Clay for the Potter’s Hand, Written by my husband, Mel
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?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
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. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to refine us or set us apart from the world, so that we may be usable for the Kingdom of Heaven. 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 will be vessels of honor or dishonor, 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 home towns, 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.
