Molded in His Hands
Notes
Transcript
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
And there is none that calleth upon thy name, That stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: For thou hast hid thy face from us, And hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
But now, O Lord, thou art our father; We are the clay, and thou our potter; And we all are the work of thy hand.
I. The Potter
I. The Potter
A. Being a potter is a unique type of artistry.
A. Being a potter is a unique type of artistry.
1. Unlike a painter, a potter’s art is 3D.
1. Unlike a painter, a potter’s art is 3D.
2. His work is viewed on the outside, but not just from one vantage point but many.
2. His work is viewed on the outside, but not just from one vantage point but many.
3. His work is also not just limited to the outside view, but also what is on the inside!
3. His work is also not just limited to the outside view, but also what is on the inside!
B. A Potter must understand his material.
B. A Potter must understand his material.
1. A potter needs to know the properties of different types of clay.
1. A potter needs to know the properties of different types of clay.
2. How they react under different conditions.
2. How they react under different conditions.
3. How different glazes and firing techniques will affect the final product.
3. How different glazes and firing techniques will affect the final product.
C. A Potter must be one with skill.
C. A Potter must be one with skill.
1. Pottery is a hands-on craft.
1. Pottery is a hands-on craft.
2. A potter must be able to shape the clay, manipulate it on the wheel, and handle it delicately during the carving, glazing, and firing processes.
2. A potter must be able to shape the clay, manipulate it on the wheel, and handle it delicately during the carving, glazing, and firing processes.
3. This often requires a great deal of practice and patience.
3. This often requires a great deal of practice and patience.
D. The Potter must have creative vision.
D. The Potter must have creative vision.
1. Every potter brings a unique artistic vision to their work.
1. Every potter brings a unique artistic vision to their work.
2. This might be expressed in the shapes they choose, the patterns they carve, the colors they use, or the ways they incorporate other materials.
2. This might be expressed in the shapes they choose, the patterns they carve, the colors they use, or the ways they incorporate other materials.
E. The Potter must understand the firing process.
E. The Potter must understand the firing process.
1. Knowing the right temperature
1. Knowing the right temperature
2. The correct duration
2. The correct duration
3. The suitable type of kiln are crucial to the outcome of the pottery.
3. The suitable type of kiln are crucial to the outcome of the pottery.
a. For example, there are kilns designed specifically for ceramics, glass, metal, brick, metal clay, and enamels.
a. For example, there are kilns designed specifically for ceramics, glass, metal, brick, metal clay, and enamels.
F. The Potter must be patient.
F. The Potter must be patient.
1. The process from a lump of clay to a finished piece can be quite long and involves many stages.
1. The process from a lump of clay to a finished piece can be quite long and involves many stages.
2. Sometimes, a piece might crack or break during the process.
2. Sometimes, a piece might crack or break during the process.
3. A potter needs to have the patience to see the process through and the perseverance to start again when things go wrong.
3. A potter needs to have the patience to see the process through and the perseverance to start again when things go wrong.
II. He is the Potter I am the clay!
II. He is the Potter I am the clay!
A. He understands the material He is working with!
A. He understands the material He is working with!
1. He knows the difference in each and every piece of clay that He choses!
1. He knows the difference in each and every piece of clay that He choses!
a. He choses us and He choses the vessel He wants us to be! He is creating me and I MUST be pliable in His hands!
a. He choses us and He choses the vessel He wants us to be! He is creating me and I MUST be pliable in His hands!
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands?
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
2. He knows how we react in different circumstances!
2. He knows how we react in different circumstances!
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; And backward, but I cannot perceive him:
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
3. He knows just what we need in our lives to get us to the final product that He desires!
3. He knows just what we need in our lives to get us to the final product that He desires!
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
B. He is the MOST skillful Potter!
B. He is the MOST skillful Potter!
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
1. He is a hands on God!
1. He is a hands on God!
For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
2. He knows how to shape us and mold us on the wheel!
2. He knows how to shape us and mold us on the wheel!
C. He has a vision/perfect will for each of us!
C. He has a vision/perfect will for each of us!
1. His will for you is not the same as others.
1. His will for you is not the same as others.
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
a. Jesus taught this principle!
a. Jesus taught this principle!
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
b. You need to do something with what God is putting in your hand!
b. You need to do something with what God is putting in your hand!
2. He may need you to be a vase, and another to be a pitcher, or a cup, or a bowl, etc..
2. He may need you to be a vase, and another to be a pitcher, or a cup, or a bowl, etc..
D. He understands the firing process!
D. He understands the firing process!
1. He knows the right amount of heat needed.
1. He knows the right amount of heat needed.
2. He knows the right amount of time to keep us in the fire!
2. He knows the right amount of time to keep us in the fire!
3. He knows what type of fire to use in our lives!
3. He knows what type of fire to use in our lives!
a. Maybe someone needs to go through financial trouble, family problems, temptations of past sin.
a. Maybe someone needs to go through financial trouble, family problems, temptations of past sin.
b. ALWAYS remember WHATEVER you go through He is ALWAYS right there with you bringing you out at the right moment!
b. ALWAYS remember WHATEVER you go through He is ALWAYS right there with you bringing you out at the right moment!
4. The fire is necessary in our lives!
4. The fire is necessary in our lives!
E. He is patient with us!
E. He is patient with us!
1. The process to get us to the exact place He wants us is a long arduous process, but He will work with us through it the ENTIRE time!
1. The process to get us to the exact place He wants us is a long arduous process, but He will work with us through it the ENTIRE time!
a. We just need to remember to look to Him when we don’t understand what’s going on in life!
a. We just need to remember to look to Him when we don’t understand what’s going on in life!
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2. Sometimes we may get in the way and cause trouble in the process, but He is always there to help us fix what got messed up!
2. Sometimes we may get in the way and cause trouble in the process, but He is always there to help us fix what got messed up!
3. Even if it means starting over, He is patient with us!
3. Even if it means starting over, He is patient with us!
a. I don’t believe it’s His will that we start over, but He will put us back on the wheel and begin working and carving on us again as long as we let Him!
a. I don’t believe it’s His will that we start over, but He will put us back on the wheel and begin working and carving on us again as long as we let Him!
F. He isn’t looking to just create a painting out of your life, but rather He is looking to create a vessel of honor!
F. He isn’t looking to just create a painting out of your life, but rather He is looking to create a vessel of honor!
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
1. His work in your life matters on all the external parts of your life!
1. His work in your life matters on all the external parts of your life!
a. When people look at us can they SEE His handy work in our lives?
a. When people look at us can they SEE His handy work in our lives?
2. However its important that He get the inside right because not only is it healthy for us, but if the inside structure isn’t right then our vessel won’t be strong enough to withstand what life brings!
2. However its important that He get the inside right because not only is it healthy for us, but if the inside structure isn’t right then our vessel won’t be strong enough to withstand what life brings!
a. Only you and God know whats on the inside that’s why I’m reaching to you today!
a. Only you and God know whats on the inside that’s why I’m reaching to you today!
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.
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.
b. It’s not His will that ANY should perish!
b. It’s not His will that ANY should perish!
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
c. We need Him on the inside to ensure we have the power and strength to face life!
c. We need Him on the inside to ensure we have the power and strength to face life!
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2. Let’s give Him the fragments of our life and allow Him to put our lives together! He knows what’s best.
2. Let’s give Him the fragments of our life and allow Him to put our lives together! He knows what’s best.