The Potter's House Podcast

Episode: "Nothing Into Something" | Sarah Jakes Roberts (January 11, 2026)

Episode Overview

Sarah Jakes Roberts delivers an impassioned sermon on the theme "Nothing Into Something," exploring how God calls His people to build, create, and transform—even from a place of lack, fear, or perceived inadequacy. Drawing from Exodus 31 and 2 Timothy 1, Sarah weaves together biblical narratives, practical encouragement, and prophetic insight, challenging listeners to confront both the internal and external fears that limit them. The message is a clarion call to step beyond comfort, embrace divine wisdom, and allow God’s spirit to empower new beginnings.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of the Physical Word (01:33-02:57)

• Sarah encourages the discipline of using a physical Bible, emphasizing how note-taking and highlighting help build a spiritual legacy and minimize distractions (such as texts or news alerts) when compared to reading scripture on a device.
  • Quote (01:45): “Sometimes I get rich word from the Lord and there are some scriptures that stand out to me and I wanted to have a Bible where I could highlight them ... so that I could leave an inheritance to my children that really, really matters.”

2. Context of Exodus 31: Building in the Wilderness (02:58-05:22)

• The Israelites’ journey was more than just a transit from Egypt to Canaan; it was a process with strategy and intention.
• God did not simply give Moses the blueprint for the Tabernacle—He also identified, called, and filled individuals like Bezalel and Aholiab with wisdom, understanding, and skill to build, even in the wilderness.
  • Quote (05:10): “God is not just giving him the template for building the tabernacle, but he’s also let him know that he has given him resources that he may not have realized were there in order to build.”

3. Lessons from 2 Timothy 1: Stirring Up the Gift (07:40-15:42)

- Changing Times and Unchanging Call: (07:40-12:27)

• Paul’s letter to Timothy is contextualized: as circumstances changed and Christian persecution arose, Timothy faced fear and uncertainty.
• Paul emphasizes not losing sight of the gifts God has deposited, regardless of changing culture or adversity.
• Quote (11:47): “When times begin to change, that can change you if you are not intentional. ... Now is not a time for you to change. Now is not a time for you to forget what God has given you.”

- Stirring, Rekindling, and Persevering: (12:37-15:42)

• The Greek word for “stir” translates more closely to “rekindle.” Sarah likens spiritual gifts to juice pulp settling at the bottom; the good, nutrient-rich part must be shaken up and actively used.
  • Quote (13:45): “In other words, he’s telling him, don’t let the fire around you make you quench the fire inside of you.”
• Call to action: Don't let external fires (trials) extinguish internal fire (calling/anointing). Stir up your gift “by any means necessary.”
• The example of Paul writing from prison shows living out purpose beyond circumstances.

4. Breaking the Spirit of Fear (15:45-35:52)

- God Has Not Given Us a Spirit of Fear (22:12-27:10)

• Sarah unpacks 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
  • Quote (23:15): “God didn’t give you the spirit of fear ... He gave you power.”
• Fear as an emotion vs. fear as a spirit: Emotion is for survival; the spirit of fear becomes a master, controlling actions and limiting destiny.
  • Quote (26:25): “Fear was meant to keep us alive. It was never meant to keep us from living.”

- Confronting and Naming the Real Fear (32:49-37:41)

• Sarah challenges listeners to name their fears out loud and let God reveal Himself in those areas (e.g., fear of being alone, fear of lack, fear of inadequacy).
• God desires honesty in prayer so He can meet us with provision, companionship, and deliverance.

5. Doing the Opposite of Fear (35:52-41:23)

• Scriptural example: In Acts 18, Paul is afraid but God tells him, “Do not be afraid, but speak…”—the antidote to fear is obedience in the opposite direction.

  • Quote (37:13): “For I am with you ... I got backup in the city.”

• Prophetic encouragement: There are people, partnerships, and resources in your city (“God’s got backup”) waiting to be activated through your obedience.

6. Internal vs. External Fear: What’s Inside of You (44:27-57:09)

• It's one thing to fear the world or systemic dangers, but another to fear what’s inside oneself—be it inadequacy, anger, failure, or trauma.
  • Quote (50:03): “I trust God, but I don’t trust myself. Not realizing to not trust yourself is to say that I don’t trust God. Because if you truly trust God, you’ll know that God can transform whatever’s on the inside of you.”
• God’s compassion for internal fears is profound—He knows how pain, disappointment, or sin have “gotten in,” and He promises to “sprinkle clean water” (Ezekiel 36) and give a new spirit.
  • Quote (56:27): “I’m going to give you a new heart, and I’m going to put a new spirit within you.”

7. Coming Out of the Life That Fear Built (58:54-68:59)

• Sarah illustrates how Moses’ comfortable life—built in Midian, away from Egypt—was safe, but ultimately a trap set by fear.
  • Quote (66:34): “The life that fear built has now expired. I have need of you in Egypt.”
• New fuel source: To step into what God’s calling you to requires shifting paradigm from being “fueled by fear” to being “fueled by presence.”
  • Fitness analogy: If you want a new result, you need to be fed differently.

8. Embracing the Wisdom of God (72:42-78:31)

• One of the major themes: Beyond God’s power and love, Sarah urges listeners to pursue and appreciate God’s wisdom—His ability to work all things together, His strategy, and His timing.
  • Quote (73:10): “If you’re going to experience and know the wisdom of God, it requires intimacy with God.”
• Wisdom fills the gap where there is lack—just as God filled Bezalel and others to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness.

9. Tabernacle: From Wilderness to Within (78:31-82:50)

• The first scriptural mention of God filling someone with His Spirit is for creative, construction work—not just for spiritual gifts or preaching.
  • Quote (80:53): “For the Lord to build the tabernacle, it wasn’t in Egypt ... The Lord commands for them to build a tabernacle in the wilderness, in the middle of nothing ... because when I fill you with my spirit, it’s all you need.”
• The old model was a physical tabernacle; the new model is God dwelling in His people.

10. Surrender and Prayer for Transformation (82:50-End)

• Invitation to defy fear and pray with physical connection for the stirring of gifts, power, and love in one another.
• Sarah leads in declarations, renunciations of fear, and prophesies over minds and hearts—invoking healing, deliverance, and joy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Protecting Your Spirit:
  “I’m trying to keep my fire alive ... I’m battling cancer, but cancer can’t have my fire. I’m battling a disease, but the disease can’t have my fire. I’m in the fight of my life, but the fight can’t have my fire.” (15:22)

• On Courage and Obedience:
  “The response to fear is doing the opposite of what fear tells us. ... In Acts 18:9-10, Paul is afraid ... and God says, do not be afraid, but speak.” (35:52-36:57)

• On Internalized Fear:
  “Sometimes, we have this thing where we are in church and we talk about, you don’t know what’s inside of you ... Peter didn’t know that he would deny Jesus. I didn’t know it was in me.” (48:29)

• On Surrender and Community:
  “You need people in your life ... who can access you to remind you ... of what God placed inside of you. ... See, when we go through seasons where we forget what God’s placed inside of us ... we get away from the people who know what God placed inside of them because it convicts them.” (19:16-20:16)

• On God’s Wisdom:
  “See, church and our history will make us long for the love of God. And we should ... But I feel like we don’t spend enough time considering the wisdom of God.” (70:50)

• Declaration of Freedom:
  “I rebuke the spirit of fear right now in the name of Jesus. ... For he who fears has not been perfected in love. Because perfect love casts out fear.” (89:29)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 01:33-02:57: The importance of the physical Bible and legacy
• 02:58-05:22: Setting the scene: Moses, the Tabernacle, and God’s strategy
• 07:40-15:42: The story of Paul and Timothy—fear, context, and stirring up the gift
• 22:12-27:10: “God has not given us a spirit of fear...” — unpacking 2 Timothy 1:7
• 32:49-37:41: Naming and confronting your real fears before God
• 44:27-57:09: The internal battle—fear of what’s within versus what’s external
• 58:54-68:59: Moses, the life that fear built, and changing your ‘fuel source’
• 72:42-78:31: Pursuing and acting in God’s wisdom; building the tabernacle
• 82:50-End: Surrender, community prayer, renunciation of fear, and closing declarations

Conclusion: Tone, Takeaway, and Final Admonition

Sarah Jakes Roberts maintains a heartfelt, urgent, and transformative tone throughout. The episode is packed with scripture, relatable analogies, and direct prophetic challenges. The core message: God can and will turn “nothing into something,” but doing so requires surrendering fear, embracing God’s wisdom, and boldly stepping into your anointing—even when you feel unqualified or empty.

Listeners are urged to break from cycles built by fear, reconnect with community, stir up dormant gifts, and anchor their lives in God’s presence and wisdom—trusting that He will provide all the power, love, and sound mind needed for the season ahead.