Jeremiah 18:16

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Jeremiah 181-6 1 THE WORD which came to Jeremiah
from the Lord 2 Arise and go down to the
potter's house, and there I will cause you to
hear My words. 3 Then I went down to the
potter's house, and behold, he was working at the
wheel. 4 And the vessel that he was making from
clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter so he
made it over, reworking it into another vessel as
it seemed good to the potter to make it. 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? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in
the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house
of Israel.
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I. Jeremiah saw a Picture of The Divine Potter.
(Isa. 2916, 646, Rom. 920-24)
Isa. 2916 Oh, your perversity! You turn things
upside down! Shall the potter be considered of no
more account than the clay? Shall the thing that
is made say of its maker, He did not make me or
the thing that is formed say of him who formed
it, He has no understanding?
Isa. 646 For we have all become like one who is
unclean ceremonially, like a leper, and all our
righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and
justice) is like filthy rags or a polluted
garment we all fade like a leaf, and our
iniquities, like the wind, take us away far from
God's favor, hurrying us toward destruction
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Romans 920-2420 But who are you, a mere man, to
criticize and contradict and answer back to God?
Will what is formed say to him that formed it,
Why have you made me thus? 21 Has the potter no
right over the clay, to make out of the same mass
(lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and
honorable use, and another for menial or ignoble
and dishonorable use? 22 What if God, although
fully intending to show the awfulness of His
wrath and to make known His power and authority,
has tolerated with much patience the vessels
(objects) of His anger which are ripe for
destruction? 23 And what if He thus purposes
to make known and show the wealth of His glory in
dealing with the vessels (objects) of His mercy
which He has prepared beforehand for glory, 24
Even including ourselves whom He has called, not
only from among the Jews but also from among the
Gentiles (heathen)?
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I. Jeremiah saw a Picture of The Divine Potter.
a.
What we should learn from this? A fresh glimpse
of the authority of God. Just as the Potter has
full authority over the clay, God, the Divine
Potter, has full authority over our lives. And
Jeremiah saw the Sovereignty of God. The clay
never tells the Potter what kind of vessel it
wants to be.
And why should it be easy to say YES to the
Potter?

• The Potter knows the origin of the clay.

• The Potter knows the nature of the clay

• The Potter knows what is the best use for the
  clay

• The Potter knows how to properly handle the clay

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I. Jeremiah saw a Picture of The Divine Potter.
b.
Jeremiah also gained a fresh glimpse of the
ability of God. Its interesting to see what a
potter can do with dirt? But its far more
inspiring to see what the Divine Potter can do
with human lives that are valueless, or marred by
failures.
Notice two facts about the potters ability.

• His ability is creative- Divine Potter has
  ability to make something out of nothing.

• His ability is reconstructive- There is no vessel
  so damaged or marred but what it can be redeemed.

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I. Jeremiah saw a Picture of The Divine Potter.
c.
At the potters house Jeremiah gained a fresh
glimpse of the activity of God. (v.3) He saw
three things from which he gained some
interesting lessons

• He saw the potter busy in his house.

• He saw the potter busy with his hands.

• He saw the potter busy with his tools.

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II. He Saw A Picture Of A Divine Purpose.
Five facts we should remember concerning Gods
purposes
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His purposes can be fulfilled only as we stay on
the wheel. Keep totally surrendered to the
Potter.
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His purposes may not always be suddenly known.
The potter doesnt make instant vessels.
(Psa. 254-5 Isa. 4031)
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II. He Saw A Picture Of A Divine Purpose.
Psalms 254-5 4 Show me Your ways, O Lord teach
me Your paths.5 Guide me in Your truth and
faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of
my salvation for You You only and altogether
do I wait expectantly all the day long.
Isaiah 4031 But those who wait for the Lord who
expect, look for, and hope in Him shall change
and renew their strength and power they shall
lift their wings and mount up close to God as
eagles mount up to the sun they shall run and
not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or
become tired.
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II. He Saw A Picture Of A Divine Purpose.
Five facts we should remember concerning Gods
purposes
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His purposes may not be the same for every
individual. In every house there are various
kinds of vessels- not all are the same.
(II Tim. 220)
2 Tim. 220 But in a great house there are not
only vessels of gold and silver, but also
utensils of wood and earthenware, and some for
honorable and noble use and some for menial and
ignoble use.
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II. He Saw A Picture Of A Divine Purpose.
Five facts we should remember concerning Gods
purposes
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His purposes may not be the same for every
individual. In every house there are various
kinds of vessels- not all are the same.
(II Tim. 220)
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His purposes always support our best interests.
We can trust the Potter with our lives.
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II. He Saw A Picture Of A Divine Purpose.
Five facts we should remember concerning Gods
purposes
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His purpose is to make vessels that are useful.
(II Tim. 221)
2 Tim. 221 So whoever cleanses himself from
what is ignoble and unclean, who separates
himself from contact with contaminating and
corrupting influences will then himself be a
vessel set apart and useful for honorable and
noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the
Master, fit and ready for any good work.
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III. He Saw A Picture Of A Divine Persistence
Probably no greater parable in all of Scripture
that shows us the indomitable and unconquerable
patience of the Divine Potter. Look once more
at the Potter
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There is a disappointed Potter- the clay wasnt
responding to his touch.
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This is a determined Potter. Do you see what He
did compared to what He could have done? Re-made
it.
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Here is a dynamic Potter. He can change lives.
By His grace He can take our very mistakes and
blunders, our false choices And wrong turns, and
over-rule them. He can also work them into a
design that he wants for our lives.
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III. He Saw A Picture Of A Divine Persistence
Probably no greater parable in all of Scripture
that shows us the indomitable and unconquerable
patience of the Divine Potter. Look once more
at the Potter
1
There is a disappointed Potter
2
This is a determined Potter.
3
Here is a dynamic Potter.
Note carefully this doesnt mean that our
mistakes and sins are excusable and not all that
serious. It simply means that where sins
abounds, grace much more abounds.
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