I had a word coming through the night and at different points of the week. The Bible says precept upon precept, line upon line here a little there a little.
First my daughter had a dream about vessels in a large house. I made note of the revelation and pondered some more. I always say of the things of God let nothing be wasted and we must strive to have a teachable spirit. So I continued to listen to see what He would say about the vessels.
I was reading last night ‘The Master’s indwelling’ by Andrew Murray and once again the Lord brought the issue of vessels to my attention. I started to hear a word being formed. This then below is it :-
In chapter one of his book Murray draws attention to the carnal Christian and the things that keeps such a one in infancy despite being fed with the word for 10, 20 or 30 years. Using Ephesians, Murray admonishes that the carnal mind is enmity towards God and God wants us to be filled with the spirit and not drunk with wine.
Using the analogy of an empty cup, at a tea table waiting to be filled, Murray admonishes that in the natural we wait earnestly for the tea to be poured and the plate to be filled when we sit waiting for a meal. He says and so it is with the Christian in terms of the infilling of the spirit and enlightenment. Significantly… (and this is where the revelation came for me marrying the bits received over the week) … we wouldn’t want a new meal on a dirty plate. Not ever.
A vessel has to be washed, to be set apart to receive and that is where one starts as a Christian. Murray was writing to our shame that many Christians try to do the things of God without holiness. They are unclean. He raised a multiplicity of issues that need to be dealt with before the vessel – selfishness, envying, strife and division, rage and temper tantrums , pride, jealousy , bitterness, cold hearted , lovelessness , to name a few. These things mar the vessel of God and inhibits the free flow of the gift. Murray also raises the issue of the inability for many to perceive and receive spiritual truths quoting Paul’s anguish in the book of Corinthians when he wanted to feed with meat but the brethren could not bear it. The carnal Christian was present in Corinth and is alive and kicking in the Body today causing ineptitude, immaturity , and significant delays in getting the House ready for our King’s return.
The final link today was being led led to review what Isaiah 28 : 9. Interestingly it is also a rebuke to the whole Body and about cleanliness and I summarize here what it says.
It says :
Many have erred through wine and strong drink and are out of the way,the priest and the prophet err through strong drink and are swallowed up of wine and are out of the way – they err in vision and stumble in judgement and all the tables are full of vomit and filthiness so that there is no place clean.
It goes onto say :
Whom shall he teach knowledge ?
And whom shall he make to understand doctrine ?
Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts. For precepts must be upon precepts, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little . Note to repetition …
We have been called to grow up and unto holiness. We major on so many frilly ear-tickling subjects, bar cleanliness and holiness. We strain at gnats and swallow camels. As Murray points out , we hold grudges and unforgiveness and a whole manner of flesh issues. How to do right we know not. Our hearts are hard and impenetrable and we cant receive.
We are still in a period of mercy before the door is closed and it is a time for all of us to consider out ways and examine ourselves. Father would rather us to be spiritual – sons of God, than carnal – mere men.
We are called to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Ephesians 4:24 . We are called to follow peace with all men, and holiness, for without which, the bible says, no man shall see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
Let’s teach the children to mature and come up to the mark of the high calling without spot or blemish. Father is coming back for a spotless church. He says ‘Be holy for I am holy’. The word is for all of us. All …..have sinned and come short.
Don’t give me that…
No more excuses…
Clean out the Cup …
There is an urgent need for all of us to examine ourselves, because the Lord is on his way. He has told me to say.
Yours in His Name
Evangelist Linda J
28/8/2020