The Potter and the Clay Jeremiah 18:1-6, NIV This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 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. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "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.” This morning I'd like to share a message with you entitled, "The Potter and the Clay." A potter uses clay to make bowls that we use in our daily lives. God describes himself as the potter and humans as the clay. Through the process that the potter takes to create a bowl from clay, we can realize the Grace of God that turns us into the bowl God wants us to be. 1. Finding Good Clay Did you ever observe how a potter works? He doesn’t just go and get clay from anywhere. That’s not true. Earthenware cannot be made from any clay. A potter must find clay that is good to make earthenware. When God prepared a heavenly kingdom for us, God did not just call anybody “Come here, come over here.” No! He didn’t do that. Like a potter, our God searches for His people. He chose very carefully His servants who work for the Kingdom of Heaven. You are His chosen people. Our forefathers developed special skills to make beautiful porcelains. For example Goryeo blue porcelain and white porcelain of the Lee dynasty are well-known as great works of art around the world. For making good ceramics we still use clay of Goryeong. Originally in a province called Kaoru in China, there was high quality clay. In Korea we call it Goryeong. At Hadong province in Korea we can find equally good quality clay. The clay in this area has a slightly gray color. This clay is excellent for making white porcelain of the Lee dynasty, Bun-choeng pottery; and it is also used for white decorations on blue porcelain. Today Korea is exporting the clay of Hadong to Japan who also make porcelain with it. High quality ceramics come from good clay. A potter cannot use normal clay to make beautiful porcelain. A potter looks for good clay. Equally so, God does not take any person and turn him into a heavenly bowl. We invite people to church and among them there are those who are chosen by God. We cannot persuade people to become Christians. One must be chosen by God. He will listen to the Gospel and answer to God. Why then should we go out to evangelize people? It’s because we don’t know who is chosen by God. We preach the Gospel continually and later we’ll see the work of God. Even today, God is looking for His person, just like a potter who is looking for good clay. Romans 9:11 says, “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election might stand:” God made a choice. The Bible says even before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, God loved Jacob but hated Esau. Why? We don’t have any choice. Not by our works but by God’s will. He will do His will. We cannot enter the Kingdom of God by our will. God’s calling must be given to us. Romans 9:15-16 says, “‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.” Even though we wish to become children of God, we cannot make it come true. Although we want to be chosen by God, we cannot persuade Him. Only by God’s grace we can be saved. “Oh, what shall I do then? Even if I am sitting here, what if I am not chosen by God?” No! The people who are not chosen cannot confess that Jesus is their Lord. They cannot call God ‘Abba Father’. Since God had chosen us, He gave us hearts for confessing that Jesus Christ is our Lord and God is our Father. Because the Holy Spirit is within us, we can believe. Romans 9:21-24 says, “Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath-prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory- even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 2. Digging Out the Clay and Taking It To the Storehouse After a potter finds his clay, he begins to dig it out and take it to the storehouse. He cannot start to work on the clay on the hillside or field where he found it. He will carry the clay to his workplace. The clay cannot be used as it is because it has many impurities. It must be washed with water. When God calls man, He guides him to a church and without fail, puts him through a cleansing process of repentance. Making pottery has it’s process. The clay must be washed with water. Making citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom also has a process. God chooses his children and brings them to the church to wash their sins away. Through the precious Blood of Christ, he will go through repentance and confession. Matthew 4:17 Jesus says, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Ephesians 1:7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace” Look! When we come to church, Jesus cleanses us through His precious Blood on the cross. He removes all kinds of stains and purifies us as clean as snow. There’s a hymn that goes like this. What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. For my cleansing, this I see, nothing but the blood of Jesus; For my pardon, this my plea, nothing but the blood of Jesus. O precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus. The Blood of Jesus Christ is everlasting evidence that He paid the whole penalty of our sins on the cross. When we come to Jesus, He receives us. He forgives us and makes us righteous through His Blood just like we’ve never committed sin before. One time I read an article in a Christian magazine. A well known Christian evangelist, Billy Graham, was leading a revival meeting in London. A pastor’s wife came to the rally and took a seat near the entrance. There were two strong young men sitting right next to her. As soon as they sat down, they kept talking loudly. They used unspeakable foul language at Pastor Billy Graham who was preaching. The pastor’s wife began to pray “Father God, please make them stop talking. By the power of the Holy Spirit let them be quiet.” These strong men’s voices got smaller until they did not talk to each other anymore. They began to carefully listen to the sermon. After the sermon Billy Graham invited people to Jesus. “Repent of your sins. If anybody wants to accept Jesus, please stand up right now and come up here.” While the congregation sang a hymn one of the two young men stood up and said to his companion. “I want to go up there. Hey, will you come with me?” The other man hesitantly replied. “Here you are.” He pulled out a wallet from his pocket and handed it to the other man. “Oh, that’s mine. Why do you have my wallet?” “I’m a pickpocket. I came here to pick somebody’s pocket. I talked with you because I intended to steal your wallet. I cannot go to the pastor without returning this wallet to you. I want to repent of my sin. Please take this.” Both of the men went up to the pulpit for repentance. The lady was touched as she watched what happened with these two men. After we receive Jesus as our Savior we should be changed and bear fruit. A pickpocket said “Lord, I’m stealing. Help me. Thanks.” That’s not salvation. Salvation will prove itself. A person with a hot temper should be softer in character. A liar should stop lying. Salvation shows us the way we should follow. After we are saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit and our character will be built into holiness. Salvation changes our life; and throughout our whole life we will experience His salvation. We receive salvation in a moment but from that moment onward our personality will be changed continually until we enter into God’s Heavenly Kingdom by the help of the Holy Spirit. This process of sanctification is really difficult. We receive salvation when we repent of our sins by the grace of Jesus Christ. Then the Holy Spirit comes to us and creates us into a new creation. He makes us into the image of Jesus. Through the process of new creation, we will be completely broken. A potter searches for clay and digs it out. He takes it to the workhouse and washes all kinds of impurities from it. The whole process takes a pretty long time. 3. Breaking the Clay To Make It Soft After a potter cleanses the clay with water, it must be soft and flexible in the potter’s hand. Sometimes a potter uses a hammer and bat to break the clay. He can go on to the next process after the clay becomes soft. Our God breaks us before He uses us. After He washes us with the precious Blood of Jesus, we become tender. Through all hardship and tribulation we lay ourselves down in front of the Lord and obey Him absolutely with a soft heart. God cannot use people who are rebellious, arrogant, and stubborn. As long as they are against the Word of God, they cannot be made into God’s bowls. Those who become soft can be made into a bowl that God desires. Let’s examine ourselves. Ask yourself how soft you are. When I put my hand on my chest, I feel 70% soft. It is so difficult to be broken. But if you are not broken, you cannot be used by God. We must be broken. 1 Peter 1:14-15 says, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;” From the time a secular person becomes a Christian, he begins to go through the process of sanctification. The clay is put on a potter’s wheel to be made into a bowl that the potter desires. Next a potter places a ball of soft clay in the center of a wheel-head which he rotates with foot power. During the process of throwing, the wheel rotates rapidly and the potter shapes the pottery with his hands as it turns on the wheel. Jeremiah 18:3-6 says, “So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 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. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "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.” Please repeat after me. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.” You are in God’s hand and He is shaping you into bowls. You’re sitting in the church now and God is shaping you. The One, who knew you before the creation of the world, called you by name and placed you in His wheel. He is forming you. Can you feel His touch? Without ceasing God changes us from all sides. God is shaping us as seems best to Him. During the process of shaping, our stubbornness will be broken. Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” On His wheel, God is shaping us into apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Not according to our will but according to His will. God prepares His people for works of service. Romans 12:6-8 says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” It is God who gives us different gifts. In His hand we are made. Even right now He is forming us according to His grace. We are the clay and God is our potter. He entrusts His servants with heavenly tasks. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. With His hand, God breaks us to be soft. Through tribulation and testing we will be broken and then God shapes us into pottery as God desires. I read a story of Yong-Bok Kim from Kukmin Daily News paper and Christian Herald. I was touched by the story. Yong-Bok, Kim was a successful CEO. He did not believe in God. He thought he was prosperous by his own ability. But God chose him as His clay. God let him fail in his business. He was up to his ears in debt and his company went bankrupt. He felt heavy with worries and continued drinking. He became a heavy drinker. One day someone led him to God. After he turned to Jesus, he experienced joy and happiness in his heart. He prayed fervently. In his prayer God told him “I want to make you rich.” “How am I supposed to be rich? I failed. I’m empty-handed.” “Go to Saudi Arabia. Do cabbage farming.” “What? Everywhere is sand. It’s hard to live there with 122 degrees Fahrenheit. How can I do cabbage farming there?” “Go there and do it. Obedience is what faith is all about.” Everybody thought it was impossible. No one tried to do this before in Saudi Arabia. But he prayed and followed God’s guidance. He went to the land of Near East. He rented some land and paid people to do cabbage farming. Many times they sowed seeds but every time the plants dried and died because of the heat. Yong-Bok Kim was almost giving up. This time he prayed again. “You’re my people. Commit everything to me. I’ll do it.” “I did my best, Lord!” “Just keep doing. Rely on me!” God gave him wisdom and he accumulated knowledge on how to do the job. Finally he could see good results. His cabbages were growing so quickly. Orders were pouring in for the cabbage. Some of the rich landowners in Saudi Arabia asked Yong-Bok Kim to develop their lands and even the Saudi Arabian government gave him a prize called “Leader of Green Revolution.” He became the owner of 860 acres of land. He earned a huge amount of foreign currency and the Korean government awarded a medal on him for it. Now he is helping students with scholarships. He wants to share God’s grace with others. Once he went totally bankrupt. He thought it’s over but God took him and put him in His pottery turntable. There’s a process of breaking by God. Through trials and sufferings we learn how to obey and trust in God. God shapes such soft people into His servants. He has a plan for us. He leads us according to His will. Therefore, when we face problems and trials, don’t be disappointed. It doesn’t come to interrupt your way. God wants you to overcome difficulties and live a good life. God is making you to obey Him. That’s why He allows us to go through trials. God wants us to live an abundant life. 4. Baking the Clay In a Kiln Now it’s time for baking the clay in a kiln. After the potter decorates and glazes the clay bowl, it will be fired at temperatures in the range of about 1000 - 1400 degrees Celsius. Proverbs 27:21 says, “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.” A Japanese company held a job interview with applicants on the summit of Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 meters above sea level. Every applicant must have had a hard time getting to the top of the mountain. They would have run up the mountain with a sweat. As they climbed the mountain breathing hard, their hearts must have pounded painfully. Why did they have their interviews on the top of the mountain? The company had decided to hire employees who had both physical and mental strength. They tested their applicants to get the men who could work the hardest for their company. So they observed who could reach the summit of Mount Fuji. Our God wants us to endure hardships. He puts us in a spiritual kiln. He will use us after we are fired at high temperatures. God bakes us in the oven of the Holy Spirit. James 1:3-4 says, “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The way we mature in the kiln of the Holy Spirit is achieved by peak tribulations and then we will be put into God’s work through His will. We are influenced not only by good things, but also by endurance in God’s spiritual kiln. As God’s tool we need to be changed. We develop required maturity through brokenness and repentance. That’s why God allows us to go through severe trials. 1 Peter 4:12-13 says, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” God is baking you and me in His kiln now. 1 Peter 5:10 also says, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” Let’s take a look! Through suffering and tribulation God makes us mature and complete. He changes us into a new creation. Then the clay becomes a product that is sold all throughout. People love beautiful porcelains which are achieved not only by high temperatures, but also by the duration of the period of firing. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” We become bowls to help other people to believe in God. Through us they will listen to the Word of God and they may be saved. Since we become God’s bowls, whatever we do, we do it for the Glory of God. Remember, for His work, God called us out of this world. He carried us into His heavenly house. He washed us with the precious Blood of Jesus, broke us through trials, shaped us into bowls which He desires, and baked us in the kiln of the Holy Spirit. He changed us into new people. After all these processes we become God’s people and manifest His Glory for carrying the Gospel. Timothy 2:20-21 says, “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” God has made us into all kinds of bowls of gold, silver and clay for His purposes which are all holy. Our Master prepared us to do good work of heavenly glory. We should examine whether we are well-made, well-baked, and if there are any pieces chipped off. God will make us to become the heavenly bowls that please Him. Let’s pray together. Our heavenly Father! We are the clay and You are the potter. We are in Your hand. Thank you for what you have done in us. You chose us and carried us to church. You cleansed us with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit You changed us. Even though we are broken, we still give thanks to You, because we know you will sanctify us through the fire of testing and tribulations. You make us soft and put us on the potter’s wheel to shape us into faithful servants whom You trust. You bake us in Your holy kiln. According to Your will we are being changed. Let us be useful for the Kingdom of God. Help us to carry Your glory and preach the precious Gospel unto the world. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen. 1