I STILL AM..... THE POTTER
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Good Morning church, it is so good to be in the house of the Lord this morning, good to be joining with you on facebook live and join hearts together today. I want to take a moment to thank everyone from the deacons to our church members for making such a difficult situation bearable. you guys have been very supportive and have made your presence known on Facebook here with me and the Lord is moving amen!
What were going to do now is have a time of specific prayer for those affected by the virus and also call upon our gracious God to bring about His will in all of these things going on right now. We are going to pray for first responders and nurses, medical staff who are in harms way this morning, along with Chase Weed and His boss, Joey Traywick and R.Q. Taylor who is going to be having a heart procedure done this week, we need to remember these every day this week and bathe them in prayer.
Let’s Pray together
“Heavenly Father this morning we gather in Your presence from our homes and with our families calling on You our mighty God to reach out and heal, to restore all things back to their intended order. We trust You as the great shepherd to care for your people, and do what is in our best interest, and do what brings you the most glory. That is the only reason we exist is to bring you glory Lord so make that our hearts cry in this time.
Be with our nurses Lord our friends and those being affected by this terrible sickness sweeping the land and we ask for their protection and for them to have eveyrthing they need in this moment Lord dont let them take this stuff in on their families but bring them safely home and allow them the rest and recouperation they need.
We will give you praise in this storm bc You are at work, and you have us right where we need to be as a nation. We love you Lord In Jesus name we pray Amen.
This morning would you turn with me in your Bibles to , .
When we look in the Bible we see many names for God. He is the great physician, He is Jehovah Raffa THE LORD WHO HEALS, He is Jehovah Jireh THE LORD OUR PROVIDER, HE is Jehovah Shalom, THE LORD WHO IS PEACE
But what I want to focus on this morning is that He is known as the great I AM That is actually what His name means, I AM. When Moses was afraid to go into Egypt to set Gods people free, He asked the Lord what happens if they ask me who sent me to them what am I supposed to tell them?
The Lord responded to Moses by saying one of my favorite things in all of the Bible God said “Tell them the I AM sent you”
There are so many people today even this morning who see the things taking place in our world and have become afraid. We have never had to deal with anything on this scale before and anxiety and unrest runs wild.
God spoke very clearly to me this past week and I have been listening carefully to the best of my ability to what I think He is trying to say to the world.
God is trying to tell us all I STILL AM, I AM THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FORVER I AM THE ONE IN WHOM THERE IS NO SHADOW OF TURNING, I DONT CHANGE!!!
I STILL AM THE GOD WHO LOVES YOU, I STILL AM THE GOD WHO HEALS YOU, I STILL AM THE GOD WHO PROVIDES FOR YOU, I STILL AM THE GOD WHO HEARS YOU WHEN YOU CRY OUT TO ME!
WHATEVER I HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST I STILL AM TODAY
I STILL AM THE GOD OF MIRACLES
Church He still is
I STILL AM ON THE THRONE
I STILL AM GOD
The one and only
I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, I am the Great Shepherd that David spoke of. I am Lord over your world that seems to be falling apart at the moment.
I AM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA THE BEGINNING AND THE END
I STILL AM
No matter how you feel right now, no matter what fears grip your hearts, or what anxiety overwhelms you, I STILL HAVE A PURPOSE AND A PLAN
I STILL AM
What could God’s purpose be in all of this?
Regather His sheep.. for us to rediscover the beauty and the majesty of our God.
We saw last week that the psalmist David said that God was the great Shepherd, regathering His wayward sheep, and today were going to see Jeremiah teach us that God could be using hardship and the things going on in this world
to REMOLD AND REMAKE US
Background:
Background
Jeremiah “THE WEEPING PROPHET” He is known as the weeping prophet because he ministered at a time in His nation when the people of God were people within His nation were really facing the judgement of God.
Personal circumstances:
HIS NAME MEANS- YAHWEH APPOINTS
He was a priest before he became a prophet.
His father was a famous priest in his day, so there was no doubt that when Jeremiah was a boy he would have went with his father to the temple from time to time. He would have learned by observation what a priests role was and by the age of thirty Jeremiah was a priest just like his father.
Political Backdrop:
3 kings are named in the first verse of the book these 3 kings reigned during Jeremiahs ministry.
Josiah- Jeremiah was called into ministry by the Lord in the 13th year of King Josiah. Josiah was a Godly man and a Godly king.
King Josiah began to purge the idols from his kingdom. He desired to remove all false gods from the midst of his nation. Jeremiah was called by God at this time to be a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah was reluctant to answer the call he was reluctant to accept the challenge because he was but a youth. He couldn’t have been more than a teenager when he was called by God.
For 18 years of his ministry Jeremiah had the support of the king, Josiah had rediscovered the word of God during his reign as they found a scroll of the law of God buried beneath the debris of the temple.
Then came the reign of
Jehoaz
This King only rued 3 months and perished
Jeoiakim-
This king switched his allegiance to the wicked kingdom of Babylon and he remained king in Israel fro 11 years, these were miserable years for Israel. He was wicked and lead the nation towards rebellion against God.
Jeremiah was in constant danger and the children of the Lord were under constant pressure.
What we find in was a nation who had fallen under the judgment of God; they had left the one true God they had served under the reign of Josiah and had begun to worship foreign gods once again.
They had as tells us left their first love.
A NATION UNDER GOD’S JUDGEMENT
The people since they had been lead in this way were confused as to whyGod was judging them, many of them did not understand that God was warning them by leading them into turmoil.
GOD MUST BRING THEM TO BROKENNESS SO THAT THEY WOULD BEIGN TO SEEK HIM DESPERATELY AGAIN.
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.
God was giving to the nation of Israel what was due them based on their rebellion against Him. IN our nation today we have never faced more of a culture who is against our Lord all while god is not against them.
God is for you and god is for our nation so long as we honor Him. But our stubborn evil hearts resist God so He humble us. Another word for humility or humbling is brokenness.
This is a key truth
BROKENNESS PRECEDES BLESSING
God knew that if He was going to bring His nation back into the firm grasp of His hand of blessing, a breaking must take place.
There is power in brokenness and weakness, in our weakness His strength is made perfect.
However we found that the end of the lesson included a warning, if Jerusalem showed no sign of repentance regarding honoring the Lord alone then the nation would experience even more fires of judgement.
In America right now we are at a crossroads and that crossroads starts with each one of us.
GOD’S PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
GOD STILL BREAKS US IN ORDER TO REMAKE US GOD STILL BREAKS US OF OUR PRIDE AND SELF SUFFICIENCY SO THAT WE ARE PUT IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE REALIZE THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO.
ONLY GOD CAN BRING US OUT OF THIS CRISIS AND ONLY GOD WILL BRING US OUT OF THIS CRISIS!
BEHIND EVERY GREAT AND TERRIBLE CRISIS
GOD STILL BREAKS US OF OUR PRIDE AND SELF SUFFICIENCY PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
OUR GOD IS THE GREAT POTTER SITTING AT HIS WHEEL
Creating
Cultivating
Molding
Reshaping
The Word Given To Explain What God Was Doing
The Word Given To Explain What God Was Doing
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:
I want us to be clear this is God who is the same yesterday and today and forever and He is speaking to His prophet as He is speaking to a number of his pastors today, as He is speaking to His church today, as well as our United States of America land that I love.
I think the word which came to Jeremiah and the nation of Israel is just as relevant in our situation as it was then.
The people were confused they needed to understand what was happening, much like you and I want an explanation in our situation today. So God tells Jeremiah it will be better if I show you something.
“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.”
He tells Jeremiah get up immediately stop what your doing and go down to the potters house. I have something to show you that will help you understand what I am doing.
How many times does God desire to give us and answer but we delay, we don’t find it important enough to just stop and spend time listening for the Lords instructions, but not Jeremiah He listens immediately and He gets up and heads out.
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.
Now I want you to notice something the potter is at his wheel making something, we need to understand that is God is the great potter He is making something. He has a purpose in mind and He is actively working to bring about what He sees in His minds eye.
God is doing that in America and around the world right now. We have been like Israel we have played the harlot as a nation, we have spent to many years as a country slandering God and going against His wishes and now He has forced us into this position, He has forced this world into position where we have to relay upon Him.
I want you to know a loving Father does this. God is not some judge who sits up there looking for an opportunity to crush His people, He longs and has longed for His people to get their heads on straight and follow Him, every time a crisis comes about people flock to churches, they rush to prayer vigils much like they did on 9-11.
We prayed and we came together but it wasn’t long at all before we had fallen pray to the same old sins and even began to allow new ones.
I want you to know something today Gods call goes out, for the believer and the lost and He calls out to have priority, He calls out to be honored as the Soverign Lord of creation. It is up to us how we respond, God loves us JHe loves this nation and I believe it breaks Gods heart for this to be happening right now, but there comes a time when the alarm needs to sound before that final alarm of the trumpet blasts in the eastern sky.
I LOVE MY SON, AS A FATHER IT BREAKS MY HEART WHEN I HAVE TO GROUND HIM, IT BREAKS MY HEART WHEN I HAVE TO DISCIPLINE MY DAUGHTER BUT IT MUST BE DONE!
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO GET RIGHT WITH OUR MAKER BC ONE DAY WE WILL ALL STAND BEFORE HIM, AND WE NEED TO BE READY!
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT AN OBSTACLE!!
What is the potter making?
What is He molding right now?
I AM SEEING FAMILIES SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH EACH OTHER I AM SEEING SPORTS BEING HALTED PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIALS IN LIFE
PEOPLE ARE CHECKING ON ONE ANOTHER, PEOPLE ARE TALKING WITH ONE ANOTHER
Israel had played the harlot they had cheated on GOd and AMERICA WE HAVE CHEATED ON GOD! It shoul sound the alarm that so many of us me included are realizing how beautiful life is when we dont overwhelm ourselves with things that dont matter....
Examples PREACH
A Marred Vessel, a Marred People
A Marred Vessel, a Marred People
And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
Jeremiah 18:
Can I tell you something you and I if we come to God are lumps of clay, if we want to have a meaningful life we must come to the potter and allow Him to mold us for His purposes!
AS IT SEEMS GOOD TO HIM, NOT AS IT SEEMS BEST FOR US
Do you know what a potter does with a vessel that just kind of spins out of control and does its on thing? ‘
HE PUTS HIS HANDS ON THE VESSEL, and He smooths out the impurities, He makes turns it into what it was supposed to be to begin with.
Listen guys WE ARE ALL MARRED BY SIN!!
THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS NO NOT ONE, ALL HAVE FALLEN ASTRAY HAVE WENT THEIR OWN WAY
Israel was marred in the potters hand He desired for them to blessed but they turned from him and went their own way and now they were facing a situation that threatened life as they knew it.
No one can plumb the depths of our sin but God and He knows what your thinking right now He knows if you are thinking about turning this off right now bc you dont wanna hear a doom and gloom message but listen to me church He loves us oh how He loves us listen to me God loves you so much He sent His son to not only give you access into Heaven but give you hope in this life! PURPOSE AND MEANING!
The Hope Amidst the Tough Truth
The Hope Amidst the Tough Truth
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
God stands ready at this moment to take our nation, and to take each of your lives and mold them into a masterpiece, that is His hearts desire.
To bring beauty from the ashes, to bring a miracle out of a mess that what my God does He offered it to Israel and He is offering it to you and me today!
“HE’s GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS ....
Yes He does and He is ready for a change, He is ready right now for humanity to turn to Him and Him alone and He knows not everyone will but this is a chance and I dont know how many there are left in human history…
Israel was in the firm grasp of the potter and He desired to mold them into a useful vessel, He desires that for you and me today as well, I wonder if we will surrender, I wonder if we will commit to Him I wonder if we might be able to point to all of this stuff in 50 years and say that sickness which hurt so many brought about one of the greatest revivals we have ever seen in history?
WHAT IF?
It has to start with you and me
Here is the hope that God speaks into Jeremiahs situation
The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,
if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.
To relent means to change his mind, God may right now be standing on the verge of judging fully the nations of the world, HE might very well be but listen WITH GOD THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE WITH GOD THERE IS ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY
If this nation which God decides He is going to pluck and tear down if they turn if they repent then I WILL RELENT OF THE DISASTER THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT BRINGING UPON IT.
Listen to me folks this is the chance, I dont want you loggin off today without you getting things right with the Lord for real and messaging me about it.
SPIRITUALLY LAZY CONFESS IT AND REPENT TURN FROM THAT LAZINESS TO EMBRACE JESUS AND A LIVING WALK WITH HIM, ARE YOU LOST TODAY IS THERE A QUESTION MARK IN YOUR HEART WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM GET IT RIGHT TODAY!
Has God not been a priority, confess it and commit afresh again!
And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,
if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.
“Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” ’ ”
Here is their chance!
Here is your chance, this is our chance....
The sad reality of a rebellious heart
The sad reality of a rebellious heart
Jeremiah 18:
And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.”
Sadly Israel did not listen God warned them and they ended up being lead into captivity.
The Temple was ransacked and torn down and left in a heap, just as Jeremiah predicted it would.
May the same never be said of us.
Listen to me today, you have no idea how much God loves you, You have no idea how much He wants to bless you, I wonder would you come to Him today in repentance.
I wonder if you and I