The Potter And The Clay

Perhaps one of the greatest portraits of God and His people is found in the picture of the Potter and the Clay. 

Jeremiah 18:4,6  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 . . . . . 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.

When the vessel is marred, the Potter doesn’t throw the clay away. He has invested too much time in getting it from the soil and preparing it for use. He keeps working it until it begins to resemble what he wants it to be. 

The Heavenly Potter has never thrown His clay away.  We are His clay. He died for us to redeem us from sin. He is determined to make something special of us.  

If we will place ourselves in His hands and genuinely allow the Lord to work His will in us, we will be blessed. We will be vessels of honor unto the glory of God. 

“Have Thine own way, Lord. Have Thine own way. Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.”

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these o  sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission. 

Our Tender Lord

The Lord had compassion on Peter after he denied Him three times, Matt. 26:69-75. Later God used him to preach a mighty profound message and 3,000 people were saved. 

How many times has the light of our Christian faith and witness grown dim? 

It would have been easy for the Lord to quench our feeble flame and simply snuff us out, but He is always willing to forgive us, restore us and rekindle us when we call on Him. 

The saints have a Friend in Jesus. I’m so thankful for His grace. Our Savior is a Tender Lord. 

Philippians 1:6 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:

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these o  sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission. 

I Must Tell Jesus

Sometimes life is good. The road is smooth and the way is easy. Other times life is a struggle. Though you pray for help, you may get discouraged.   

God never said life would be easy. Actually, He said the opposite. 

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus is saying, “Cheer up. Peace be with you. I have your back.” 

Talk to the Lord. Tell Him your problem. If you are His born again child, grasp His hand. Hold tight and be assured that He is able to help you, because He has overcome the world

I find comfort in a hymn we sing at church. Maybe you know it. 

“I must tell Jesus all of my trials.  I cannot bear these burdens alone. 

In my distress He kindly will help me. He ever loves and cares for His own.” —Elisha A. Hoffman

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Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these o  sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission. 

Take It To The Lord

The Psalmist David knows where his strength is. He calls on God because God alone has the power to fix that which is broken in his life. 

He asks the Lord to lead him out of where he is and take him to where he should be—to lead by truth and light, referring to the Word of God.  

Psalm 43:2-3 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?  O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Only by consistently seeking God's way from His Word and by living in what His Word tells us, can we expect God to lead us from the place of trouble to victory. 

You can't fix what is broken in your life, but you can take it to the Lords in prayer. You can read His Word, stand in His strength, and watch Him work it out for you in His own time. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission. 

Praise God For He Is Worthy

The Psalmist David reminds us that our God is worthy to be praised. 

Psalm 18:46 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Our Lord is worthy of being our delight. He is worthy of our dependence. 

He is worthy of our devotion. He is worthy to be loved, to be praised, to be exalted and to be followed. 

Every day we should live like we believe our Lord is the God of the universe and that’s why we can walk by faith. Praise Him for He is worthy. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission. 

Wiping Tears Away

The Lord gave the Jews a  prophetic message of hope concerning that period of time when Jesus reigns on earth in glory and power. 

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

I’m reminded of a parallel promise of hope to all believers. 

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

One day we are going to where Jesus is. When we arrive, God will take His great handkerchief of love and grace and wipe our tears away. 

I find that comforting.  

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission. 

That Place Of Service

Looking from the outside, it doesn’t look like Gideon will amount to much in the Lord’s work. He’s fearful and timid. He has more questions than he has answers. 

But the Lord is willing to take him like he is and shape him into what He wants him to be. He made him a great warrior.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

What about you? Have you found that place of service the Lord saved you to fill?

Are you fearful, making excuses why you can’t do what He wants you to do? 

This could be the day when you trust the Lord to do His perfect will in your life. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed written permission