I saw a picture on a social media site the other day that showed and empty cup and had a caption under it that read "nothing can be poured from an empty cup". This was probably one of the most simple, yet powerful pics/statements I've seen posted in quite a while. The truth behind this is something we all need to realize. We spend so much time....no, we waste so much time looking at others and their lack of God, their character flaws and their mistakes that we often forget that what God really wants to do is get to look inward at ourselves so He can cleanse and fill us. I haven't made this statement for a while, but I used to quite often...."God called us to love people and leave it up to Him to judge them, but we have turned that around to where we think we are called to judge people and let Him love them".
Why is is so important for us to make sure we are allowing God to fill us? Because there are 2 things that take place when God fills us, one is an emptying out of the things He does not want in us to make room for what He does want in us. And two, there is a filling up for the point and purpose of pouring back out. God will never fills us just for the sake of us walking around full. If that is the mindset you have been walking around in then the enemy has been selling you a lie. God's plan and purpose is to reach anyone and everyone He can. So when He fills us up it is for the purpose of us pouring back out to others. Now having said that, let me also say this. As God takes you through the process of emptying out all the things that the world put in you so He can fill you with His fullness, He will also show you when it is time for you to start pouring out to others. Don't let the idea scare you because again, that fear is from the enemy, not God (2 Timothy 1:7). Your first encounter of pouring back out may simply be you sharing your story of redemption with someone who is going through a similar situation that God rescued you from. It doesn't mean He is going to drop you on a stage, behind a pulpit, preaching His word. In fact, many people who advance God's kingdom will never do it from up on a stage in front of hundreds of people. They will do it through one on one connections with people, through small community outreaches, or through a small ministry that they find they fit into. But no matter what it is you feel God calling you to do to reach others, be sure you don't run out and do it without allowing Him to fill you first.
Christ was the perfect model of what "living by example" looks like. And even though we will never be what Christ was, perfect, we can live a life that reflects Him to others. And the only way we can do this is by making sure we are letting God flush out the impurities in us, and fill us up with His fullness. But then we don't just hold that in, we pour it back out into others just as Christ did. The cycle of getting filled up and then pouring back out also teaches us to not rely on ourselves. It is never about us, it was never supposed to be, and it never will be. It is not about our capabilities or our weaknesses. Anything that we accomplish is due to what He has put in us. So we thank Him for our accomplishments, and we recognize Him when we overcome our weaknesses, and we honor Him by trusting that as we pour out He is already starting to filling us up for the next thing He has for us. This cycle...this process...will also deepen our relationship with Him. And that is always a part of it. He wants us to go deeper, and when we are constantly filling up and pouring out, we deepen our trust, our faith, our ability to rely on Him more than ourselves, and our belief that we can be affective for the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 3:14-21 talks about being filled, being used, and honoring God in it! "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
God, thank You that YOU do fill us, but help us see that it is always for the purpose of pouring back out Your love, Your grace, Your mercy, Your forgiveness and the message of Your love to those around us. Holy Spirit enable us to do this not because of ourselves, but despite ourselves. In Jesus name, Amen
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