Last Sunday’s message, “Poured Out,” reminded me that some vessels are prepared for specific purposes. We see this in Scripture with wineskins.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. — Luke 5:37–38, KJV

New wine is poured into vessels prepared for that purpose. And what is initially poured into those wineskins is eventually poured out, bringing joy to those who partake of it.

Jesus poured Himself into His disciples, and they poured into the New Testament church. What was poured into them has been poured out to us. But what they poured out can only be received by prepared vessels.

The natural man — the unbeliever, the one who has not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior — is not a prepared vessel to receive the things of God.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. — 1 Corinthians 2:14, KJV

Prepared vessels are able to receive the things of God because they have spiritual discernment — given by the Holy Spirit who dwells within each believer. It is like having a new operating system.

I once tried to download an app before going on a cruise, but my phone was too old to receive the new operating system required. I needed a new phone. Likewise, the natural man must receive a new operating system — the Holy Spirit — to benefit from what God pours out.

The Holy Spirit enables believers to rightly divide the Word of God and live lives that please Him.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth… He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. — John 16:12–14, KJV

Romans 12:2 tells us what we are to do, how we are to do it, and why.

1. What are we to do?

We are to be transformed — changed from the inside out. This radical change occurs only in vessels prepared for transformation. Even though we are prepared, transformation occurs only when we submit to the Holy Spirit.

2. How are we transformed?

By renewing our minds. Transformation begins with how we think — thinking godly instead of worldly, cultivating a biblical worldview, and calling truth what God calls truth.

Our thoughts drive our actions. The Word poured into us transforms us by changing how we think.

3. Why are we transformed?

So that we may know the perfect will of God. God’s general will is in Scripture, but when we are transformed and abiding in Him, He reveals His specific will for our circumstances. He gives a rhema word when needed, enabling us to pray according to His will.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. — 1 John 5:14–15, KJV

Prepared vessels are not only transformed — they are called to bear fruit.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. — John 15:5, KJV

We bear fruit by abiding in Jesus. If little or no fruit is being produced, it is because we are not abiding in Him — or He is not abiding in us.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. — John 15:1–2, KJV

Prepared vessels progress from bearing fruit to bearing much fruit. And my prayer is that you know you are prepared, that much has been poured into you, and that your desire is to produce much fruit for the kingdom of God by pouring out what has been poured into you.