The word for this week is "vessel". We see it used in these verses:
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. KJV
2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. KJV
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. KJV
These are all the Greek word "skeuos". Strong's Concordance says: a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus. When JESUS breathed on His disciples in John 20:21-22, they became 'vessels' that carried the Spirit of God within them!
John 20:21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you. 22 And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit! AMP
THIS is the "treasure" that we carry inside of our "earthen vessels"! When we were "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8), we allowed the Spirit of God to have even more access to us, becoming better and more powerful "vessels"! As we consistently release our will to conform to His, we become those vessels of honor that show forth HIS glory and draw people to Him! From the time I was born again I have heard sermons on going about 'witnessing' to get people born again. What we are REALLY supposed to do is to be so filled with His presence in these earthen vessels that HE shines forth in everything that we do. Your life, your success, your love for your family and others, your care of other people, even sometimes just your presence, is where people see the JESUS that they need! You LIVE the Word so well! I believe that God has some powerful things planned for you and Kristine and your beautiful girls in this coming year that will be beyond your best dreams! I'm praying for that! In the meantime, here is a new song from Hillsong called "New Wine" that serves as a commitment of our "vessels" for the Master's use!
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
