We are only of use to God when we are empty.
We are only of use to people when we are filled.
Upon revisiting the story commonly referred to as The Miracle at Cana found in John 2, the Lord helped me to further understand these two profound realities.
If you remember from one of my previous blogs, I highlighted the importance that there were six stone water pots present at this particular wedding along with all of the invited guests — among whom were Jesus, His disciples, and His mother.
Because man was created on the sixth day (see Genesis 1:26-31), the number six is representative of man.
Why is this significant?
It’s significant because the state of the water pots is symbolic of the state you and I could potentially choose to live in.
Because the pots were empty, Jesus could do something with them.
Knowing who her son was and what He was anointed to do and knowing that it was problematic, and, albeit, culturally shameful for a host to run out of wine during a wedding celebration, Mary brought the issue to Jesus.
As a result, Jesus told the servants to fill the pots with water.
It’s important to note that the pots couldn’t be filled unless they were empty.
The same is true for you and me.
Our being filled with the Holy Spirit is proportionate to our surrender to Him.
This is humility.
Humility empties itself before God because it sees its need for Him.
Humility is dependence upon Him.
Not only were the pots filled with water, John goes out of his way to write that they were filled to the brim (see John 2:7).
I love that.
I want to be filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit.
Once the pots were filled, the water was turned to wine.
Once the water was turned into wine, the pots were of use to the wedding guests.
Wine and water are symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
The scoffers on the day of Pentecost accused the disciples of Jesus of being filled with sweet wine (see Acts 2:13).
Paul tells us to not be drunk with wine, but to be filled with the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 5:18).
Like wine, the Holy Spirit has an intoxicating effect.
The more filled we are with the Holy Spirit, the more others will be able to benefit from what we carry.
We owe it to the world to demonstrate the gospel now more than ever.
People are looking to drink from the rivers of living water that ought to be flowing from our innermost being (see John 7:37-39).
But the only way we can experience a greater baptism in the Spirit is if we see our need for it.
The more we see our need for it, the lower we will go before God.
This is what it means to be poor in spirit.
We will empty ourselves before Him through prayer.
We will wait on the promise of the Father (see Acts 1:4-5).
Then and only then will we be of use to God.
This is consecration.
Once we are filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit, we will be of use to others.
That which will be carried from within us will intoxicate those around us.
And the more they taste, the more they will see that God is good (see Psalm 34:8).
The more they see that He is good, the more they'll want Him.
- Brian Connolly, Faith Like Birds
Check out the previous blog!
