Romans 9:19-23 English Standard Version

19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 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?” 21 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? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

What kind of vessel are we?

Jeremiah 18:4 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.

Maybe the better question is “Has the potter remade us?”

Hosea 2:19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.

Zechariah 7:9 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,

Zechariah 8:16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;

First the betrothal, then the rendering, and then right judgments, kindness, mercy and peace.

All of this God prepared beforehand to His Glory, His Son, His Namesake, Jesus Christ.

Who is more likely to show mercy? The one who has received mercy.

Praise God if your vessel is refashioned and not destroyed.

Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Let us talk about this for a moment.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 English Standard Version

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

We have no power of our own. The power is the Holy Spirit who does the will of God. What God does in us and through us is not for our reputation but for His.

When I was in a charismatic church God did all the signs and wonders in me and through me, I did nothing except become an empty vessel with no will of my own but to be used.

Many of us have seen ministries built around those gifts granted by God and every one of them began to fail when pride insisted they did the signs and wonders. It is not true.

Jeremiah 48:12 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I shall send to him pourers who will pour him, and empty his vessels and break his jars in pieces.”

The Word of the Lord is true.

Romans 11:9 And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;”

Hebrews 9:2 For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

The flame is fanned by the breath of God, not our own. We would do well to remember that.