27/08/12

The Potter's Hand

Acts 20:3 - And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.


In today's message we see Paul was led by the Lord and we see this proof. Paul had made plans to go to Syria and then suddenly the Holy Spirit alerted Paul either directly or through the people about the danger which lay ahead and he immediately changed his plans.

Paul may have had a desire or plans to do something in Syria. We see Paul did not get on his knees and bind the powers that came against him or ask the Lord to cause confusion in the minds of those who conspired to attack him. Nor did he pray for God's judgment on those who planned to harm His anointed one.

Some days back some people approached me to be an important part of a great historic event and for me it was like a dream come through. This one event could change a lot of my ministry in the Lord, but then I waited on the Lord to confirm it. Firstly I was surprised that such a great thing came all of a sudden for the Lord mostly alerted me of big things or changes in my life. It so happened that night when I asked the Lord for His confirmation I was repeated a vision which I had the night before (before the proposal came) and the Lord through the vision alerted about a danger. So I immediately backed out for the event and over the days I can see a confirmation of the danger coming true.

We may say then Paul must have been having a smooth sailing all through his life for the Lord must have alerted him on every issue, but we see that was not the case. Paul did have problems in his life and troubles which caused great hardship for him.

Was it that the Lord had given up on Paul during those moments, No.

We need to understand as the Lord (Holy Spirit) is our Guide, Helper and Comforter; He is also the Potter who moulds us. The potter to bring shape to his creation needs to touch the mould and bring shape, he knows how much pressure and where the pressure needs to be put, even these touches are done with wet hands (water symbolizes mercy). He does not let any harsh touch or anything to break or destroy his creation.

We are the moulds which are in the Hands of the Potter and Jesus by His sacrifice has made this possible. When we are tuned to the turning of the Potter's wheel we will also be tuned to His touches. It is only when we try our own paths that we get into problems that do not benefit us. No doubt later the Lord turns even our wrongs into the right part but then it requires more touches of the Potter's Hand and sometimes drastic changes with instruments.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, help us to be in tune with You so that we have less of drastic events happening in our lives that take us by surprise. Lord, You are always communicating with us but all the noise of this world and the anxiety in our hearts drowns your Voice. Lord, help us to be still during the times we are not doing as per your instructions...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Isaiah 29:15-17
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

Jeremiah 18:2-6
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.

Exodus 13:21-22
21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Exodus 40:36-38
36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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