“Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So, the oil ceased.” ~ II Kings 4:6
REFERENCE:
In our text, God was ready to keep the miracle of oil flowing as long as there were vessels to receive them, but when there was not another vessel, the flow stopped. God does not waste His grace or gift by pouring it where there are no vessels to receive or contain them. Likewise, God cannot bless a man beyond his capacity to receive the blessing, nor will He use him beyond his willingness to be used by Him. God is always ready to pour if only there are empty vessels.
God will only give you what you can hold and no more – what your spirit and mind can contain and what your mouth can control. If your spirit can’t handle it, it will turn you away from God. If your mind can’t contain it, it will birth pride. If your mouth can’t control it, you will hurt people with your words or ascribe the glory to yourself. When you max out your capacity to receive God’s grace, gift, or anointing, it stops flowing in your life or towards you.
Whenever you pray to God to bless you with prosperity, anointing, a job, a spouse, promotion, prominence, or significance, a better and much-needed prayer point will be, “Father God, please give me the capacity to contain, manage, and handle what I am asking You for.” That capacity is what determines how much you receive and demonstrate. It includes:
1. Being an ’empty vessel’ before God: This is a picture of humility, not claiming you know it all, but that You need God to fill you up and teach you—none of me, but all of You, Lord.
2. Strength of Character: This says to God, “I remain the same person, no matter what talents, blessings, or riches may come my way. I will not become proud or rude to people less gifted; neither will I use my mouth to dishonor You. Accolades, or lack of it, will not move me.
3. Spiritual Maturity: This says God will always be my God and come first in everything. What God gave me can never be greater than or will ever take the place of the Giver. It says that the more the treasure poured into my ‘earthen vessel,’ the more I will admit and confess that the excellency is of God…the more it should make God SHINE in my life.
God has done great things in the lives of many men. He has given wealth, life-changing ideas, institutions, anointings, ministries, etc. He is still looking for other vessels to pour into; let it not be said that there is not another vessel when you and I are there. Make yourself available.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Isaiah 6:8, Proverbs 17:16, and II Corinthians 4:7
PRAYER:
Lord, I present myself as an empty vessel to You; fill me with Your wisdom, grace, and power. Let my life be a demonstration of what You can accomplish through an available and yielded vessel. Increase my capacity to accommodate Your oil of favor, blessings, honor, and greatness. Let Your name alone be glorified in my life, in Jesus’ name – Amen.
