Recently I was staying at a bed-and-bath-type retreat center where I had the privilege of having my own private bathroom. I had used the bathroom several times, but to my surprise, all of a sudden it would not flush. I lifted up the lid to the back tank to see that all of the water had drained out and it was not refilling. Not only that, but it was evident that the tank had not refilled for a while since there was residue in the water. Thinking quickly, I grabbed the 32 oz water pitcher from my room, began filling it with water from the sink, and then pouring it into the tank. Finally, the tank became full, and when I pushed the handle, the toilet flushed. Embarrassing moment averted. Yay, right?
I figured I’d fill up the tank for the next time and after several pitchers, the water was returned back to the fill line. Well, wouldn’t you know that due to all of the liquids I was consuming, no sooner than I got back to my room, I had to go again! So, afterwards, I once again used the pitcher to fill the water in the back of the tank. Later I learned from the attendant that the pipes had frozen, but this was not before the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. He said…
Notice how there was no way to know how empty the tank actually was until I tried to use it by flushing. Much the same way, we never know what kind of reserve we’re running on when we’re serving. Just because we got an infilling of the Holy Spirit before, even recently, that does not mean we’re serving from a place of being filledwith His presence, anointing and power. Being filled and overflowing is the condition from which we should live and serve.
Second, when I looked inside the tank, the water was stagnant and filled with debris. As Christians, we can become the same way. We are God’s vessels (2 Timothy 2:20-21), but when the water of the Holy Spirit isn’t constantly flowing, our “stuff” gets missed in. We never want to be ministering and serving others stagnant water or stale manna.
Third, I can never assume that each use (in this case, flush) uses the same amount of water (anointing) from the tank. Sometimes it uses less, sometimes more. There’s no way of us knowing but God does. This leads to the final point…
The tank has to be constantly refilled. I must constantly come to Holy Spirit and say, FILL ME UP!!! Constantly! Because let’s just face it, sometimes we get flushed when we least expect it. LOL
Therefore, I can’t rely on one big outpouring and filling in a moment or occasion because of the constant demand. There must be moments of receiving heavenly downpours as well as refreshing showers. May I or you never be found empty or dispensing stale, stagnant water with debris, because that’s not who God is, and we are His representatives in the earth.
For the Couples…
When I shared this revelation with my husband, he was kind enough to point out to me that this parable doesn’t just apply to the anointing but to the love tanks of our partners as well. Indeed! Are you putting a demand on your spouse (trying to flush) when you haven’t filled their love tank? Keep that tank filled and you’ll have less unpleasant surprises 😉 For a helpful resource, read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.