In this message, Stephen emphasizes that God's work of shaping and transforming His people often occurs in humble, everyday settings, much like the potter's house. God instructed Jeremiah to observe the potter working with clay, illustrating how He molds Israel. The potter's process involves visualizing a vessel beforehand, symbolizing God's divine plan and purpose for each individual, created in His image and likeness, especially in Christ. Stephen highlights that humans are passive in this process, as the potter alone does the work, but our role is to yield and cooperate with God's hands, avoiding resistance that can spoil His work. The turning wheels represent the passage of time and circumstances, which are uncontrollable and often harsh, but God's tender hands guide and fashion us through these trials. When impurities are revealed, the potter can reshape broken pieces into new vessels, symbolizing God's redemptive power to restore and even improve us after failure or sin. Stephen underscores God's sovereignty and flexibility, warning that stubbornness can lead to destruction, but repentance allows God to change His course and bless. Ultimately, he encourages humility, obedience, and trust in God's divine craftsmanship, praising Him as the master potter who lovingly works in our lives for His glory.
1 The 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. 7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
11 Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good. 12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.