Message – “Warm To The Touch”

Jeremiah 18:1-6

Reminiscing today reminds me of some memories of my childhood

            Watching dad work on the car - Got a job working at a gas station

            Should have learned by watching someone who knew what to do

TRANSITION – Jeremiah sent to watch a master at work

Jeremiah 18:1-10 (NASB)

1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, 2"Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you." 3Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel.

            4But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. 5Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, 6"Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

7"At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; 8 if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it.

9"Or at another moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to build up or to plant it; 10if it does evil in My sight by not obeying My voice, then I will think better of the good with which I had promised to bless it.

Key Verse is  Jeremiah 18:6 – First impacted me in 1999 during our time in Arkansas

·         Dealing with call to pastorate

·         Dad lost job

·         Mom diagnosed with breast cancer

·         Melody Masters asked about moving to NC

·         Desired to fulfill words of verse 6 in my life

Jeremiah had some obstacles he had to overcome:

·         Young

·         Rejected - Gave them chances to find redemption but they continued to disobey

·         Single

·         Called to share message of repentance

·         Called to give message of hope

When we come to this passage, the Lord tells Jeremiah to go to the Potter’s house . . .

·         Jeremiah had to wonder why – what was he there to wait for?

·         What could he learn from this potter?

·         Was there another purpose?

Walk through passage

What Jeremiah learned from watching the potter – application for the Christian life

1) Potter had power over the clay

            Clay had no will, no power of its own

            However, it had qualities, which could help it resist

            What is good clay?

a)      moldable

b)      subject to the potter’s will

c)      warms up in the hands of the potter

d)     goes through the fire – though the potter controls the heat

2) Potter had a plan for the clay

The Potter has authority to change the plan along the way, or do something totally

different with the pot at His discretion

He can take the clay from whatever condition and make something positive

3) Potter showed patience with the clay

            He had three choices when the clay demonstrated some imperfection

a)      throw away the clay and start over

b)      remove the imperfection and re-mold the clay into a better pot

c)      Use the imperfection as part of the plan for the pot

4) Potter showed perseverance with the molded clay

            Molded and shaped it into exactly what He wanted it to be

            Dealt with the imperfections – perhaps part of the charm

            Put it through the fire to test its ability to go through trials – controlled the heat

            Put it on a shelf to display it proudly or put flowers in it or otherwise usefulness

In order for us to be good clay

1)      totally surrendered to the Potter

a.       Psalm 37:4 – delight thyself in the Lord

b.      What we become is by His design, not ours – “as it pleased the potter to make” (v. 4)

2)      moldable

3)      strong in the trials – not a sign of God’s unhappiness with you

4)      Stay with the potter and be warm to his touch

Appeal – Determine if you indeed are clay

Are you demonstrating the qualities of good clay – particularly warm to the touch

The Potter Knows The Clay

I know you’re going through the fire

It’s getting hard to stand the heat

But even harder is the wondering

Is God’s hand still on me?

It’s lonely in the flames

When you’re counting days of pain

CHORUS

But the Potter knows the clay

How much pressure it can take

How many times around the wheel

Till there’s submission to His will

He’s planned a beautiful design

But it will take some fire and time

It’s gonna be okay

‘Cause the Potter knows the clay

Friend I just came through the fire

Not too very long ago

And looking back I can see why

And that my God was in control

But on the hottest day I cry

“Oh Lord, isn’t it about time?”