“Can You Hold This For Me?”

 

Jeremiah 18:1-4 (KJV) 1The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.   3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

 

Psalm 51:5 (KJV) 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

 

Intro: Jeremiah is a prophet of God who is assigned to the southern kingdom 

 Judah. He was a prophet that declared judgement based on Israel’s rebellion, but He was also one the prophesied hope, restoration and redemption based on Israel turning back to God. Sidebar: The King had him jailed, because of the prophetic warning of destruction he gave to Judah. 

 

*We do God a disservice when we only tell 1 side of the story and claim to represent him. To the degree that we declare or warn of destruction we should also declare the love and mercy of God based on us turning to him. We also must be sure to not only represent the merciful and patient side of God, but also be willing to declare the judgement of God when required. 

 

*John 1:14(KJV) 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of GRACE AND TRUTH. 

 

*James 2:13 (KJV)13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

 

Vs. 2a. Jeremiah go DOWN to the potter’s house (Jeremiah needed to DOWN to where the potter was because he was stationed at the temple which was located on higher ground)

 

*This is the mode God has us (the Body of Christ) in right now. This is the time where we have to leave our churches and places of normalcy and comfort in order to get to the folks that need help. Are you willing to “go down”? Will we embrace the humility necessary to “go down”.  We must be willing to “GO DOWN”!!  Jesus serves as our greatest example of humility and what it means to “go down”. 

 

*Philippians 2:7-9 (KJV)

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

 

Vs 2b. “THERE” is where I will cause you to hear my words…

*God will not entrust his word to those who are only willing to hear him from the familiar place or place of comfort 

 

Vs. 3 He wrought a “work” on the wheels. We are clay on the wheel (God’s wheels). The wheel is spinning everyday, all day, it never stops. God is always working on and in us. 

*God desires to use us. We all have a role in the plan of God, but we have to stay on the wheel. No one is exempt, He has a will & purpose for our lives. 

 

*Ephesians 2:10 King James Version (KJV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

Job 33:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. *In all that Job went through, he had sense enough to remember that he was clay in God’s hands. Remembering that you’re in God’s hands helps your to endure instead of giving up.

 

-Stay on the Wheel!!: Don’t allow distractions, challenges or drama (ex. COVID, fear, lack of familiar contact or fellowship w/believers, etc.) to tempt you to get off the Potter’s Wheel. Hold on to your faith and allow the Holy Spirit to continue to complete the work in you. *Philippians 1:6 (KJV) 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

Vs. 4a The vessel he made of clay was “marred” 

hebrew meaning of marred: behave corruptly, ruin, destroyed, flawed

By nature we are all corrupted and flawed until we surrender to Christ.

 

Psalm 51:5 paraphrase “Born in sin, shaped in iniquity 

*Based on the fall of Adam we all enter this world in sin. Iniquity is what shapes us. Iniquity-to twist, bent, misdeeds, sinful behavior *Our actions (whether right or wrong) shape us and our future generations) The sinful condition of our hearts before committing to Jesus will manifest in our actions, words and deeds. This causes us “as clay” to become marred/flawed/ruined.

 

Vs. 4b So he made it another vessel as seemed good to the potter

*Notice the text doesn’t say he replace the clay, it says that he made it again “another vessel” as seemed good to the potter. Thank God he doesn’t trade us off for another fresh or new batch of clay like we do to each other. 

 

He holds onto us and shapes us in a way that pleases HIM (It’s all about HIM). 

-When the vessel is shaped it is baked in intense fire, the heats and seals it so that nothing can penetrate it. This is what God does with us. He turns on the heat and allows us to be tested with and experience “fiery trials”.

 

*1 Peter 4:12-13 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

 

-The purpose of a “vessel” is to hold or contain… If the clay is marred (by sin, lack of time w/God, loss of passion for God, decrease in focus of God, etc.) the vessel (when exposed to the fire) will become cracked and it’s capacity is compromised. 

God’s got something he wants you to receive and hold. God is saying “Hold This For Me”. God is asking, here’s some revelation, joy, peace, love, power, grace, strength, endurance, etc. “Can you hold this for me, so I can work through you?”  

 

Romans 15:13 (KJV) 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

John 1:16 (KJV) 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.