THE SEVEN Cs OF HIS CHOSEN VESSELS (3)

 

1.   The Cost (Are you willing to pay the price?)

God chooses the weak, foolish and despised things in order to shame the so-called wise and mighty of this world so that no flesh will boast before Him. He reveals His power via weak and despised vessels. He picks them up dirty, cleans and pours His power into them for His work. Paul says, “But we have this treasure in an earthen vessel to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2Corithians 4:7)

God calls and chooses you the way you are, regardless of your weakness, current mistakes and past blunders. However, He doesn’t use you the way you are until He has trained and raised you. God has a standard. He comes down to your level, though in the slums of life, to raise you up to His own standard. And His standard is all-time high!

Nothing corrupts like power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. God cannot trust you with power without training and testing you because nothing destroys a person like power. Power gives one the ability to control circumstances, to change things, and determine the destinies of others. Though highly limited, we have seen how political positions, wealth and fame have turned men into thin-gods full of arrogance, pomposity and ego.

The purpose of power is service. Anything outside of this becomes an abuse of power. Only the humble and selfless can truly serve. Humility simply means, “I am not the Source but only a privileged vessel.” An average human being is proud, full of himself. So, humility comes with a huge price. Humility is not a product of theoretical but practical learning.

“You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart…” (Deut. 8:2)

”In the wilderness, He fed you manna which your father did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.” (Deut.8:16-17)

Humility is God’s standard. God qualifies you by humbling and shaping you to be like Christ in attitude. He humbles you before empowers you. It is God who gives you the wisdom and ability to produce wealth and health.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross. Therefore God Exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” (Phil2:5-9)

God will test your motive, faith, and patience.

2.   Courage (Can you stand your ground?)

Courage is living out your convictions in the face of apparent defeat, failure, persecution, disappointments, threats, fear, criticisms, and even death without shaking. In the absence of courage, the vision perishes. The first charge to His chosen vessels is always: “Fear not. Be strong and very courageous.”  The second is: “Do not be discouraged for I am with you. I will never leave you or fail you for as I was with Moses I will be with you.” This assurance is the foundation of a strong faith.

Courage therefore is born out of deep conviction that God is too faithful to fail, that He will keep His word to me. Your strength is measured by the strength of your conviction that God is with you in all circumstances especially when the heat is on you.

3.   Change (Are you ready to be transformed?)

Until you are transformed, you can’t be a vessel of change. God works in you before He works with and through you. His power must transform you first before making you a vessel of transformation. God is a maker. He will make you His own chosen vessel that will bring honour and glory to His name like David did before the eyes of the Philistines.