Clay or Silly Putty?

Clay or Silly Putty?

2006023

Topic # 1381 (submission)

Introduction:

A. Reference to the potter and clay is made on several occasions in scripture. Both OT & NT.

1. These references are significant and have powerful spiritual implications.

2. Jer. 18:1-12 – Israel was like clay in the hands of a potter.

3. Rom. 9:18-21 – all of mankind is like clay in the potter’s hands.

4. Isa. 45:8-9 – principle repeated here.

B. Pottery making a major part of ancient world.

1. Process that we may not be as familiar with today.

2. But…there is a lot involved in the process of making a clay pot.

a) In essence, the potter is an artist w/vision – vision in seeing what can come out of slimy mud.

b) Clay was placed on the potter’s wheel and molded/shaped by the potter’s hands.

c) After molding it in the correct shape/form it was placed in an oven where it was baked so it could stand on its own.

d) Then it would be decorated and prepared for use.

C. In scripture, God is the potter. We are the clay.

1. But unlike the muddy clay we have on earth, each one of us is clay with a will.

2. If you’ve ever been in pottery class, you’ve never had any clay demand what it wanted to be.

a) Clay powerless over your will – totally subject to your design.

3. Humans, however, are clay with a will. That is a significant difference.

a) God may have significant plans for our life. But we may never see it because of our own free will.

b) How pliable are we? How must do we trust God in letting Him design/shape/mold us into the kind of person He wants us to be?

D. It has been said there is a difference between clay and silly putty. Clay conforms and can be molded. Silly putty wants to do its own thing.

E. Jer 18 – all scripture has a primary message and all scripture has a personal application.

1. Primary message: Israel had turned away from God. God allowed them to be broken in an attempt to get them to turn back to Him. God allows Jeremiah to see the potter at work to show what God would do with Israel.

2. Personal application: each one of us needs to see ourselves as the clay on the potter’s wheel, being molded into a vessel for the Potter’s sake.

F. So…are we like clay in God’s hands – or silly putty? How open are we to God in letting Him mold us into something useful and beautiful and precious in His sight?

I. What kind of clay is unusable?

A. Clay that is bone dry.

1. Do we know of, or are you a person who has allowed your spiritual life to dry up?

2. There is a time when people’s hearts are soft, moldable, and pliable.

a) But over time, allow spiritual life to dry up.

b) Their life becomes hard, bone dry. Nothing can penetrate it.

1. Jer. 18:12 – wasn’t this the way Israel had become?

c) Hear word preached; may attend services; but it all has no more effect on their life anymore.

d) These are those who have closed their lives off to spiritual truth.

e) This is the person described in 2 Pet. 2:20-22.

f) This is the person described in Heb. 3:13; 10:26-31.

3. When people get to this point God can do absolutely nothing with them. (Remember, we are clay w/a free will.) And as long as a person remains this way God can not shape the pot to His liking.

4. If you find yourself w/this kind of heart – humble yourself to Him. You don’t have to hit rock bottom before coming back.

B. Clay that lacks moisture.

1. Here we are talking about clay that is soft enough to exist, but can not be used. It is soft, but not soft enough to be moldable for the potter’s use.

2. Isn’t this the place that many believers are today?

a) A superficial relationship? Have believed and been baptized…but that’s about it. Not grounded.

b) Might be Christians who love God, go to church, believe in salvation, but that is as far as it goes – never completely surrendering their will to God.

c) How many live life for themselves? Refuse to let the Potter mold them?

d) Am I someone God can do nothing with because I won’t soften up enough to be used? (Silly putty who wants to do it’s own thing?)

3. Lack of moisture? Add water. Water is associated with life. (AZ desert)

a) John 4:13-14 – the water that leads to life is found in God’s word.

b) James 4:6-10 – draw near to God in humility and submission.

c) We can yield our life to God through the influence of the Spirit – the application of His word.

C. God cannot use clay with hidden air (sin).

1. Potters can place clay on a wheel, complete it to where it looks beautiful. But the final test always tells the potter whether or not the clay is pure.

a) only fire can reveal the last defect. Some clay has hidden air pockets. Can’t see them or feel them.

b) Potter places clay into fire – heats up – trapped air expands and explodes pot.

2. There are many Christians who have the appearance they have it all together.

a) know all right words to say; attend all the services; do all the right things…look like a finished vessel.

b) But may be harboring hidden sin. (lust, pride, lack of integrity, anger; vices)

3. When God turns of the fire – the hidden things are revealed.

a) Mt. 10:26

b) God has His ways of turning up the fire in our lives. If we have hidden sin – we are a vessel God cannot use unless we confess it and turn from it.

c) Psa. 32:5; Pro. 28:13

d) Hidden sin is nothing to play with.

II. What if you have been clay that God can’t use?

A. Jer 18:4 – He remade it.

1. Our first inclination would be to throw it out. Get some new clay & start over!

2. Not with God! He wishes to start over – remake us into the kind of person we need to be!

B. Think of those in scripture who have been remade.

1. David; Jonah; Peter

C. Think of yourself. Perhaps today you are living under a dark cloud of defeat/despair.

1. Perhaps there is sin in your life & you feel broken.

a) Satan says…God is finished with you. There’s no use.

2. It’s not that way! God will forgive you and make you again.

3. As long as we’re alive – God is not finished with us.

a) get up! Lift up your head. God will remake you if you will surrender to His will.

D. Christianity is the source of joy and happiness in our lives!

1. God is patient with us – the clay in His hands. See Psa. 103:14.

2. Remember…God has quite an investment in our lives – Jesus shed His blood to save us from sin.

a) the clay He is fashioning is not cheap clay! It is the most expensive in the universe!

b) Praise God that He loves us enough to be patient with us!

E. Psa. 40:1-4. To anyone else we may look like a pile of mud. But God sees a vessel of honor!

1. God sees what we can be!

2. the only difference in you and the you God sees is your willingness to be molded by Him!

3. 1 Cor. 6:9-10. What were these people? Would we have considered these people worthy of our time? Evangelism?

4. 1 Cor. 6:11 – and such were some of you…

F. What was one of the chief complaints about Jesus? Mk. 2:16. These were the ones with pliable and moldable hearts who had been broken with sin.

1. We’re no different than they are. We’ve all been broken by sin. Let’s all humble ourselves before God!

2. We all need His grace!

Conclusion:

A. Are you like clay or silly putty? Have you a heart that is willing to be molded or do you just want to do your own thing?

B. If you are defeated and discouraged because of disobedience, pay close attention to God’s word!

C. Compare Jer. 18:4 with 2 Cor. 5:17-18

D. You can become a new creation through Christ! Don’t continue to punish yourself and live under a dark cloud!

1. God will forgive. God will forget. God will bring you out into the sunlight of His blessing. He will make you again!

2. All He asks is that you surrender.

E. He is the Potter, you are the clay. The Potter has the plan!

F. Won’t you let him make you again?

G. I N V I T A T I O N



Clay or Silly Putty? 2006023 Topic # 1381 (submission) Introduction: A. Reference to the potter and clay is made on several occasions in scripture. Both OT & NT. 1. These references are significant and have powerful spiritual implications. 2. Jer. 18:1-12 – Israel was like clay in the hands of a potter. 3. Rom. 9:18-21 – all of mankind is like clay in the potter’s hands. 4. Isa. 45:8-9 – principle repeated here. B. Pottery making a major part of ancient world. 1. Process that we may not be as familiar with today. 2. But…there is a lot involved in the process of making a clay pot. a) In essence, the potter is an artist w/vision – vision in seeing what can come out of slimy mud. b) Clay was placed on the potter’s wheel and molded/shaped by the potter’s hands. c) After molding it in the correct shape/form it was placed in an oven where it was baked so it could stand on its own. d) Then it would be decorated and prepared for use. C. In scripture, God is the potter. We are the clay. 1. But unlike the muddy clay we have on earth, each one of us is clay with a will. 2. If you’ve ever been in pottery class, you’ve never had any clay demand what it wanted to be. a) Clay powerless over your will – totally subject to your design. 3. Humans, however, are clay with a will. That is a significant difference. a) God may have significant plans for our life. But we may never see it because of our own free will. b) How pliable are we? How must do we trust God in letting Him design/shape/mold us into the kind of person He wants us to be? D. It has been said there is a difference between clay and silly putty. Clay conforms and can be molded. Silly putty wants to do its own thing. E. Jer 18 – all scripture has a primary message and all scripture has a personal application. 1. Primary message: Israel had turned away from God. God allowed them to be broken in an attempt to get them to turn back to Him. God allows Jeremiah to see the potter at work to show what God would do with Israel. 2. Personal application: each one of us needs to see ourselves as the clay on the potter’s wheel, being molded into a vessel for the Potter’s sake. F. So…are we like clay in God’s hands – or silly putty? How open are we to God in letting Him mold us into something useful and beautiful and precious in His sight? I. What kind of clay is unusable? A. Clay that is bone dry. 1. Do we know of, or are you a person who has allowed your spiritual life to dry up? 2. There is a time when people’s hearts are soft, moldable, and pliable. a) But over time, allow spiritual life to dry up. b) Their life becomes hard, bone dry. Nothing can penetrate it. 1. Jer. 18:12 – wasn’t this the way Israel had become? c) Hear word preached; may attend services; but it all has no more effect on their life anymore. d) These are those who have closed their lives off to spiritual truth. e) This is the person described in 2 Pet. 2:20-22. f) This is the person described in Heb. 3:13; 10:26-31. 3. When people get to this point God can do absolutely nothing with them. (Remember, we are clay w/a free will.) And as long as a person remains this way God can not shape the pot to His liking. 4. If you find yourself w/this kind of heart – humble yourself to Him. You don’t have to hit rock bottom before coming back. B. Clay that lacks moisture. 1. Here we are talking about clay that is soft enough to exist, but can not be used. It is soft, but not soft enough to be moldable for the potter’s use. 2. Isn’t this the place that many believers are today? a) A superficial relationship? Have believed and been baptized…but that’s about it. Not grounded. b) Might be Christians who love God, go to church, believe in salvation, but that is as far as it goes – never completely surrendering their will to God. c) How many live life for themselves? Refuse to let the Potter mold them? d) Am I someone God can do nothing with because I won’t soften up enough to be used? (Silly putty who wants to do it’s own thing?) 3. Lack of moisture? Add water. Water is associated with life. (AZ desert) a) John 4:13-14 – the water that leads to life is found in God’s word. b) James 4:6-10 – draw near to God in humility and submission. c) We can yield our life to God through the influence of the Spirit – the application of His word. C. God cannot use clay with hidden air (sin). 1. Potters can place clay on a wheel, complete it to where it looks beautiful. But the final test always tells the potter whether or not the clay is pure. a) only fire can reveal the last defect. Some clay has hidden air pockets. Can’t see them or feel them. b) Potter places clay into fire – heats up – trapped air expands and explodes pot. 2. There are many Christians who have the appearance they have it all together. a) know all right words to say; attend all the services; do all the right things…look like a finished vessel. b) But may be harboring hidden sin. (lust, pride, lack of integrity, anger; vices) 3. When God turns of the fire – the hidden things are revealed. a) Mt. 10:26 b) God has His ways of turning up the fire in our lives. If we have hidden sin – we are a vessel God cannot use unless we confess it and turn from it. c) Psa. 32:5; Pro. 28:13 d) Hidden sin is nothing to play with. II. What if you have been clay that God can’t use? A. Jer 18:4 – He remade it. 1. Our first inclination would be to throw it out. Get some new clay & start over! 2. Not with God! He wishes to start over – remake us into the kind of person we need to be! B. Think of those in scripture who have been remade. 1. David; Jonah; Peter C. Think of yourself. Perhaps today you are living under a dark cloud of defeat/despair. 1. Perhaps there is sin in your life & you feel broken. a) Satan says…God is finished with you. There’s no use. 2. It’s not that way! God will forgive you and make you again. 3. As long as we’re alive – God is not finished with us. a) get up! Lift up your head. God will remake you if you will surrender to His will. D. Christianity is the source of joy and happiness in our lives! 1. God is patient with us – the clay in His hands. See Psa. 103:14. 2. Remember…God has quite an investment in our lives – Jesus shed His blood to save us from sin. a) the clay He is fashioning is not cheap clay! It is the most expensive in the universe! b) Praise God that He loves us enough to be patient with us! E. Psa. 40:1-4. To anyone else we may look like a pile of mud. But God sees a vessel of honor! 1. God sees what we can be! 2. the only difference in you and the you God sees is your willingness to be molded by Him! 3. 1 Cor. 6:9-10. What were these people? Would we have considered these people worthy of our time? Evangelism? 4. 1 Cor. 6:11 – and such were some of you… F. What was one of the chief complaints about Jesus? Mk. 2:16. These were the ones with pliable and moldable hearts who had been broken with sin. 1. We’re no different than they are. We’ve all been broken by sin. Let’s all humble ourselves before God! 2. We all need His grace! Conclusion: A. Are you like clay or silly putty? Have you a heart that is willing to be molded or do you just want to do your own thing? B. If you are defeated and discouraged because of disobedience, pay close attention to God’s word! C. Compare Jer. 18:4 with 2 Cor. 5:17-18 D. You can become a new creation through Christ! Don’t continue to punish yourself and live under a dark cloud! 1. God will forgive. God will forget. God will bring you out into the sunlight of His blessing. He will make you again! 2. All He asks is that you surrender. E. He is the Potter, you are the clay. The Potter has the plan! F. Won’t you let him make you again? G. I N V I T A T I O N