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Clean Vessels

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Clean Vessels

Isaiah 66:20 (NKJV) Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offer- ing to the LORD out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in lit-ters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” saysthe LORD, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vesselinto the house of the LORD.

Anytime we see scripture talking about “clean vessels,” it can only meanone thing. Clean vessels are a very particular kind of vessel. Clean vessels were once vessels of Honor or Mercy. As we have discussed, vessels of hon- or and mercy are the vessels that tend to do most of the ministering inside and outside the body of Christ. What sometimes happens to these vessels of honor and mercy is they get damaged in the course of ministry. When dam- age occurs to the vessels, they often need some repair. When they become vessels in need of repair, they are then known as clean vessels.

There are many things that can cause damage to these vessels of honorand mercy. They can experience what we often call in the body, “burnout.”They can get hurt in the process of ministry. Or, they might get sidetracked by sin and lose their meaning or purpose. Whatever the reason for these vessels of honor and mercy arriving at the place of becoming clean vessels, intense repair becomes a necessity. In order for a clean vessel to be restored and returned to the state of honor and mercy, a very specific regiment has to be followed by the potter. The steps are as follows:

  1. Emptied – The clean vessel has to be completely emptied of everything.

  2. Scraped – The potter takes a metal brush and scrapes the inside walls of

    the vessel.

  3. Lip Re-set – The potter has to restructure the lip of the vessel.

  4. Re-FIRED – The potter puts the vessel back in the fire to strengthen it.

    As you might imagine, none of this is comfortable or easy; but ALL of it is necessary. If you find yourself in a place of burnout or hurt today, consider allowing the Father to take you back to the wheel. The re-shaping will hurt for the moment, but it will be worth it in the end.

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Treasures in Jars of Clay

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Treasures in Jars of Clay

2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

I wanted to remind you today that your life matters. I want to remind you that you are not only trusted by God, but you havebeen “entrusted” by God. He literally wants us to know that He hasplaced in us all that we will need to be the salt, light, and hope that our lost, broken, and dying world is longing for. He calls us Hisown; He calls His “jars of clay.” By that He means that while weare simply just regular ole guys and girls; in His hands, we are more than conquerors. The secret to our success in spiritual mat-ters as we live life on the earth isn’t found in the jars of clay, it is found in the “treasure” within the jars of clay.

According to scripture, He is that treasure. In 2 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that God is willing to put His treasure in our jars of clay and use us for some incredible stuff. In other words, God has placed this treasure of mercy in us so that we can show the earth of His great power. Imagine that, God trusts us. May be al- ways be available to carry the treasure. In doing so, we will be life speakers to a broken world without hope.

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