The past few days have led me to recall a great truth that I first learned in Bible College. Dr. Kenneth Dean, as he was teaching the second year Greek class, stated an intriguing truth about this familiar verse: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" (Ephesians 5:18). He said that the verb construction of this verse should be understood that being filled with the Spirit is on ongoing, continuous process.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I realize that if I am not being constantly filled with the Spirit, I will soon be empty and dry of God's presence and power. Scripture teaches us that we have the treasure of God contained in earthen vessels. Earthen vessels, at least mine, are often cracked and the only way to keep them filled is to continue pouring a fresh supply into them.
Why are our earthen vessels leaking? Sometimes it is the weights of life or the sin which so easily besets us, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2). It could be the difficulties and tragedies of life that cause us to become distracted from our relationship with the Lord. We may even find ourselves so disappointed in others that we lose our joy and purpose through a time of despair. Perhaps we have been praying diligently for a certain thing, yet God did not answer our prayer in the way we desired. Regardless of the cause of our Spiritual seepage, we must remember that "......for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10).
If I allow sin to gain a foothold in my life, I leak. If I doubt the promises of God, I leak. If I try to solve problems by myself without casting my cares upon the Lord, I leak. If I let the struggles and heartaches of life overcome my being, I leak.
Although, if I remember the source of my help and come to the Lord in brokenness and faith, He is my source of spiritual supply. Even though my earthen vessel is often cracked and leaking, His ability to fill me is more than adequate to overcome my shortcomings.
If you feel like you are leaking and growing dry in your relationship with Jesus. Join me in crying out "Help Lord! I'm leaking!"
No comments:
Post a Comment