1. |
WINNING THE CLAY:
Just like brick making in the 1800's, winning or mining the
clay was the first step. Since the steam shovel wasn't
invented until 1879, the winning of the clay was hard work,
and was done by hand. The Bible teaches us to be disciples
to the world, (MATTHEW 28:19, GO THEREFORE AND MAKE
DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF
THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT) fishers
of men, (MARK 1:17, FOLLOW ME AND I WILL MAKE YOU BECOME
FISHERS OF MEN) and to be a tool for Jesus to win souls to
Him (1 CORINTHIANS 9:19, FOR THOUGH I AM FREE FROM ALL MEN,
I HAVE MADE MYSELF A SERVANT TO ALL, THAT I MIGHT WIN THE
MORE). The first step is very important. Once one has come
to know Jesus personally, then we follow the process of the
second step.
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2. |
PREPARATION OF
THE CLAY: It was necessary in this process to
either grind the clay into a powder and screen it to remove
stones or soak the clay into a soaking pit to obtain the right
consistency for molding. It was kneaded with the hands and feet
to mix all the elements of the clay together. This was the
hardest work of all. The Bible teaches to be a student of the
word in order to teach it without shame (2 TIMOTHY 2:15, BE
DILIGENT TO PRESENT YOURSELF APPROVED TO GOD, A WORKER WHO DOES
NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
TITUS 2:6-8, LIKEWISE, EXHORT THE YOUNG MEN TO BE SOBER-MINDED,
IN ALL THINGS SHOWING YOURSELF TO BE A PATTERN OF GOOD WORKS; IN
DOCTRINE SHOWING INTEGRITY, REVERENCE, INCORRUPTIBILITY, SOUND
SPEECH THAT CANNOT BE CONDEMEND, THAT ONE WHO IS AN OPPONENT MAY
BE ASHAMED, HAVING NOTHING EVIL TO SAY OF YOU). The Bible
teaches that salvation is a gift (EPHESIANS 2:8-10, FOR BY GRACE
YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES;
IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST.
FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JUSUS FOR GOOD
WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN
THEM). In order to obtain the colors, one's life will need to be
prepared. We do this by accountability. Each prospect will have
an accountability partner who will walk them through the Bible
and help them understand what it means to be a believer and
follower of Christ. |
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3. |
MOLDING OF THE
CLAY: The assistant molder was called the "clot"
molder. He prepared the clay and gave it to the brick molder.
The brick molder was the key to the operation, the head of the
team. He would take the clot of clay, roll it in sand, and press
it with his hands into the mold. The Bible teaches us that for
one who truly accepts God's gift of salvation, their life will
be molded and changed (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17, THEREFORE, IF ANYONE
IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION; OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY;
BEHOLD. ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW). The Bible teaches that God
should mold our lives (ISAIAH 64:8, BUT NOW O LORD, YOU ARE OUR
FATHER, WE ARE THE CLAY, YOU ARE OUR POTTER, WE ARE THE WORK OF
YOUR HANDS). The accountability partner will help the prospect
understand that Jesus will mold their life into what He wants
them to be, and will be there to encourage them in their life's
walk. |
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4. |
DRYING OF THE
BRICK: This process was important. If done too
fast or carelessly, the brick would warp. The process took 2
weeks before being ready for the next step. In the time the
bricks were drying, they were covered under roof or straw to
protect them from the harsh weather. The Bible teaches that His
blood covers us from the harsh reality of sin (1 JOHN 1:7, BUT
IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE
FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS
SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN) and to be patient and rely on
Jesus for the long race of life (ISAIAH 40:28-31, HAVE YOU NOT
HEARD? THE EVERLASTING GOD, THE LORD, THE CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF
THE EARTH, NEITHER FAINTS NOR IS WEARY. HIS UNDERSTANDING IS
UNSEARCHABLE. HE GIVES POWER TO THE WEAK, AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE
NO MIGHT HE INCREASES STRENGTH. EVEN THE YOUTHS SHALL FAINT AND
BE WEARY, AND THE YOUNG MEN SHALL UTTERLY FALL, BUT THOSE WHO
WAIT ON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL MOUNT UP
WITH WINGS LIKE EAGLES, THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY, THEY
SHALL WALK AND NOT FAINT). |
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5. |
BURNING OF THE
BRICK: Even after drying for 2 weeks, the bricks
contain 9-15% water. The fires were kept low for 24-48 hours to
allow the brick to finish drying. During this time, steam could
be seen from the brick called "water smoke." Once the gases
cleared, the intensity of the fires would begin. The heat would
be maintained at 1800 degrees around the clock for about a week.
The Bible teaches that we should trust Jesus even when others
don't (DANIEL 3:14-23, NEBUCHADNEZZAR SPOKE, SAYING, "IS IT
TURE, SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABED-NEGO, THAT YOU DO NOT SERVE MY
GODS OR WORSHIP THE GOLD IMAGE WHICH I HAVE SET UP?" SHADRACH,
MESHACH, AND ABED-NEGO ANSWERED AND SAID TO THE KING, "O KING WE
HAVE NO NEED TO ANSWER YOU IN THIS MATTER. IF THAT IS THE CASE,
OUR GOD WHOM WE SERVE IS ABLE TO DELIVER US FROM THE BURNING
FIERY FURNACE, AND HE WILL DELIVER US FROM YOUR HAND, O KING.
BUT IF NOT, LET IT BE KNOWN TO YOU, O KING, THAT WE DO NOT SERVE
YOUR GODS, NOR WILL WE WORSHIP THE GOLD IMAGE WHICH YOU HAVE SET
UP"). The Bible teaches that no matter what, a true follower of
Christ can make it through (1 JOHN 4:4, YOU ARE OF GOD, LITTLE
CHILDREN, AND HAVE OVERCOME THEM, BECEAUSE GREATER IS HE THAT IS
IN YOU, THEN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD). We want to make sure, in
the last process for the prospect, that they have a
understanding of what the Bible teaches. We will encourage them,
hold them accountable to read and learn what the Bible teaches,
and love them as God would have us to. |
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