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Topic: Beginnings (05/31/04)
TITLE: The Hand of the Potter By Ray Hoover 06/03/04 |
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Now let us read Philippians 1:6. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”. When you became born again, God began a good work in you. In Jeremiah chapter 18 Jeremiah was told to go to the potter’s house. There Jeremiah saw the potter take a marred vessel and remake it into another vessel. The point I am trying to make is we are put on the Potter’s wheel when we are born again. We sing a song that has lyrics that go like this; “You are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, this is what I pray”. Throughout our Christian life we are always on the Potter’s wheel, constantly being molded and shaped so that Christ will be formed in us. Each trial and test that comes our way is like the unseen fingers of the Potter’s hand molding and shaping us. Reacting in a negative manner to these tests will not benefit us as far as maturing as a Christian. Responding in a positive manner to these tests will cause Christ to be formed in us.
How do we become moldable clay for the Potter? Isaiah 1:19 and 20 will shed some light on this question. “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword”. As long as we are willing and obedient we are moldable clay. But when we refuse and rebel we are hardened clay. Have you ever tried to reshape and mold clay that has sat unused for years and has hardened? It is almost impossible. One time I had the privilege to watch a potter making clay pottery on his wheel. He was constantly dipping his hand in water and applying the water to the clay. This caused the clay to remain moldable and pliable in his hand. Water represents the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. (John 16:13) We need to continually yield to the Holy Spirit to remain moldable.
Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, help us to remain moldable in Your hand’s. Help us to see that refusing and rebelling will not only harden us but also keep us from having Your blessings in our lives. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.