Transformed Through Brokenness: Trusting the Potter's Hands
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound truth that God is the potter and we are the clay. Our lives, filled with both blessings and brokenness, are continually being shaped by His hands. We began by reflecting on the human condition, acknowledging that everyone experiences hurt, betrayal, and slander. Yet, it is in our brokenness that God’s transformative power is most evident. Drawing from Jeremiah 18 and Romans 9, we learned that God has the sovereign right to mold us as He sees fit, and our role is to remain moldable.
We delved into the stories of Job, Jacob, and Joseph to illustrate how God uses brokenness to bring about greater blessings. Job, despite losing everything, chose to worship God, and in the end, he was restored with twice as much as he had before. Jacob, initially a deceiver, had a transformational encounter with God that changed his name to Israel, leading to the birth of the twelve tribes. Joseph, betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, rose to a position of power in Egypt because he remained faithful to God through his trials.
The Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, served as a powerful metaphor for our lives. Our brokenness, when brought back to the potter, can be transformed into something even more valuable. This process requires us to be saturated with the Word and the Spirit, making us pliable and ready for God’s shaping.
In conclusion, we were reminded that our circumstances do not dictate God’s ability to bless us. Even in the land of affliction, God can make us fruitful. The key is to continually return to the potter, allowing Him to mold us according to His will. We ended with a call to prayer, inviting those who feel broken to stand and receive God’s healing touch.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Sovereignty of the Potter: God, as the potter, has the right to shape our lives as He sees fit. Our role is to remain moldable, trusting that His design is perfect even when we don’t understand it. This requires humility and a willingness to be reshaped, especially in times of brokenness. [46:11]
2. The Blessing in Brokenness: Just as Jesus blessed the loaves and fish only after they were broken, our brokenness can be a precursor to God’s blessings. Acknowledging our broken state allows us to receive God’s transformative power, making us more valuable than before. [47:42]
3. Faithfulness Through Trials: The stories of Job, Jacob, and Joseph teach us that remaining faithful to God through trials leads to greater blessings. Job’s worship in the midst of loss, Jacob’s transformational encounter, and Joseph’s rise to power all illustrate the importance of staying close to God during difficult times. [53:17]
4. The Art of Kintsugi: Our lives, like broken pottery repaired with gold, can become more valuable after being mended by God. This process requires us to be saturated with the Word and the Spirit, making us pliable and ready for God’s shaping. [47:42]
5. Fruitfulness in Affliction: God can make us fruitful even in the land of our affliction. Our circumstances do not limit God’s ability to bless us. The key is to continually return to the potter, allowing Him to mold us according to His will, and trusting that He can bring about abundance in any situation. [01:10:10]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[40:59] - Introduction and Personal Story
[41:44] - Apex Ministry and African Conferences
[42:34] - Challenges of Kenyan Pastors
[43:26] - Packing Tips for Mission Trips
[44:08] - Human Brokenness and Betrayal
[44:56] - Jeremiah and Romans: The Potter’s House
[46:11] - God’s Sovereignty in Shaping Us
[47:42] - The Blessing in Brokenness
[49:08] - Job’s Story: Faithfulness in Trials
[50:42] - Job’s Losses and Worship
[52:04] - The Demonic Full Court Press
[53:17] - Job’s Restoration
[54:57] - Jacob’s Story: From Deceiver to Israel
[55:55] - Jacob’s Deception and Transformation
[57:29] - Jacob’s Blessing and Esau’s Anger
[58:32] - Jacob’s Dream and Vow
[59:04] - Transformational vs. Transactional Relationship with God
[01:00:22] - Jacob’s Journey and Family
[01:02:24] - Jacob’s Wrestling with God
[01:03:14] - Joseph’s Story: Betrayal and Rise to Power
[01:05:22] - The Potter’s Work in Joseph’s Life
[01:06:16] - Joseph’s Trials and Faithfulness
[01:08:13] - Prophetic Words and God’s Timing
[01:09:35] - Joseph’s Sons: Manasseh and Ephraim
[01:10:10] - Fruitfulness in Affliction
[01:10:54] - Returning to the Potter
[01:11:44] - The Importance of the Word and Spirit
[01:12:28] - Call to Prayer and Healing
[01:13:40] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Jeremiah 18:1-4: "The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 'Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.' So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do."
2. Romans 9:20-21: "But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?' Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?"
3. Genesis 41:52: "The second son he named Ephraim and said, 'It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.'"
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jeremiah observe at the potter's house, and how does it relate to God's message to him? ([44:56])
2. According to Romans 9:20-21, what is the relationship between the potter and the clay, and how does this illustrate God's sovereignty? ([46:11])
3. How did Joseph's faithfulness during his trials lead to his eventual rise to power in Egypt? ([01:05:22])
4. What is the significance of Joseph naming his second son Ephraim, and how does it reflect his understanding of God's blessings? ([01:10:10])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the metaphor of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18:1-4 help us understand God's role in our lives, especially during times of brokenness? ([44:56])
2. In Romans 9:20-21, Paul emphasizes God's sovereignty. How should this understanding affect our response to life's challenges and our own brokenness? ([46:11])
3. Reflecting on the story of Joseph, how can we see God's hand at work even in the midst of betrayal and suffering? ([01:05:22])
4. What does Joseph's naming of his son Ephraim teach us about finding fruitfulness in the midst of affliction? ([01:10:10])
### Application Questions
1. Have you ever felt like the clay in the potter's hands, being reshaped after a period of brokenness? How did you respond to God's molding process? ([44:56])
2. In what ways can you remain moldable and open to God's shaping, especially during difficult times? ([46:11])
3. How can you find and acknowledge the blessings in your own brokenness, similar to how Job, Jacob, and Joseph did? ([47:42])
4. Think of a time when you were faithful to God through trials. How did that faithfulness lead to greater blessings or growth in your life? ([01:05:22])
5. How can the concept of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, inspire you to see your own brokenness as an opportunity for God to create something even more valuable? ([47:42])
6. Joseph found fruitfulness in the land of his affliction. How can you trust God to bring about fruitfulness in your own challenging circumstances? ([01:10:10])
7. What practical steps can you take to saturate yourself with the Word and the Spirit, making you more pliable for God's shaping? ([01:11:44])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting the Potter's Sovereignty
God, as the potter, has the right to shape our lives as He sees fit. Our role is to remain moldable, trusting that His design is perfect even when we don’t understand it. This requires humility and a willingness to be reshaped, especially in times of brokenness. When we acknowledge that God is in control, we can find peace in the midst of our trials, knowing that He is working all things for our good.
In Jeremiah 18, we see the image of the potter and the clay, illustrating God's sovereign right to mold us. Similarly, Romans 9 emphasizes God's authority over our lives. Our task is to remain pliable, allowing God to shape us according to His will. This means surrendering our own plans and desires, and trusting that His ways are higher than ours. [46:11]
Isaiah 64:8 (ESV): "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust God's sovereignty? How can you surrender this area to Him today?
Day 2: Embracing the Blessing in Brokenness
Just as Jesus blessed the loaves and fish only after they were broken, our brokenness can be a precursor to God’s blessings. Acknowledging our broken state allows us to receive God’s transformative power, making us more valuable than before. When we bring our brokenness to God, He can use it to create something beautiful and new.
The Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, serves as a powerful metaphor for our lives. Our brokenness, when brought back to the potter, can be transformed into something even more valuable. This process requires us to be saturated with the Word and the Spirit, making us pliable and ready for God’s shaping. [47:42]
Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt broken. How did God use that experience to bring about growth or blessing in your life?
Day 3: Faithfulness Through Trials
The stories of Job, Jacob, and Joseph teach us that remaining faithful to God through trials leads to greater blessings. Job’s worship in the midst of loss, Jacob’s transformational encounter, and Joseph’s rise to power all illustrate the importance of staying close to God during difficult times.
Job, despite losing everything, chose to worship God, and in the end, he was restored with twice as much as he had before. Jacob, initially a deceiver, had a transformational encounter with God that changed his name to Israel, leading to the birth of the twelve tribes. Joseph, betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, rose to a position of power in Egypt because he remained faithful to God through his trials. [53:17]
James 1:12 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."
Reflection: How can you remain faithful to God in the midst of your current trials? What practical steps can you take to draw closer to Him?
Day 4: The Art of Kintsugi
Our lives, like broken pottery repaired with gold, can become more valuable after being mended by God. This process requires us to be saturated with the Word and the Spirit, making us pliable and ready for God’s shaping. When we allow God to mend our brokenness, we become a testament to His grace and power.
The art of Kintsugi teaches us that our scars and brokenness can be a source of beauty and strength. By embracing our imperfections and allowing God to work in us, we can become vessels of His glory. This requires a deep connection with God through His Word and Spirit, allowing Him to shape us into His image. [47:42]
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV): "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
Reflection: What broken areas of your life do you need to bring to God for healing? How can you allow His Word and Spirit to saturate and transform you?
Day 5: Fruitfulness in Affliction
God can make us fruitful even in the land of our affliction. Our circumstances do not limit God’s ability to bless us. The key is to continually return to the potter, allowing Him to mold us according to His will, and trusting that He can bring about abundance in any situation.
Joseph’s story is a powerful example of this truth. Despite being betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, Joseph remained faithful to God and rose to a position of power in Egypt. God made him fruitful in the land of his affliction, demonstrating that our circumstances do not dictate God’s ability to bless us. [01:10:10]
Genesis 41:52 (ESV): "The name of the second he called Ephraim, 'For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you trust God to make you fruitful in your current circumstances? How can you continually return to Him for guidance and strength?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The human condition has as much brokenness in it as blessedness. Blessings from heaven, brokenness on earth. Blessings from heaven, brokenness on earth. The same old story about broken people that got back to the potter." [44:08] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Sometimes in life we stumble. Sometimes in life we sin. Sometimes in life we encounter bruising and brokenness. It's okay we have a God that can fix us and remake us." [44:56] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Brokenness is not worthlessness. Brokenness just requires you to get back to the potter. Jesus didn't bless the loaves and the fish until they were broken. He didn't bless the communion bread until it was broken. There is a blessing in brokenness. And only when you acknowledge it do you receive it." [47:42] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If your marriage is good God has put a hedge around you. If your family's good God has put a hedge around you. If your attitude's good God's put a hedge around you. If you can sing God's put a hedge around you and you have a voice. If you can raise your hands God's put a hedge around you to be healthy enough to worship God with uplifted hands without wrath and dissension." [49:08] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Your future is not in your fighting the problem. Your future is in your following the Father through the problem. The potter is at work in Joseph's life. I'm working on you. I you a dream, but you're not ready for it yet. You say, why am I going through this? I don't know why you're going through it, but most of the time it's because you're not ready for what you need to get ready for." [01:05:22] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Have you really taken the time to say God you are the potter I am the clay. Remember the old song mold me and make me. It's your job to mold. It's not my job to mold me. It's my job to be moldable. It's his job to mold me. Yet along the way we fail, we fall, we we crack up, we we get messed up. And that's why the Bible is a book about broken lives and it's okay." [46:11] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Job was exactly who God said in Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell to the ground and worshiped. His first reaction was to acknowledge I'm in pain and I'm going to get back to the potter because in his presence is fullness of joy. I'm broken. He's not in denial. I'm not whole. My heart's broken. My mind is messed up. I don't know why all this is happening. I don't have a clue why all this is happening to me. But what I do know is who my God is." [53:17] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jacob made a vow, saying, if God will be with me, and will keep me on this journey that I take, give me food to eat, and garments to wear, and return to my father's house safely, then the Lord will be my God. Notice Jacob is expressing a transactional relationship. God, if you do what I want you to do, then I will become who you want me to become. And God is not interested in negotiating with you. He wants to be God, not your buddy. He wants to be God, not your friend. He wants to be God before he's anything else in your life." [59:04] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Joseph was broken for sharing a God-sized dream with people with man-sized imaginations. When I got out of prison in 1983, went to work as a janitor at the church, and my pastor, who Pastor Rich Bette was a pastor of a man-sized church. My dad had gotten saved, and everybody's in church. Both my pastor and my dad at two different conversations said, because at first I went from a janitor in charge of janitors, the pastor said, Maury, do you want to go to learn about mechanics and learn about air conditioners and HVAC? I said, that's not what God called me to do." [01:03:14] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Your future is not in your fighting the problem. Your future is in your following the Father through the problem. The potter is at work in Joseph's life. I'm working on you. I you a dream, but you're not ready for it yet. You say, why am I going through this? I don't know why you're going through it, but most of the time it's because you're not ready for what you need to get ready for. Changes need to be made, and we adapt quicker to pain than we do information." [01:05:22] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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