THE POTTER Jeremiah 18:3-6
Isaiah 64:8 But now, 0 LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Clay is earth, dirt, dust mud, etc.
There are many pictures of God in the Bible; we see:
The Pressure of the Hand of God Molding
The Purpose of the Mind of God Making
The Patience of the Love of God Mending
The Providence of the Will of God Maintaining
The Power of the Word of God Ministering
I- THE POTTER SPOTS THE CLAY [he wants to use]
1. He finds us = He seeks the clay. Luke 19:10
When man sinned in Eden, it was God who was seeking man. It was not man seeking God
II. THE POTTER SEPERATES THE CLAY
He frees us = He secures the clay. The Lord reaches down in the pit and lifts us out. Psa. 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
III. HE STIRES IT TOGETHER
The clay has to be kneaded in order to be molded. It has to be mixed together to get a uniform texture. It must yield to the pressure of the potters hand. Every lump must be done away with.
I. His Pressure is necessary Mandatory
2. His Pressure makes us Moldable
IV. HE SIT’S IT ON THE WHEEL
The potter situates the clay in the center of the wheel [In His will. Discipline, educate, instruct.] Rom. 9:19-20 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, 0 man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
V. HE SHAPES IT FROM THE INSIDE OUT
I. He makes it empty of itself. If you just shaped the clay on the outside it would not be a vessel because it would still be full of itself. [Have you ever been full of yourself].
2. He Molds it as he wants it. The Potter never asks the clay what it wants to be.
VI. HE SMOOTHES ITS ROUGHNESS
Col 2:10 "And ye are complete in him. which is the head of all principality and power:"
VII. HE SEARS IT IN THE KILN
I. A clay vessel that does not go through the fire is not a finished product.
2. God always controls the fire when His children are in it
3. Fire brings out the beauty and value.
4. Fire makes Firm and removes impurities.
VIII. HE SPECIFIES ITS USAGE
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay. of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
I. He makes Specific calls on our lives
2. He makes Special calls on our lives
IX- HE SCRIBES HIS NAME UPON IT [ownership]
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."
I. He Claims us as His own
2. He Calls His work good
X. HE SEALS IT IN HIS SERVICE
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.
It is His Servant that He makes
2. It is in His Service that we are called
3. It is His Sovereignty we proclaim [power]
Every vessel is unique having been fashioned by the hands of the master. No two are the same because they represent the mind, character and purpose of God.
We need submit to the Lord's hand that we might be a finished vessel fit for the master's use.
“Thou art the Potter I am the clay mold me and make me after thy will.”_