Master Potter

by Jill Austin

  Deep friendships form as the vessels sit on the shelves. They spend the time worshiping, studying the Word together, and building families and homes. Greatly relieved that they’re out of the wilderness, they sometimes wonder what the next journey will hold.

  ANGELIC REUNION

  In the unseen realm, Valiant and the other guardian angels are having a great time as they move among the shelves. Playfully, they call for more of the glory as they peer into the open heavens above them. Eternity answers back with indescribable beauty, glory and worship. Living light radiates from them and grows as they draw strength from the endless worship around the throne.

  They love it when all the angels gather together. Talking and laughing in small groups throughout the room, they share their own war stories and tell how they kept their charges safe in the wilderness.

  When the angels hear the Word being quoted or the name Master Potter, they gather around the vessels quickly so they don’t miss anything. They love the worship and join in dancing and singing His high praises.

  With an open Heaven above the vessels and angels dancing between them, the vessels are oblivious to the supernatural realm as they boast of their spiritual maturity.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  A CUSTOM-DESIGNED DEATH

  The harsh realities of the wilderness fade away as the years pass. They are replaced with restlessness and boredom. Vessels compete for the best places on the shelves, jostling each other for better positions. It seems that certain vessels only want the space that another vessel has. But, when it finally gets the coveted spot, it loses its great longing for it, only to begin pining away for someone else’s place.

  Eventually a pecking order arises from within the ranks of the group. Cliques form within the different groups as they fight for leadership of the trophy room.

  SPIRITUAL PRIDE DEVELOPS

  The vessels begin to brag to each other, “We’re a cutting-edge church! After all, we survived the wilderness! That’s why others come to us.”

  In the midst of their expanding spiritual pride they don’t notice Master Potter and His ministering angels tightly closing all the doors and windows before turning a few strategically placed knobs. Fire emerges from the floor as a barely visible flicker and slowly builds into red-hot flames.

  At first no one wants to admit what’s happening, so they pretend to be enjoying the rise in temperature. Comrade whispers to Beloved, “It’s sure getting hot in here! Are you okay?”

  Sweat pours off her as she answers, “Yes, I’m all right but I can’t figure out what’s happening. Is it warfare or hot flashes? I can’t tell!”

  Joyful overhears and butts in, “It must be warfare!”

  Other vessels loudly complain, “It’s getting awfully hot in here. Let’s leave. I’m sure there’s a better trophy room down the street.”

  “Hey! Who has the key? The door’s locked!” Fearless complains as he tries to make a way of escape for the vessels.

  FIRE, FIRE, FIRE!

  Harvester howls, “Ouch! Fire is coming through the floorboards and in between all the shelves. Somebody call the fire department.”

  “Fire, fire, fire!” the yells rise up in unison from around the room.

  Sweet Adoration wails, “Look, there’s fire climbing the walls! Someone tell Master Potter! He’ll help us! He’d never allow this!”

  A chaotic chorus of shrieks and howls can be heard. “This is warfare!”

  “Let’s start a bucket brigade,” shouts Comrade. “Everyone line up.” The vessels scurry back and forth and finally, under Comrade’s leadership, end up single file in a line.

  “Now what?” asks Beloved.

  “Now we pass the water down the line in the buckets!” shouts Comrade.

  “But we have no buckets!” yells Long Suffering. “And we have no water either. We’re all going to die. I just know it.”

  Fearless takes leadership, barking orders over the confusion. “Everyone start praying and binding the enemy! The room is on fire!”

  Shouts arise for Master Potter to rescue them from the clutches of the enemy until Long Suffering chastises them. “Are you all a bunch of dimwits? Quit over-spiritualizing. It’s not a trophy room—it’s a kiln! You obviously didn’t notice, but Master Potter is the one who turned the fire on!”

  Slowly truth begins to dawn on them and panic sweeps through the vessels as they frantically run around shouting out advice and orders and bumping into each other.

  In the midst of the chaos a glorious figure appears in the swirling flames. Recognizing their friend Holy Spirit they cry out, “Help us. Turn off the fire. What are You trying to do, kill us?”

  In an awesome voice that penetrates their very beings He declares, “That’s exactly what We’re trying to do. Master Potter has placed you in this blazing kiln to purify your hearts. Because you’re dry, fragile vessels you’ll break under pressure unless you’re fired. You’ll never be able to contain My glory. This painful firing is for the fulfillment of the incredible callings on your lives. You are all truly vessels of honor. Submit to the intense heat and let it promote you to the next level.” He throws His mantle of consuming fire over them before He disappears.

  In their misery the vessels all blame each other. Gossip, slander, and division come to the surface in this holy fire. Relationships with family and friends are strained and become increasingly painful as the dross in their clay is burned up. Impurities of jealousy and competition arise to the surface.

  The flames intensify, and Beloved looks disdainfully at the sweaty people next to her. She begins to complain bitterly about them. Uncomfortable and short-tempered, she suddenly dislikes most of them.

  WALLS OF DIVISION AND SEPARATION

  Many experience persecution at work and intense difficulties in relationships. The ensuing tensions raise walls of separation and division. Communication is strained in the consuming fire.

  Out of the smoky flames ugly demonic voices emerge accusing Master Potter. “So where’s your God now, Forsaken? He could speak a word and deliver you out of this inferno, but He was the One who put you in the fire. Why don’t you just go back to your children? I’m sure they miss you!”

  Holy Spirit whispers, “Remember the lessons of warfare from the desert? Put on your armor and use your authority, Beloved!”

  I need my helmet of truth to stand against the enemy’s lies, thinks Beloved. She wonders, Where’s my armor? I just had it last month! Oh, here it is on the back shelf.

  “In the future keep it on, Beloved. One of the enemy’s strengths is surprise.”

  The tormenting voices brutally assault her as they hiss through the intensity of her suffering, “Look how He treats you, Forsaken! He really doesn’t care what happens to you.”

  The heat advances, causing perspiration to drip from her weakened body; but she grasps her sword and shield and feels renewed strength surge through her. She stands to her feet and is amazed when the fiery arrows of accusation hit her shield and fall harmlessly to the ground.

  Beloved looks at Comrade and says, “Did you see that?” She begins shouting, “Everyone, listen to me. Put on your armor. It’s the only way we can defeat the enemy’s attack.”

  “Great balls of fire!” booms Harvester. “How could I have forgotten?”

  There is more commotion as the vessels run to find their long forgotten armor while trying to dodge the enemy’s fiery darts.

  “I’ll never find my armor in all this smoke. I’m doomed,” wails Long Suffering. “I can’t even remember the last time I used it.”

  “Oh, I feel better already,” says Sweet Adoration as she straps on her breastplate.

  Harvester bends over to put on his gospel shoes and yells, “Ouch! Comrade, watch where you point your sword.”

  Holy Spirit continues His encouragement. “Great, Beloved! Now command the demonic spirits to leave.”

  Taking a deep breath she yells, “We belong to Master Potter and in the authority of His name I order you t
o leave—now!”

  “That’s right, Beloved, use Master Potter’s authority. They’ll screech and complain, but they have to go.”

  “Yes, you have to go,” shout some of the other vessels as they finally get their armor on.

  Unseen swords battle on behalf of the vessels as Valiant and the other guardians give a war cry and enter the fight. “Vengeance is the Lord’s!”

  THE WEAPON OF WORSHIP

  Holy Spirit says, “Now Beloved, don’t forget one of the most powerful weapons you have—worship.”

  Beloved’s beautiful voice leads the vessels in hymns of battle and triumph as she boldly proclaims the enemy’s defeat with music. They sing in the Spirit, and faith is restored. Wisps of sulfuric smoke erupt through the chimney of the blazing kiln as the dark spirits flee.

  The pots, dressed in full armor, all look at each other and erupt in whoops of joy and celebration.

  “Let’s see ’em try that again,” yells Fearless as he jabs his sword toward the chimney.

  Watching through the spy hole, Master Potter rejoices to sees His children maturing. Tenderly He says, “You’re learning My ways. I’m so proud of you. Never go to battle without your armor or you will be at the enemy’s mercy, fighting in your own strength. Always stand against the enemy with your full armor and in My name.”

  Master Potter checks the fire, reads the temperature and then turns the knob to release even more heat.

  “When the temperature is exactly right I’ll turn off the kiln and bring you out. I not only fire one vessel at a time but I also take families, churches or groups of friends and set them all on fire until the dross is burned out. Through the fire of your circumstances I will custom-design each of your deaths until your character becomes more like Mine. This temporary fiery affliction will pass, and you will carry My eternal weight of glory, My abiding presence, in your vessel.”

  He smiles to Himself as the fire goes from a low red heat and shoots into blazing orange flames.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  REFINER’S FIRE

  Holy Spirit joins Master Potter as He stands outside the fiery kiln. “I wonder if they understand how much You love them and that there are only two choices on earth—either the refining fire of God, which brings life, or the destroying fire of Satan, which brings death!”

  Master Potter lovingly responds, “I’m so delighted that these vessels are willing to be fired. Otherwise, they’d fall apart at the slightest pressure and wouldn’t be able to hold my oil, grains and fragrances. I know Father is proud of them.”

  A VISION OF CHILDHOOD

  Holy Spirit blows His fiery winds through the kiln, raising the temperature even more. “Beloved, I want to bring you into a deeper place of healing.”

  In the midst of the flames, suddenly the face of her father appears. Startled, she cries out, “Lord, I never wanted to think about him again. I just want to forget how much he hurt me.”

  Holy Spirit opens the old wounds locked deep inside her soul. Shocked at the bitterness and rage exploding within her, she cries out, “Lord, there’s so much pain in me, I’m too afraid to go there. Please help me! Make him go away!”

  The fire intensifies and works its way into the walled-off memories as a vision appears of her childhood home. From her hiding place in the bushes she sees her dad stumble into the house. In his hand is the familiar brown paper bag from the tavern.

  Beloved’s heart races and she’s paralyzed by the fear of those old feelings. It’s as if the Holy Spirit has opened up a chamber in her heart where the feelings and memories have never changed. Suddenly, she is a small, powerless child again and she is overwhelmed by the same terror she felt growing up.

  Holy Spirit reassures her, “Don’t be afraid, Beloved. You’re safe with Me.”

  “But, You don’t understand! He was so cruel! I hate him! He never wanted me or even loved me.” Beloved falls down and sobs uncontrollably, releasing years of pain that were deeply pent up inside her soul.

  “Beloved, I was there and heard your cries in the night when you were only four years old. I felt your pain and I know the abuse that took place, but only Master Potter can heal you. Will you let Him?”

  It’s a struggle for her to answer, for the pain is very deep. Yet, in the end, her need to be healed overrules her fear. “Oh yes, I just want the pain to go away. I just want to stop hurting and being so afraid. Help me, please!” she wails.

  Looking into the vision again she sees Master Potter with His arms outstretched and herself as a little girl running toward Him. She burrows her head deep into the folds of His robes and clutches His legs.

  Master Potter picks her up and cradles her in His arms, smoothing her hair and wiping away her tears. “He won’t be able to hurt you this time, Beloved, but you need to go back into the memory so you can face the truth and receive healing.” He holds her close and walks toward the house.

  REVISITING THE PAST

  The strong, familiar odors of smoke and alcohol invade her senses, causing old emotions to rise up in a wild torrent of pain as they enter. Standing in the stark living room, Beloved relives the poverty of her childhood and the constant ache of loneliness and shame.

  Walking down the dark, narrow hallway she hears the sobs of a little girl behind a closed door. Beloved throws her arms around Master Potter’s neck and buries her head in His shoulder, pleading, “Don’t make me go in there! I’m too afraid! I don’t know if I can bear it! It was my fault, I was a bad little girl!”

  “No, Beloved, you were just a child who was terribly abused and it was never your fault. I’m so sorry this happened to you, but I’m here and he can’t hurt you anymore. If you’ll trust Me, we’ll walk through the door together. Healing will come as you allow Me to take you through the pain to forgiveness. But we can’t go through that door unless you’re willing.”

  Pausing for a moment, Holy Spirit reminds her of Master Potter’s faithfulness, how He saved and delivered her from the Potter’s Field and fashioned her into a beautiful pitcher. For her to become the glorious vessel of destiny, she must face the roots of her pain and be deeply healed. Only by seeing her childhood in the light of Master Potter’s truth can she truly be set free.

  Cradled in His arms, Beloved stands together with Master Potter before the bedroom door. She trembles as the voice of her drunken father rises above the pitiful sobs coming from the little girl named Forsaken.

  Tearfully Beloved cries, “I want to go in there but I just don’t think I can. I’m too afraid!”

  “I’ll keep you safe in My loving arms, Beloved,” says Master Potter reassuringly.

  Nestling close to Him, she takes a deep breath and cries, “Okay, as long as You’re with me.”

  Painting the childhood scene, He reminds her, “It began the night when your mother left to give birth to your baby brother. She left you in your father’s care hoping that he would stay sober.”

  She cries hysterically, “But he didn’t! I begged him to leave me alone, but he hurt me anyway! I tried to tell mom when she came home, but she wouldn’t listen to me! She just ignored me and told me to go play.”

  Suddenly the veil of time is removed and she sees her mother as a little girl suffering the same abuses she had to endure. Master Potter tenderly continues, “In her heart she knew, Beloved, but because she was so broken she could not stand up to your dad. You see, her dad was just like your own father. Out of great fear she made wrong choices and remained a victim of the generational sins of her family line. Holy Spirit hovered over her and wooed her many times, but to no avail.

  “Sadly, your mother chose to live in a place of denial and unreality instead of allowing Me to usher her into liberty and destiny. In the end she couldn’t help herself. But in the deepest core of her being she loved you desperately.”

  “But she didn’t have time for me after my brother was born. He was so sick and demanded all her attention. I was left alone to cope with dad. After my brother died, she was always in bed, too
depressed to do anything. I became the mother and wife. That’s when the nights became so horrible.”

  Master Potter and Beloved survey the various scenes from her childhood. In her parent’s room she sees her mother in bed with her arms covering her face. Behind her, Beloved sees what she had never seen before: evil, sinister talons piercing deeply into her mother’s mind and heart. A spirit of grief and depression had gained complete control. A wild-eyed spirit of insanity circled the room mocking and jeering at her and spouting nonsensical rhymes.

  “Beloved, after your brother’s death she never left that place of grief. Insanity crept in and then took more territory each time she repelled Holy Spirit. She lived in such fear and agony that all she really wanted was to die. She felt like such a failure as a mother and a wife.

  “After you ran away to work at Madam’s, your mother finally asked Me to save her and now she is reunited with your little brother. I’ve passed on to you and your future generations the family blessings I ordained for her. Nothing is lost.”

  REPLACING ANGER WITH COMPASSION

  Deep compassion for her mother bursts forth from Beloved in great gulping sobs. “Oh Lord, I didn’t realize she was so afraid. All I knew was that she wasn’t there for me. And it really hurt because I thought she was rejecting me. I thought that I wasn’t a good enough daughter.”

  “She never meant to reject you, Beloved. She really loved you. She just wasn’t well enough to express it.”

  “I really did love her; I just tried to protect myself by pretending I didn’t. I thought it would hurt less, but that didn’t work.”