INTRODUCTION
SERIES: “The Purpose of the Church” – Part 2
Part 1: Luke 14:25-35 “What Is the Cost of Discipleship”
- All believers are called into Discipleship
- There is a cost for discipleship
- All called but b/c of cost, many are not willing or (prepared) to pay the price
- Saw that One purpose of church is to prepare and encourage in that process
Part 2: Jeremiah – “The Potter, The Clay, The Church”
From 2006 – “The Potter and the Clay” – (adding the church’s purpose)
- Jeremiah a young prophet @ the age of 14
- to deliver message of disaster if people did not repent
- People began to plan his death to the point Jeremiah complains to God
- Jeremiah (sorry for the day he was born) – asked God for help
- People ignored warning & were sentenced to 70 years of captivity
The Characters of our Lesson – “The Potter, The Clay, The Church”
- God as a “Potter” – His Power and Part
- The Believer here as the “Clay” – his part and purpose
- Message directed to “Nation – People – Congregation”
- In OT – one people; Upon Christ – became local church from scattering
- God uses an Illustration – Potter and Clay – to prepare Jeremiah’s sermon
- A sermon to the House of Israel – the OT original Church
- A sermon with an application to the New Testament Church
The Passage - JEREMIAH 18:1-6
1. READ VERSES 1-2:
I found it interesting that Jeremiah must 1st go to the Potter’s House before the Lord would give Him his sermon. (a mental block – be at church or Bible study)
a) God uses the Potter’s House (probably a place he has seen daily) to teach…
b) God uses our circumstances to teach and prepare us for something to come!
c) And not just good but ALL THINGS as we looked last week.
Side Note of Caution
Sometimes because God is able to use all things for our good, we tend to blame God for all things – even bad things of satan – such as disease, sickness, death, etc.(things that God is NOT the cause of)
2. READ VERSES 3-4:
The MESSAGE is shown to Jeremiah. Jeremiah watches as the Potter begins to form the “pot”. Now He is ready! He is at the place and time where God needs Him to be.
3. READ VERSES 5-6
“THEN the word…” (after listening, being available, and obeying)
Jeremiah had to be available for God to “prepare him for what was in store”.
Just as Jeremiah had … so you and I must do the same.
Now, there are many Lessons of Application for us…but today:
3 PARTS:
1. The Role of The Potter – The Artist - GOD
2. The Role of The Clay – The Masterpiece – The BELIEVER
3. The Role of The Church – The TEACHER
I. GOD – THE POTTER
The potter gives full attention working with that helpless, ugly, messy piece of clay. His intent to transform that piece of marred clay into a piece of art – a masterpiece.
From vs 4, we see that the Potter has complete power -- is unlimited.
– can’t stop the potter
– can’t question his right or understanding
– can’t RESIST his will nor altar His plan.
A. GOD IS SOVEREIGN
READ VERSE 6a AGAIN
Just as the potter worked the clay into a fashioned pot, so God can work and fashion you and I into his masterpiece. But GOD DOES THE FORMING!
Sometimes WE need to be reminded that:
GOD doesn’t NEED us for anything but WE need God for EVERYTHING!
B. GOD’S HANDS
Go back to the Potter’s House (vs 4). The Potter is serious in what he is doing. He’s not playing around. His only focus is the masterpiece he is creating. It’s all in the tender touch of his hands!
READ VERSE 6b AGAIN
APPLICATION:
God, the potter, even in our marred condition, still sees a Masterpiece! He tenderly and lovingly works to accomplish His Purpose!
READ EPH. 2:1,4-5 & 2:10
II. THE CLAY
What about the “Clay”. Go back to the potter’s house and look over on top of the shelf. The one with all of those pretty bowls, and pots, and vases, and tools. The finished pieces of clay. What are they worth?
WHAT IS THE VALUE of the pots?
- On its own, the piece of marred clay was worthless – of no value.
- Through the potter’s hands, the clay received its value
The POTTER’S DESIRE is that the CLAY have a PURPOSE & VALUE.
- As the potter worked, its value increased!
- But it’s because of the POTTER and NOT the CLAY.
Isaiah 64:8 “Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
You and I, the pieces of marred clay, are to allow God to continue to work on us as His Masterpiece. – To HAVE THE PURPOSE HE DESIRES.
The question: Do you trust His hands? TRUST IS REQUIRED
ILLUSTRATION: GOD’S HANDS
A 2nd century writer Irenaues writes this regarding God’s Hands: From God’s Hands it is not you who shape God; it is God that shapes you. If then you are the work of God, await the hand of the Artist who does all things in due season.
Offer the Potter your heart, soft and tractable, and keep the form in which the Artist has fashioned you to be. Let your clay be moist (never ignoring the journey), lest you grow hard and lose the imprint of the Potter’s fingers.
III. THE CHURCH IS GOD’S TEACHER
Some were taught in the temple. Some on the streets. Some in the homes. But they were taught the precepts of God by coming together as a family.
God chose the same. WHY? Consider the amount of time you spend …
- in the Word each day.
- in prayer each day.
- listening for God’s voice and Looking for His work
- talking to and encouraging others to bring them to Christ
- even trying to help each other through accountability, encouragement, and help
The list goes ON AND ON! God knew that because of discipline, focus, priority, motive, time, AND ON AND ON that we would NEED HELP BRINGING US TO A FAMILY!
And He chose the CHURCH TO BE HIS MOUTHPIECE!
Over and over, especially in Paul’s letters, we see warnings and admonishing because of temptation, trials, and idolatry, that have caused people of God to get out of focus and off track in the race of faith we are called to run.
READ EPHESIANS 4:11-16
Until we reach Jesus Christ face to face, we – the CHURCH are the tool – the teacher – to help prepare us for that special day! We Need to QUIT PLAYING AROUND!
SUMMARY
I have a Maker; He formed my heart
Before even time began my life was in His hand
He knows my name; He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call
I have a Father; He calls me His own
He’ll never leave me no matter where I go
He knows my name; He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call
Vernon McGee whom you hear me quote often as a Biblical Teacher/Preacher/writer says it this way:
He is the potter; we are the clay. He is the shepherd; we are the sheep. He is the Master; we are the servant.
No matter how educated we are, no matter how much power and influence we may think we possess, no matter how long we have walked w/ Him, no matter how significant we may imagine ourselves to be in His plans.
None of that qualifies us to grasp why He does what He does when He does it and how He chooses to do it.
God’s will is a way beyond our understanding, yet it is a way in which we are called to think and live
