Useful Vessels Are Those Poor In Spirit

"Whoever beleives in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from with him" (John 7:38 NIV; italics mine).

George Muller (1805-1898) born in Prussia; a man of faith and prayer.  He established orphanages in Bristol, England.  He began taking in orphans with only two shillings (50 cents) in his pocket.  Only in answer to prayer, for George Muller never made his needs known to human beings.  The LORD alwas sent it in due time.  He received the means necessary, sometimes money, and sometimes food, for more than 60 years.  In all those years, the children did not go without a meal.  At times no food in the cupboards for the next day meals, they did not know frome where it would come; come it did.  Only in answer to prayer for George Muller never made his needs known.  The orphanages received more that 16,000 orphans under the supervision of Geroge Muller.  More than $7,500,000 came by way fo faith and prayer and disbursed.  At the time of his death more than 122,000 persons had been taught in the schools he began, 282,000 Bibles and 1,500,000 Testaments had been distributed, as well as 112,000,000 religious books, pamphlets, and tracts were circulated.  At the age of seventy, Mr Muller made evangelistic tours and traveled 200,000 miles, going around the world and preaching in many nations.

It can be said of George Muller that streams of living water flowed from him.  His life and faith have inspired many more since his death.  He was living proof that prayer by faith works.  In his early years George did not exemplify in his life a man destined for a useful vessel to be used by God.  His life as a young adult was lived foolishly, spending his father's money foolishly.  He was living a life o sin, as he said, "My time, was now spent in studying, reading novels, and indulging,.....in sinful practices..." Even on the night his mother was dying, he continued, " I was playing cards until two in the morning, and the next day, being the Lords's day, I went with some of my companions in sin to a tavern, and then, being filled with strong beer, we went about the streets half intoxicated."  George continued in a life of lying, stealing, gambling, licentiousness, extravagance, indulging in almost every form of sin.  George even spent time in prison at the age of sixteen.  No one would have imagined that George would become known for his faith in God and for his power in prayer.

Broke and destitute George decided to go to a house church and through the efforts of the leader of the church and the power of the Holy Spirit working in George's heart, he gave himself to the LORD.  The vessel though in poverty is now ready for use by God as a vessel of flowing living water.

It is the commonplace, the poor in spirit that God prepares for use.  We do not decide to come to Christ, He never asks us to decide.  Jesus is asking that we yield to Him.  We have no strength of will; not even are we disposed to be used as a vessel of living water, until we have come to poverty.  Poverty in spirit, in our lives, broken, and looking back at what we were, how sinful our life has been.  It is then we are ready.  We do not see how God can use us; what we do not see is what God sees.  What He sees in us.  Many of us are the "George Muller" of our world, and if God can use him: He can use you.  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3 NIV; italics mine).  We can know, Jesus is at work in us because He takes the commonplace, the poor in spirit, and creates something that  is inspiring.  allow God to mend the brokenness of your past.  He does not just mend the cracks, He makes you a new vessel.  Living water can and will flow from you.  George Muller is our living proof and inspiring influence.  Allow God to change you, the adventure will begin, you do not know where God will take you; take you He will.  commit yourself totally to Him, He is waiting for you to yield it all.

Daily Prayer:

I come today Father yielding my life to you to be used as a vessel of flowing living water.  Forgive where I have sinned, renew my life.  I am willing to go wherever you send me.  Thank you!     Amen