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Introduction
Right from the start, God indicated how close He was with man's creation.
Unlike the rest of the creation that He just said the word and it happened, God
made man with His own hands out of the earth dust and gave him the Breath of
Life-Genesis 2:7. In front of us are some paintings showing this action
of God when He formed man out of earth and simultaneously gave him His
life-giving Spirit.
But these images are more than artistic portrayals; they bring forth deep
spiritual lessons that remind us who we are, from whence we have come, and for
what purpose we have been created. These images yield to us three essential
truths or messages of the teaching we are about to explore:
- We Are the Work of God's Hands – Understanding our divine origin and unique purpose.
- God's Breath Gives Us Life and Meaning - the realization that true life has come from the Spirit of God
- We Are Continually Being Shaped by the Master Potter - spiritual growth and change.
By the time you are through hearing this message, your appreciation for
the work of God's hands will be much richer than that because it will lead you
to know His hands still in operation today in your life.
1. We Are the Work of
God's Hands
Biblical
Foundation
Isaiah 64:8 says,
"But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand."
This verse reminds us that we are not accidents or happenstances, but we
are created by God on purpose. We are formed with precision. The image above-
Jesus forming man from the earth-presents the personal touch of God in our
creation.
Illustration:
The Master Sculptor
Just think about a sculptor at his work. The chisel strikes, calculated;
every detail is the object of painstaking attention. An artist does not hurry
over his work but rather allows all the time that is necessary to shape the
sculpture into something beautiful.
Likewise, God took time to form us, making us in His image and likeness
(Genesis 1:27). He did not simply command humanity into being; He shaped us
with His hands, signifying our special place in His creation.
Application:
Embracing Our Worth
Most of us have felt at one time or another that we amount to nothing.
When we understand that we are handcrafted by God, our perspective changes. We
are not accidents; we are masterpieces.
- If you ever feel worthless, remember that the Creator of the universe personally shaped you.
- If you doubt your purpose, know that God designed you for a reason.
- If you struggle with identity, know that you are created in His image.
This should bring us great confidence and humility. We are not rejected
clay; rather, we were molded by divine hands.
2. God's Breath Gives Us
Life and Meaning
Biblical
Foundation
Genesis 2:7 says,
"Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul."
This picture shows this holy moment when God breathed life into
Adam. This was no mere oxygen; it was the divine Spirit in Adam that made him a
living being.
Illustration:
The Deflated Balloon
A balloon without air is lifeless and cannot fulfill its purpose. But
when it is filled, it rises and takes shape. Similarly, without God's breath,
we are like deflated balloons-lifeless, purposeless. But when His Spirit fills
us, we come alive.
Application:
Living by the Spirit
Many people exist, but few truly live. True life is found in the presence
of God's Spirit. Without Him, we are just dust.
- Do you feel empty inside? Invite God to fill you with His Spirit.
- Are you looking for significance? True meaning is found in the relationship with your Creator.
- Are you spiritually dry? Desire the breath of God through prayer, praise, and His Word.
Jesus
said in John 6:63:
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing."
We are to live our lives daily depending on the Spirit of God, day in and
day out, with every breath of air breathed into us.
3. We Are Continually
Being Shaped by the Master Potter
Biblical
Foundation
Jeremiah 18:6 says,
"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says
the Lord. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My
hand, O house of Israel!
Creation was not a single act; God is still working in our lives to make
us vessels of honor. Just as the potter works with clay, so God uses life's
circumstances to refine us.
Illustration:
The Potter's Wheel
The potter doesn't discard a block of clay just because it's imperfect;
instead, he keeps shaping and molding. That may involve pressure, chopping off
pieces of unwanted excess, and remolding and remolding again, but the resulting
product becomes a beautiful and usable vessel.
In like manner, our lives are in God's hands. He allows trials to shape
us, experiences to mold us, and His Word to refine us.
Application:
Trusting the Process
- Are you feeling hammered? God is refining you.
- Are you feeling broken? The Potter can put you back together and mold you into something new.
- Are you resisting being molded? Surrender to God's hands and let God work in you.
Philippians
1:6 reassures us:
"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good
work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
God is not finished with you yet. Trust the process, and let Him mold you
into what He has created you to be.
Conclusion: A Call to
Trust the Creator
These images remind us poignantly of what God does with our lives.
- He formed us with His hands – We are fearfully and wonderfully made.
- He breathed life into us – Our purpose is found in Him.
- He is still molding us – We are being transformed day by day.
As Joy of Freedom Online Ministry, we want you to agree with us on
this fact:
- You are not an accident.
- You are not forgotten.
- You are too broken to be used by God.
Surrender yourself into the hands of the Maker. Let Him breathe life into
you, mold you, and use you for His glory.
Closing Prayer:
"Father, thank You for creating us with Your hands, breathing life
into us, and molding us into Your image. Help us to trust Your process, submit
to Your will, and walk in the purpose You have designed for us. May we always
remember that we are Your masterpiece, created for Your glory. In Jesus' name,
Amen."
May
this teaching inspire you to have faith in the hands that created you. God is
not through with you yet!
