“The Potter’s House”
Jeremiah 18:1-6
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker, Taegu, South Korea
BIG IDEA: GOD DOESN’T GIVE-UP ON US.
REFERENCES: John 3:1-7; Jeremiah 18:1-11; Psalm 139:1-6,13-18; Deut. 30:15-20; 2 Cor. 4:7 (... earthen vessels in the KJV or Jars of Clay in the NIV); Rom. 9:21 (Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vesel unto honor and another unto dishonor); Isaiah 45:9-13 (... Potsherd strives with the potsherds ...)
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Jeremiah 18:1-6
II. READ THE PERICOPE: JEREMIAH 18:1-6
III. READ THE TEXT: Jeremiah 18:4 (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).
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING – God is the Potter and we are the Marred clay; and He doesn’t GIVE-UP on us.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “The Potter’s House”
VI. Protaganist: The Potter, The Wheel, and The Marred Clay
INTRODUCTION: Who can ever forget the story recorded in the Fourth Gospel (John 3) about Nicodemus - the Secret Pharisaic Ruler of The Jews and Card caring Member of The Sanhedrin Court – who came to Jesus during the night uttering the NOW FAMOUS WORDS:
“Rabbi, we know that thou art a TEACHER come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 1: Now, clearly, my brothers and my sisters, Jesus (in John 3) takes on the role of TEACHER, EDUCATOR, AND THEOLOGIAN.
a. For He explains to NICodemus ... the THEOLOGICAL METAPHOR of HOW TO BE BORN AGAIN.
b. Jesus, like His Father (God) uses many things, methods, and techniques to teach His people.
c. For don’t you remember when Jesus was confronted by an angry group of ACCUSERS who had just caught a WOMAN IN THE VERY ACT OF ADULTERY (but somehow, selectively forgot to bring the gentleman that she was caught in the BED with ) ASKED JESUS ... to decide her fate based upon the LAWS OF MOSES ...
d. Jesus stooped down (according to John 8) and proceeded to conduct a BLOCK OF INSTRUCTIONS ON HANDWRITING; AND after their persistence (scribes and pharisees) JESUS INSTRUCTED THEM IN A CLASS entitled, ...
e. ROCK THROWING 101 ...ASKING beforehand that “THE STUDENT WITHOUT SIN, ... BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIT ... HER WITH THE FIRST ROCK.
f. The Bible tells us that AT THAT VERY MOMENT ... all of the accusers dropped “THE CLASS” ... For Jesus said unto the woman ... “...where are thou accusers ...go and sin no more.
g. Jesus, like his Father, was always teaching.
h. You may recall that God (in the Old Testament) used many things to TEACH HIS PEOPLE.
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************
MOVE 2: LIKEWISE, IN OUR TEXT, THIS AFTERNOON GOD USES VISUAL AIDS from the Potter’s House TO TEACH Jeremiah.
a. Now, Biblical Research tells us that “Pottery was one of the oldest crafts in the Bible lands.” The place where potter’s clay was dug was called “potter’s field”.
b. The potter’s field, you may recall was a piece of ground (in the New Testament) which the priest bought with the money Judas received for betraying our Lord (in Matthew 27:7).
c. Pottery was shaped by hand on a potter’s wheel, powered by foot, and then dried and baked in a kiln. Many different items were made by the potter: basins, bowls, cups, dishes, jars, lamps, and pots to name few.
d. Careful study has been made of the historical development of pottery styles, so that experts can even date and place pottery with considerable accuracy.
e. In fact, many of you may recall CNN.COM running a new flash last year, (12 June 2003) regarding one of the most precious POTTERY from Iraq’s past was returned to the National Museum in Baghdad.
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 3: Now, in our text this afternoon, Jeremiah sees the Potter making his vessels by using the wheel and the clay.
a. He was amazed by the results of THE GREAT POTTER. Because he could not see the IMAGE THAT THE POTTER HAD IN MIND. Still, the results were absolutely astonishing. The beautiful works of art were around him.
b. It was amazing just washing THE GREAT POTTER at WORK.
c. Jeremiah saw the Potter’s Wheel turning constantly, as it brought the clay against the potter’s hands.
d. Now, my brothers and my sisters, the wheel stands for the TURNING CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE under the control of the POTTER.
e. As our life is being shaped and molded by the GREAT POTTER, it is the circumstance of life, or the wheels of circumstances, that brings us under the the potter’s hand and His molding fingers.
f. But, if our human will resist to follow the PERFECT ARTISITIC directions of the GREAT POTTER, it causes us to become a lump in GOD’S CLAY.
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 4: In other words, it causes us to be LIKE SOME IMPERFECTION IN GOD’S CLAY. WE’RE MARRED.
a. When we don’t give-up and let the Lord come into our lives ... we are causing LUMPS IN GOD’S CLAY.
b. When we don’t allow ourselves to BE BORN-AGAIN, we’re causing lumps in GOD’S CLAY.
c. When we hold grudges and refuse to forgive ... we’re causing LUMPS ... IN GOD’S CLAY ...
********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 5: For when we decide to become something other than what THE GREAT POTTER HAS DECIDED...
a. We becomes lumps in His Clay.
b. And we leave him no OTHER ALTERNATIVE, BUT to crush us and make us into a vessel that HE CAN STILL USE.
c. I MAKE NOT BE ... THE VESSEL ....THAT GOD ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR ME TO BE...
d. BECAUSE I HAVEN’T ALWAYS DONE ... HIS PERFECT WILL ... BUT I HAVE REPENTED OF MY SINS AGAINST HIM (GOD) AND HUMANITY
e. AND THE LORD HAS MADE ME ... in the Potter’s House ... A VESSELS THAT .... SUITS WHAT HE WOULD HAVE ME TO BE ...
f. I USED TO BE A VESSEL UNTO DISHONOR ... LUMPS ALL IN MY CLAY ... BUT NOW I’M A VESSEL UNTO HONOR.
g. BECAUSE I TURNED BACK TO GOD.
h. (2 Chron. 7:14) ... For the Word says: If my People that are called by my name , shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways: then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************
MOVE 6: Now, ... In my reading, I came across a story by an unknown author entitled, “The Pot Story.
a. According to the story, a water bearer in India had two large pots; each hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his neck.
b. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
c. For a full two years this went on daily with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for
d. Which it was made. Nevertheless, the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
e. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
f. “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the bearer.
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 7: “What are you ashamed of?” I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
a. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. However, at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again, it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
b. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That is because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I plant flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have had this beauty to grace his house."
c. The Moral of this Story: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. However, God doesn’t give-up on us because of the cracks and the flaws. Each believer needs to know that God looks for the good.
***********************TAKE 5 BEATS********************
CELEBRATION: I believe what DAVID said (in Psalms 139) ...
When he said ...
“O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether....
Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whiter shall I flee from thy presence?
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works; .....”
