Empty Possibilities

Ephesians 3:14-21 (KJV) 

"14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (emphasis mine)

How often have you heard well-intentioned ministers and Christian leaders appeal to people to bring their talents to The Lord? "Come and use your gifts for God." There seems to be this strange belief that if someone used their abilities for God, they would somehow be moving in the right direction toward Christ. Nothing could be further from the truth!

First of all, The Lord doesn't need my abilities or anything else I may think I possess. The idea that God is aching for someone to play guitar (or any other talent) in His church is almost laughable! Sadly, many are "worshipping" an unknown god where serving The Lord has become more about us than Him.

Acts 17:22-25 (KJV) 

"22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, [Ye] men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"

Second, The Lord is more interested in what we ARE than what we DO. We have nothing of value to add to God or any ability to take anything away from Him. 

Consider the passage above from Ephesians. Notice verse nineteen. "That you might be filled with all the fulness of God." That line is both wonderful and terrifying. The implications of such a thought are mind-boggling. How could we, finite humans, be filled with all the fulness of God? Talk about an impossibility!

I believe the explanation is obvious.

 WE MUST BECOME A CONDUIT FOR GOD

 We cannot hope to contain all that God is as simple creatures. But we can be available for Him to demonstrate any aspect of Himself at any given moment. We can live so surrendered to Christ that He can be all He desires through us. 

 ALL JESUS WANTS FROM US IS AN EMPTY POSSIBILITY

I submit that our level of emptiness determines the measure of God's presence in our lives. Yes, you read that right. Your emptiness is the key! Jesus wants to fill us with all He is, but how few people there are who genuinely empty themselves to serve the Lord. 

 Take a moment to read 2 Kings 4:1-7.

The previous Bible reference is the account of one of the many miracles of Elisha. It's a story of divine hopefulness conquering extreme helplessness. Everything seems to be against this poor woman.

• Her husband is dead. 
• She's a woman without any real social significance.
• She's in debt to a creditor.
• She has no known source of income. 
• The creditor wants her sons as slaves to pay the debt.

 Even with all the strikes against her, she has one major asset. What do you think it is? The small amount of oil in her house? No. Even though the oil will be what Elisha uses to meet her needs, it isn't her greatest asset.

 Her emptiness opens the door for the overwhelming blessing she is about to receive. That is her biggest asset.

 WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE?

 Once the prophet Elisha hears her complaint, he asks a simple question. He asks, "What do you want" and "What do you have in your house?" She responds with, "nothing except a pot of oil."

 We tend to focus more on the opinions of other people. But here, Elisha asks, "What's in your house?" In other words, what do you have in your private life? What can you depend upon when everything else fails? Of course, the opinions of others aren't going to provide the breakthrough we need. Only what we have and what we are in private matters here.  

 BELIEF AND BEHAVIOR ARE INSEPARABLE

 Many people seem to live like their behavior can be separated from their beliefs. But, in actuality, you can NEVER separate belief and behavior. So your belief system is nothing more than a facade if your behavior doesn’t compliment it. 

 By crying out to Elisha for help, the widow was appealing to God's mercy. She knew He was her best and only option. Elisha commands her to borrow as many containers as possible and start pouring her oil. The more emptiness she could add to her situation, the more room The Lord had to work. 

NO MORE VESSELS

When there were no more empty containers to fill, the oil stopped coming. How true this is of the Holy Spirit as well. He will continue to fill and empower believers as long as there are those who are hungry for Him. 

 What Jesus needs are empty possibilities, someone who will allow themselves to be emptied of the world and filled with The Spirit. Will you be that conduit for Jesus?