SPOILED BY SIN, SAVED BY GRACE

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in
the hands of the potter: so he made it again another
vessel as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer. 18:4 .
Sin is a great spoiler and waster.
Spoiled Israel at every turn, and damaged the lives of her
kings, Saul, David, Solomon, and the two kingdoms.
Study the waste in tobacco, beer, whiskey, gambling, etc.
Great waster in human life. See the institutions filled with
twisted bodies, warped minds. Is there some help?
The lesson for us is that if the Holy Spirit is going to make us
into a vessel of honor, we must yield our all.

I. God is a patient worker. "On the seventh day He rested."
A. He worked in creation.
B. God works with us so as to make us what He wants
us to be, as He did with ancient Israel.
C. God is working in chastening and correction. "For
whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom He receiveth." •
D. He chastens until the desired end is attained.
E. God works in opening and closing doors, "Behold,
I set before thee an open door, and no man can
shut it."
F. Patient in dealing with Peter, and other saints.

II. The perverse material with which He has to deal. When
the vessel is spoiled, it is not God's fault. May be:
A. Because of a lack of surrender to His molding.
B. Sometimes disobedience mars the vessel.
C. Unbelief will mar it.
D. Unfaithfulness will spoil it.
E. Sin will spoil it. Blacksnake caught in spider web,
imprisoned a tiny web at a time, but at last bound.

III. The perfected result. "So He made it again another
vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." God
loves you and is still anxious to make the best.
A. Samson illustrates the remaking. Judges 16:28.
B. John Mark was a quitter once, but he wrote a gospel.