Page 53 - Back to Bethlehem

after the kiln. This is not after the fire. That’s a different
revelation of Jesus. That’s Jesus the Smelter, not Jesus the potter.
That’s a message all it’s own. This is the clay on the wheel. As
it was being formed there was a hard spot on the clay. If the
potter were only making a ball,that stubborn spot may never have
been discovered. In the clay there was maybe a hair, a piece of
straw, a stone. If he were only making a ball, the potter would
never find that hard piece of clay. Because he’s making a
beautiful vessel, like Christ, embellished, and elegant, when God
works with us, sometimes in His work He finds a stubborn spot.
I’m so glad that the clay was ruined in His hands.

Then Jeremiah saw something else. He saw the potter’s
mind and he saw the potter’s hand and he saw the potter’s foot
and he’s about to see the potter’s heart. When he saw the clay
ruined he did an amazing thing. He did not throw the clay away.
I would have thrown me away a long time ago. But the Bible
says that He made another vessel that brought joy to His heart.
Do you believe that the Potter is making you into a vessel? I’m
satisfied that He’s satisfied with everything that He has done.
Am I satisfied that He is satisfied with everything He is doing?
If God works that in your heart you will know what rest is. It’s
being satisfied that He is satisfied. I don’t have to know what
God is doing. I have to know that He knows what He is doing.

I’m going to leave the potter’s house now and go to the
New Testament and give one more illustration. Matthew 8:24,
“And behold, there arose a great storm in the sea, so that the boat
was covered with the waves; but He Himself was asleep.” Our
Lord Jesus was sleeping in the storm; God was at rest. The
disciples were not resting. I’m going to describe faith as many
people think it is. They think that faith is coming to the end of
yourself.

Matthew 8:2, “and they came to Him, and awoke Him,
saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” They came to the end
of themselves. They said, “We can’t handle it! We need Jesus!”
Some people think that faith is not only coming to the end of me
but it’s rolling everything on Jesus. They woke Him up. Some