"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.