paul, who made the statement they were pressed out of themselves but beloved if we are pushed out of our human abilities then we that know Christ place our trust in him to bring us through.
(2 Corinthians 1:8-10) stating that they were pressed out of themselves, but how many know that if we are pushed out of ourselves, we are forced into Christ, saying that we realized that we should not trust in our strength but in God, which raiseth the dead.
2. Sweet Cinnamon - This special ingredient used in making the anointing oil has a fragrance; its primary purpose is flavoring. Beloved, cinnamon is used in many of our sweets today, but this special anointing oil gives the oil a sweet smell.
Beloved, we desperately need God to use us to touch lost humanity, and for us to be effective in our Christian walk, we must have a sweetness that reflects the new life we have on the inside.
Dear readers, did you know that the river Euphrates, spoken of in God's word as being the place where fallen Angels are bound that could destroy all of humanity, has a Hebrew name meaning sweet tasting, and this beloved reminds me of the fruits of the Holy Spirit which can be found in (Galatians 5:22-25)
3. Calamus - This ingredient used in making the anointing oil gives a beautiful fragrance; for it to expel its exquisite aroma, it must be beaten and beloved; the more it is destroyed, the more it provides a sweet smell which is unlike no other therefore beloved, the next time trouble comes your way making you wonder if God is your friend, rest in his promises knowing that he is the potter, and we are the clay; therefore, Lord, mold, bend, and use us for our kingdom and glory.
God knows what he wants, and he allows things to come our way which are designed to build our character, which will prepare us for an increase in our anointing to take us to another level in his Spirit, for God is more interested in our nature than he is in our abilities.
4. Cassia - This ingredient in the anointing oil can only be found on a high mountain top that is 800 feet above sea level, and this requires some effort for someone to hunt for this particular ingredient, and it sends us a spiritual message that "There are no short cuts with God."
To reach the next level in our walk with God, will only come through a disciplined consecrated prayer life can only come through prayer and entering into his holy presence, which was demonstrated in the life of Jesus in maintaining a close walk with our father as we press into God.
5. Olive Oil - This ingredient is added after all the other ingredients are mixed, which causes the finished product, which is an anointing compound, to be called "Holy Unto The Lord" and beloved saints if we do a study of the holy scriptures we will discover that the oil symbolizes the blessed Holy Spirit.
Dear readers, did you know that God mixes the good and the bad things in our lives with the oil of his Spirit, which, when mixed, produces a sweet anointing that enables us to be used in mighty ways to bring the lost to Christ, heal the sick, and raise the dead? I have witnessed this many times in my walk with God.
The anointing of this calling demands a more significant commitment and intimacy with God. It requires a full-time dedication to Him; without Him, we can do nothing.
This call always leads us to a new way of life, and sometimes this new way of life may require us to drop everything and move to another part of the world, just as the Lord led me to do.
After retiring from forty-three years of driving big rigs throughout the United States and Canada, I dropped everything in March 2022, including new clothes and a new car, to move to the Philippines for the beginning of the end-time revival.
Dear readers, unless there is a breaking in our lives, the wonderful fragrance of Christ will never be seen through us, for our brokenness will allow others to see the new life inside us.
Beloved, our body is a temple of the Lord which makes us his purchased possession for we were bought and paid for with his precious life's blood, therefore beloved, since we are His temple, and His treasure is within us, we become a trophy of His amazing grace.
Dear readers, "Anointed to Serve" is a powerful and inspiring phrase that speaks of our purpose and calling. This phrase reminds us that we are not only chosen, but equipped to make a difference in the world. We have been anointed with the ability to anoint others - to bless, inspire, and empower them to reach their full potential. May we never forget the weight of our calling and the significance of the impact we can make.
MY CONCLUSION
Dear readers, life consists of trials and storms that test our faith. However, we can look to the life of the Apostle Paul, who made it into God's hall of fame and gave us most of the New Testament we have today.
Beloved saints, did you know that Paul endured multiple shipwrecks and was even beaten until the bones in his feet were broken? Yet, he declared that the sufferings of this world are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us.
(Romans 8:18) “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Please remember that every trouble we encounter has a reason and purpose, and we can rest assured that God is always working behind the scenes, fulfilling His promise that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
According to Paul's writings, the Christian race is exemplified as that of not embracing the swift or strong as the winner but all who win this race are those that endure to the end.
beloved, this tells us that to be a winner in this race; we must have a spirit of endurance, not just speed or intensity, but to win in this race, we must have a spirit of endurance.
Did you know that many runners quit just before the finish line? Therefore, we must keep running the race with patience, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
We will face opposition when working for God's kingdom, but we must remember that His grace is sufficient for all our needs, and His power is perfect in our weakness.
(2 Corinthians 12:9) “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
"Beloved, remember you should not give up or turn back under pressure. Instead, like Paul, you should press on toward the prize of God's high calling in Christ Jesus our Lord (Philippians 3:14).
Remember that you cannot achieve what you think is impossible until you attempt what you can do, and please take note that you will not be ready for where God wants to take you until you go through the fire.
Please remember that the anointing is not free and the price for the anointing is high, and you cannot give what you do not have. Remember, there are no shortcuts with God."
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
