IN THE HANDS OF THE POTTER
Text: Jeremiah 18:6 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.
(1) THE PRESSURE OF THE HANDS OF GOD
AS THE CLAY IS IN THE HANDS OF THE POTTER, SO ARE YE IN MINE HAND.
A. Through conviction.
Remember what David said in Psalm 32: 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah
B. Through circumstances
The psalmist helps us, in Psalm 31: 15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Has this not been so with all of us.
How wonderfully circumstances have molded our lives
Often circumstances we would have no control
(2) THE PURPOSE IN THEMIND OF GOD
A. LOVELINESS
Again and again the Bible speaks of “ the beauty of holiness”
This is certainly part of the purpose in the mind of God for us.
Psalm 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
B. USEFULNESS
God wants all believers to be useful in his service
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
The words of Christ “ I have chosen you”
Our fruit should be for him.
(3) THE PATIENCE OF THE LOVE OF GOD
MARRED IN THE HANDS OF THE POTTER , SO HE MADE IT OVER AGAIN ANOTHER VESSEL.”
A. Tragedy to be faced in the lives of men.
Something has gone wrong
Was there some fault in the clay?
B. A Constancy to be found in the love of God
What a picture God dealing with us!
His purpose for us is to be filled.
And our purpose is to affect others
But fault and sinful lives keep us from fulfilling
Do we have a bad spot that need to be moved out?
