Print

JEREMIAH 18:1-6

I. THE THREE FIGURES OF THE POTTERS HOUSE.
        A. The potter.
                1. Intelligent capable worker.
                        a. Speaks to me of God's authority - interest.
        B. The wheel - (the instrument the potter uses to help form the clay).
                1. This speaks to me of the daily circumstances of the world about me. 
                        a. The pressures brought against me. 
                        b. Those forces that help to mold.
                2. The potter has placed the clay upon the wheel, and for me to complain about
                   my lot is to complain against the wisdom of the potter.
                3. The wheel is transitory, though necessary.
        C. The clay.
                1. The pliable material in which the potter expresses his desire.
                2. Speaks of the potential of man when placed in the hand of God.

II. "BEHOLD, HE WROUGHT A WOEK ON THE WHEELS."
        A. Potter has in his mind a thought for that clay.
                1. That lump of worthless clay, ignorant of the thought.
                2. It can only discover the thought by submitting to the touch of the potter.
        B. The clay gains in the hand of the potter. 
                1. While in natural state - worthless, shapeless mass.
                        a. The touch of the potter's hand can transform it into vessel of
                           beauty and usefulness.
                        b. We are His workmanship - "handiwork".
                        c. Apart from God my life is lacking of purpose or usefulness.
                                1. If I will but submit to Him He can express His desire in me
                                   and form me into a vessel fit for the masters use.
                                2. I hear the cry, "My life has no purpose!"

III. "AS CLAY IS IN THE POTTER'S HAND, SO ARE YE IN MY HAND."
        A. Who is the potter?  God!
        B. Who is God?  God is love.
                1. I can submit to love.
                2. The potter controls the wheel and the clay.
                        a. He applies pressure to create.
                        b. He crushes in order to form.
                3. I do not always understand the potter's desire.
                        a. Sometimes I feel He has erred. 
                        b. Why has He shaped me thus? 
                        c. Sometimes I fear, should I submit?
                4. Would you know the heart of the potter? 
                        a. You must go to the Cross.
                        b. See Him suffering there?
                        c. Why is He suffering?
                                1. That He might purchase the ugly, worthless clay.
                                2. That He might make of it a vessel of beauty and usefulness.
                5. To rebel is to take the clay from the potters hand.
                        a. Renders it useless and a waste.
                        b. How many wrecks in the potters field.
                                1. Marred vessels.
                                2. Clay that was not plastic.
                                3. Behind the potters house - the field.
                6. The mention of the potters field in the N.T.