I. Potter found the clay
A. Psalm 40:2-3
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.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
B. To anyone else it looked like mud, but the Potter saw a vessel
C. The only difference in you and the mud that used to be around you is the Potter’s election
D. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
II. The Potter mixed the clay with water to make it pliable
A. Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
B. Without the Word you are rigid and cannot be formed by the hands of the Potter
C. Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
D. Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
E. Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
F. Romans 12:2 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.
III. Tread under the Potter’s feet to get out the air pockets that would cause leaky cracks A. Ephesians 1:20-22
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
B. Leaky Christians
IV. Put on the wheel — thrown so it would stick
V. Spinning on the wheel and formed by the hands of the potter
A. Confusion — going in circles
B. Stay on the wheel!
C. Pressure of the hand of the Potter
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
D. You might still look like mud, but stay on the wheel a little longer
E. Marred in the HAND OF THE POTTER — you can be in His hand and still be marred
F. Made it again another — both it and another
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
1) It’s me but it’s not me
VI. It was dried in the sun if it was just going to hold dry materials
A. If it was filled with water it would absorb it, become weak and collapse
VII. If the vessel was going to store oil, wine, or water, it had to go through the fire (700-900 degrees)
A. After the fire, it was changed so that it would not decay or corrode
B. 1 Peter 4:12-14
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
VIII. The vessel was then decorated
A. The potter made bowls, cups, cooking pots, lamps, jars, buttons, toys
B. Although essentially functional, pottery frequently displays excellent craftmanship and high artistic accomplishment
C. It was not beautiful until the Potter was finished
