Lessons From The Potter’s House

Jeremiah 18:1-10 LESSONS FROM THE POTTER’S HOUSE

I. THE POTTER AND HIS MISSION V. 1- 3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

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.

Observe two facts about the Potter’s ability. His ability is creative . The Divine Potter has the ability to make something out of nothing. His ability is reconstructive. There is no vessel so damaged or marred but what it can be redeemed. C. The Activity of God. (vs. 3) and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. Note There Is A :- Person Involved "He", Process Involved "wrought", Plan Involved "a work", Place Involved "on the wheels"

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 always be suddenly known. Ps. 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Isa. 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. The Potter doesn’t make instant vessels. (3) The Process is Important His purposes may not be the same for every individual. II Tim. 2:20 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 honour, and some to dishonour. (4) The Purpose is Important His purposes always support our best interests. Human knowledge has limitations 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.

"horse and buggy" 2 reigns (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 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. II. THE POTTER AND HIS MEANS

The Potter knows the origin of clay. The Potter knows the nature of clay. The Potter knows what is best for the clay. The Potter knows how to handle the clay.

III. THE POTTER AND HIS MINISTRY 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. A. HIS Problem With The Vessel -. 4 the vessel that he made of clay 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 is strewn with the wreckage of lives that began well and ended poorly. For example: 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 - Phm. 1:24; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. Col. 4:14; Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.(from Rome) 2 Tim. 4:10.For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; B. HIS Perception - Because his hand is resting on the vessel, the Potter knows instantly when a problem arises. Pro. 15:3; The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. Heb. 4:13. 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. C. HIS Patience - 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.; 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. 1 Cor. 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Samuel 16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. IV.THE POTTER AND HIS MESSAGE 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?” 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 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 ... "The Potter is Always at Work on the Clay" of the Potter's Will ..."The Potter's Shapes the Clay to an Intended Purpose" of the Potter's Word ."The Potter's Word is Sure and Can be Trusted" Opportunities Missed There was a very cautious man, Who never laughed or played; He never risked, he never tried, He never sang or prayed. And when he one day passed away, His insurance was denied; For since he never really lived, They claimed he never died!