陇山陇西郡
宁静纯我心 感得事物人 写朴实清新. 闲书闲话养闲心,闲笔闲写记闲人;人生无虞懂珍惜，以沫相濡字字真。
You're clay in potter's hand, thus you can be changed to anything potter wants you to be. Can you do that? Do you want be reshaped?
When you're down, what do you do? Seat there to complain, to cry, to wane more, to depress?
Or, you're motivated to sharpen your skills, get ready to bounce up high. How?
You can make step-by-step plan, such as every morning, spend 30 min for Bible meditation, let your heart be receptive, let your mind alert, let you be taught of God word.
Then, sharpen your vision by reading things that inspire you. Jot down your insight.
Write to sharpen your writing skill.
Cut off those people who drag you down - love them from a distance.
Wait with patience for God's calling upon you: Get ready on your feet for His glory while helping others.
Take your challenge as a way God prepare you for a high task - a place you've never dreamed of.
But, you gonna dare to stay on the Potter's wheeler! Hand on there!
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Jeremiah 18:1-12New International Version (NIV)
At the Potter’s House
18 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
11 “Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’ 12 But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Olde Tyme Baptist Church
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THE COURAGE TO STAY ON THE POTTER’S WHEEL
March 4
th 2012
Isaiah 64:8 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.
“Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way. Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me,
make me, after thy will. While I am waiting, yielded and still.” We sing these songs. But do we
give any credence to the words we are singing? Or is simply rote from the hundreds of times
we’ve sung them before?
Psalms 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may
learn thy commandments.
Do we really believe in our hearts that God’s hands have made and
fashioned us? I mean really? And are we willing to wait, yield and be still while God puts us on
his Potters Wheel and crafts us into the image He has for us?
Staying on the Potter’s Wheel takes courage because it means we are willing to allow God to
mold us in His image. We are willing to give into His competent hands, and His will. A potter,
when making a vessel will determine what the vessel will look like before taking that lump of
clay and putting it on the wheel. He will know exactly what the use of that vessel will be. It may
be a coffee cup. It may be a vase. It may be an urn to hold the remains of some loved one who
has gone on to eternity. But they know how it will look and what it will be used for. So it is with
God. Before we were born, God knew what he wanted for us. He has our picture hanging on his
refrigerator. He knows what our talents will be. Our life in His will is mapped out.
Ephesians
2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them.
The challenge for Him is the lump. Lumps have a bad habit of jumping off the wheel.
There is no question that God would have that every man and woman born on this planet come to
Christ;
2 Peter 3:9 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.
God would have that no man ends up in hell. In fact, hell was not made for man, but
for Satan and his fallen angels. Mankind chooses hell over heaven. It’s a conscious decision. If
you are here today without Christ, your first step is to become a child of God by accepted His
Son as your personal Lord and Saviour. It is then that you will be in a position to be on the
Potter’s wheel.
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The prodigal son’s father had a distinct plan for his son’s life, but that son “chose” to get off of
the wheel and go his own way. The results were disastrous. This is a clear picture of what
happens when we, as God’s children, decide to step off of the Potter’s Wheel and go it on our
own, to take our inheritance and use it for our own selfish purposes.
The question is, who do we think we are? Have we more wisdom than an omniscient,
omnipresent and omnipotent God? Paul has an answer to that:
Romans 9:20-24 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? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to
make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to
destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy,
which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but
also of the Gentiles?
Are we the clay? Or do we think we’re the potter? Do we think it is our job to determine our
future? That we are to mold ourselves into our own image? That we have more power over
ourselves than He who created us? There was an angel called Lucifer who believed this. How’d
that work out for him?
I want to talk to you about the difference between being the potter, the one who makes and forms
the clay, and being the clay, that which is molded by the hands of someone else. For whichever
one you decide to be in your Christian life will determine whether you will be submissive to God
and have the courage to do whatever He wants you to or be stubborn and go our own way and do
our own thing.
Just like there can many servants but only one master there can also be many lumps of clay but
only one potter to mold them.
Let’s take a look at that lump of clay:
By definition, clay is nothing more than any earth that forms a paste with water and hardens
when heated or dried.
Since we were made from the dust of the ground I don't think that anyone would argue the point
that we are that lump of clay.
(Genesis 2:7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
I learned a lot about clay when working with Maureen Dennis at Clay for kids. She taught me
how to “throw” clay and use a potter’s wheel. I understand what it takes to make something out
of virtually nothing and how important it is for the potter to control the clay and not the other
way around.
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You have to have the right ingredients.
In order to make clay that is useable you have to start with just the right mixture of earth and
water. If there is too much water in the clay and it is too wet it will not harden. If it is too soft it
will be too weak to hold up and nothing will be able to be formed from it. If it is too dry it will
crumble and break apart and will be just as useless. There must be a perfect combination of the
two ingredients in order for clay to be useful.
Spiritual application
: In order for man to live he must have a proper mixture of certain
"ingredients" in his environment. Physically we need water, food, and air in order to survive.
These are our most basic needs. We also need heat to keep us warm, light in order to see, clothes
to protect our bodies and shelter to protect us from the elements. We must be able to sleep and
eat in order to strengthen and nourish our bodies.
Just like we need certain "ingredients" in our lives for our physical well-being we also need
certain "ingredients" in our lives for our spiritual existence and growth. We need to read our
Bibles every day in order to know about spiritual matters. Why is Bible reading so important to
the Christian? What effect does the Word of God have on us?
·
Knowledge comes through the Word of God.
·
Faith comes through the Word of God.
·
Salvation comes through the Word of God.
·
Worship comes through the Word of God.
Our second spiritual "ingredient" is our prayer life. We need to have a consistent prayer life so
we can communicate with God. If you want answers to your prayers then whatever you pray for
make sure that it is accordance with God's will. God will not honor selfish requests or things that
go against the Scriptures.
Bible reading and prayer are our two most basic spiritual needs. God teaches us and speaks to us
mainly through the Scriptures but He also speaks to us through our communication with Him in
prayer.
Once the potter has all the necessary ingredients for his clay, he is ready to prepare it for the
wheel. In the potter business this is called “kneading”. This can be “painful” for that lump of
clay.
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The Kneading Process
Once you have mixed the right amounts of both earth and water the clay must be kneaded or
worked with the hands in order to incorporate the ingredients or mix them together.
The reason for the kneading process is two-fold:
·
You must get out all the air bubbles. Any air pockets that are left in the clay will cause
the piece to explode when it is being fired in the kiln.
·
Any grit or foreign particles that are left in the clay will create imperfections and cause
the clay to weaken and to fall apart when it is being thrown on the wheel. The potter
can feel these in the clay as he works it with his hands.
Example:
How many of you have ever kneaded dough to make a pie or bread? It is the same
principle. You have to knead the dough until it is easy enough to work with.
Spiritual application:
In order to be used of God, all the junk, all the imperfections, all the sin,
all of self, must be removed from your life. God cannot
use YOU if there is still some of YOU
left
in YOU. We must have the courage to withstand God’s kneading process. Yes, it can be
painful at the first, but afterwards, sweet peace is ours. We must be willing to allow the potter to
“knead” out our past failures, our fears, our negativity and insecurities that create defeat in our
service for the Potter.
Only when you become an empty vessel can God fill you. If the Holy Spirit tries to fill your life
and there are still some parts of
YOU left in there then only part of Him will be able to fill you.
Some of Him will still be left outside. You will not be totally filled by the Holy Spirit and He
will not have total control. You will still be in there interfering and resisting and trying to be in
charge. It just won't work. In order for you to be totally filled with the Holy Spirit, you must be
totally empty of self.
ILLUSTRATION
: A jar of water that has rocks in it. When you take out all the rocks you will
find that there is room for more water.
During the kneading process the clay is handled roughly by the potter as he works out the
impurities in it. At first the clay itself is abrasive and unresponsive but the more time the potter
spends kneading it the more elastic and pliable it becomes.
Example
: Have ever had to have a massage for a strained muscle or a sore back? It is the same
principle. At first it doesn't feel very good. As a matter of fact at first it usually hurts. But as the
person doing the massage works the sore area with his hands it begins to feel good. And the
better it feels the more relaxed you become and the tension and the soreness soon disappear.
Spiritual application
: If we really do indeed want to be used of God then He has to put us
through the kneading process. If we are responsive and yield to Him then it will be much easier
for Him and easier on us. But the more we resist God the more roughly He has to deal with us. It
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is only when we finally submit to Him totally and willingly that His "kneading" of us becomes
soothing and relaxing and we are healed in our spirit, too.
The Right Atmosphere
Once both the air bubbles and the foreign particles are worked out of the clay it must be kept
moist until it is ready to be used. It has to be kept covered so the moisture stays in it and it
doesn't dry out. It must be kept in a proper environment in order to survive until it is ready to be
shaped.
Spiritual application
: Until God is ready to use us we must also be kept in the proper
environment. Once we are saved we must "come out" of the world. Now how can we do this
when we have to live in the world?
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that
are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in
the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of
God abideth for ever.
There are a few things that we can do in addition to those we have already discussed. Attend
church faithfully and fellowship with the right people. When you are with worldly people you
will have the desires of the world. When you are with godly people you will desire the things of
God. To be ready for the potters wheel, we must live in the right environment.
Now the clay is ready for the potter.
The potter has a lump of pliable clay, fit for the potter’s wheel. It’s pliable, willing and desirous
to be molded into the potter’s vision for the lump.
This is the condition we must have to courage to have. It means giving up our will and bending
to the will of the potter. I often hear the words, “I feel like I’m just going in circles in my
Christian life”. Well, DUH! Guess what, the potter’s wheel goes in circles. And, the more we
resist the potter’s skillful hands, the longer He has to keep us spinning on the wheel. Israel chose
their own will and decided to NOT go into the Promised Land. What happened? God kept them
on the wheel for 40 years trying to mold them to his will. Have you succumbed to the will of the
potter? Or are you going around in circles?
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The Furnace of Fire
The last step is the firing process. The piece cannot be finished or used until it survives this final
phase. The fire is needed to make the piece strong so it will last a long time. If there are still
some tiny impurities in it that the potter couldn't get out then the piece will crack or explode and
be useless.
Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?
for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
There will always be a test. God almost always tests us with something that is very special to us
or important in our lives.
·
Job was tested
·
Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego were tested
·
David was tested
·
Peter was tested
·
What makes us believe we won’t be tested? We must have the courage to complete the
journey.
·
Job stayed right, David and Peter got right. Where are we in the process?
Spiritual application
: Everyone will be tested by fire. Some make it and some don't. Even the
most spiritual looking on the outside can be flawed on the inside. It is a matter of the heart. If the
heart is not right with God then the Christian will surely crack under God's firing process. What
are you going to do? What will your test be? Will you succeed or fail? If you fail, will you stay
defeated or will you humble yourself and get right and rise again to be used of God? The choice
is yours. Don’t be a casualty. Have to courage to allow God to finish His work.
The Final Touches
It is the potter who decorates each piece and gives it its beauty. It must also be glazed for
protection so that it doesn't become marred or damaged.
(
2 Timothy 2:20-21) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but
also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge
himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use,
and prepared unto every good work.
Spiritual application
: Our decoration is the talents that God gives each of us. He gives these to
us to be used not for selfish gain but for Him. He loans them to us. It has been said that if we
don't use the talents God gives us then He will take them away from us.
What talents do you have? You may not think you have any. But everyone has at least one. It
may be an ability to pray. You say, "That's a talent?" Yes, it is. There are many things you can
pray about and many people you can pray for. You may have the “gift of gab”. God can use you
to preach (men) teach or simply share the good news of the Gospel!
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Now let me return to my original question. Are you the potter or the clay? Do you still want
control over your life or are you willing to submit to His authority? Are you willing to let God be
God? Will you allow Him to "knead" you and help you work out the problems in your life? Will
you let him decorate you with talents and then use them for His service? Will you have the
courage to let Him put you through the fire and, like the three Hebrew children, stand
WITH
YOU
in your testing?
The Finished Work
The potter has several choices to make while he is working with a piece of clay. He can finish
the piece he started if he thinks that it is responding to his leading. He can reshape the piece he is
working on as he goes along if he feels it would be better as something else. He can throw away
an unresponsive piece of clay if he feels that it is not going to come out the way that he planned.
Isaiah 30:14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces;
he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from
the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit
.
Spiritual application
: Sometimes we are going in one direction, serving the Lord, and we come
to a place where we have to make a choice. God requires something extra of us to prove how
much we love Him and are willing to serve Him.
A few months ago I thought I was right where God wanted me. Good job, making lots of money,
serving God with what I believed was all my heart, but God decided to put me back on the
wheel. He wasn’t through with me.
BUT ... settle it in your heart now. What will you do if God requires a great sacrifice from you?
The Bible says in
Luke 21:14-15 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what
ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be
able to gainsay nor resist
.
In other words, know now what your answer will be so you don't have to think about it when the
time comes. And be prepared for others not to understand your decision or to try and change
your mind. Why? Because they know they couldn't do what you are being asked. And they also
know that you will grow spiritually beyond them and they are jealous. But don't let these people
stop you from doing what God wants
you to do.
Do you have the courage to stay on the wheel? Are you willing to allow God to complete your
journey? Or do you desire to continue being the potter in your own life?
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The Potter
