God needs vessels!

God needs vessels!

Reading: Isaiah 43:19

“Behold, I will do a new thing,

Now it shall spring forth;

Shall you not know it?

I will even make a road in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert.”

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” John 7:38.

T.E. Lawrence was born on August 16, 1888 in Wales. Generally known as Lawrence of Arabia. During the war, Lawrence formed close friendships with many of the Sheiks of Arabia. After the war, he brought some of these Sheiks back to England to show his appreciation for their support against the Turkish control.

On the last night of their visit, Lawrence offered them anything they wanted to take back with them to their desert homes. They led him up to the hotel room, into the bathroom, and pointed to the taps in the bath and said that they wanted to take water taps with them that would provide them with running water in the deserts.

They did not realize that the taps were external vessels only!

Behind them was the plumbing, a hot water heater, an energy source that heated the water, water mains that supplied the water, and from the mains went a line to an outside source of water!

1. THE WATER TAP (THE VESSEL) IS NEEDED TO GET THE WATER TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

I do not want to minimize the importance of a vessel! God needs water taps! God has always worked through human vessels. In fact, most of the time, God works through the most unlikely vessels!

A. GOD CAN USE ANYONE!

• Moses stuttered.
• David's armour did not fit.
• John Mark was rejected by Paul.
• Timothy had ulcers.
• Jacob was a liar.
• David had an affair.
• Solomon was too rich.
• Abraham was too old.
• David was too young.
• Peter was afraid of death.
• Lazarus was dead.
• Naomi was a widow.
• Paul was a murderer.
• So was Moses.
• Jonah ran from God.
• Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
• Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
• Elijah was burned out.
• Martha was a worrier.
• Mary may have been lazy.
• Samson had long hair.
• Noah got drunk.
• God is not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, harsh, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need.

A Christian minister once said, “I was never of any use until I found out that God did not intend me to be a great man.” Only a vessel!

B. GOD NEEDS US TO BE THE VESSELS OF LIVING WATER!

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

A. God can have all the plumbing in place, have the pump set up, ready to pour out blessings on His people, on the world, but He needs us to be the vessels! He needs a holy water tap, a vessel!

B. In many cases, the only thing that stops a move of God is the lack of a vessel.

C. When Elisha was performing the miracle for the prophet’s widow and the oil was flowing freely, the Bible says: 2 Kings 4:6 “Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased.”

The only thing that stopped the flow of oil was the lack of a vessel!

Now, do not ask me to explain why God decided to use imperfect vessels to carry out His work.

A. It does not make sense to me that this God who can do all things would choose to restrict Himself to moving through imperfect, flawed, not consistent humanity!

B. I do not know why the Creator chooses to move through His creation!

C. But God is always seeking for men and women through which to move!

D. At the day of Pentecost, God poured out His spirit upon all “FLESH”! He was filling vessels!

C. GOD STILL NEEDS A VESSEL TO WORK THROUGH.

a. Ezekiel said that God was seeking a MAN to stand in the gap and make up the hedge!

b. When the Lord struck Saul from his horse on the road to Damascus, He then told Saul, “Go see Ananias, he will tell you what to do!” GOD USED A HUMAN VESSEL!

c. In the Book of Revelation, John says that God wept because He could find no MAN to open the book of salvation, so God Himself took on the form of man to bring redemption!

d. Do you understand how important you are to the work of God? God will not move without a vessel!

e. God will not pour out His spirit without a vessel for it to flow through - you are that holy water tap!

f. God needs you and He needs me!

CONCLUSION:

The most valuable discovery that you and I can make this DAY is this:

• No matter how smart I am,

• No matter how well I can sing,
• No matter how well I can preach,

• No matter how well I can organize.
• No matter how much talent I have.
• I am still just a sinner saved by grace!

• There is no power in me; I am just the water tap, the piping, the vessel through which His power moves!

• Who would like to come and check their water source this day?
• For it is Jesus only working through us!

How is your cutting edge?

How is your cutting edge?

Reading: 2 Kings 6:1-7.

“And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.
Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” So he answered, “Go.”
Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.”
So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.
But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”
So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.
Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.”

We are all quick to ‘fly off the handle’ these days. Even more amazing than a swimming axe head are the spiritual truths found in these seven short verses. So let us look at them today. God has a way of sharpening dull Christians, and good things will ‘surface’ if we will return to where we lost our cutting edge!

I have heard a lot of good preachers speak on this passage, because it carries some great truths.

Verse 1. “And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.”

Elisha and those working alongside of him said “This place is too small for us.” Here are men that see that you cannot keep the presence of God to themselves, or keep the presence of God in a building. The Temple in Jerusalem was one of the finest “church” buildings a place could have.

But, check out the miracles and teachings of Jesus. He went into every village, town and desert place. This building is the right size for us, BUT, it is not big enough for God’s presence! They saw their need to build and expand.

Verse 2 “Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” So he answered, “Go.”
I like the thought here. God’s man said to the people “Go.” Because it is a personal sacrifice. Our Labour, our finances, our prayers.

Verse 3 “Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.”

Here is another blessing, when God’s man has a vision from the Almighty and he is able to take the people with them. “Prayer moves the hand that moves the world!”

Verse 4 “So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.”

Elisha was with them, and they made progress. God is with us, and we are making progress. Yet, look what happened next!

Verse 5 “But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”

He lost his power for service! What’s worse is that it was borrowed! Yet, all of our Christian ministry and power is borrowed of the Lord. For it is the Holy Spirit, who has the cutting edge for service

He was whacking away, and got into a rhythm, like the axe was an extension of his body, he had the hang it, and then suddenly, it flew of the handle! Just when we think it is our ministry, our power. We “fly off the handle” and ruin our service unto the Lord. We see so many Christians fall, when they do God’s work in their own strength.

Or try to borrow another man’s anointing. Remember that verse the demons said “Jesus we know, Paul we know, but who are YOU?” Now, this man finds himself in muddy water, and he has lost his cutting edge! Yet, he comes and calls for the master again. This man had been working for the Lord, but his power source was gradually slipping away!

He needed to keep in touch with the master/Lord, to keep our relationship with the Lord pure. See we are but the handle, and Christ is the head! Many preachers have lost their edge, but keep swinging away in the power of the flesh, like the disciples in Mark 9:18, wondering why they could not get anything done. Samson in Judges 16:20 He did not know the power was gone!

He needed to sharpen his axe, a sharp edge cuts quicker and easier. When a man keeps saying “that the work of the Lord is hard” maybe it is his own work! Jesus said “My yoke is easy.” He would have saved time by stopping to sharpen. We have a daily responsibility to be in the Word and in prayer.

Many times we allow our axe-head to be dulled by pride or self-interest. Sometimes Satan deceives us into thinking that we can serve God at times and still live a life of sin at other times, and then suddenly, we have lost our head (Christ). Despite what just happened, this man had wisdom: He had the sense to stop trying and get back to trusting!

As humans, we try many times to “make things happen.” How many Christians are still whacking away, powerlessly, making no progress, seeing no souls saved, never bringing visitors to church, never taking opportunities to minister to others or serve God in a church ministry?!

I wonder what Christians are whacking away powerlessly in their ministries, making no progress w/out the aid of the axe-head, the Holy Spirit?! “The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.”Let God’s Word fill you. And be filled w/the Spirit. And accomplish much!

Verse 6 “So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.”

Praise God we serve the God of the second chance! It is not too late! “Where did it fall?” How did you lose your cutting edge, the Holy Spirit’s power? You have not lost His presence, He lives in your heart, and you have lost His indwelling power. You are not walking in the Spirit, not filled with the Spirit!

Where fell it?

Are you disobeying God’s Word?

Are you playing with a sin in your life?

Are you bitter against someone?

Have you allowed yourself to be lifted up with pride?

Are you rebelling against authority instead of submitting to it?

Are you jealous or envious?

Are you refusing to witness to someone God has laid on your heart?

Where fell it?

“He showed him the place

The hardest thing you ever did was level with God over your sins. The word, “confess” literally means to “call it what it is.” When you got saved, you admitted your sins to Almighty God. He knew you had done them. He just needed you to admit to it. You will never find the life of power ‘til you point to where you lost it and call it what it is!

“So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there;

The stick representative of the cross of Christ. Plunged into sin’s mucky waters to redeem a lost soul.

“He made the iron float.”

The iron did swim! It was a miracle! Every miracle that has happen in your life is because of the cross!

Verse 7 “Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it.”

Accept forgiveness and move on!

HAVING ENOUGH!

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HAVING ENOUGH!
Genesis 33:1-12.

“But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” Genesis 33:9.

1 AND JACOB raised his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming and with him 400 men. So he divided the children to Leah and to Rachel and to the two maids.
2 And he put the maids and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.
3 Then Jacob went over [the stream] before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
5 [Esau] looked up and saw the women and the children and said, who are these with you? And [Jacob] replied, they are the children whom God has graciously given your servant.
6 Then the maids came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
7 And Leah also with her children came near, and they bowed themselves. After them Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed themselves.
8 Esau said, what do you mean by all this company which I met? And he said, these are that I might find favour in the sight of my lord.
9 And Esau said, I have plenty, my brother; keep what you have for yourself. 10 But Jacob replied, No, I beg of you, if now I have found favour in your sight, receive my gift that I am presenting; for truly to see your face is to me as if I had seen the face of God, and you have received me favourably.
11 Accept, I beg of you, my blessing and gift that I have brought to you; for God has dealt graciously with me and I have everything. And he kept urging him and he accepted it.
12 Then [Esau] said, Let us get started on our journey, and I will go before you. Genesis 33:1-12 (AMP).

A family argument brought about bad feelings between these two brothers of Esau and Jacob. Jacob had tricked Esau out of their father's blessing. But now Jacob wanted an end to the fight, so he presented to Esau a great gift. But Esau's reply was: “You keep the gift, I have enough!”
At first, Esau's statement “I have enough!” Seems a very spiritual statement. But this was nothing less than ungodly contentment! Esau's character defect, and it may be yours also, happy to stay where you are in God!

1. YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH IN THE LORD!

You need more of the Lord! There are some things that you cannot get too much of. Let us look at some examples:

1. The Lord's Blessing, Proverbs 10:22.
“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” When it comes to God's blessing we cannot get too much! When Esau said, “He was content!” It was not godly contentment, but ungodly contentment, for he was happy to stay where he was. Esau did not think too much of the blessings of God. He was once willing to sell his birthright and blessing for a bowl of stew, he was easily pleased with what he had, to stay where he was!

2. The Fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” This means there is no limit in what we need! You cannot have too much!
Do you have enough love?
Do you have enough joy?
Do you have enough peace?
Do you have enough self-control?
No! You can never have too much of the fruit of the Spirit of God.

3. Holiness. Luke 1:75.
“In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.” We are as holy as we want to be! We say we want to be holier and be closer to God, but we need to take time to be holy. Lord grant me more of You that I may be like unto your holiness!

2. YOU MUST WANT MORE IN THE LORD!

The lives of Esau and Jacob, though brothers, stand in difference to each other. Esau was a hunter, a man of the field, a man's man! Yet Jacob was a gentleman who lived indoors! “Esau was a skilled hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents” Genesis 25:27. The meaning of “mild man” is upright and perfect.
Even their parents were split in their taste regarding them, “And Isaac loved Esau because he eat of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob” Genesis 25:28.
There was also another difference between these two men: Jacob wanted more! Esau was easily satisfied! What was it about this man that God loved so much? Malachi 1:2-3 “The Lord said “I loved Jacob.” It was because Jacob wanted more of the blessings of God.
Note Genesis 32:24-28 “God I will not let You go until you have blessed me!” He prevailed and he got more!
For there has to be craving, a longing, a desire in the heart of men and women if they want more of God. Jacob placed a high price on blessing. He would go to any lengths for the blessing of the Lord. What about you?

3. HERE IS HOW TO GET MORE IN THE LORD!

1. Ask for more!
Jacob pleaded for more. Jesus Himself said, “Ask, and it shall be given you” Matthew 7:7. “All things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive” Matthew 21:22.

2. Give more!
This was not the first time Jacob had been in God's presence. Note: Genesis 28:16-22 “And of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” Jesus also taught that God's way is often opposite to man's way. If you want to get, we have to give! If you want to lead, we have to be servants! “Give, and it shall be given you, for with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you “Luke 6:38.

3. Pay the price!
Oh! I thought the blessings of God were free! No! It is not! We do not earn it! We do not deserve it! But there is always a price to be paid! In Jacob's case he had to wrestle all night, Genesis 32:29-30. Are you willing to pay the price for the blessing of God?

CONCLUSION:

Do you want more of God? Or have you enough?
I for one always want more of the blessings of the Lord!
When was the last time you pleaded with God?
When was the last time you wrestled with God?
When was the last time you paid the price?

THE MAKING OF A MIGHTY MAN OF GOD

Exodus 3.

A few weeks ago, out of the blue, I felt the Lord say “The time of fasting and praying is over, now it is time to work and labour.” Do not get me wrong, we must ALWAYS pray and fast, BUT when we have the answer to that pray, then it is time to labour. I believe God is now ready to move, are we ready to be used?
What did God stir up in the life of Moses to make him the mighty man he became? And will this work in our lives as well? It has been said, “Let us men not just be men, but let us men be MEN OF GOD, and let us not just be women, but WOMEN OF GOD.” Do you today want to be a mighty man or woman of God?
In Moses life, it started out as a very normal day. Like most of Moses days in his 40 years in the desert, it was likely to be a run of the mill day and with no real outlook of much happening. The sun rose, the sheep grazed. But this will be an extraordinary day, for in this barren landscape it turns about to become a divine location for a visitation of God.
Moses is about to have fellowship with God Almighty. Before this day is over God is going to reveal to Moses His plan and purpose for his life and it is a grand plan and has a great purpose.
1. Any ordinary day becomes an extra ordinary day, when God steps on the scene.
2. Any ordinary person can become an extraordinary person, when the Lord God is in their lives.
3. And any ordinary church can become extraordinary church, when God becomes its power!

1. THE DIVINE APPONTMENT, VERSE 2.
“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed” Exodus 3:2.

There was no real greatness in Moses. But when the common is touched by the Divine, then the common becomes uncommon. God is pleased to use average, ordinary people. You do not have to be the smartest or the most talented, those qualities often serve to avoid one from looking to God. God gets much more glory when an average believer allows Him to fill them and use them.
Now hear this: If you promise to live a dedicated Christian life, to be faithful, to become a disciple of Jesus, to read your Bible and pray and forsake sin, there will be a lot of ordinary days, but there will also be many times when the bush (your inner spirit) will burn with fire! And it is a great feeling!
In verse 4 Moses said, “Here am I.” He is not the only one who said that. Isaiah did too, but he said, “Here am I Lord, send me.” BUT, Moses said, ‘here am I, who, me?’ ‘Cannot you send someone else?’

2. THE DIVINE ANNONCEMENT, VERSE 6.
“Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God” Exodus 3:6.

Check out these verbs: I have seen, heard, known. “And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.” So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey” Exodus 3:7-8.
When I could not go to Him, He came to me! What a beautiful Old Testament picture of the gospel this is. Moses was glad to hear that God had not forgotten His people, and was coming down to deliver them.
But he was not as thrilled when he heard that God wanted to offer him the job of being the leader! And there is many like that in the church today, they are glad for all that God is doing in the church, as long as they do not have to do the work. Moses wanted the job done, but did not want to do the job.

3. THE DIVINE ASSGNMENT.

The rest of chapters 3 and 4 are full of Moses excuses for why he is not the right man for the job.
1. I have no ability.
2. I have no message.
3. I have no authority.
4. I have no eloquence.
5. I have no liking for this! I do not want to do this!
God answered every excuse. And there is also a New Testament answer to each.

1. “I have no ability” verse 11.
BUT! “I will be with you” verse 12. Maybe you are being called by God to do something big, and you are saying, “Who Am I to do such a thing?”
God says, “I will be with you!” Where God guides, He provides; where He directs, He protects; where He sends, He extends!

2. “I have no message” verse 13.
BUT! “I AM is your message” verse 14. “I AM” is the most powerful name of God there is. The eternally existent one, past, present, and future. Jesus is the great I AM. He said, before Abraham was, I AM.
a. To those still in the dark, Jesus says, “I am the light.”
b. To those still hungering for something they do not have, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.”
c. To those in need of guidance, Jesus says, “I am the way.”

3. “I have no authority” verse 1, chapter 4.
God is saying this to us today. God uses whatever is available. The best ability is availability!
A. One day a small boy had nothing but a sling in his hand, but God used him to slay a giant!
B. Another small boy much later had just a lunch box, but God super sized it, for He specializes in multiplying what we have for His honour and glory! Just put what little you have in your hand into God’s hands and watch what HE can do with it!

What is the NT answer to this ‘no authority’ excuse? “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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” Matthew 28:18-19.

4. “I have no eloquence” verse 10, chapter 4.
Did he stutter? Was he not a people person? I doubt it, because Acts 7 says he was mighty in word and deed. I think it was just an excuse. Verse 11 “I made your mouth and I can fill it when the time comes!” What he is really saying is, “Please, send someone else!”
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” Philippians 2:13. This means that if you are willing to do what you are called to do, God will then put the desire in your heart to do it.

5. I have no inclination! I do not want to do this.
God answered every excuse in the life of Moses. And there is also a New Testament answer to you. I ask again the same question. Do you this morning want to be a mighty man or woman of God?

CONCLUSION:

Just lay what you have before God, no excuses, and you will see what God can do! “Let us men not just be men, husbands, and fathers, but let us be MEN OF GOD, and let the women not just be women, wives, and mothers, but WOMEN OF GOD.” You need to be ready for God to use you!