An Earthen Vessel

What can I do to insure victory; to have assurance that I can have my vessel full for the Lord; how can I keep from being a leaking vessel? I know there is a difference between a leaking vessel and a broken vessel.

Lord, I want my will to be broken, to so be at one with thine own that there would be no way to tell the two wills apart.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. II Corinthians 4:7-10

However, we possess this precious treasure (the divine Light of the Gospel)in (frail, human) vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may  be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. We are hedged in (pressed) on every side (troubled and oppressed in every way), but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted (to stand alone); we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the (resurrection) life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies. The Amplified Bible

I will remember that this earthen vessel can manifest the life of Christ.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 16, 2009 at 10:44 am  Leave a Comment  
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Continuous Caring Vessel

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, …   Hebrews 10:11
Furthermore, every (human) priest stands (at his altar of service) ministering daily, offering the same sacrifices over and over again,…  Amplified Bible.

I was reading in Hebrews 10 and came across verse 11 stating that every human priest, that’s me according to 2 Peter 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, (God’s) own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  Amplified Bible

Christ’s priest or a vessel should  always “set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him”. The verse goes on to say that the priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices. In the Old Testament the priests did do the same caring duties for the temple day after day, and the same physical sacrifices were offered.  That tells me that I shouldn’t be surprised to find myself doing the same duties over and over, giving the same care over and over, even washing the same clothes, dishes, etc, over and over, because that is what my job is today, because that is what my owner has for me to do.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works;
Hebrews 10:22-24
And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care* to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities. Hebrews 10:24  Amplified Bible

May I ever have in my vessel what is needed as I stand at my altar of service.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 15, 2009 at 10:47 am  Leave a Comment  
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A Vessel Ministering Grace

After reading about my vocation; I read on in Ephesians 4 and verse 29 bounced around on the page: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
Amplified Bible states it like this: Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word, nor unwholesome or worthless talk (ever) come out of your mouth, but only such (speech) as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.)
“Minister grace unto the hearers,” but grace is unmerited favor. Does that mean that I’m to speak gently and kindly to others even when they don’t deserve it? I’m sure that is what it means.
Proverbs 31 Woman in verse 26 reminds me, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness”
Amplified Bible She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom and on her tongue is the law of kindness (giving counsel and instruction.)

Is this the reason the opening of a vessel is called the mouth and the rim of the vessel is called the lip?

Published in: Uncategorized on October 9, 2009 at 9:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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Victorious Vessel

In my musings about being a vessel, I thought I might as well wear a ‘V’ on my chest, and I grimaced. My mind then made the leap from vessel to victor, and I smiled.” I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:13,19.
Then I thought of vocation:
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
I therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the (divine) calling to which you have been called (with behavior that is a credit to the summons of God’s service, living as becomes you) with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another. Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of (and produced by) the Spirit in the binding power of peace. Amplified Bible
How blessed I am with a vocation that promises victory by simply being a vessel.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 8, 2009 at 11:27 am  Leave a Comment  
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Vessel of Honor

May I be a vessel of honor for the Lord to use to pour out of the abundance of the fruit of the Spirit love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
Galatians 5:22-23

…the fruit of the (Holy) Spirit (the work which His presence within accomplishes) is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence) Galatians 5:22-23 AmplifiedBible

Just a vessel,will no will of its own, just used to pour a little here, a little there, smoothing and calming as the Master directs.

Published in: Uncategorized on September 18, 2009 at 8:44 pm  Leave a Comment  
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To Be Christ’s Vessel

What is a vessel? A utensil for holding something

I have many mugs. I choose which mug I want to use for my coffee, my tea or to cool bacon drippings. The mug doesn’t help decide or advise how it is used. The mug doesn’t call for special attention. The mug hangs on its hook until called for duty.

Whose vessel am I?

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:24-26

And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the (Holy) Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.) Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another. Galatians 5:24-26 Amplified Bible

I must remember:To be Christ’s vessel I must be willing to crucify self, so that the emphasis is on the contents, not the vessel.

Published in: Uncategorized on September 17, 2009 at 4:37 pm  Comments (3)  
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