Earthen Vessels

I received Jesus while listening to Christian radio. When I received Him I remained in an unbiblical church for several months because I had made a promise to an individual in that church. I did not want to break that promise and would have if I had left immediately. During those months I studied my Bible and listened to Christian radio. I got truth from the Bible and from ministries on radio. The Lord taught me what was unbiblical about the church I was attending and surprisingly, what was unbiblical about the ministries on Christian radio. There were several ministries that I am fully convinced were led by genuine Christians but who made glaring errors about simple Bible truth. I learned that we are saved by faith and not by intelligence or understanding. Those ministers were not saved by their own intelligence or understanding and neither was I. I learned many Biblical things from unwise Christians. Even the minister who was preaching when I got saved had flaws. After a few weeks, they would get away from basic truth and teach about their unbiblical beliefs, their hobby horses. I would think to myself, wait a minute, the Bible does not say that and in fact the Bible teaches against it. The Lord led me through a mine-field of ministries that were correct about how we become saved but wrong about multitudes of other truths. The most important truths I learned from all of that is not to trust completely in myself or in other mortal men. I have also learned that God is so perfect and powerful that He is able to work through flawed men and women, even me.

2 Corinthians 4:6: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 14:12: There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

1 Corinthians 2:5: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

2 Corinthians 12:9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Jeremiah 17:5: Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Luke 18:9: And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Romans 7:18: For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

1 Corinthians 8:2: And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

I thank the Lord for teaching me that the more I study my Bible, the more I trust Him and the less I trust myself, the better He is able to lead me step by step to more Biblical Pastors, teachers, churches, media ministries and books. He has led me to ministries where the leaders do not trust in themselves.

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