Bring Your Vessels Not A Few

I. There was an urgent need.

A. A death in the family.

B. A debt that could not be paid.

C. A future of slavery.

D. Overall a very dire situation.

II. There was a use of what was available.

What do you have in the house?

God wants to use what you have for His glory.

One song writer said,

“What’s that you have in your hand?

I can use it, if you’re willing to lose it.

Take the little you have and make it grand.

I am El Shaddai, and I will more than supply your need.”

When you surrender what you have to God some wonderful things begin to happen.

A. He gives hope.

B. He gives peace that passed understanding.

C. He provides in a way that is unlike what we would have expected.

Ephesians 3:20-21a “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory…”

III. The measure of faith and expectancy became the measure of blessing.

The boys gathered all the vessels they could find in the neighborhood. God supplied enough oil to fill them all. The only limitation to God’s blessing came with when they limited space to receive it. God is not limited in His ability to meet our needs and bless us. We are the ones who place limits on God. God will only give us His Presence, help and blessing as we make room for Him. Had the boys gathered 10 more vessels, they would have filled them. Had they gathered 100 or 1000 or 10000 more vessels, they would have filled them. The amount of room we make for God’s presence and power in our lives is the amount we are going to get.

IV. The need was met miraculously from God’s storehouse of supply.

God never does anything in a small way. When Jesus fed the 5000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fish, they took up 12 baskets of leftovers. When Jesus told the disciples who had spent the night fishing and caught nothing to fish on the other side, they brought in so many fish, they nearly sank the boat. When God sent down fire upon the altar of Elijah, the fire devoured the sacrifice, the wood, the water, and the altar itself. When God meets a need He never does anything half way if we will move out of the way and let Him do it.

Let us make room for God.

1. In our daily lives.

>Prayer

>Reading and studying the Word of God

>Walking in all the light God has given us.

>Displaying a cheerful, Christlike attitude.

>Enjoying Christianity enough that others can tell we enjoy it.

2. In our families

>Family altar

>Family fun time—do fun things together once in a while.

>Keep a Godly environment in the home by the music that is played

3. In our church

>Attend faithfully

>Invite God’s presence in each service.

>Come expecting God’s presence to be here.

>Pray one for another.

>Lift up the weaker brother and cover for him—don’t advertise his weaknesses.

>Pray for your pastor.

>Invite others.

The more room we make for God, the more we will experience His Presence and help and the more He will be pleased to continue to pour out His blessings and His Spirit upon us.