This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (TeresaS@ncal.verio.com)

Imperfect Vessels Of My Glory

Children, do you think you must be perfected before you can carry my glory?

I say to you that is not possible.

You see, I am constantly at work in your lives transforming you and conforming you to my likeness. I am constantly drawing you upward to me.. I am constantly making you more into my image. I am calling you to deeper and deeper levels of holiness and deeper and deeper levels of faith and deeper and deeper levels of intimacy with me.

But you will not arrive there immediately. You will not be perfected in this natural lifetime.. though you will always be moving closer and closer to that goal if you do not resist my spirit working within you.

How is it then, that you think you must be perfected before you can carry my glory? How is it that you expect perfection from your leaders and you are quick to criticize and condemn when they occasionally fall short in an area? How is it you discount what I am doing through them because you see their weakness or frailty in one area? Judge them not but rather judge yourselves. Do not look to man. Rather, look to me and what I am doing.. for I am about to do something new. I am about to unleash my glory on those who are fully committed to me.

How is it you say, "I am not perfect yet, so God cannot use me?"

Do not limit me. I can, and do, pour out my glory on imperfect vessels. I use those who are willing and available, and who have hearts that seek after me and after my will. I continue to work in their lives and I continue to transform them, but I use them before they are perfected. And child of mine, I can use you too, I can make you a carrier of my glory.

For children, I say unto you, none of you will be perfected while you walk on this earth. But I desire that you would set yourselves apart for me.. that you would commit your ways to me and invite me to allow you to participate with me in my plans and purposes. I am looking for those with a willing heart. I am looking for those who desire to lay aside their own agendas and to take up my agenda. I will pour myself into such ones, and I will work in them to transform them and I will pour my glory out upon them, that I might demonstrate my goodness to mankind. Are you willing? Do you desire to be one through whom I work? Do you wish to participate with me in what I am doing, to do the things Jesus did?

I say unto you, this is possible unto you.

Here is what I require. First, I require a heart that is set after me, that is committed to doing things my way. I must be Lord of all in your life, or I am not your Lord at all. I do not require that you perfect yourselves and then present yourself to me.. for I say unto you, it is not possible for you to do that. Rather, I require that you yield and cooperate with my indwelling Holy Spirit as I transform you. I desire that you commit to obey me in whatever I speak to you. I will be the one to change your nature, if you are wholly committed to me.. I will be the one to perfect you.

Are you willing, child of mine? If you say "yes" to me, then know that I will test you in it. I will test you in your finances.. will you allow me to be Lord of your money? I will test you in your relationships with others.. to see if you truly love me more than these. I will test you in the area of holiness and in choosing to walk pure and holy before me. I will test you in the area of compromise, for there can be no compromise if you desire to be part of the army I am raising up.. for indeed I am raising up an army of sons and daughters.. who will be well trained, who will know my voice, who will carry my glory and my power and my authority, and who will do with me what I am about to do in the earth. It is through these men and women that I will work. This is the time and season when I am recruiting sons and daughters to become a part of this move I am about to do.. to be carriers of my glory. Will you be one of these?