Mold Me

Word is...

Jeremiah 18:1–11 ESV

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. 9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. 11 Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the Lord, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’

Jeremiah 18:1 ESV

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:

—> Jeremiah was a prophet.

—> The go between God and his people.

Jeremiah 18:2 ESV

2 “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.”

—> Jeremiah had to be in the right place to hear God’s voice.

—> God didn’t simply speak to Jeremiah, God showed him something as well.

Jeremiah 18:3 ESV

3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel.

—> When God leads us somewhere, expect to experience something.

—> Walk in with expectation.

—> Metaphor —> God is always at work.

Jeremiah 18:4 ESV

4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

Jeremiah 18:1

—> God says what is good not us.

—> We are a vessel

—> Are we moldable?

Jeremiah 18:5 ESV

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me:

Jeremiah 18:6 ESV

6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

—> While we can apply this to our personal lives this isn’t about us as individuals.

—> God will address ALL of the people. All of Israel.

—> We the church are God’s people.

—> Now let me ask you “Church” are WE ready to molded?

—> Are we willing to allow God to shape us into something new?

—> When it comes to pottery I don’t know a lot. I do know that everything, every vessel the potter makes doesn’t look the same.

—> the plate —> for serving numerous things to an individual. You don’t get alot of any one thing but you get a good variety.

—> the deep bowl —> for serving one thing to many people. This one thing could be really filling and it could stick to your ribs like mashed potatoes or it could be corn and pass right through.

—> the cup and saucer —> for sipping on something, savoring it, but you know sometimes we have the right stuff but we are using it the wrong way.

—> when you use it like most people, you can only use it two ways

—> right

—>left

—> but when you use it as it was intended

—> its not serving its full function because its only half used.

—> this is a 2 parter, half of it holds the substance keeps it warm, keeps it ready, the other part shares it.

—> full potential

—> the colorful cup

—> this cup was made with love

—> it wasn’t made on an assembly line, its unique

—> its deep

—> its rich in color

—> its seen its fair share of use

—> but now its been relegated to the special shelf where it doesn’t get used anyone its too old, its not the right color. I think I got paint in my mouth last time I used it.

different things, different functions, one purpose, to share something of substance, something that gives life.

food, water, coffee

That’s us church.

We are called to share the life giving substance that was shared with us.

These items don’t produce what they share. They are merely the vessels. They must be filled.

They can only be used when they have substance, otherwise they sit on a shelf collecting dust.

Church we have substance today.

Now I would argue that we are not collecting dust.

We have the love that God gave us through Christ Jesus and it is up to us to share it.