In this issue, we speak of both empty and full vessels. This may cause some confusion in our minds, as to whether the Lord would have us to be empty vessels, so that He can fill us, or whether we are always to be full vessels, ready for His use. I would suggest that both are true, depending on how we look at it.
First of all, the Lord can only fill an empty vessel. Thus the woman in 2 Kings 4 was told to “borrow thee vessels ... even empty vessels” (vs. 3). Then the Lord was able to fill them with oil, speaking of the Spirit of God. If we, as vessels, are filled with the things of this world and with sinful tendencies, we cannot possibly be “filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:1919And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)). We must empty ourselves of those worldly things so that God may pour His fullness into us.
On the other hand, God uses full vessels, not empty ones. Thus we are to be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:1818And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18)), while the apostles in Acts 6:33Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (Acts 6:3) instructed the brethren to “look ye out among you seven men ... full of the Holy Ghost,” when there was a need for some to supervise the distribution of funds for those in need. Other scriptures could be referenced to support these, showing that God first fills vessels and then uses them in His service.
We are once again in the realm of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. If our vessels are empty and our heart is willing, God will surely fill us with His Spirit, who delights to minister to us the things of Christ. On the other hand, the exhortation in Ephesians 5, already referred to, tells us to “be filled with the Spirit.” But the house of Israel that was left “empty, swept, and garnished” when the unclean spirit departed (Matt. 12:4444Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (Matthew 12:44)), without any thought toward God, only provided the opportunity for “seven other spirits more wicked than himself” to enter in. The house that is emptied with a desire for God to fill it will always be “full with the blessing of the Lord” (Deut. 33:2323And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south. (Deuteronomy 33:23)), but that which has no desire for God will find that Satan is only too ready to enter into it.
W. J. Prost