Did you hear about the young couple that went to the mountains for a romantic winter break?
• When they got there, the man went out to chop some wood. When he got back, he said, "Darling, my hands are freezing!"
• She says, "Well put them in my warm hands and I will warm them up for you.”
• After lunch he went back out to chop some more wood and came back and said, "Honey! My hands are really freezing!"
• She says again, "Well put them here between my warm hands and I will warm them up again."
• After dinner, he went out one more time to chop wood for the night. When he returned, he again said, "Darling, my hands are really, really freezing!"
• She looked at him in somewhat of a disgusted manner and said, "For crying out loud, don't your ears ever get cold?"
You have two hands. A right hand and a left hand, two hands. We use them:
• To work with.
• To greet each other.
• To applaude greatness
• To help each other
• To write with
• To eat with
• To open and close doors
We take our hands for graned but if we did not have them we would come to realize fast how important they are to us.
Even though we recognize how important our hands are we see sometime that some through some misfortune have lost their hands are arms.
Illus: We often see soldiers in serving their country many of them have lost their arms or legs.
Illus: The Shriners hospital in their effort to raise money for children born with a handicap have children on television with their handicaps. As they show this on television I stop what I am doing to see these precious children. Some of these children might have lost…
• One leg
• One arm
• One hand
Eerytime we see these commercial ads it saddens our heart.
But the one that gets my attention the most is a young boy born with no arms and he plays the piano with his toes.
The boy is smiling and it does not seem to bother him that he has no arms. He was born with no arms and it does not seem to bother him because he does not know what it would be like to have arms.
But in the spiritual world there are many in our churches who have no arms.
In the New Testament, we often come across the phrase, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
When we read these words, they seem to be unusual because we all have ears, so why would the Word of God say, “He that hath ears…”?
The New Testament writers knew we all had PHYSICAL EARS, but what they were talking about were SPIRITUAL EARS.
• While everyone has Physical EARS everyone does not have SPIRITUAL EARS.
• While everyone has PHYSICAL HANDS, everyone does not have SPIRITUAL HANDS
That is, they have PHYSICAL HANDS that they do PHYSICAL WORK WITH, BUT SPIRITUALLY THEY HAVE NO HANDS TO DO ANYTHING FOR GOD WITH.
Some if they live to be 150 years of age, they will never do anything for the Lord because they do not have spiritual hands.
Illus: That is, if the Lord call many folks to stand before Him today and ask them as their Creator what did you do for me when you were living on earth.
Some would have a difficult time to think of something they did for the Lord. Because the life they live is all about what they have done for themselves. Some would not be able to come up with one thing they did for the Lord. YES, WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE LIKE THIS!!! Day after day life is all about them!!!
Can you imagine how ashame some folks are going to be when they stand before their Creator and give account of how they live their life for self only.
THINK ABOUT IT!!! That is, they take the hands that God gave them to work for Him and they only used them for themselves.
Our hands play a very important part of our life. Our hands tell a great deal about us.
I want us to look at several kinds of hands. First, we need to consider-
I. WORKING HANDS
You can generally tell working hands because they have:
• Cuts on them
• Scratches on them
• Calluses on them
They are not soft like a baby’s hands that have never done a day of work in their life.
These calluses, scratches on our hands identify us as having working hands.
Illus: Did you hear about the two blondes who both bought horses.
• One of them said "How will we know which is yours and which is mine?"
• The other blonde said, “That will be easy, I will have my horse’s tail cut off and yours will be the one with the tail"
• Some mischievous boys heard this conversation and they cut the other's tail also.
• Next morning the confusion started. One of the blondes said, "Don't worry "I'll tie a bell around my horse’s neck, yours will be the one without the bell."
• The boys heard this also and cut the bell.
• A man who worked there and saw these two blondes with this problem of trying to identify their horses said, “I have an idea to separate them.” He pointed to one of the blondes and said“ The white horse is your horse.” And then he pointed to the other blonde and said, ”And the black horse will be yours."
But the thing that identifies a working man is his hands.
DO YOUR HANDS IDENTIFY YOU AS HAVING WORKING HANDS?
The Bible teaches us that Jesus had WORKING HANDS.
Look at Mark 6:1-3, we read, “And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”
The people of Nazareth scorned their hometown boy who had made good.
• He was not recognized as a well-schooled Rabbi
• He was not a recognized as a teacher of the law
• He was recognized as a carpenter
They said, “Is not this the carpenter?” Well, that is exactly right. His father was a carpenter and so was he.
God wants everyone of us to have working hands. To understand that clearly, we need to look at a trade in the Old Testament that required working hands.
Consider the Potter.
Look at Jer. 18:1-6, we read, “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 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. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 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.”
Notice, the Lord makes reference to the Potter’s hands, He says, “Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand.”
In these brief verses, we can see the plan of the Potter on display as he uses his WORKING HANDS.
Let’s look at several things as the Potter begins to work. We first want to look at…
A. HIS INTENT
The Potter has a purpose as he uses his hands to produce -
• vessels that will reap a profit
• vessels that will be useful
• vessels that that will bring honor unto Himself
When he is dead and gone, he will leave behind vessels that will still be helpful to others.
I want ask you something if you were to die today are you leaving behind something behind for the glory of God.
We should leave behind a vessel behind for the glory of God when we are dead and gone.
Those who have working hands will be greatly rewarded one day.
The Word of God says in 1 Cor. 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Notice, whatever YE DO, DO FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!!! That is, everyday we are to take these hands and do something with them for the glory of God.
For example:
• This congregation come together to advance the Lord’s work by spreading the gospel. We take the money we make with these hard working hands to reach the Lost by sending missionaries around the world. We get letters every week from missionaries that we support of lost souls that are being saved for the glory of God. THAT IS USING THESE HANDS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!
• These buildings that this church has built with their hard working hands on this lovely campus of sixteen acres when this congregation is dead and gone these building will still be here for the glory of God. THAT IS USING THESE HANDS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!
• These young people that you Sunday School are teaching the Word of God after you are dead and gone they are now teaching and preaching the Word of God. THAT IS USING THESE HANDS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!
• These sermons that have been sent to ministers by the tons all over the world after we are dead and gone preachers will have them in their library preaching them for the glory of God. THAT IS USING THESE HANDS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!
The Bible plainly teaches that believer's WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM into eternity.
Revelation 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
What a beautiful truth! We can take these hands and use them for the Glory of God and do all kinds of good things and the Bible tells us OUR WORKS WILL FOLLOW US TO HEAVEN. And after we are dead and gone our hands will still be working for the glory of God.
But you know what is sad, some will leave behind things that will not glorify God.
Illus: I think about this Hollywood crowd that makes movies with cursing, lying, cheating and adultery and after they are dead and gone their works will follow them. It makes you wonder in hell they are crying out DO NOT SHOW THOSE MOVIES ANYMORE!!!
But there are others who have have working hands and they are going to leave things behind and their works will follow them.
God’s Word teaches that every day we are to use these hands for whatever will bring glory unto the Lord.
The Potter intends to use his hands to create vessels of honor. We have looked at HIS INTENT but let’s look also at -
B. HIS INGREDIENTS
In order to accomplish his intentions, the Potter must work with his hand with materials that leave much to be desired.
Illus: The clay was found in the ground is not suitable for use. It is dug out and brought to the vicinity of the pottery and allowed to weather for weeks. The dry material is then dumped into a cement-lined tank or wooden trough and covered with water. When the lumps have softened they are stirred in the water until all have disintegrated and a thin slimy mud has been formed.
The prepared clay is finally packed away and allowed to stand another six months before using, during which time the quality, especially the plasticity, is believed to improve.
In other words, the clay, as it is taken from the ground, is worthless. It must be transformed into a useable state and this is a process that takes time and energy on the part of the Potter. He has to have working hands or else he will never be able to achieve his goals.
We have looked at HIS INTENT, HIS INGREDIENTS, but let’s look at one more thing and that is-
C. HIS INSTRUMENTS
The potter uses several instruments to bring the clay to a place where it is usable. Once again, he has to have working hands. For example, he has to have-
(1) A SHOVEL –
This is the tool he uses to dig the clay from the earth.
This is one tool you do not have to worry about stealing. Most people know that a shovel stands for work.
Illus: Did you hear about the State Government Employees who were standing around in a circle on the side of the road leaning against their shovels?
However, one of them, a female employee found a bottle in a ditch. She opened it and a Genie came out. And the Genie said to her, “Because you have released me I will grant you three wishes.”
• She said, “For my first wish, I want a beautiful Castle to live in.” and immediately she appeared in a Castle.
• She said, “For my second wish, I want to be one of the smartest people on earth.” And immediately she turned into a man. (I thought you ladies might like that!)
• She said, “For my third wish, I do not ever want to work again”. Immediately she appears back with the government workers leaning against their shovels.
Illus: Some people say, “I am not afraid of work I can lay down beside it and go to sleep.”
We are to use these hand to work with for the Lord.
Illus: Today we live in a society where some folks have never worked breaking a sweat.
With all the modern technology we have forgot how to work.
Illus: I have a 1941 Plymouth with a steering that is much larger than the modern cars today. Why? Because in that 1941 Plymouth car it did not have power steering so they place in them a large steering wheel to give the driver more leverage to turn the wheels.
Also, it does not have power brakes and when you want to stop this car you have to put your foot on that brake paddle and put hard.
We have been spoiled rotten today by our modern age and people no longer know how to work.
One of the reason the Lord tells us about the POTTER AND THE CLAY is to show us that a potter in order to make something beautiful he has to work.
One of the instruments that a Potter has to use with his hands is a shovel.
But another instrument is-
(2) A MALLET –
After the clay has been extracted from the ground, it has to be cleansed and processed. He takes his hands and place the clay on a table and beat it with a wooden mallet. The Potter does this to remove any air bubbles that might be trapped in the clay. If he doesn't, the air bubble will form a pocket that will produce a weak spot and cause the vessel to be fragile and unusable.
A mallet is like a shovel in that it is for working hands.
A man that does not have working hands does not want anything to do with a shovel or a mallet.
Illus: Did you hear about the man in court being accused of a double murder?
• The Judge said: ''You are charged with beating your wife to death with a hammer.''
• A voice at the back of the court says, ''You dirty rascal.''
• The judge continues, ''You are also charged with beating your daughter to death with a hammer.'
• Again the voice at the back of the court says, ''You dirty no good rascal.''
• The judge says, ''Now, we cannot have any more of these outbursts from you or I shall charge you with contempt!
• What is the problem?''
• The man at the back of the court says, ''For fifteen years I have lived next door to that no good rascal, and every time I asked to borrow a hammer he said he didn’t have one!''
Shovels and hammers are instruments for working hands.
Illus: Did you hear about the father:
• Who said, “Billy, you can't play with the hammer. You'll smash your fingers.”
• “No, I won't, Dad. Sis is going to hold the nails for me.”
For a Potter to make a beautiful vessel, he must have:
• Shovel in his hand
• Mallet in his hand
But also must have…
(3) THE POTTER’S WHEEL–
The wheel is a large stone. It is mounted upon a shaft that sits in a stone
socket. Coming out of this large stone is an upright shaft that extend some 3 feet with another, smaller wheel mounted on top. The Potter using his feet, spins the large, lower wheel. As he does, the upper wheel is turned.
This is where the clay is placed.
As the clay turns, the Potter will place His working hands upon it and shape it according to his will.
While the clay spins around on the wheels, it is never out of contact with the Potter's hands. He is in constant contact, molding, shaping and bringing the clay along through his loving guidance.
If he were to ever remove His hand, the clay would spin right off the wheel and would be lost. Therefore, he remains there with the clay and brings it along until it becomes what He desires it to be.
But when the Potter has completed his project, he has something to show that he has spent his time well.
We have looked at WORKING HANDS but I want us to look at….
II. HOLY HANDS
I find it amazing and disgusting today when you go to a restaurant you go to the rest room to wash your hands people that use the facilities will leave and never wash their hands.
Everyday when we come into contact with people and surfaces we come into contacts with germs and before we eat we need to wash our hands.
• No one wants to come into contact with people who do not wash their hands.
• No one wants to eat food from a waitress that serve their food with dirty hands.
• No one wants to go to a dentist that is working in our mouth with dirty hands.
• No one wants to be operated on by a doctor that will not wash their hands.
We do not want to be associated with dirty hands, WHY DO PEOPLE THINK GOD WOULD WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH DIRTY HANDS!!!
GOD ONLY USE PEOPLE WITH HOLY HANDS!!!
Look at Romans 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.
Notice the word SACRIFICE.
This makes us think of the old testament when they offered up a sacrifice, it had to be a lamb without blemish. Any other sacrifice was un-acceptable!!!
And we are going to be offered up as a Sacrifice the Bible expects us to come to Him with HOLY HANDS.
God created us to be used, but He can not use us if we do not have HOLY HANDS.
Conclusion:
Illus: A elderly man in starting a conversation with a man on a park bench said, "Have you ever looked at your hands," he asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?"
I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point he was making.
Then he smiled and related this story: "Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They dried the tears of my children and caressed the love of my life. They held my rifle and wiped my tears when I went off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse and walked my daughter down the aisle. Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole and lifted a plow off of my best friends foot. They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn’t understand.
They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. These hands are the mark of where I’ve been and the ruggedness of my life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home.
No doubt I will never look at my hands the same again. I never saw the old man again after I left the park that day but I will never forget him and the words he spoke. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and wife I think of the man in the park. I have a feeling he has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God.
Thank God for the two hands that we take for granted that we have all been blessed with at birth.
As we thank God for the two hands He has blessed us with, let’s take these hands and do something for the Creator who gave them to us.
Speaking of hands I would like to close with the hands of the Lord.
Illus: A very popular song we use to sing is, “Put your hands in the hand of the Lord.
Youtube
We have looked at:
I. WORKING HANDS
II. HOLY HANDS
