MANY Christians have a longing desire to serve the Lord, yet they feel that they do not possess the necessary requirements. So I desire to point out two questions from the Scriptures which illustrate the believer's marvelous resources, and his responsibilities to God in this difficult day in which we live.
"What hast thou in the house?" This is the interesting question asked by the man of God in 2 Kings 4:2. This Scripture brings before us a poor widow left with two sons, many debts, and nothing wherewith to pay. All she could answer was: "Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil."
This widow is a picture of many believers, young and old. We know that oil in the Scriptures is a type of the Holy Spirit. And every believer is possessed and indwelt by Him (see 1 Corinthians 6:19).
Most Christians know something of the truths relating to the Father and the Son, but many know comparatively little about this blessed One who came to earth when our Lord Jesus took His place at God's right hand after His death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit came to link our hearts with Christ in glory. He came to make available to believers, all the resources that are found in Christ risen and glorified.
The Holy Spirt is the One who brought conviction of sin (see John 16:8) when we were in our lowest condition. He introduced us to Christ.
Thus being born again (see 1 Peter 1:23), He gave us a new nature (see 2 Peter 1:4) by which He indwells us (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). His resources became ours that day. He gives us "access unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). He strives with our old natures (see Galatians 5:17) that we might be conformed to the image of God's Son.
How much do we know about Him? He can be resisted and despised by the unbeliever, grieved and quenched by the Christian. We are told in Ephesians 5:18: "Be filled with the Spirit." All believers have been baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 12:13). But many need to be yielded to Him that He might fill them. If we permit the Spirit of God to fill us with the love of Christ, we will be able, out of full hearts, to make Him known, and God will use us in the salvation of the lost and in the blessing of His people.
Listen again to the question: "What hast thou in the house?" I reply, "You have the blessed Spirit of God dwelling within your house of clay!" Will you not now yield your life to Him that He might use you to the glory of Christ?
Our next illustration is found in Exodus 4:2 where the Lord is speaking to Moses: "What is that in thine hand?" Moses answered, "A rod." Here God was seeking to prepare Moses for the work that awaited him. In Exodus 2:12 we find Moses running ahead of God when he killed the Egyptian. God's work cannot be carried on by mere human energy. Spiritual work must be carried on by spiritual means. Moses fled to the desert to be tested for forty years. Now the Lord tenderly seeks to encourage His servant, saying to him, "What is that in thine hand?" (Exodus 4:2). It is but a dead, hopeless thing (its natural end was destruction) to be placed in the fire, but in verse 20 it becomes "the rod of God." This illustration suggests the life of each Christian. Once we were marked out for destruction, "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Zechariah 3:2). But through faith in Christ who died for us and rose again we have been made alive in Him. We belong to Him because we have been redeemed by His blood. But He cannot use us for service until our lives are yielded to Him.
The yielded rod becomes something that God can use. "What is that in thine hand?" You have a life indwelt by God's Holy Spirit. Paul exclaimed in Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." When this surrender is made, you will have a new outlook, a new power, a new impulse, which gives joy and power in His blessed service.
"What has thou in thy house?" "A pot of oil." Heaven's resources are waiting to be tapped. The presence and power of the blessed Spirit of God is waiting to be used. He is waiting to use you!
"What is that in thine hand?" You have a life. The rod of Moses, when yielded to God, became an instrument of blessing to tens of thousands of people. Your life, yielded to God, can likewise be used to bring blessing to many.
Henry Varley said to D. L. Moody, "The world waits to see what God can do with a life yielded to Him." And Moody replied, "By His grace I'll be that man." How many thousands will be in glory because of that yielded life of D. L. Moody! Will you follow in his train?
