Our souls are as vessels. Jesus spoke of them as a cup and dish (Matthew 23:25-26). Paul referred to our receiving the treasure of the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ in jars (vessels) of clay (2 Corinthians 4:6-7).
Vessels are meant to be filled – and after they’re emptied and cleaned, re-filled.
Vessels get dirty and need cleansing.
Shaping Souls
Our souls are shaped from at least the age of two when the physical brain has developed enough for the soul to come online, if you will. The soul is being shaped by what’s in the spirit, which is not all good thanks to iniquity from original sin and generational sin. The soul is shaped by the family – and the environment (which includes cultural moires, designs, and expectations) as well.
Little souls are being filled from the earliest moments of their awareness, and not all of that is good. In general, most of what they’re filled with is useless at best; a portion of it is quite bad — and some of it is in line with the goodness of Heavenly Father’s design and desire.
Amazing Grace!
Most often, only a portion of our souls are in sync with Heavenly Father which is often why there’s a divide and frustration in what we know in our hearts we’re called to — and what transpires in our lives in real time.
Though that sounds quite hopeless, I must stop here and note that it is by the amazing grace of God that any of us are doing as well as we are. It is truly His great mercy and compassion that causes us not to be consumed (KJV, Lamentations 3:22-23).
Process of Emptying the Vessel
Father takes us through a process where we’re emptied – and when our lives are empty (or thoughts or emotions, etc.), the point is to fill them with Christ Jesus our Lord. He is the one who “saves” our soul. James talks about an “engrafting” – that’s Christ, the Word of God, as our life, in our bones, saving our souls (James 1:21). Yes, that amazing work is cited directly after the instruction to “lay aside” all filth.
This takes time and intent, and you may feel like you’re going through “withdrawals,” or are directionless. That’s because our souls are literally addicted to whatever we’ve filled them with to comfort, nurture, strengthen, numb, or protect them. However, there is so much good that we’ve hoped for that we’re missing by not emptying our souls and clearing them of filth – and refilling with Christ Jesus our Lord.
Recognize and Remove
It must be noted here that our souls need more protection from corruption/filth than we’ve realized. Smith Wigglesworth would not allow a newspaper into his home because he said it was filled with lies. He was born in 1859 and returned to Heaven in 1947. It surprised me when I heard Lester Sumrall recall Smith’s statement, that the newspapers were that corrupt at that time.
However, the world has been more with us, and in us, than we’ve realized.
Smith would not allow anything to corrupt the atmosphere as he communed with the Lord and immersed himself in Scripture, nourishing and protecting his spirit and soul. Most are familiar with the level of miracles and encounters that came through Smith’s life — he lived a consecrated life and the Lord flowed through him.
Gold and Silver Vessels, Come Forth!
Listen to this promise:
Now in a large house [Father’s house] there are not only gold and silver implements [vessels], but also implements [vessels] of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honor while others are for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work (NASB, 2 Timothy 2:20-21).
When we cooperate with the Lord’s movement in our lives to get rid of the inner and outer filth and of the wrong words that eat as a “canker,” as Paul exhorted Timothy (chapter 2:16-19), then we come into His will of purification where we are beautiful and high-value vessels who pour forth in honor.
In other words, we get to the good part!
Go ahead and throw out a social media feed that contains profane, vain words, and hate-filled words.
Go ahead and empty your soul of the first step, the second step. And then the next of what feeds addiction that came from a great void and/or a great hit – and ask Christ Jesus your Lord to fill that place.
Go ahead and throw out what He’s been prompting you to!
Now, you have space to be filled with Christ who saves your soul!
He cleans your soul with His blood, as you come. He fills your soul, as you come. He will nurture your soul, as you come. This is a key reason He came – to save your soul. He’s concerned for, and has provided for, your needs and your development. He’s ever-present for you.
The process and investment are worth it.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Hope Streams
Featured Image by Pexels from Pixabay
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