Written by S. E. Ray as inspired by the Holy Spirit - 03/04/08

I write these Spirit-lead words addressing those who seriously want a victorious and effective walk in Christ. In these thoughts are shared truths that require a passionate and yielding will that seeks the purpose of the Father. The heart is indeed very deceptive, inasmuch as to convince ourselves that we are attaining when in reality we may be wandering. It is only when one earnestly seeks to live the supernatural life, deeply longing for the fullness of God that they are prepared to hear these admonitions.

We know that the pride nature in a Christian can cause one to try and to impress other believers with their abilities, skills, talents and certifications. God is not at all impressed nor honored by such motivations. He cannot work through a soul who is self-absorbed, whereas pride is the foundational essence of sin, and the nature of the fallen one. I know very talented musicians who lead worship, ones who do it in their own power, not understanding that the confidence they have in their talent nullifies their usability by God. I have sat under pastors who eloquently expounded scripture, but whose message lacked soul-moving power because the Spirit was squelched by human wisdom and techniques. God's radiant glory cannot transverse through a soul who hinders His power by ruling his own house. The Shekinah Glory only moves by reflecting off souls polished with humility and holiness. I fear that there are many self-impressed workers employed for the Kingdom who should spend time in the desert to learn humility.

Moses is prime example of death before use... a pharaoh, a very wealthy and educated man, who crudely tried to stand in the gap by killing an Egyptian task master. God, in essence, made it clear that is not how it is done, “You want to be used to set your people free, Hebrew?” God essentially stated, by action “I will resign you to the desert for 40 years until you have nothing left of self, and only then can I use you.” (60 years, as defined by Josephus' agrees with two Aggadic accounts) Moses became an old man of 80 years with a speech impediment before God could use that stubborn and proud vessel. When the pruning came of age, Moses was so empty of self that he argued that God could not even use him. (Exodus 3:11)

Saul experienced a similar account. His father was of the strict sect of the Jews, a Pharisee, of the tribe of Benjamin, of pure and unmixed Jewish blood, and a Roman citizen. Saul was honored to be a pupil of the celebrated rabbi Gamalie. In the end, Saul would be as one with a Seminary Ph.D. He become a proud Jewish teacher who followed the law to the letter, and knew scriptures better than any scribe. But the crisis of his life was at hand. He had reached the last stage of his journey, and was within sight of Damascus. As he and his companions rode on, suddenly, at mid-day, a brilliant light shone round them, and Saul was laid prostrate in terror on the ground, a voice sounding in his ears, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" The risen Savior was there, clothed in the vesture of His glorified humanity. In answer to the anxious inquiry of the stricken persecutor, "Who art thou, Lord?" He said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest" Saul did not eat or drink for three days, and lost his sight for a time. Straight away, he traveled to Arabia for three years in searching solitude before God could use him. We, too, have to lose sight of what we trust in ourselves if we ever hope to be genuinely useful, or God may well have to bring about an occurrence to help us comprehend!

If we take a moment to learn from Gideon and his men. We read that "he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet into every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers." Judges 7:16 The pitchers had been presented empty, as we are called to be empty; then Gideon had his men place the lights or torches inside the empty pots. This clearly reveals to us the meaning of the treasure in the earthen vessels of which St. Paul speaks in 2 Cor. 4:7, which says "We have this treasure in earthen vessels." It was God who had commanded the light to shine out of darkness, who had shined in our hearts, which does not come and go, but remains as an abiding possession and enlarges as we relinquish our selfish ambitions.

The Lord Jesus said to His disciples (not to unbelievers) in Luke 9:23-24. "If any man will come after me, let him deny HIMSELF, and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."

Another scripture that shows us the mind of God in this area of the empty vessel is John 12:23-25. "Truly, truly, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."

God chooses to use those whom the carnal mind would never consider.

“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

I think of D. L. Moody, who was a great 19th century evangelist who had the worst possible grammar skills. Despite this, God used him to reach students at one of the great learning centers of that time, the Cambridge University in England. Some students came to ridicule him. He began his message with “Young gentlemen, don’t ever think God don’t love you, for he do!” Terrible grammar, to be sure, but the message reached their souls and some came to Christ. Moody's level of learning would not qualify him to enroll in Moody Bible Institute if he tried today.

In 2 Timothy 2 it is written "In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, prepared unto every good work." In these words, the Spirit is giving us direction about purity by association. To be a usable soul, ready for the Master's hand, "a person" must choose separation from those of dishonour, thus affirming the principle of defilement by associations and consequent disqualification for service. Only as purged from the vessels of dishonour can one become a vessel unto honour, one which the Master will delight to use.

The question is then asked, "Is it possible for the Christian to be an empty vessel?" One of two things are always true: either a person will be filled with Christ, or with himself, and the things which center upon himself. The Lord promises to send His chosen into service, embellished with power, wisdom, grace, and the message of the good news. It is of supernatural origin that all must be received from Him. Nothing of our own, nothing that springs from self, can be effectively used by Him. Albeit, the believer will not be in a condition to be employed unless he is already filled. And the more filled we are, the more Christ empowers the soul to achieve the Kingdom work.

These are some of the evident fruits as a Christian dies to self-preoccupation and lives for Christ.

• When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set aside, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is content as one of no reputation in Christ.
  
• When your good is spoken of as evil; when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, but you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but process it all with non-offense and meekness.
  
• When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any unpunctuality, or any annoyance; when you stand face-to-face with waste, folly, extravagance, and spiritual insensibility, and endure it as Jesus endured such with patience.
  
• When you are content with any food, any support, any climate, any society, any clothing, any shelter, and any conflict, fully trusting God through Christ as your provider.
• When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendations; when you can truly can be at peace being unknown.
• When you can see your brother prosper and his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater, or even desperate.
  
• When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself, and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart.
  

A non-Christian cannot comprehend these words, nor can a Christian attain this level of selflessness based upon their own efforts. Such requires a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit within, starting first with a fervent desire to be poured out and in turn be filled with Him. The genuine fact is that the Christian walk is impossible in our own effort. It is not our work, it is His; we only have to submit. He promises to do the work and provide the power; however, we must choose to lay down our life, as He did for us.