Originally Posted
Kerygma Blog
Empty Vessels
Prophetess Vickie Lee: Posted on Monday, October 27, 2014 1:25 AM
Empty Vessels
There is an interesting idiom which says, “Empty vessels make the most noise/sound." I found God in it!
It means that people who talk a lot and frequently express their opinions are often “talking loud and saying nothing.” It means to say that one is noisy because there is nothing IN there. An “empty vessel” is one whose thoughts, etc. clang around, noisily, bouncing off the walls of their intellect, mind and being adding nothing of value. In the world one is better heard if they are full of ideas, education, pride, and self. I have nothing against education or God-ideas, you understand. All good and perfect gifts come from God, including a keen intellect. It is just that the notion of an "empty vessel” in the world is polar opposite to the way the people of God see an “empty vessel”. For the child of God desires to be emptied of self, that he or she might be used of God. “An empty vessel makes the greatest sound” is another version of the idiom. Now THAT I can agree with. I am not speaking of just ANY vessel. Oh, no! I mean a vessel of gold, one used of God. For the greatest sound as of a mighty rushing wind blows through such an one, empty of self, yielded to the unction and leading of Holy Spirit. There is Someone IN there! Holy Spirit! We are talking about the gold standard of the sanctified “empty vessel”:
2 Timothy 2:20
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
A vessel of Gold is empty of self! How many times have you heard a minister of the Gospel pray,”God all of you and none of me”? Oh, my! We need to hear from God! We need to hear the “greatest sound”! Even Jesus said it was not HIS teachings, but God’s which had such an impact. My teaching is not My own, but His Who sent Me. John 7:16. It was in the power and authority our Father in heaven had given Him. Jesus did not speak on His own, so empty of self, and yielded to God was He. Ah! To be so empty that God gets all of the glory! But how to get there? One way to be emptied of self is to come to the end of ourselves. Lord Jesus! That can be a process. We have to learn to depend on no one, but God! He is to be the anchor of our soul. Now you understand that that comes about only as we lean on have faith in, rely on, and trust in the Lord through a myriad of circumstances and situations. There are no two ways about it. Surrender to the process of purification of the gold. It is about God building character in us. In the Kingdom, character takes precedence over gifting. I remember that early on in my walk with the Lord, he told me,“I have chosen you in the fire of affliction.” Ouch! A perfect description. But, Jesus walked me through the fire! Just as He faithfully walks YOU through. He never forsakes us. Bless God!
Isaiah 48:10
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
It is a refining process, Beloved. I would be less than candid if I did not tell you it does not feel good to have the dross, the “works of the flesh” burned off. Any attempt to end the discomfort only prolongs the process. It has been called "redemptive suffering" and the only way "out" is through. There is no way to skip over the process. It is a work of God and it can take years. It is specific to us as individuals and it is life-long, in that we may have to “re-visit" some areas, as needed, sometimes. There may "wilderness" experiences and there is no way around that: You can only get over it by obediently and humbly going through it One can have a call on his or her life, but does not want to let God take them through the process of emptying them of the gunk of which keeps them from truly shining to the glory of God the Father. Specifically, the dross/gunk is:
Galations 5: 19-21
Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Let me encourage you to cooperate with God. Surrender! But remember you are going for the gold! Only God can assay as to when one has reached that point. Yes, it is a refining process and it is worth it! If any of that stuff,the doings or works of the flesh, floats around in our vessel, we cannot make the “greatest”sound which shouts “The Kingdom is come near to you.” Beloved, “The Kingdom of God is within YOU.” In your hearts, in the midst of you, among you, and surrounding you. That is not me talking, but I quote the Lord in Luke 17:21. We have to grab ahold of that because in this hour, God-prepared and trained, vessels of gold, ministering and living out of Kingdom power and authority, is sorely needed. A people making a “sound” which issues from the very heart of God! A people inspired by Holy Spirit. Empty vessels boldly speaking the wisdom of the Word of God. It may be passionate, fiery, anointed, and yes, sometimes loud, but it is not just “noise”. That is how folk get healed, delivered, and set free. For the very power of death and LIFE is to reside in our tongues. Consistently! In the Body of Christ universal! Bless God! In Africa, Antarctica, Asia, (glory!) Australia, Europe, ( Hallelujah!) North America, and South America, (Thank you, Jesus!). Empty vessels fit for the Master’s use! Doing the work of the ministry right where we are: at home, work, school, the bank, grocers, with family, friends, neighbors, friends or strangers. Whenever and WHEREever, may God use us mightily! Amein. But what do I have to DO, Prophetess?
Same question, same answer right in Holy Scripture:
John 6:28 - 29
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
There is no great mystery here, is there? Just love Jesus and nurture your relationship with Him! I have written many times that everything flows from that love relationship with Him. We MUST understand that no Spirit infused, gold-standard, effective, long-term ministry is going to come, apart from that. It is simply the truth:
1 Corinthians 3:11-13
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [emphasis mine] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
Dear ones, if you would be an empty vessel, emptied by God that is, yield to Him. The foundation of godly character is forged in fire. Gold is only purified in fire. There is a heat in crucifying the flesh to a state of emptiness and absolute surrender to Him. You say you want God to use you? You say there is a call on your life? Well, it is so true that the higher the call the deeper the foundation. You say you want MORE? We cannot MAKE anything happen. Yield to Him!! The more time we spend with Him, the more we become like Him as we acquire the divine nature and character of God. In communing with Him, He is imparted to our very beings. It is "within” us and it is a treasure!
Proverbs 8:21
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Beloved, we need to be emptied of self and leaning not to our OWN understanding so that God can fill us with heavenly treasures. A weighty "substance" of the oil of his anointing to pour out to others. That cup King David spoke of as "running over“ is more than a cup in our hands, it is to be US in our whole being! Now that is an overflow! May you be blessed by the lyrics from the Rev. Milton Brunson’s song, "Available to You"
Lord, I’m available to you,
My will I give to you
I’ll do what you say do, use me Lord To show someone the way
And enable me to say
My storage is empty And I am available to you
Ruach haKodesh! Holy Spirit,“enable” us to say with the mouth of an empty vessel, with an undivided heart, with
in spirit and in truth "My storage is empty. Lord, I am available to you!" Have your way, Oh, God!
Geshem B’rakhot (Showers of blessings!)
Prophetess Vickie Lee
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