Clay for the Potter's Hand

Clay for the Potter’s Hand

Romans 9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

 

We cannot save ourselves through the strivings of the flesh, nor be transformed by our own merit. We must get out of the way and yield our lives to Christ, and his transforming Holy Spirit. We are saved by faith in the atonement that Christ provided upon the cross following true repentance. Then the Holy Spirit molds the clay into vessels of honor. We are sanctified by the blood of Christ unto salvation, and transformed (sanctified, set apart) by the Holy Spirit. To walk in the Spirit is to walk away from sin. You must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you belong to Christ, you are an ambassador for the Kingdom of Heaven, and your life should be a living testimony to those around you. We are not all called to be pastors or evangelists, but there are many members to the body of Christ, and we are called to be faithful to the ministry that God has placed us in. God is the potter, and we are the clay, if we will allow His Spirit to have His perfect work in us, then we will be vessels of honor that He may work through. A potter is an artist that molds, and shapes vessels into many forms, for many different uses.  If we live a sinful lifestyle, then we will be vessels of dishonor to be destroyed by the potter. For the wages of sin is death, but there is forgiveness through Christ if we repent and turn from sin. The Bible also gives us examples of people who were vessels of dishonor, like Pharaoh king of Egypt, whose heart was hardened by the Lord so that God could show the world His miraculous power. Through His foreknowledge, God knows who vessels of honor or dishonor will be, however, we still have a freewill. We must choose this day, whom we will serve.

 

If you do not know where you fit into the body of Christ, I suggest that you pray, as well as fast, for an answer. When a person goes on a fast, they are showing God that they desire heavenly food more than earthly food. When you seek after God, as well as, put his Kingdom first, He will reveal his plan for your life. God’s timing is perfect, but we sometimes get impatient waiting upon the Lord to open doors to ministry. A Christian preparing for a ministry does not need a theological degree, or any training from man- made institutions. However, we are to study God’s Word to show ourselves approved, a workman who is not ashamed. We need to get alone with God and allow his Holy Spirit to teach us the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven. I refer to this time of Spirit led training, as the wilderness experience.

 

 There are many examples in God’s Word of holy men who left their hometowns and spent time in wilderness locations, or foreign lands, being taught by God’s Spirit. After being water baptized, the Spirit led Christ into the wilderness to be tested and tried by the devil for forty days and nights. Christ fasted during this time of testing and fought off the devil by quoting scripture. After this time of preparation, Christ began his ministry. We are not above our master, if Christ was tested and tried by Satan, we will also most surely be tested. When Moses was forty years old, he fled pharaoh and dwelled in the land of Midian for another forty years, before beginning his ministry at the age of eighty. During his forty years in the wilderness God was purging Moses of his former life in Egypt and preparing him to be a vessel of honor that he might work through. The wilderness experience is a time, when the potter molds and shapes his vessel into the object that he desires. Joseph is another example of a man who was hand crafted by God for a great purpose. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was sold into slavery by his brothers. After the incident with Potiphar’s wife, he was thrown into prison for thirteen years until the day he was brought before Pharaoh. This time of preparation for leadership was necessary for Joseph to be the humble man useable for God’s purpose. When Joseph’s wilderness experience was concluded, Pharaoh made him governor over all of Egypt and he prepared for the time of famine.

      

 After his road to Damascus encounter with the risen Christ, the Apostle Paul also had his time of preparation for ministry. Paul did not confer with any man, nor did he go immediately to Jerusalem to see the apostles. Instead, Paul went into Arabia for three years, to be taught by God’s Spirit before going back to Jerusalem.  When he returned to Jerusalem, he stayed with Peter for fifteen days and also met with James the brother of Christ. Then Paul went into Syria and Cilicia for another fourteen years, before he presented himself to the churches in Judea.  It was by revelation from God’s Spirit, that Paul knew when it was time to present himself to the Judean church. A true vessel that God can work through, is taught and led by God, not man, nor man- made institutions. Man- made theology stifles the Spirit, as well as shuts people out of the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

 

Galatians 1:15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17 neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days. 19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 20 Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21 Then I came unto the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: 23 but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc; 24 and they glorified God in me. Galatians 2:1 Then after the space of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 2 And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles but privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain.