The Currency of God isn’t Fullness; it’s Emptiness

2 Kings 4:2-6

² And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

³ Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

⁴ And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

⁵ So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.

⁶ And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

The currency of God isn’t fullness; it’s emptiness.

When the woman was pouring oil into all those vessels, heaven didn’t run out of fullness, the earth ran out of emptiness. The oil didn’t stop flowing until she ran out of vessels. As long as she had something empty, the flow continued.

 

As long as we’ve got hunger, and we’ve come to be filled, it’ll keep flowing. It’s very difficult for God to fill a man who is already running over with himself.

 

If you want to be great, Jesus said, you’ve got to learn to be a servant.

 

TF Tenney

My prayer: Lord I empty myself out to you can pour yourself into me!

Who has been praying for you?

Abraham’s nephew Lot was in Sodom – a backslidden state.  God didn’t tell Lot that he was going to destroy Sodom, He told Abraham.  Abraham reasoned with God concerning the city of Sodom, and as a result God promised He would not destroy it if there were only ten righteous people there. (Genesis 18) // HERE’S MY MESSAGE! There is a great possibility that certain things have not happened to you because a Pastor, Mother, Father, Grandfather, Grandmother, Youth Leader has called your name in intercessory prayer!  PRODIGAL….GO BACK TO THE FARM!  THERE IS PROTECTION AND PROVISION IN THE FATHER’S HOUSE!

Legalistic

There are two ways to be legalistic – conservative and liberal.  Legalism is "strict conformity to the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law".  Strict conformity to the letter of the law can occur negatively as well as positively.

Those who point to the absence of law (which they equate with Christian liberty) as proof they are not required to do a certain thing are just as law-oriented as the person who rigorously points to the law as demanding certain actions.  Both end up relying on the law for justification. One says “I do this because the law says, I am saved” and the other says “I don’t have to do that because you cannot show me a law that says I have to”.

Both are governed by law rather than love. Both are legalists.

There are some things for which there simply is no law. Like, love, joy, peace, etc., the fruit of the Spirit: "Against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:23).

(Steve Pixler)

Obedience

Faith is incomplete without obedience. The Bible says that action is the evidence of faith! "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26).  This is the Gospel in a nutshell: trust and obey.

Abraham – The Father of the Faithful

Abraham is often called the father of the faithful.  Upon receiving a command from the Lord to leave his country and go to a land that was foreign to him (Hebrews 11:8), Abraham did so.  Abraham put his faith into action and "staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:20).

Many years later, God asked Abraham to offer up his son Isaac on the altar. Again, Abraham obeyed, knowing that the Lord was able to raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19).  Such acts of obedience were counted to Abraham for righteousness (see Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; James 2:23).

Abraham's faith was perfected (made complete, not lacking) when he obeyed God.

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ... Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:21-24).

Like Abraham, we are called to demonstrate our faith in God by walking in obedience to God.

Obedience, not Trumpets, Brought Down the Walls

The battle plan is simple.  Seven priests are to take seven trumpets and march ahead of the Ark of the Covenant. The Israelites are to follow behind. The simple task now of marching around the city wall in complete silence is the strategic move.

Can you imagine what jeers and shouts came from behind and on top of the city wall as the Israelites marched in silence around the city of Jericho?

On the seventh lap, the priests were to let out one long blast on their trumpets. This was to be the signal for everyone to shout and watch God at work. The city wall would collapse and the Israelites would merely walk inside.

Would you be willing to do something as simple as marching around a city wall if God asked you to?  Do you have what it takes to be totally patient, absolutely faithful and fully obedient to God.

If ye love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:1)

Noah! A man of Obedience and Faith! (Genesis 6:5-18, Hebrews 11:7

Through his faith and obedience Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord.  He obeyed God’s commandments and became the preserver of mankind.

Noah was a man of righteousness and by his obedience found favour in the eyes of the Lord.

Even in the times of great wickedness in his day, obeyed God and maintained His favour.

Though Christians today may live in wicked times and among a sinful generation, it is important for them to continually strive to obey God and His plan that is revealed through His Word.

It is amazing that in his obedience—in his building the ark—Noah made it possible for the water that could have drowned him to become the element that saved him.

“Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

(I Peter 3:20-21).

Nevertheless, a thy word!

Luke 5:4-6

[4]  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

[5]  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

[6]  And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net broke.

Just obey God!  This statement doesn’t get with our modern day thinking.  Compliance and conformity is not popular today!

I’m not talking about blind faith.  But standing on the word of God!  Standing on the fact that God is faithful!

Without obedience to God’s word, we cannot be saved.

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

2 Thes 1:8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Four Pillars of the Christian Walk

PILLAR 1: Prayer

"Base your happiness on your hope in Christ.  When trials come, endure them patiently; steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer." (Romans 12:12)

WHAT IS PRAYER: Communion with God. Talking to God.  Allowing God to talk to us.

 Matthew 7:7 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

 Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

1.      HAVE A SPECIFIC TIME FOR PRAYER.

2.      HAVE A SPECIFIC PLACE FOR PRAYER.

3.      HAVE A SPECIFIC ROUTINE FOR PRAYER.

Components of Prayer

PRAISE: I express my love to God

PURPOSE:  I commit myself to God’s will for my life

PROVISION:  I ask God to provide for my needs

PARDON:  I ask God to forgive my sins

PEOPLE:  I pray for other people

PROTECTION:  I ask for spiritual protection

PRAISE:  I end my prayer the same way I started!

PILLAR 2: Word of God

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Hear. Read. Study. Memorise. Meditate

PILLAR 3: Personal Involvement in Ministry (doing something)

Matthew 20:28

[28] Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Ministry is how we are like Jesus.

My personal ministry is determined by my personal makeup!  What God made me to BE determines what He intends for me to DO, and I will understand the purpose I was created for when I understand the kind of person I am.

God is consistent in His plan for each of our lives.  He would not give us inborn talents and temperaments, spiritual gifts, and all sorts of life experiences and then not use them!

1.      I’VE BEEN CREATED FOR MINISTRY!

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10)

2.      I’VE BEEN SAVED FOR MINISTRY!

“It is He who saved us and chose us for his holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan long before the world began …”  (2 Timothy 1:9)

3.      I’VE BEEN CALLED INTO MINISTRY!

“God, in his grace, chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve him.”  (Galatians 1:15)

 “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”  (Ephesians 4:1)

4.      I’VE BEEN GIFTED FOR MINISTRY!

“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessing.”  (1 Peter 4:10)

5.      THE BODY OF CHRIST NEEDS MY MINISTRY!

“All of you together are the one body of Christ and each of you is a separate and necessary part of it.”  (1 Corinthians 12:27)

6.      I AM ACCOUNTABLE FOR MY MINISTRY!

“So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”  (Romans 14:12)

PILLAR 4: Fellowship

Acts 2:42

⁴²And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

"Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage each other."  (Hebrews 10:25)

·         I need a church family to help me grow spiritually.

"So in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others!"  (Romans 12:5)

·         I need encouragement to help me grow spiritually.

"Let us think of one another and how we can encourage each other to love and do good deeds."  (Hebrews 10:24)

"Two are better off than one ... If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it's just too bad, because there is no one to help him ... Two men can resist an attack that would defeat one man alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break."  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12)        

·         I need accountability to help me grow spiritually.

"Brothers, if someone is trapped in some sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently ... Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  (Galatians 6:1-2)

·         There is great spiritual power in unity.

"For wherever two or three have come together in my name, I am there, right among them!"  (Matthew 18:20)

There are nearly 60 “one another” commands in the New Testament that you cannot obey unless you are faithful to a local church!

Serve one another       Galatians 5:13

Accept one another     Romans 15:7

Forgive one another    Colossians 3:13

Greet one another       Romans 16:16

Bear one another's burdens     Galatians 6:2

Be devoted to one another     Romans 12:10

Honor one another      Romans 12:10

Teach one another       Romans 15:14

Submit to one another Ephesians 5:21

Encourage one another           1 Thessalonians 5:11

A Word of Encouragement for Ministry Families



My hero in ministry is my dad!
We have a very close relationship.



As a preachers kid, and now in the ministry myself; I am often asked what it was that my parents did that resulted in me following in their footsteps.

Before I go any further, let me first say that our ministry is a calling from God and it is not a “genetic” or an “inherited” thing.  We all have a ministry as part of the body of Christ, and it is our responsibility to answer the call of God on our life and to do what He wants us to do.  As parents, my wife and I do not pray that our children will become preachers, teachers, apostles, prophets or evangelists; but our prayer is that they will answer the call of God on their lives, and be involved in their God-ordained ministry.

My parents never put any sort of pressure or expectation on me to be a preacher or pastor.  That pressure was there, but it usually came from “well meaning” people who would say things like “are you going to be a preacher like your daddy one day”.  However, my parents did encourage me to be active in ministry, whether it was assisting in the maintenance of the church grounds, playing musical instruments, or any other activities around the church.

So what did my parents do?  I acknowledge that it is only by the grace of God and the prayers of my parents that I am serving God today.  I know my parents were not perfect, but they loved God, loved each other, and loved their children.  They were Godly examples – they were the same at home as they were at church.  They modelled the importance of having priorities and living by biblical principles.



My family - on a recent ministry trip to a recent trip
to Murray Island in the Torres Strait.



Looking back, I can see that when priorities are “nailed down”, it makes decision making a lot easier.  So many problems were solved by going back to our values and priorities.  I recall a discussion about playing “just one game” of cricket on a Sunday.  It was never going to happen – because Sunday is church.  Cricket is for every other day of the week except Sunday – church is a priority.

Recently I was reading the gripping account of Abraham and Isaac, and it occurred to me that Isaac was never consulted about the little expedition he and his dad took.  When Abraham headed up to the mountain to worship, we do not read of Abraham asking for Isaac’s opinion.  Similarly, being born into a ministry family is not something children get to choose.

When Isaac was bound on that altar, he was caught up in something that was a matter between Abraham and God.  Abraham said, “me and my boy will go yonder and worship” (Gen 22:5).  I cannot see anywhere where Isaac was okay about it.  Isaac was a “victim” of his father’s decision to “worship”.  Sometimes being a “preacher's kid” feels like that.

To take it a step further, Abraham then proceeded to make Isaac carry the wood for the sacrifice.  Isaac climbing up the mountain carrying the wood (a burden) which was entirely the result of his father’s decision and ends up bound on an altar with a knife to his throat.  This was not a matter between Isaac and Abraham, it was about Abraham showing his love to God.

What thoughts must have been going through Isaac’s mind when it dawned on him what was happening.  Abraham didn’t say “we are going up to the mountain and I’m going to slit your throat”.  No – he said “we are going to go worship”.

Isaac looks around and says, “I see the wood and I see the fire – but where is the sacrifice”.  But carefully notice Abraham’s response to Isaac.  He didn’t say “you’re the one Isaac – I am going to sacrifice you”, but instead he said “God will provide the sacrifice”. (Gen 22:8)

Without these words, I don’t think Abraham could have made it - “Son….God will provide”. 

Worship and service to God requires sacrifice, but God will provide what is needed for you to achieve God’s pleasure in your life.  Our responsibility is to climb the mountain and rely on God to provide.

As the story progresses, the knife is about to come down and Isaac is gazing into his fathers face (who is worshipping remember).  Isaac is the victim, and he is about to lose his life.  Right in the middle of his dilemma, Abraham heard the voice of God.  The Bible says that the angel of the LORD spoke to Abraham out of heaven (Genesis 22:11).  No doubt Isaac would have heard it as well.  As a result of this whole expedition, not only did God know Abraham was committed, but there was a young man who heard the voice of God.  Isaacs bonds are loosed, he is a changed individual, because he heard the voice of God in his dilemma.



Lachlan and Lucas - i pray that i can be
as good example to them as
dad was to me



If I was Isaac, I would have responded by saying, “Dad, that almost killed me and I don’t want anything to do with you and your worship again.  Your idea of worshipping God and serving God is too much for me and I want out”.  But that was not Isaac.

We hear about “the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. But in reality, Isaac isn’t as prominent as Abraham or Jacob.  Isaac isn’t known for anything really great. Everything Isaac received, he received from his dad.  Isaac didn’t dig his own wells, he re-dug his dad’s wells.  Isaac didn’t accumulate wealth, He inherited wealth from his dad.  But even though Isaac didn’t dig his own wells, he still had to access the life giving water for himself.  He had to make his dad’s well his own.  All children, especially ministry children, need to make “things” their own.

For most people, if they had to go through an experience like Isaac, it would turn them against God for the rest of their life.  Sometimes it can feel like your on the altar and you had no say in it at all.  It can feel like you are carrying a burden to your own sacrifice – all because dad and mum are doing what God called them to do – “the worship thing”.

There are many tragic stories of preacher’s kids developing bitterness against God because of their experiences as a child in a ministry family.  Some walk away from God, not wanting anything to do with church.   However, looking at the account of Abraham and Isaac, it strikes me is that after such a traumatic experience – Isaac went still we onto to serve God.  Even to the very end, Isaac was a man of faith, demonstrated by his mention in the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11.

The best thing you can do for your children is live a life of faith.  When you do so, you are showing your children that we serve a great God.  Your illogical decisions (in trusting in God) will serve to show your children that there is a power beyond “the preacher”.  Your children will equate your worship to the credibility of your God.  God will provide!

Your act of faith will allow your children to hear the voice of God for themselves, and they can walk off that mountain knowing that God will provide, and there will be no hesitation in trusting God through the sacrificial giving of their life in ministry.

Jonathan Downs

July 2012