WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.620 How many of you are really good at making stuff? 00:00:03.620 --> 00:00:08.199 I see some wives pointing to the husbands. 00:00:08.199 --> 00:00:13.839 ! Look, how many of your dad was awesome at making stuff? 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:14.280 ! 00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:14.280 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:18.940 Maybe working with wood, metal, something else. 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:22.339 How many of you were awesome at pottery? 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:27.780 Nobody? 00:00:28.339 --> 00:00:28.820 Okay. 00:00:28.820 --> 00:00:31.699 Well, we have unlocked a skill. 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:34.140 Maybe we'll hold a pottery class here at the church. 00:00:34.380 --> 00:00:36.200 We can all get good at it together. 00:00:36.520 --> 00:00:37.740 I'm not either. 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:39.880 I'm terrible at it. 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:42.380 I think I tried when I was a kid one time. 00:00:42.460 --> 00:00:45.079 We did some kind of pottery type deal. 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:47.960 I couldn't make anything very well. 00:00:48.340 --> 00:00:48.820 That's just... 00:00:49.620 --> 00:00:53.240 You know, when you're really good at something, 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:58.519 is it frustrating to watch somebody else try to do what you're good at? 00:00:58.820 --> 00:00:59.759 Anybody? 00:00:59.960 --> 00:01:00.299 Yes. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:01.600 See some heads nodding. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:03.899 There's that level of it, right? 00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:09.659 When you see a master potter, would you guys put the next slide up? 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:10.859 Check this out. 00:01:10.859 --> 00:01:15.359 They're really good at their craft. 00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:17.659 They're very skilled at it. 00:01:17.700 --> 00:01:19.140 They know exactly what they're doing. 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:25.039 When I get a hold of a potter's wheel, it doesn't go well. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:25.520 Yes. 00:01:26.960 --> 00:01:27.520 Thank you. 00:01:27.980 --> 00:01:31.580 I'm not going to say that that's my creation. 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:32.660 I'm not going to say it's not. 00:01:32.860 --> 00:01:37.760 Anyway, Isaiah 64 at verse 8 has something to say about this. 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:38.700 Ready? 00:01:39.660 --> 00:01:40.540 Let's get back to it. 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:42.380 You are our father. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:44.020 We are the clay. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:45.260 Can we say that together? 00:01:45.460 --> 00:01:45.600 Ready? 00:01:46.160 --> 00:01:48.000 You are our father. 00:01:48.360 --> 00:01:49.560 We are the clay. 00:01:49.560 --> 00:01:50.260 Let's keep going. 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:52.400 And you are the potter. 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:55.900 We are all the work of your hand. 00:01:56.100 --> 00:02:00.520 We're talking about fathers today, and our mind should go to our heavenly father. 00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:06.420 And the interesting thing about that is one of the names he calls himself in the scriptures 00:02:06.420 --> 00:02:08.180 is the potter. 00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:15.540 And if he's working with clay, he says, you are the clay I'm working with. 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:17.020 Guess what? 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:21.000 His creation doesn't come out looking like this. 00:02:22.200 --> 00:02:25.920 Now, at times, through the process, it might be ugly. 00:02:26.740 --> 00:02:32.260 It might not be attractive because it is a process to make something. 00:02:32.260 --> 00:02:37.960 But in the right hands, something beautiful can come from what the potter is working with. 00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:46.580 So, we've been talking throughout the book of Romans as we've been studying Paul's letter 00:02:46.580 --> 00:02:48.819 to the churches in Rome that we call Romans. 00:02:50.340 --> 00:02:52.060 We've been talking about different subjects. 00:02:53.020 --> 00:02:55.920 Last week, we talked about how Jesus saves. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:56.920 Can we say all that together? 00:02:57.180 --> 00:02:57.340 Ready? 00:02:57.800 --> 00:02:59.480 Jesus saves. 00:02:59.740 --> 00:03:01.040 How many of you believe that this morning? 00:03:01.040 --> 00:03:01.719 Just wave at me. 00:03:01.780 --> 00:03:02.300 There you go. 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:10.800 Today, we're going to talk about a slightly different truth about our heavenly father and 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:12.320 about the son of God, Jesus Christ. 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:16.840 And we're going to study the purpose that the potter has for our lives. 00:03:16.900 --> 00:03:19.780 So, would you turn with me to Romans chapter 9? 00:03:20.020 --> 00:03:21.720 We left off in verse 30. 00:03:21.820 --> 00:03:24.580 We got into chapter 10 some last week. 00:03:24.580 --> 00:03:30.660 We're kind of working our way backwards through Paul's letter or epistle called Romans. 00:03:31.060 --> 00:03:36.080 So, we're going to pick it up in verse 29 and then work back to the beginning of this chapter. 00:03:37.340 --> 00:03:41.320 The last several weeks, we've been in this series called When in Romans. 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:45.680 This is one of the most influential things Paul ever wrote. 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:47.580 Paul wrote so much of the New Testament. 00:03:47.580 --> 00:03:54.040 And this is one of his keystone pieces of literature that he ever penned. 00:03:54.600 --> 00:04:01.120 There are some truths that I think we can take away from Romans chapter 9 beginning in verse 29. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:05.020 So, if you're there with me, we're going to pick it up in verse 29. 00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:13.220 Tell you what, let's go from verse 25 down through 29. 00:04:13.620 --> 00:04:13.880 Ready? 00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:17.379 Would you stand with me in honor of God's word if you're able to? 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:19.620 We won't stand for every scripture reading. 00:04:19.899 --> 00:04:23.879 But just here at the beginning, this is something they often did in the Old Testament. 00:04:24.139 --> 00:04:27.500 When God's people would be reading from the scriptures. 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:29.480 And we can do that again now. 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:30.659 So, verse 25. 00:04:30.939 --> 00:04:34.019 This is what he says in Hosea, the prophet. 00:04:35.219 --> 00:04:37.219 God speaking through his prophet Hosea. 00:04:37.399 --> 00:04:38.060 He says this. 00:04:38.060 --> 00:04:43.180 I will call, quote, not my people, quote, my people. 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:45.660 So, he says, I'm not going to call those who are not my people. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:46.920 I'm not going to call them my people. 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:52.560 He says, and the not beloved I will call beloved. 00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:53.400 Isn't that interesting? 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:55.379 There's a contrast here. 00:04:55.879 --> 00:04:56.519 Verse 26. 00:04:56.660 --> 00:05:03.160 In the place where it was said to them, you are not my people, there they will be called the sons of the living God. 00:05:03.220 --> 00:05:05.460 So, he's saying these are the people who are not my people. 00:05:05.660 --> 00:05:07.220 I could not call them my people. 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:10.899 But there's going to come a day when they become my people. 00:05:10.899 --> 00:05:13.079 Anybody have a guess who he's talking about? 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:14.359 Us. 00:05:15.019 --> 00:05:15.839 The Gentiles. 00:05:16.539 --> 00:05:17.759 It was the Jews first, right? 00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:18.659 They were his people. 00:05:19.019 --> 00:05:22.479 But then, we, back then, were not his people. 00:05:22.539 --> 00:05:26.159 But he says there's going to come a day when you get to be the people of God. 00:05:26.239 --> 00:05:27.539 The sons of the living God. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:28.759 Verse 27. 00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:31.339 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel. 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:42.800 Even if the number of Israel's sons are like the sand by the sea, only a remnant shall be saved. 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:47.180 For the Lord will bring judgment on the earth, complete and decisive. 00:05:47.539 --> 00:05:56.319 As Isaiah said in an earlier passage, if the Lord of hosts had not left us seed, we would have become like Sodom and been made like Gomorrah. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.459 Now, we've been wiped out, right? 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:02.259 If you know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, they were completely wiped out. 00:06:02.620 --> 00:06:04.680 So, he's going back to the prophet Isaiah. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:07.500 We went back to the prophet Isaiah just a minute ago. 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:11.259 And we're going to pick it up with this first truth. 00:06:12.259 --> 00:06:14.539 The potter welcomes everyone. 00:06:15.659 --> 00:06:18.180 Thank God the potter welcomes everyone. 00:06:18.379 --> 00:06:19.279 Let's thank him right now. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:26.939 God, we thank you that you are a God who opened the door for not just the Jewish people, but all peoples to come to you and become your people. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:28.859 Thank you for welcoming everyone. 00:06:29.479 --> 00:06:33.319 Thank you for your heart of kindness, of welcome, of warmth, of hospitality. 00:06:34.099 --> 00:06:37.599 I pray that we would learn today from you that you are molding us. 00:06:37.679 --> 00:06:39.799 You're shaping us to become more like you. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:40.759 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:41.199 Amen. 00:06:41.339 --> 00:06:41.859 You can be seated. 00:06:41.979 --> 00:06:42.679 Thank you for standing. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:55.100 By including the Gentiles, which is what he's talking about here in this passage, the potter reveals that his ultimate design for the family of God is an expansive one. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:56.460 It's big. 00:06:56.740 --> 00:06:57.540 It's not small. 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:01.840 Sometimes we get it in our heads that, man, there's hardly anybody like us. 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:04.819 There's hardly anybody that really loves God out there. 00:07:06.280 --> 00:07:07.439 Most people are faking it. 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:10.120 Most people are just seeking their own interests in life. 00:07:10.120 --> 00:07:13.939 There's hardly anybody who's really trying to become like Jesus. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:20.780 God says his people have always been around, and his people are only getting larger. 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:23.319 He's expanding the family. 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:36.699 I think it was three weeks ago or so we talked about the idea that the church that we see today, not just our church, but all the churches that love and follow Jesus out there across this world that we call the church, 00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:41.599 that's not a replacement for God's people of Israel that we read about in the scriptures. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:43.039 It's an expansion. 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:54.019 And Paul talks about in the later chapters of Romans that we've already covered, he talks about that very thing, that God has opened up the doors for anyone to come in to his family now. 00:07:54.019 --> 00:08:01.819 So it's an expansive community that God is building, built on divine invitation rather than exclusivity. 00:08:01.899 --> 00:08:03.979 You ever notice how man is very exclusive? 00:08:05.919 --> 00:08:08.419 How many of you have flown on an airplane recently? 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:16.560 How many of you have tried to board in an earlier boarding group than yours? 00:08:17.460 --> 00:08:18.939 You're not that dumb, right? 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:21.500 You know it wouldn't work out well for you. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:29.020 You'll see the exclusivity of man when they're, you know, I'm sitting there waiting for boarding group five to be called, 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:36.600 and they got to go through their pre-boarding and their one-star alliance or whatever, and their better-than-you group, 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:42.399 and, you know, all the people that they got to work through that paid money or they're just naturally VIPs. 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:43.019 I don't know. 00:08:43.319 --> 00:08:47.179 But for some reason, they get to get on the plane longer, earlier than we do, 00:08:47.199 --> 00:08:49.639 and that means they get to sit on the plane longer than the rest of us do. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:50.519 So there you go. 00:08:51.079 --> 00:08:52.240 But yeah, man is exclusive. 00:08:53.319 --> 00:08:55.779 He's really good at not letting you into his club. 00:08:55.779 --> 00:09:00.819 Man's like, nope, this is for us alone. 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:03.379 God says, I'm not like that. 00:09:03.939 --> 00:09:07.039 I want to invite everyone to come to me. 00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:11.980 Now, he knows, according to his foreknowledge, who will come and who won't come. 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:17.500 And he went ahead and out of his grace gave the opportunity for life and breath 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:21.899 and an opportunity to turn to him even to those who he knew would never turn. 00:09:21.899 --> 00:09:30.539 Even to those who he knew would never come to him, he still gave them his creation and life and an opportunity. 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:33.199 But he welcomes everyone. 00:09:34.179 --> 00:09:42.500 By welcoming the nations, the potter, God, Jesus, fulfills his masterpiece, creating a diverse. 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:44.000 Think about it. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:48.320 It's part of the issues that Paul's dealing with in the church in Rome, right? 00:09:48.899 --> 00:09:55.139 The Jewish traditions from those Christians and then the non-Jewish Christians who don't have all those traditions that they had 00:09:55.139 --> 00:09:56.179 and they're trying to come together. 00:09:56.460 --> 00:09:57.360 Well, they're diverse. 00:09:57.820 --> 00:10:00.759 They're bringing different points of view, different thought processes. 00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:04.019 But they both share a common love for Jesus. 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:14.179 So a diverse, but his goal is a unified family that mirrors the universal reach of God's love. 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:17.620 So the potter welcomes everyone. 00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:20.139 Number two, the potter is merciful. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:22.860 The potter is merciful. 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:27.620 You and I get to experience that mercy every day. 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:29.779 How many of you are glad? 00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:31.899 Let me put it this way. 00:10:31.899 --> 00:10:35.620 How many of you would join me in raising your hand and saying, 00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:38.819 I'm glad that God has been merciful to me? 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:41.840 You know what being merciful is, right? 00:10:42.079 --> 00:10:43.819 Not giving us what we deserve. 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:47.840 You and I have messed up a lot in this life. 00:10:47.959 --> 00:10:48.340 Guess what? 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:49.639 We still mess up today. 00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:52.419 Just take it a little step further. 00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:54.220 We're going to mess up tomorrow too. 00:10:54.959 --> 00:10:56.039 None of us are perfect. 00:10:56.319 --> 00:10:57.100 We're all human. 00:10:58.539 --> 00:10:59.879 But God shows us mercy. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:01.159 And we thank him for that. 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:07.279 He never doles out the punishment to us that is actually what we deserve. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:11.500 He always extends mercy. 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:14.139 Sometimes we will have to suffer consequences on this earth. 00:11:15.459 --> 00:11:19.819 Sometimes a lack of wisdom or following the design of the universe that God created 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:26.000 and going against God's created order will leave us in a place where we have to suffer consequences. 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:29.500 But for God's people, he almost always lessens that somehow. 00:11:30.540 --> 00:11:37.440 He almost always gets us through to a place where we turn and say, wow, God, that could have been so much worse. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:39.640 Probably should have been so much worse. 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:42.260 Thank you for having mercy on me. 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:45.779 And Paul's writing about this in verse 14. 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:49.259 Would you go back with me to Romans 9 and verse 14? 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:51.559 So he says, what are we going to say? 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:53.240 Is God unjust? 00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.720 Well, I don't think we should say that. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:58.159 Paul says, certainly not. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:11:58.939 Verse 15. 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:03.700 He says to Moses, you see, I will have mercy on those whom I will have mercy. 00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:06.039 I will pity those who I will pity. 00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:08.200 Verse 16. 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:11.540 So then it doesn't depend on human willing or on human effort. 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:14.640 It depends on God who shows mercy. 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:20.320 He's going to use Pharaoh from the Old Testament as an example here. 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:27.080 He says, the Bible says to Pharaoh, or the word of God says to Pharaoh, this is why I have raised you up. 00:12:27.420 --> 00:12:32.420 To show my power in you so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. 00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:34.060 You go back and look at the story of Pharaoh. 00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:36.200 He wasn't exactly proclaiming God's name. 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:45.660 But God used even his resistance to eventually accomplish his will on the earth. 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:48.560 Verse 18. 00:12:48.780 --> 00:12:54.259 So then he has mercy on the one he wants and he hardens the one he wants. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:57.160 You'll say to me then, so why does he still blame people? 00:12:57.660 --> 00:12:59.620 Who can stand against God's purpose? 00:13:00.180 --> 00:13:03.600 If God's the one showing mercy or God's the one doing the hardening, 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.320 then how does any of this our decision? 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:07.940 How are we involved at all? 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:09.560 Verse 20. 00:13:09.779 --> 00:13:10.519 Paul answers it. 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:13.680 Are you a mere human being going to answer God back? 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:17.340 Surely the clay won't say to the potter, did you make me like this? 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:22.180 Doesn't the potter have authority over the clay so that he can make from the same lump 00:13:22.180 --> 00:13:25.300 one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:26.320 Look around, y'all. 00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:27.139 Look at your neighbor. 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.399 Look at the person sitting next to you. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:30.980 Say, you came from the same lump. 00:13:34.079 --> 00:13:36.039 It's a weird thing to say to somebody, right? 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.840 We all kind of came from the same lump of clay, okay? 00:13:42.779 --> 00:13:44.100 We all came from the dust. 00:13:44.199 --> 00:13:45.459 To the dust, we will return. 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:49.059 God says, the potter says, 00:13:49.059 --> 00:13:55.319 I can make from the same lump a vessel of honor and a vessel of dishonor. 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:56.739 Verse 22. 00:13:57.059 --> 00:14:03.199 Supposing God wanted to demonstrate his anger and make known his power for that very reason, 00:14:04.059 --> 00:14:09.319 put up patiently, very patiently with the vessels of anger created for destruction. 00:14:09.959 --> 00:14:10.339 Why? 00:14:10.619 --> 00:14:15.319 In order that, in order to make known the riches of his glory. 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:16.219 This is the key here. 00:14:16.220 --> 00:14:18.580 This is the reason. 00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:20.200 This is the potter's purpose. 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:24.279 We had that as kind of a title of this talk today at the very beginning. 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:25.580 What is the potter's purpose? 00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:27.840 He says it in verse 23. 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:35.200 In order to make known the riches of God's glory on the vessels of mercy, 00:14:35.700 --> 00:14:40.360 the ones he prepared in advance for glory. 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:44.200 And then in case they weren't sure what Paul was writing about, 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:46.519 he includes them specifically. 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:48.320 He says, including us. 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:50.019 So we can say that. 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:51.460 We can lump ourselves in there. 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:54.419 Including us whom he called. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.580 Not only from among the Jews, 00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:59.680 but also from among the Gentiles. 00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:03.399 God is not discriminating in his mercy. 00:15:03.539 --> 00:15:04.840 He is indiscriminate. 00:15:05.300 --> 00:15:07.000 He offers it to all of us. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:10.059 And he's working on all of us. 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:16.940 And he realizes some of these vessels of clay that I'm trying to mold as the potter, 00:15:17.519 --> 00:15:20.279 some of them are going to be vessels of honor. 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:22.620 Some of them are going to honor me. 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.019 Some of them are going to follow me. 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:25.500 Some of them are going to choose me. 00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:28.340 And some are going to be vessels of dishonor. 00:15:28.340 --> 00:15:32.259 And for those who will choose to be vessels of dishonor, 00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:35.519 meaning they will choose to reject Christ, 00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:39.899 he says, I will honor your choice. 00:15:42.280 --> 00:15:44.480 And we see in Pharaoh's situation, 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:46.519 he hardened Pharaoh's heart, 00:15:47.040 --> 00:15:50.740 knowing that Pharaoh was going to be a vessel of dishonor. 00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:55.740 So, Jeremiah talks about this a little bit more. 00:15:58.259 --> 00:16:00.000 Jeremiah chapter 18 and verse 1. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:02.000 Can we read just a few verses together there? 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:05.120 Would you join me in turning over to the Old Testament 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:08.940 and the book of Jeremiah? 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.759 Jeremiah chapter 9. 00:16:14.759 --> 00:16:19.360 We're going to read verse 1 down through verse 12. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.960 As you're turning, I'm going to go ahead and read for sake of time. 00:16:23.059 --> 00:16:25.039 If only my head were a pool of water. 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.740 Sorry, did I say 9? 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:28.600 I meant 18. 00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:31.740 I'm looking at that like that is not at all what I intended to read. 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:32.819 So, sorry about that. 00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:35.319 Go 9 chapters later, Jeremiah 18. 00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.019 Here we go. 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:38.639 Jeremiah 18, verse 1. 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:40.319 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. 00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:40.799 Here we go. 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:43.439 He said, go down to the potter shop. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:46.380 Interesting thing that God commanded him to do. 00:16:47.160 --> 00:16:49.300 Any of you ever woke up in the morning 00:16:49.300 --> 00:16:50.940 and just felt like God was saying, 00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:52.260 go down to the donut shop? 00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:55.620 Yeah. 00:16:57.400 --> 00:17:00.300 Go down to the potter shop and I will speak to you there. 00:17:00.420 --> 00:17:01.660 So, I did as he told me 00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:04.000 and I found the potter working at his wheel. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:08.220 But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped. 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:11.180 Maybe like that picture that I showed you earlier. 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:16.120 So, he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. 00:17:16.840 --> 00:17:17.680 Verse 5. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:20.259 Then the Lord gave me this message. 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:27.820 O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:32.880 As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand. 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:36.820 If I announce that a certain nation or a kingdom is going to be uprooted, 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:38.440 it's going to be torn down, destroyed, 00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:41.420 then that nation renounces its evil ways. 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.640 What happens? 00:17:43.180 --> 00:17:45.540 I won't destroy it as I had planned. 00:17:47.040 --> 00:17:50.040 This is something fascinating to learn about God the potter. 00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:51.200 Verse 9. 00:17:51.320 --> 00:17:53.040 And if I announce that I will plant 00:17:53.040 --> 00:17:55.000 and I will build up a certain nation or kingdom, 00:17:55.380 --> 00:17:58.980 but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:02.420 I will not bless it as I said I would. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:07.940 Therefore, Jeremiah, you go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:10.779 Say to them, this is what the Lord says. 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:14.839 I am planning disaster for you instead of good. 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:19.259 How terrifying would it be if someone came to you and say, 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:21.880 God told me he's planning disaster for you. 00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.880 I'd be looking at them. 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:25.279 And then they just turn around and walk away. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.859 Like, no, no, no, no. 00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:28.619 Let's have more conversation here. 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.279 What do you mean? 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:31.819 Are you crazy or is there something to this? 00:18:32.779 --> 00:18:33.460 Well, they do. 00:18:33.660 --> 00:18:35.859 Coming from the prophet Jeremiah, he wasn't crazy. 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.119 There was something to this. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:40.940 So I'm planning disaster for you instead of good. 00:18:41.119 --> 00:18:43.619 So turn from your evil ways, each of you, 00:18:43.740 --> 00:18:45.240 and do what is right. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.440 But verse 12. 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:47.700 But the people replied, 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:50.879 don't waste your breath, Jeremiah. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:56.500 Y'all, that's not a great way to respond to the prophet of God. 00:18:57.320 --> 00:18:58.500 Don't waste your breath. 00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:02.320 We will continue to live as we want to, 00:19:02.820 --> 00:19:05.940 stubbornly following our own evil desires. 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.120 Verse 13. 00:19:07.300 --> 00:19:09.260 So this is what the Lord says. 00:19:09.800 --> 00:19:11.420 Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? 00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:14.540 Even among the pagan nations, they have more sense. 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.800 Think about Jonah and Nineveh. 00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.860 He came and gave them the same warning, 00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:20.659 and they had more sense than to say, 00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.899 no, we're going to keep doing whatever we want. 00:19:24.299 --> 00:19:27.059 My virgin daughter Israel has done something terrible. 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.219 Listen. 00:19:33.219 --> 00:19:38.159 God does not leave us without a say in the matter. 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:43.679 God does not completely remove responsibility from mankind. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:43.880 God. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:49.500 How many of you believe that prayer moves the hand of God? 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:54.259 How many of you believe that prayer moves the heart of God? 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:58.600 How many of you believe that God responds to his people? 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.779 Well, we see that. 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.400 We see that in the scriptures. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:06.039 We see that right here in his relationship with Israel. 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:09.259 And it's the same way he deals with us. 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:12.500 He's giving them a warning, saying, 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:15.400 listen, as I mold and shape you, 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:17.660 there might be a bad run here. 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:21.819 And I've got to squash whatever I'm making of you right now 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:26.099 back into a big lump of clay and remake you again. 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:31.799 But a lot of this is going to depend on how you respond to me. 00:20:31.799 --> 00:20:36.980 I thank God that he didn't create us to be robots. 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:39.700 I thank God that he didn't just say, 00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:42.980 I'm going to make you love me whether you want to or not. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:45.519 And some of you, I'm going to make you hate me. 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:50.500 And we don't completely understand how God foreknew everything, 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:53.159 how he knew everything before anything was ever created. 00:20:53.160 --> 00:21:00.660 But yet he also gave us a responsibility to turn to him in faith. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:06.160 But we see seasons of faith in his people, Israel. 00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:11.640 And we see seasons of faith in today's people, God's people, the church. 00:21:12.120 --> 00:21:14.779 And then we see seasons of faithlessness, 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:17.540 seasons of not having faith, 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:21.840 both back in the history of Israel and their creator God, 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:26.579 and then also today in God's church and our savior. 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:31.799 We see seasons of both faithfulness to him and unfaithfulness to him. 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:34.439 And he's saying during those times, 00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:39.740 I'm warning you what will come unless you turn back to me. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:44.379 But if you turn back to me, then I won't do that to you. 00:21:45.179 --> 00:21:47.379 Then those terrible things won't happen. 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:50.699 I will change my mind. 00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:54.640 What a fascinating thing that God is literally saying, 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:57.620 faith can move me. 00:21:58.259 --> 00:22:02.740 Faith can either make me respond in a positive way to you 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:05.319 and open up the windows of heaven and pour out blessings, 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:10.620 or the lack of faith can make me allow you 00:22:10.620 --> 00:22:13.539 to suffer the consequences of that lack of faith. 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:18.619 And this takes us to the next thought. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:21.579 There's no sense arguing this. 00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:24.019 The potter knows best. 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:25.839 The potter knows best. 00:22:26.379 --> 00:22:29.579 We've just got to rest that he knows best. 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:31.559 We've got to trust. 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:34.879 And whatever our next step is, 00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:37.000 we turn to him in faith and say, 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:39.460 God, show me that next step. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:44.240 The potter chooses the path of the promise to advance his mission. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:49.660 And he demonstrates that his criteria for defining his covenant people, 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:52.240 we've talked a lot over the last several weeks about the covenant 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:55.000 or the promises that God makes with his people, 00:22:55.420 --> 00:22:59.339 his defining criteria for who his promised or covenant people will be, 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:05.460 it's far wiser and it's more far-reaching than we could ever even understand. 00:23:06.120 --> 00:23:08.099 And definitely we would ever choose ourselves. 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:10.519 So go back to Romans 9 with me and we're almost done. 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.519 Romans chapter 9. 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:19.559 We're going to pick it up in verse 6. 00:23:21.199 --> 00:23:21.759 Paul writes, 00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:25.719 Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? 00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:26.639 No. 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:32.980 For not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God's people. 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:33.679 Get it? 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:39.019 It's not simply based on Jewish birth anymore. 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:42.820 It's based on faith in Jesus Christ. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:48.759 So not all who are born into the nation of Israel are going to have faith in Jesus Christ. 00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:51.600 They're not all going to be truly members of God's people. 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:55.299 Being descendants of Abraham doesn't make them truly Abraham's children. 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:57.980 Boy, that's a hard thing to say to a Jewish person. 00:23:57.980 --> 00:24:04.180 Just because you can trace your lineage back, your family tree, you've gone on, you know, 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:06.579 Ancestry.com or whatever and you've traced it back. 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:11.620 Yeah, man, I come from the tribe of Benjamin or Judah or whatever. 00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.700 I go back to Abraham. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:14.539 He says, 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:18.839 That alone does not make you Abraham's children, so to speak, anymore. 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.120 The scriptures say, 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:22.819 Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted, 00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:25.279 even though Abraham had other children too. 00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:30.279 What this means is Abraham's physical descendants are not necessarily the children of God. 00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.960 Don't get caught up. 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:33.639 Don't get misdirected here into saying, 00:24:33.899 --> 00:24:35.240 Well, did I come from Isaac or not? 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.980 He's saying to the Jewish people. 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:44.420 He's saying the only point here is that it doesn't have anything to do with your physical lineage or family tree anymore. 00:24:45.639 --> 00:24:49.660 Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham's children. 00:24:49.899 --> 00:24:51.240 For God has promised, 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:55.019 I will return about this time next year and Sarah will have a son. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:58.359 This was a promise that we read about with Abraham and Sarah and God. 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:58.940 And then he says, 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.519 This son was our ancestor Isaac. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:02.980 When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. 00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:05.940 But before they were born, before they'd done anything good or bad, 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.319 she received a message from God. 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:10.079 And this message shows that God chooses people. 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:10.799 Watch this. 00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.119 Verse 11. 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:15.279 According to his own purposes. 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:17.059 He calls people, 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:19.599 but not according to their good or bad works. 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:20.519 Why? 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:22.759 Because we're all going to have bad works. 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:24.920 None of us are going to be perfect. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:26.619 We're all going to do bad stuff. 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.759 We're all going to make bad decisions. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:31.960 He doesn't choose us based on being perfect or not. 00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.519 She was told, 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:35.920 Your older son will serve your younger son. 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:37.180 In the words of the scriptures, 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.160 I love Jacob, 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.440 but I rejected Esau. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:41.920 We don't have time to get into that whole story 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:43.620 and tie it into what we're talking about today. 00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:45.220 But Paul references it here. 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:48.140 So you should go back and read that story of Jacob and Esau. 00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:51.360 Are we saying then, verse 14, 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.500 that God was unfair? 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.860 Of course not. 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:58.080 The potter knows best. 00:25:59.059 --> 00:26:02.299 He knows which lumps of clay 00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:05.620 are eventually going to bring him honor or not. 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:10.099 He knows what your potential is. 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:13.079 And even though there might be seasons of life 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:15.639 when you don't follow him by faith, 00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:16.959 like you should. 00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:20.279 I'm not going to ask for specifics, 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:22.139 but how many of you have seasons of life 00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:23.599 when you would love to go back 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:25.179 and follow God a little more closely? 00:26:25.859 --> 00:26:27.239 Yeah, I got both hands up. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:27.659 Okay. 00:26:28.479 --> 00:26:30.539 You might be in a season like that right now. 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.859 But listen, 00:26:33.379 --> 00:26:34.480 the potter's not done with you. 00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:37.359 He's in the transforming business. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:40.019 And I thank God that he is. 00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:41.599 And finally, 00:26:42.779 --> 00:26:45.279 the potter is always faithful. 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.700 He'll never turn his back. 00:26:48.899 --> 00:26:50.980 On those vessels of mercy, 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:51.859 even though 00:26:51.859 --> 00:26:55.019 there might be times 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:56.720 when they seem faithless 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:59.180 and he's got to ball that thing back up 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:01.000 into a lump of clay and start over again, 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:03.039 he will start over again. 00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:05.539 He's always faithful. 00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:08.200 Now go to the beginning of Romans 9, verse 1. 00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:10.480 With Christ as my witness, 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:12.539 I speak with utter truthfulness. 00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:14.960 My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm this. 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.640 We need to listen. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.100 Okay. 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:19.460 Paul's introducing this thing as most important. 00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:21.019 So pay attention to what he has to say. 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.600 With Christ as my witness, 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.960 I speak with utter truthfulness. 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:26.259 My conscience, the Holy Spirit confirm this. 00:27:26.320 --> 00:27:26.740 Here we go. 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:29.299 My heart is filled with bitter sorrow 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:32.740 and unending grief for my people. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.759 Who were his people? 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:36.160 My Jewish brothers and sisters. 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:40.140 I would be willing to be forever cursed, 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:42.279 cut off from Christ. 00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.519 Like he's saying, 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:45.140 I'll give up my own salvation 00:27:45.140 --> 00:27:48.059 if they would be saved, 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:50.120 if that would save them. 00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.620 Of course it wouldn't. 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:54.000 We're all responsible to God ourselves. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:56.279 They are the people of Israel, 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.859 chosen to be God's adopted children. 00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.440 God revealed his glory to them. 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.700 He made covenants with them. 00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:01.599 He gave them his law. 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:03.440 He gave them the privilege of worshiping him, 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:05.359 receiving his wonderful promises. 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.700 And now verse 5. 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:09.180 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob are their ancestors. 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:11.460 Christ himself was an Israelite. 00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:14.220 As far as his human nature was concerned, 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.700 then he couldn't just leave it there. 00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:19.000 Christ wasn't just an Israelite. 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:21.220 And he is God, 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:23.440 the one who rules over everything 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:25.700 and is worthy of eternal praise. 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.380 Amen. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.900 So if you believe, 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:29.859 and you can say with Paul, 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:32.339 yes, Jesus is God. 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.900 He rules over everything. 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:36.660 He deserves all the glory and praise forever. 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:40.579 Then you have faith in Jesus Christ. 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:43.200 And that faith makes you right with God. 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:45.400 That faith will save you. 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:47.840 That faith earns God's mercy. 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:50.720 There's nothing you could do to earn it. 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:53.000 It's only the faith 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:56.440 that responds to the call of God, 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:59.720 that unlocks your status 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:01.780 as the people of God. 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:03.920 So, 00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:09.420 we are the vessel. 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:10.980 He is the potter. 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:16.200 The purpose of the potter 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.620 in working with us 00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:19.019 is to bring glory 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:20.700 to the maker. 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:24.599 The purpose of the potter 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:26.279 is to reflect himself. 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.799 When you're trying to make something 00:29:28.799 --> 00:29:29.360 out of pottery 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:30.500 and you don't know what you're doing, 00:29:30.839 --> 00:29:32.779 the product you end with 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.839 reflects you. 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:36.140 And everybody looks at it and says, 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.519 oh, wow, 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:37.559 that guy doesn't know what he's doing. 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:40.419 If you're a master potter, 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:43.319 then the product you end up with 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:45.079 reflects you. 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:48.099 What God is saying 00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:51.480 is that he's transforming you 00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:53.799 into something of beauty 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:56.440 that will reflect him. 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:59.299 So don't get down on yourself. 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:03.799 Get to praising Jesus. 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:06.299 Get to praising the potter. 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:09.859 And get more faithful 00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:11.319 to him 00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:13.200 because of his faithfulness 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:14.059 to you. 00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:15.519 Say, God, 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:18.139 you've been standing by me 00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:19.460 through bad decisions, 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.240 through good decisions, 00:30:20.440 --> 00:30:21.480 through good times and bad, 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.799 through seasons of happiness 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.899 and seasons of depression, 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.720 through success and failure. 00:30:25.919 --> 00:30:28.500 You have stood by me. 00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:30.000 And I'm here to testify 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:33.220 that Jesus is in the transforming business. 00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.720 Yes, Jesus saved me. 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.960 Jesus saved me from my sin. 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:37.860 He forgave me. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:40.180 He promised me an eternity with him. 00:30:40.840 --> 00:30:42.600 But Jesus also transforms. 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:45.519 He doesn't just check you in the box. 00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:46.319 All right, he's good. 00:30:46.360 --> 00:30:47.360 He's one of my kids now. 00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:49.840 Now go and live your life 00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:50.720 and sell your wild oats. 00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:52.680 He's in the transforming business. 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:54.019 He wants to change us 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:55.079 little by little. 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:56.680 And that's not a sprint. 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.340 It's a marathon. 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.420 So can we say this together? 00:30:59.600 --> 00:30:59.700 Ready? 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.799 Jesus transforms. 00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:02.980 One more time, church. 00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:05.039 Jesus transforms. 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:06.319 How many of you believe that 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:06.960 with all your heart? 00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:07.900 Jesus. 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.160 How many of you can say, 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:10.460 God has transformed me? 00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:11.920 How many of you can say, 00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:13.759 God is still transforming me? 00:31:13.900 --> 00:31:14.460 Yeah, me too. 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:16.140 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:19.420 God, I thank you that we are the clay 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:20.319 and you are the potter. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:22.019 I thank you that we are not the potter. 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:24.720 If it was completely up to us 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:27.200 to shape our lives how they need to be, 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:30.119 we'd be lost without hope. 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:33.180 Thank you that you are the potter 00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:34.160 and we are the clay. 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.740 And sometimes, 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:41.259 rolling us back into a lump of clay 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.660 and starting over again 00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:44.339 is exactly what we need. 00:31:46.599 --> 00:31:48.480 But through this journey of life, 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:50.059 you are molding us 00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.860 and shaping us 00:31:50.860 --> 00:31:53.019 into becoming your people. 00:31:53.120 --> 00:31:54.519 We are already your people 00:31:54.519 --> 00:31:59.240 by virtue of accepting you by faith. 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:02.460 But you're still making us. 00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:04.660 You're still reworking us. 00:32:07.620 --> 00:32:09.140 We give you the glory for it. 00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:10.000 That's what it's all about. 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:10.160 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:40.140 Thank you.