The Potter and a Jar of Clay

Jeremiah 18:1-6 (NIV)

“1 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 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”


Introduction: God spoke figuratively to His people about the potter and a jar of clay. God likens himself to the potter and His people to a jar of clay.


1. The Potter who looks for good clay.
1) The potter does not use normal clay.
　　2) A good jar is created from good clay.
　　3) Not just anyone can become a citizen of heaven (Jn 1:12-13).
　　4) It is by God's choice and plan (Ro 9:10-13; 9:21-24; Eph 1:4-6; 1:11-12).
　　

2. The Potter who prepares the clay.
　　1) The potter washes the clay - Jesus cleanses those who are saved by
　　 His precious blood (Eph 1:7).
　　2) The potter crushes the clay - God crushes people, making them repent
　　(1Jn 1:9; Heb 12:11).
　　3) The clay has to be soft and sticky - We must obey and follow God (1Pe 1:14-15).


3. The Potter puts the clay on a wheel and makes a jar.
1) The pot is shaped as seems best to the potter.
　　 ⊙ God shapes us as seems best to Him.
　　 ⓛ Servants of God (Eph 4:11-12).
　　 ② Members of the church (Ro 12:5-8).
　　2) When the clay is marred in the potter's hands, the potter forms it into
　　 another pot (Jer 18:3-4).
　　ⓛ When one disobeys God's will, He will turn him into an ugly jar.
　　② When the clay cannot be used, the potter will throw it away (Jer 18:9-10).


4. The Potter draws a pattern on the jar and bakes it in a kiln.
　　1) God gives us special gifts and bakes us in the fire of the Holy Spirit (1Co 12:7-11).
　　2) The baked jar will be a product to serve people.
　　 - We become jars to serve God, church, and neighbor (2Ti 2:20-21).


Conclusion: We are a jar of clay created by the hands of God our Potter, or we are already well baked and have become a useful jar. We must be a jar of clay used only for the glory of God.