Proverbs 1:23

“Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”

To pour is to flow rapidly in a steady stream; to come or go in a steady stream and in large numbers.

In ministry to pour out is to impart something on those that hear and receive what you give.

Isaiah 44:3, “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed,and my blessing upon thine offspring:”

To effectively occupy any form of ministry, the minister (or the one who ministers to the people’s needs), must be full – they cannot be empty or running low on the word of God or the love of God. For it is impossible to effectively minister from an empty vessel.

In Acts 2:17-18 (see also Joel 2:28-29), God said that “I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh:” Even when it comes to us, the children of God, we must minister “in the spirit” to pour out to people. It cannot be from our flesh or an ungodly spirit or perspective. We must be filled with and full of the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 23:5, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

We are not perfect. There are times when we are filling low, or when we are going through that we just do not take the time to spend with God. We don’t pray, or read the Bible as we know we should. But this should not be a state that we allow ourself to stay in for too long.

As believers – ministers of God – we have a responsibility to take the time to separate ourselves daily to talk to God. Even if it is only for a few minutes. Quality is better than quantity, every time. We must have a regular diet of Bible study. So that God can speak to us and teach us what we need to know.

Psalms 23:5, let’s us know that even in our “go through” or seasons of struggle, and challenges, God still has our back. He will prepare us even in these times, filling up our cups till they over flow. This means that especially in these times our deliverance is found as we persevere and meet the needs of the people we serve.

We have to pour out what God has placed in us. Not just in good and easy times, but especially in the bad and hard times!

But you cannot pour out from and empty vessel.

It is our responsibility to not allow ourselves to get to the point where we feel empty. This is an deceiving emotion. God is not moved by how we feel. He is moved by the faith on which we stand. It our job to speak faith and trust God to make manifest those same faith declarations. We stand on the word of God, by faith.

This is the reason we must have that daily time with God. It is like recharging a battery. Without charging our phones at night while we sleep, when we wake in the morning our battery will be low and not meet our needs for the day. Our spirit is the same. If we do not recharge it daily, we could find ourselves missing out on important instructions God needs to impart to us for that day. This could hamper our ability to effectively meet the needs of the people God has given us to serve.

When we are a full vessel – the anointing flows rapidly in a steady stream. Those to whom we minister are able to receive as God has intended in that moment. We flow as God leads. People’s hearts are changed and the word falls on good ground.

Isaiah 55:11, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

When our vessel is full God’s word goes forth in power and might to accomplish his will in those we serve.

Make sure your vessel is full!

Have a blessed day.