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From Vessel to Vessel

20101017A

Title: Empty from Vessel to Vessel

Text: Jeremiah 48:11,12

Jer 48:11 Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. 12 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.

  1. The Blessing of Disturbance

God knows what he is doing.

The illustration is taken from how wine is prepared. The grapes is at first thick and impure. Then it is left for a time undisturbed until a sediment called lees is left. Then it is drawn out so that only th elees is left behind. This pouring from vessel to vessel until the odor is gone. Repeated over and over.

Here Moab is in a condition --- moab is at ease from his youth. Nothing has come to unsettle them. No enemy, or natural disaster.

LIVING Translation: He will send them troubles to pour them out from Jar to Jar.

Do not expect always to be as it is. HOLD ON . WATCH OUT. GOD IS NOT ASLEEP.

  1. The Reason for Disturbance “EASE”

Why are we so frequently upset in life? “I am so upset! I am angry!” Because things are not going the same as they were. Often we complain because we are not allowed to become settled. We want no disturbance but to be settled.

We react often because we have arrived at a place of resting. “I have arrived.” WATCH OUT! About the time you have ‘arrived’ God will arrive on the scene! He will cause you see beyond what you see in the natural. There seems to be no end to trouble. EASE TO THE CHRISTIAN IS INJURIOUS.

Why is it that God constantly brings disturbance? He is after something.

“Born and filled with the Holy Ghost, you have it all.” No! There must be development.

NO PLACE TO PARK.” Oral Roberts sermon. You have not arrived, keep on moving, keep on growing. GROW UP.

Such repeated disturbance in thease verses is recognized as a BLESSING. “I will send.” They are settled down and at ease. A long time undisturbed. A lot of lees and corruption, STINK.

2 Corinthians 4:17 _For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;_

WHY? Ever find yourself asking, “Why?” Light afflictions. We are being fitted for spiritual advancement.

These emptying, disturbances are preparing us for growth, development. God knows us best and He knows us well. What we go through, we might know we need, but it is a blessing and God knows we need it.

How does this come about?

  1. It reveals me to myself (when calamity comes, we find out what we are really made of) Andrew Fuller, “A man only has as much religion as he has in the day of trial.”
  2. **It reveals the defects in our character. **(These defects show up under pressure.)
  3. The frequency of these disturbances have a way of getting us out of ourselves. (“Do you know who I am?” “Who cares!?!” We trust too often in self. Proverbs Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own….and he shall direct thy paths.
  4. These frequent disturbances**, should keep us apart from the world. **(We do not belong in the world.)
  5. We need to see Jesus. Little girl set to take a nap said, When I lay down I see Jesus, when I sit up I see myself. (in a mirror)
  6. Necessary

Disturbances aren’t desired or enjoyed, but they are necessary.

I search, the Lord is the searcher. I do not know all that is in me. “Bro. Reynolds, you have been through a lot of trouble.” “God really loves me!”

Our will must be surrendered to the point that we say, not my will but thine be done.

The Pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. Adoniram Judson. “Has Judson ever been tempted to be proud? “Proud of what? What have I done? ” God did it all!

PRIDE

ANGER

“Anger hath no mercy” (some other translation)

Proverbs 16:32 “He that is slow to anger is better than…”

GOD ALLOWS DISTURBANCES TO COME, TO MAKE OUR VESSEL LIKE HIS.

Bill Gunderson “Students, if you can stand the pull, God can pull you through!”

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