We see a natural picture in the Old Testament event that helps us understand a New Testament concept. In 2 Kings 4: 1-7 we see a widow woman being blessed with all she needed. If she would have had more jugs, they too would have been filled with oil. It’s a picture of all available space being occupied with God’s provision.
How does this apply to me? is the question. We need go deeper and look at Paul’s teaching to the early church. It is about my body being a vessel or jar and what is put into it.
Paul explained to the church: “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
All who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord move on to a new life. We are like new vessels–our bodies now contain the Holy Spirit of God. He desires to shine Jesus to all people.
Paul wrote about this: “…we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God…” (2 Corinthians 4:2)
This means that we have turned away from everything that is not of God. We leave all sinful ways behind and become new creations as we learn and apply the Word of God to our lives.
Paul said we are like jars holding the treasure of God. He said also that every Christian is like a temple: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Smith Wigglesworth commented that some believers are not full of the Holy Ghost “because the bodies are not ready for it; the temples are not cleansed. When the temples are purified and the minds put in order so that carnalities and fleshly desires and everything has gone, then the Holy Ghost can take full charge. The Holy Ghost is not a manifestation of carnality…the power of the Holy Ghost is most lovely, divine in all its construction. It is a great refiner. It is full of life, but it is always divine–never natural.”
We who believe in Jesus and have begun the process of living by feeding on His words shine as lights in a dark world. The truth that we are forgiven because of our faith in the finished work of Christ at the cross is a treasure. Every day we have strength, hope, and joy because of our promised future in heaven. Every day as we take into our being more words and promises of God, we grow stronger in our spirit, and stronger in our faith.
Because Jesus is risen, we too rise to new life. Though our outward appearance may be aging, our inner life is being renewed day by day. We fix our eyes and hearts on things eternal, things unseen.
We find we are less interested in the things of this world. Our focus, our life, our everything longs to be with God, to know Him more. We yield to the promptings of goodness and holiness within us. The Spirit of God that came in when we received Jesus to save us ‘house-cleans’ –creating purity around Him where He dwells. We work together with Him by resisting the ‘spots’ of uncleanness that linger. Our prayers are heard by God and by these He is given permission to make all things new.
Everything that is not of wholehearted love to God and neighbor, Holy Spirit will bring to our attention so we can speak the words that will cleanse. We aim for a vessel or body filled with God and His life alone. We yield our will to His. When we do what we can do, God does what He can do to help us. Let our bodies, our temples be filled with His glory. He is near as we draw close to Him. We find the Word of God becomes easier to understand and an anchor that holds us firmly in difficult seasons.
It’s up to each person to make room in his heart and life for all God wants to put in. Like the widow woman, we can contain abundance, literally as much as we make room for. Often times it means making time for the things of God by forsaking worldly time wasters. Our time is precious. All we do draws us either closer to God or puts Him out of our mind and heart.
We can picture Jesus with us all day long, seeing and taking in all that we do. Certainly His promise is to be with us always.
Let us fill our vessels with the things of God, hearing His Word and fellowshipping daily with Him in heartfelt prayers. The things of this world will grow strangely dim in appeal next to the wonder of God in us.
