Formed, Filled, Fueled: God's Blueprint for Purpose
Devotional
Day 1: The Blueprint of Divine Purpose: Formed, Filled, and Fueled
God’s design for our lives follows a divine pattern that begins with being formed, then filled, and finally fueled to fulfill our unique calling. This process is not random but intentional, reflecting how God shaped humanity from the dust, breathed life into us, and empowered us to carry out His purposes. Understanding where you are in this sequence helps you recognize God’s current work in your life and prepares you for the next step in your spiritual journey. It reminds us that fruitfulness is a result of a process that starts with formation and is completed through empowerment. [10:17]
Before any outward fruitfulness or impact, there is a necessary inward work of God shaping and preparing you. This formation is not just about change but about becoming a vessel ready to be filled with God’s Spirit and gifts. When you embrace this pattern, you align yourself with God’s timing and purpose, allowing Him to work deeply within you before you are sent out to serve effectively.
Psalm 119:73-75 (ESV) “Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.”
Reflection: Identify which stage of the “formed, filled, and fueled” process you feel you are in right now. What is one way you can cooperate with God’s forming work in your life today?
Day 2: Unity as the Clay: The Foundation of Formation
Unity is the essential starting point for God’s work in both individuals and the church. Just as a potter cannot shape a vessel without first gathering and uniting the clay, God cannot form His people or His church without bringing them into unity. Disunity and isolation are tools the enemy uses to prevent God’s formation process. When believers come together in genuine unity, God can begin to shape them into vessels ready to be filled and empowered. This unity is not superficial agreement but a deep joining of hearts and purposes. [23:33]
Without unity, formation stalls. The strength of the body depends on the connection of its members. When you commit to unity, you participate in God’s creative work, allowing Him to mold you and others into a community that reflects His image and purpose. Unity is the fertile ground from which all spiritual growth and fruitfulness emerge.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (ESV) “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Reflection: Who in your faith community can you intentionally seek out to build or restore unity with this week? What practical step can you take to foster deeper connection?
Day 3: Yielding: Opening the Vessel to Receive
After being formed, the vessel must be willing to yield and open itself to receive what God desires to pour in. Yielding requires surrendering personal plans, ambitions, and fears, allowing God’s Spirit, gifts, and calling to fill you. This step demands humility and trust, as it often challenges comfort zones and preferences. The act of yielding is not passive but an active posture of readiness and openness to God’s transformative work. [32:24]
When you yield, you invite God’s presence and power to shape your identity and mission. The contents that fill you define who you are and how you impact the world. Yielding is the gateway to infilling, and without it, the vessel remains empty and ineffective. Embracing this posture daily cultivates a life marked by God’s presence and purpose.
Isaiah 64:8 (ESV) “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.”
Reflection: What is one personal ambition or fear you need to surrender to God today to open yourself fully to His filling?
Day 4: The Contents Define the Vessel: Identity Through Infilling
Our identity and effectiveness are shaped by what fills us. When filled with God’s Spirit, we become His image-bearers, empowered to express His character through the fruit of the Spirit and His power through the gifts of the Spirit. This infilling transforms not only who we are but also how we engage with the world around us. The vessel’s contents determine its purpose and impact. [12:34]
Recognizing that your identity is rooted in what God places within you frees you from comparison and burnout. It invites you to embrace the unique combination of Spirit-led character and gifting that God has given you. This fullness equips you to serve authentically and fruitfully in your God-ordained role.
Colossians 1:9-12 (ESV) “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper awareness of the Spirit’s fruit and gifts within you this week? How might this change your daily interactions?
Day 5: Empowerment Reveals Purpose: Walking in Your God-Given Role
Discovering your empowerment is key to understanding and living out your unique purpose. Each member of the body of Christ is gifted and empowered for a specific function. When you embrace your God-given role, you experience fulfillment, effectiveness, and freedom from comparison or burnout. This empowerment is not just for personal benefit but for the health and multiplication of the whole church. [21:40]
Walking in your empowerment releases others to do the same, creating a dynamic and multiplying community. It is through this process that the church becomes a vibrant expression of God’s kingdom. Embracing your role with confidence and joy leads to a life marked by fruitfulness and spiritual freedom.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (ESV) “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.”
Reflection: What specific gift or role do you sense God empowering you to step into more fully? What is one practical action you can take this week to walk confidently in that calling?
Sermon Summary
God’s creative process reveals a pattern that is still at work in our lives today: formed, filled, and fueled. From the very beginning, God spoke the world into existence, but when it came to humanity, He did something different—He formed Adam from the dust, filled him with His own breath, and then empowered him to fulfill his purpose. This pattern is not just a story from Genesis; it is the blueprint for how God works in His people and His church. Before there is fruitfulness, there must be formation. Before there is empowerment, there must be infilling. And before any of that, there must be unity.
Unity is the foundation. Just as the potter gathers and unites clay to form a vessel, God brings together diverse people to form His body. Without unity, there can be no true formation. The enemy knows this and works tirelessly to isolate believers, to keep us from being joined together in meaningful community. But when we come together in unity, God can begin to shape us into a vessel ready to be filled.
Yielding is the next step. Once formed, the vessel must be open to receive what God wants to pour in. This means surrendering our own plans, ambitions, and even our fears about what God might ask of us. Only when we yield can God fill us with His Spirit, His gifts, and His unique calling for our lives. The contents define the container; what we are filled with determines our identity and our impact.
Empowerment follows infilling. God blesses and empowers what He has filled, giving us the ability to be fruitful and multiply, to walk in our unique purpose. Each member of the body has a distinct role, and discovering our empowerment is the key to understanding our purpose. When we operate in our God-given function, we experience fulfillment, effectiveness, and freedom from comparison or burnout.
This process—unity, yielding, infilling, and empowerment—is not just for individuals but for the whole church. As we step into a season of growth and transition, it is vital that we embrace our place in the body, yield to God’s purposes, and allow Him to empower us for the work ahead. Only then will we see true multiplication, fruitfulness, and the manifestation of God’s kingdom in our midst.
Key Takeaways
1. God’s pattern for purpose is “formed, filled, and fueled.” He first unites and shapes us, then fills us with His Spirit and gifts, and finally empowers us to fulfill our unique calling. Recognizing where we are in this process helps us understand what God is doing in our lives and what step comes next. [10:17]
2. Unity is the essential starting point for God’s work. Just as the potter cannot form a vessel without gathering the clay, God cannot form His church or our lives without bringing us into unity. The enemy’s strategy is to isolate us, but God’s blessing and multiplication only flow where there is unity. [23:33]
3. Yielding precedes infilling. After formation, we must open ourselves to receive what God wants to deposit in us. This requires humility and surrender—letting go of our own agendas and being willing to embrace God’s will, even when it challenges our preferences or comfort zones. [32:24]
4. The contents define the vessel. Our identity and effectiveness are determined by what fills us. When we are filled with God’s Spirit, we become His image-bearers, empowered to express His character (the fruit of the Spirit) and His power (the gifts of the Spirit) to the world around us. [12:34]
5. Discovering our empowerment reveals our purpose. Each member of the body is uniquely gifted and empowered for a specific function. When we embrace our God-given role, we experience fulfillment and release others to do the same, resulting in a healthy, effective, and multiplying church. [21:40]
Genesis 1:26-28 — Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
- Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
- Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Observation Questions
In Genesis 2:7, what two things did God do to make Adam a living being, and how is this different from how He created the rest of creation?
According to the sermon, what is the pattern God uses in both creation and in our lives?
What was the condition of the believers in Acts 2 before the Holy Spirit filled them?
The sermon mentions that the contents define the container. What does this mean in the context of Adam’s creation?
Interpretation Questions
Why do you think God chose to form Adam with His hands and breathe into him, instead of just speaking him into existence like everything else? What does this say about God’s relationship with humanity?
The sermon says, “God only forms what He can unify. He only fills what He has formed. He only empowers what He has filled.” Why is unity so important before God can begin to form and use us?
What does it mean to “yield” to God in the process of being filled? Why is yielding necessary before God can fill and empower us?
How does discovering your unique empowerment (gifting) help you understand your purpose in the body of Christ?
Application Questions
The sermon teaches that unity is the foundation for everything God wants to do in us and through us. Are there any relationships in your life (in church, family, or elsewhere) where you feel disunity or isolation? What is one step you could take this week to move toward unity?
The enemy tries to isolate believers to keep them from being joined together in meaningful community. Have you ever felt tempted to pull away from church or small group? What were the reasons, and how did it affect your spiritual growth?
Yielding to God means surrendering your own plans, ambitions, and fears. Is there an area of your life where you are struggling to yield to God’s will? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him this week?
The sermon says, “The contents define the container.” What are you currently “filled” with? Are there things (attitudes, habits, influences) that you need to empty out so God can fill you with His Spirit and purpose?
Discovering your empowerment reveals your purpose. Do you know what your unique gifts or callings are? If not, what is one practical step you can take to begin discovering them (such as asking others, serving in a new way, or praying for clarity)?
The pastor shared that when you find your God-given role, you experience fulfillment and freedom from comparison or burnout. Are you currently serving in a way that matches your gifts, or are you trying to do things you’re not called to? How can you adjust your involvement to better fit your unique role?
As a church, we are stepping into a season of growth and transition. What is one way you can embrace your place in the body and help the church move forward in unity, yielding, and empowerment?
Sermon Clips
He sent his word and healed his people. His word of deliverance came to the people of Israel before the actual deliverance came. God will always speak first and then the manifestation happens later. When he created all things, he spoke them into existence. God spoke light, then light manifested. Then there was light. And in our lives, God hasn't changed. He does it the same way. He will speak. He will deliver his word to you first and acting on that word, your reception of that word determines the expression of the word. How do you receive the word? The Bible says that, you know, we can hear the word and then go immediately away and forget what we heard. The enemy steals it. [00:00:45](44 seconds)
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So how we receive the word determines the expression that we see of God's word in our life. So first of all, I honor you for being people of the word, that you value the word of God. And as the Lord says, as he's told me lately to say, transition, increase, multiplication, growth. I've been saying it all year. So when you see it, you will know that God's word paved the way and not a man. [00:01:36](27 seconds)
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So recognizing that time is short, we must know what are we supposed to be doing in these few moments before eternity steps in. I do not want to be caught off guard when the sky splits open and say, wait a second, I have a lot to do. I messed up, I wasted time. Let me fix it real quick. It will be too late. [00:08:48](19 seconds)
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My prayer for you is that you're right in the middle of what God's called you to do. And this message today, I think, is going to shine the light on some areas that we've been confused about in the church. So once he created man, he breathed into him. So it says he formed him, then he breathed the breath of life into him, and then he blessed them, male and female, and said, be fruitful and multiply. Let me say it like this. God formed man, he filled him with the breath of life, and he empowered him to be fruitful and multiply. [00:09:07](34 seconds)
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The clay, if you will, didn't become man until it was filled with the breath of God. Are you ready for this? The church didn't become the body of Christ until it was filled with the spirit of Christ. We have to have his spirit came into us. And at that moment, we are now not just adopted any longer. Born again. We've been brought in and reborn. And now we're a part, a vital part of his body or expression in the earth. [00:11:34](38 seconds)
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And because God filled the vessel that He called Adam, or man, with His own breath, now man, or Adam, mankind, Adam and Eve, are now made and living beings made in the image of God. Let me say it like this. You're defined, the vessel is defined by what it's filled with. [00:12:34](24 seconds)
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Then he said, now you are made in my image, you can have dominion like me. He didn't say it to the dogs, or the birds, or the lizards, or the snakes, or anything else. Why? Because he took his own substance, his own breath, and filled the vessel that he made from the ground with his own breath. Then he said, now you're special. [00:13:59](19 seconds)
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But are you ready for this? If the body is not fulfilling its purpose, then the will of the head isn't being done. And that's why I've said God's going to find somebody to fulfill His purpose in His body. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be passed over because I'm not willing to submit and do what God's called me to do. I want to be active in fulfilling God's plan and purpose. So if you think about John chapter 14 verse 9, it says, if you've seen me, Jesus said, you've seen the Father. [00:16:03](28 seconds)
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This is why the church is so isolated. And I don't just mean the church between other churches. Even within the church. The enemy tries to get us on islands because just like the National Geographic show, when the lion is looking for something to eat, he's waiting for one of the animals to get alone, isolated, fall behind, get lost. And at that point he pounces. So what's the enemy want to do? He wants to isolate you. And so your schedule is going to try to isolate you. Your emotions are going to try to isolate you. He's going to play on anything he can do in your life to keep you alone, isolated, and trying to serve God as a one -man show. And in that moment, he's paralyzed your calling and he's one in your life. [00:25:00](42 seconds)
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