But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of His power may be of God and not of us. 2 Corinthians. 4:7
I once had a large 55 gallon stock tank that I used to put goldfish in. I placed it under a tree away from the horses so they couldn’t drink out of it. Because the tank sat for several days at a time without water inflow or outflow, it would get very stagnant and dirty. Leaves and debris would accumulate at the bottom of the tank. Algae would form on the sides and on the concrete block that held the water plants. It would get so scummy and dirty at times that I couldn’t see the goldfish unless they came to the top.
So every few weeks, I would put a water hose into the tank with a light and steady flow of water. As the clean water slowly ran into the tank for several hours, it cleaned out all of the debris. I was always amazed at how clean and clear the tank became after this process. I could now see the bottom of the tank and all the goldfish swimming around – the algae on the sides and the water plants were now so clean.
One day the Lord began to speak to me about my vessel. He asked me if I would drink out of a dirty cup. Of course, I said ‘no’. Then He began to show me that I was a vessel being poured out for others to drink from. (I thought “oh dear!”)
He showed the crystal clear water of Himself being poured into me as from a pitcher above my head. He said that as I got full of this fresh, pure water, it would start to overflow – just like the tank had done. I also saw that whatever impurities that were in my soul, would spill over as well and the pure water from Him would become tainted as it flowed out. He showed me that whatever is in my vessel (my soul) that is not clean will come out with the overflow.
He began to speak to me about my life – how He desired me to empty myself out first of any impurities so when His pure water flowed into me, the overflow would be just as pure.
We are referred to as earthen vessels. We hold God’s glory, His power and His Love.
Only He can reveal to us the impurities that we harbor in our souls. We are incapable of ridding ourselves of the impurities just like the stagnant tank. The best way to allow Him to rid us of these is to look to Him – being sure we are standing under the faucet of His word and His love to continually flow into us. As there is an input, there must also be an output like a river, not a stagnant pond.
Give out what you take in – it’s in this process that we ourselves become cleansed. Yes, God will use impure vessels to get HIs will done on the earth. He is not limited by whom He works and speaks through. However, He can do greater things through those who have been sanctified for His purpose and calling because He can trust them.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38
“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3
“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,” 1 Peter 1:22
Commune In The Garden 