The Potter and the Clay Jeremiah 18 : Rock or Clay

The Potter and the Clay 1. When I was a kid on the Farm in Southern Ohio, we were not the richest farmers around and worked pretty hard most days of the week, however sometimes when we had time to play - we liked play with our “homemade” marbles that we made form clay that we dug out of the hill side at a special place on the farm. It was good clay, it didn’t have much debris or dirt or pebbles to keep the clay from holding together in the shape we needed. After digging it out and cleaning it up some more from what it already was, we shaped/molded it into the “right” size marbles we wanted and baked it in mom’s oven until they were finished and would withstand the vigorous use we would put them through in playing marbles.

The Potter and the Clay Most of them turned out to be pretty good ones. However there were times when some did not last very long because of some impurity in them that we did not see and it caused the marble to break open and be of no use to us. We threw those away. We were able to mold the clay into something useful, something that we had fun with and passed the time away in enjoyment, the bad ones we just discarded, we could not reshape them and start over again, they were of no use to us.

The Potter and the Clay 2. Several years ago I baptized a rock in I have had that rock with me ever since that date. Here it is. And the thing that I have noticed about that rock is that it never changes in shape or size, it never gets off the shelf that I placed it on, never moves until I move the rock myself. It has never invited anyone to church, it doesn’t go out door knocking, it hardly ever attends services unless I go get it, pick it up, and bring it in to services myself. Some day I shall throw the Rock away.

The Potter and the Clay 3.It is not very moldable as you can see and it shows this by the way it has not changed since the day I baptized it. 4.It just sat here through the Month of April and “listened” to 4 Sermons on “The Agony and Glory of the Cross” 5.It never shed a tear, it never invited anyone to come hear any of the messages, it did not change any of it’s behaviors, it did not respond in any positive way that can be identified by anyone who has seen it sitting here. It has not changed since 1988

The Potter and the Clay 6. How Moldable are we? A. Has God’s Word Transformed You, Molded You into what He wants, not what we want? B. He is the Potter and we are to be the moldable clay in His Hands much like this molding clay that I have here in my hands. And-Not like the Rock laying there doing nothing.

The Potter and the Clay I. Jeremiah and the People of JUDAH and THOSE OF JERUSALEM A. Jeremiah has been called by God to plead with His people to return to Following after Him. For more than 40 years he proclaims a message of doom to the people of Judah who would not repent and come back to the Ways of God. Through his sermons, signs and tears he faithfully declares that SURRENDER to God’s will is the only way to escape the calamity that waits if they do not. JEREMIAH 1:4-19.

The Potter and the Clay A. Paul uses those times in their lives as examples for us to look back upon – and learn from for our own good. - I CORINTHINAS 10:11 “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

The Potter and the Clay 2. In our Text (JEREMIAH 18:1-11)– God wants Jeremiah to again address the people and try to get them to correct the errors of their ways before He will cast them away.

The Potter and the Clay A. It is interesting to note that He want Jeremiah to Go to the Potter’s House to have a “VISUAL” UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HE WANTS CONVEYED TO THE PEOPLE - Verse 2

The Potter and the Clay B. There was something wrong with what He was shaping and so he smashes the Clay back down and starts over. There are many things we can take from this, but for our lesson we want to note that the Clay was not shaping into what the Potter wanted it to be. It was rejected. VERSE 4

The Potter and the Clay C. Israel and Judea are compared to this illustration and warned that the Potter can do with the Clay as he pleases when the Clay, that which is being fashioned is not according to what He wants it to be. Verses 5-11

The Potter and the Clay II. WE ARE ADMONISHED IN THE SAME WAY REGARDING OUR LIVES 1. When we become a member of the Lord’s Body it is because a NEW CREATURE has been created, but only if we are allowing the Word of God to Shape us. ROMANS 6:4 “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into his death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.”

The Potter and the Clay A. Have we been Changed, Molded by His Word? Or are we like that Rock laying there? B.Paul Writes in ROMANS 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and ACCEPTABLE and perfect will of God.”

The Potter and the Clay C. Again in EPHESIANS 4:17 – 24 He writes to not walk as others walk in this life. “….that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

The Potter and the Clay 2.When we consider our own lives – Can we say we are (were) a new creature, a new person, that we are not conforming the way of the world, rather we are transforming the world to the way of God?

Conclusion 1. Are we more like the Rock here or are we more like the Clay? 2. God is the Potter and we are/need to be the Clay. 3. There is great calamity awaiting for those who do not allow God and His Word to mold their Lives, like the Rock here we will be discarded one day. 4. There is a great Reward for those who will allow him to Mold them into what He wants us to be. 5. When we allow Him to shape us we can receive his Wonderful Blessings. (HOLDING UP THE BOWL)

What MUST You Do to Be Saved? Hear The Word Of God Romans 10:17 Believe His Word Mark 16:16, John 8:24 Repent of your sins Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38 Confess your belief Romans 10:10, Acts 8:37 Be Baptized Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38 For the Remission of Your Sins Acts 22:16 Galatians 3:26, 27 Live Faithfully Titus 2:11-14