Becoming An Open Vessel. -That’s God!
-2 Corinthians 4:7
Illustration. Hold a clay jar.
Can that which is little contain that which is big?
Can that which is finite encompass that which is infinite?
Yes. How?
Left the jar and remove the cap from its top.) It can. -It can, if it’s an open vessel.
Ephesians 3:19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Remember, God is the Master potter. We are the clay.
Peter Marshall, in a sermon entitled, "Disciples in Clay," pictured the apostles before an examining board which was appointed to choose Jesus' close associates. Peter stood there smelling of fish -- unrefined, uncultured, impulsive, and passionate. Andrew, James, and John also reeked of fish and lacked refinement. Philip appeared to be indecisive. Thomas seemed cynical. Matthew was considered a traitor. Simon the Zealot was a dangerous patriot. Judas was a thief.
The NT tells it like it was. This was a group not likely to succeed. It is most likely they would not have been chosen by a board for Jesus, but they were chosen by Jesus.
-Infinity In A Jar; infinity in a clay jar!
In the western panhandle of Texas is a small town named Texline. It was seeking to attract attention, beginning in the late 1800s as a thriving center along a new railroad line.
Within a few years, though, most of the shops had closed and the town's population shriveled to about 400. In the year 2000, the population was still just over 500.
One online description of Texline states, that it has a city limit sign at one end, another at the other end, and not much in between.
What a waste, if the same description could be given of our spiritual journey!
-Not much in-between?
-The journey of the Christian life on earth begins at the moment of faith in Jesus, and ends, when the believer goes to be with the Lord.
This raises an important question, “What happens in between?”
2 Corinthians 4:7AMP ”But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves.“
So the question is, “Will you be a closed, or an open vessel?”
A closed vessel can never contain anything larger than its own size.
.Small Vision. “Us 4 and no more.”
.The vision statement reads, “We Get By.”
.We go by my rules. “What if your rules aren’t right?”
-Again, However, an open vessel has no limitations.
Again, 2 Corinthians 4:7MSG ”If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the- unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us.
Again, A closed vessel can never contain anything larger than its own size.
-But an open vessel has no limitations.
When you become an open vessel you begin asking God to expand your vision, territory. -You begin seeing the harvest! P.H
-Can you see the harvest?
Because you’ve decided to be an open vessel, In return, you get the God factor! -Your life now can contain the blowing of the wind, or the outpouring of the rain. -The oxygen of the fire.
-It can even contain the flowing of a river. Yes, God can create a river!
Listen to the optimism in Jesus about the coming days. John 7:37-38AMP Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! 38 He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’?”
Again, Jesus states in, John 4:14AMP ”But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life.”“
Here’s the powerful part of these verses. For Jesus was speaking of our day and time!
John 7:39AMP But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).“
This ‘living water’ now resides within clay jars! We have become ‘temples’ of the Holy Spirit. We house the very presence of God,
1 Corinthians 3:16.
Here’s another question, which is larger, that which you know, or that which you don’t know?
–That which I don’t know. So then, it’s only wise that you seek that which you don’t know.
2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 7 It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going.
Hear these words of prophesies in Isaiah 55:1-5AMP, we will look at one verse at a time.
Isaiah 55:1AMP ”“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].
God is saying, “Become an open vessel!”
Hear this scripture reference, Revelation 21:6AMP ”And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I will give [water] from the fountain of the water of life without cost. Is. 55.1.
Another reference, Revelation 22:17 ”The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, believers) say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take and drink the water of life without cost, Is 55:1“
Back to, Isaiah 55:2ESV Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?- -Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. -Rich food?
Peter and John, about to enter the temple when they see a lame man begging at the temple door. Act 3 Peter speaks up, “Silver and gold I don’t have (That’s not what you need, that’s not rich food), but in the name of Jesus rise up and be healed!”
The question is, “Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, And your earnings for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight in abundance.
God is asking the question, “What does your diet consist of?”
Again, Become an open vessel. -Jeremiah 31:12AMP ”“They will come and sing aloud and shout for joy on the height of Zion, And will be radiant [with joy] over the goodness of the Lord— For the grain, for the new wine, for the oil, And for the young of the flock and the herd. And their life will be like a watered in garden, And they shall never sorrow or languish again.“
So how do you contain that which is bigger than you…
That which is bigger than your ability to comprehend? -By becoming an open vessel.
Isaiah 55:3 “Incline your ear [to listen] and come to Me; Hear, so that your soul may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies [promised and] shown to David.
Again God calls His people; His open vessels in, Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto Me and I will-
answer you and show you great and mighty things that you don’t know.
God speaking to David in, 2 Samuel 7:12-13AMP ”When your days are fulfilled and you lie down [in death] with your fathers (ancestors), I will raise up your descendant after you, who shall be born to you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He [is the one who] shall build a house for My Name and My Presence, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.“
Acts 13:34-35AMP ”And [as for the fact] that He raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay [in the grave], He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David [those blessings and mercies that were promised to him].’ 35 For this reason He also says in another Psalm, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see decay.’
This is what I know, When you become part of the linage of Judah, your praise endures forever. For you join in with King David, and become part of the linage of the Loin of the tribe of Judah. -Jesus. -The root of David. -The One Who is, was, and is to come!
Hebrews 13:20-21AMP ”Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood that sealed and ratified the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with every- -good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.“
“By becoming an open vessel, only by opening yourself up, can you come to know that which you don’t already know.” P.H
And only by becoming an open vessel, can you contain that which is greater than yourself.
The truth is always greater than our knowing. Your knowledge is based on your culture, your way of life. However, truth is greater! Truth wins every time!
Your mind and heart are finite, clay jars.
But the truth has no end. God has no end. The eternal is infinite… Always flowing.
Like the river, yes, like the river.
When a jar opens itself up, it becomes unlimited. It can contain the waters of the river…
This is what I want you to do. Open now your mind, your heart, and your life. For it is only the open vessel, and an open heart that can contain the infinity of God.
Isaiah 55:4-5AMP “Listen carefully, I have appointed him [David, representing the Messiah] to be a witness to the nations [regarding salvation], A leader and commander to the peoples. 5 “In fact, you [Israel] will call a nation that you do not know, And a nation that does not know you will run to you, Because of the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.”“
Because of Jesus, we become the offspring of Judah. -Your praise will last forever.
Once more hear, 2 Corinthians 4:7TPT We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours.
Isn’t amazing that a common clay vessel carries this glorious treasure, and this immeasurable power will be seen as God.
Benediction. -If you’ve been a Christian for a while you might have already said this. -That’s God!
