Broken Vessel

2 Chronicles 7:14 - and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NAS)

This verse and the song which was written about it have been on my heart for several days now. Today in church Pastor N briefly mentioned Jonah and Nineveh. I really feel this all ties together. One man had a word from God and he changed an entire city.

At first Jonah ran from the very presence of God, but God had Jonah swallowed by a large fish. It took Jonah being vomited up by this large fish to finally obey the Word of the Lord. I really feel the Lord wants a people who are called by His Name, a people who are chosen by Him, who will voluntarily bring themselves into subjection and Pray and seek His face and will turn from their wicked ways. He will hear them from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land. God saved Nineveh when one man obeyed the Voice of the Lord. Imagine how much damage all of GodÂ’s people could do to the forces of evil if they humbled themselves before God and seek His face. Today Pastor N said we should not yearn for the presence of God, but we should yearn to BE the presence of God. God wanted Jonah to be His presence in Nineveh. We need to be the presence of God to our Nineveh. This could be our workplace, our families, or sadly even some of our churches. You may ask how God can use me to do anything. The same God who turned a stuttering coward into one of the great men of the Bible can use any willing broken vessel. The funny thing about a broken vessel is it takes more going in to keep it full than a whole vessel.

Overcoming Temptation

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you … (NKJ)

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (NAS)

I found this in the Strong’s:
"A Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden"."

I really think the point James was trying to deliver was the Non-Military use of the word a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden. So if we will voluntarily give in to God. Set our selves against the devil he will take flight from us to avoid danger. This is a very powerful statement which shows how we have authority over the devil through the power of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 4:8 Jesus resisted the devil he left Jesus for a season. So we should expect the same. Resisting the devil is an ongoing thing. Resisting him once will not chase him away forever. Everyday we must renew our minds to the mind of Christ and in doing so we will resist the devil.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (NAS)

There is a way out of every temptation. It is not the way of escape or the way of surrender, but the way of conquest in the power of the grace of God. We are able to conquer every temptation we are faced with. Paul indicates here that temptation may be enticing, but it is not irresistible.
God WILL provide a way of escape from every temptation if only we will stop and hesitate. I am reminded of a teaching Pastor N taught. If we will listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit we can avoid the crime, sin, and avoid the time or punishment. I found this while studying this verse on the internet. "God does not save us from temptations; He scours us in the midst of them" We are allowed to be tempted because without them we will not grow in our strength in God. In Hebrews 2:18 the author states "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." If you look at this verse in context it is clear that Jesus is who is being referred to here. Jesus faced the same temptation we did therefore he is able to help us overcome these temptation or provide our way of escape.