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vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.”   That was a surprise!
        The potter who knew the clay, the potter that was so skillful, the
        potter who was in control, all of a sudden the clay is ruined in
        His hands.  I want to make one little explanation here.

        When you think of the vessel being ruined, usually we think of
        a shard or a broken piece of vessel.  But that’s the vessel 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 its 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
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