So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work. (AMP)
God does not use any man against his own will. In other words man can decide how much he wants to do for God. You might say this can't be because God is the potter; oh! yes, He is, but has given man the liberty to decide.
Many people think there is a special kind of people God has created to use mightily while the rest stand to watch. No, all people are made the same but here is what makes the difference;
Whoever cleanses himself from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences will then himself be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.
Mark the word 'whoever.' It's not about someone's descension, or origin. It's not about the family tree. It's about dying to self and submitting to God. In the dyings is where man has the power to decide how much they do for God's Kingdom.
When God needed a man to send in Isaiah 6.8, Isaiah who had just been observing overheard a conversation in heaven and availed Himself. I want to believe that he would have remained silent if He wanted to. But he decided to say, "Here am I. Send me!"
We too today get the convictions that invite us to certain realms in God, but because these require a certain consecration, many people have said no. Or else some have submitted partially.
The more you submit to God, the more you die to self yet the more you become alive to God's will. That's it, there is no shortcut.
To call yourself the Lord's servant is easy, to accept to be broken by God to the level of total submission is where we struggle. So how does it start?
2Timothy.2.22 Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. (AMP)
Nothing makes man vulnerable like lust and desperation. The day you learn to give all your worries to God and trust Him to keep you while you set your heart on him, is the day you start dying to self at will.
Sometimes we need to ask ourselves why the Lord Jesus Christ did not force people to accept His Lordship but only said; "I assure you, anyone who believes in me already has eternal life." (John.6.47 NLT)
It's what you decide. The Spirit is open to use anyone without measure, if only you accept to submit totally and die to self.
Hallelujah!
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