WHO AM I?

a)   Man is…

“Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?” Prov20:24

ü  Man is dependent and derivative; He is not independent and self-generating.

Dependent means to rely upon, require support, require supply of what is needed, unable to stand alone as complete.

Derivative means resulting from another compound or source. In the sense that man derives whatever he needs from another source but not from within himself. Man doesn’t have the capacity to be his own source.

ü  Man is a recipient; the bible pictures him as a receptacle, a receiver. Man’s primary function is to receive, to contain and allow God’s activity to be expressed in him. Here are a few pictures…

I am a vessel (clay pot, container, jar)

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” 2Cor4:7

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” Rom9:20-24

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2Tim2:20-21

The container was not and is not the object of value, the value is in what is kept in the container. Vessels were used as receptacles, receivers and keepers of water, oil, wine and perfume. All these are symbols of the Holy Spirit in the bible.

Water – Jn4:14, Jn7:37-38

Oil- 1Jn2:20, 27

Wine- Acts2:13-18, Eph5:18

Perfume- 2Cor2:14-16

We as Christians are vessels which contain the ultimate treasure of the divine presence of the Holy Spirit. God has filled us with His presence, with His glory, with His fullness.

Ø  JESUS ILLUSTRATES:  Turning water into wine. Jn2:1-11

I am a house, a tabernacle, a tent

“you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1Pet2:25

“For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens. For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked. For we groan while we are in this tent” 2Cor5:1-4

“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” Heb3:1-6

A house is a dwelling place, a living place for a personal occupant, for a person to live, abide, stay in. God is meant and wants to and does live in us. If you are a Christian, God lives in you, you contain God. He lives in you!!

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Jn14:16-18