At our Missions Conference at our home church, Central Baptist Church in Center, Texas, Brother Matt Hudson preached the Tuesday evening message. His sermon was a blessing and very thought-provoking. I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to share a portion of what he said with you.
“The Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:14–16, ‘I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel… for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.’
Paul wasn’t talking about owing money. He was speaking of a spiritual debt. God had entrusted him with the Gospel so that he could pass it on to others.
Suppose I give a man $20 and tell him to pass it on to someone else in need. At that moment, he becomes a debtor—not because he borrowed money, but because he holds something that belongs to another.
That’s exactly how it is with the Gospel. When God gave you the good news of salvation, He didn’t give it just for you. He gave it so that you would share it. The moment you received the Gospel, you became a debtor to the lost world—a debtor to those in Ghana, on the reservation, in Mexico City, and right here in your own town.
When we fail to give out what God gave to us, we’re holding on to something that was never meant to stay in our pockets. God says, ‘I gave it to you so you could give it to them.’
Now look again at 2 Kings 4:4. The prophet told the widow, ‘When thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.’
God was teaching her—and us—a practical truth. She had nothing of her own, but when she obeyed God and began to pour out what she had, He filled every vessel until there were no more left.
That’s what God wants from us. He’s not looking for the richest person, the most talented, or the most educated. He’s simply looking for empty vessels—people who will say, ‘Lord, here I am. Fill me with Your Spirit and use me.’
The oil in that story is a picture of the Holy Spirit, and God still fills those who are willing to pour out what they’ve been given.
A missions conference, a revival meeting, a simple act of obedience—all of these are opportunities to gather vessels and let God fill them. When believers are filled with the Spirit and the Gospel, they can reach their city, their state, their nation, and the world.
And when God says, ‘Give me another vessel,’ may He not find that we’ve run out of people willing to be used.
We have a debt we cannot pay—the debt of sin—but we also have a debt we can pay: the debt of sharing the Gospel. Let’s not be content to hide the good news in our tents. Let’s go tell others that Jesus saves, because we do not well if we keep silent.”
The Gospel: A Debt Meant to Be Shared
Brother Hudson’s illustration really made me think. Every believer has received something from God that was never meant to be stored away. We’ve been entrusted with the greatest message in history—the good news that Jesus saves! Just as the widow poured out her oil in faith, we’re called to pour out the Gospel in obedience. When we give what we have, God multiplies it.
Pouring Out What We’ve Been Given
At Central Baptist Church, we heard again that missions is not just for those going across the ocean. It’s for everyone willing to be an empty vessel. Whether you’re serving in Ghana, on the mission field, or right here in Texas, the same truth applies: God blesses those who pour out what He’s poured into them.
My Takeaway
That message reminded me that the Gospel isn’t ours to keep—it’s ours to give. Every believer holds something precious that belongs to others. Let’s stay faithful to share the Gospel until every vessel is full.
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Thank you Joe, this was so uplifting to me. Reminds me I have a work to do.
Well said Joe, Thank you