Spirit-Controlled I
This object lesson requires a bit of
preparation and supplies, so plan ahead! I have to admit that I have
adapted the first half of this object lesson to one or two other
lessons that I have either seen demonstrated or read about. So if it
seems a little familiar, you may have seen or read it before.
Unfortunately, I have no idea who should be credited for the idea.
However, the second half is my own application.
Theme Verses:
Ephesians 5:18
Romans 12:1-2
Supplies:
1 large glass jar
Small water-proof objects representing the list below
1-2 bags small marbles/stones
1 gallon water
Approx. 1 dozen inexpensive sponges (cut in half)
Permanent sharpie
Pan to hold wet items
Stop and think about all the activities, needs,
projects and “things” that consume our time, our talents and our
lives, and your list might look something like the following:
Home/Furnishings, Relationships/Friends,
Love/Romance, Clothing, Job/Vocation, Hobbies, Money/Finances,
Education, Church/Spiritual Life, Car, Pets, Food, Music, Looks,
Computer/Internet/facebook/Twitter, Vacation, Sports, Cell
Phone/Texting, TV/Video games/Movies/WII, Security
Look around your home for small, waterproof objects
that can represent the categories listed above, or the list you
prepare. If you can’t find something at home, go to a true dollar
store (everything $1) or visit garage sales or thrift stores to find
objects to match each of your categories. Be imaginative. For
instance, a small picture frame can represent relationships, or
friends. A small tea candle can represent romance. A jar of make up,
mirror or brush can represent looks. A shell or small model airplane
can represent vacations or getaways. An old TV remote can represent
entertainment. A ceramic animal can represent a pet. A lock can
represent security. You get the idea. Be sure you can fit all the
items you’ve collected into the glass jar. Hopefully they’ll fit so
that the jar looks like nothing else could possibly fit into it. If
necessary, add objects or change to larger objects so that the jar
is filled to the top.
To peak the interest of your class participants as
they enter the room, set out the jar and have all the objects placed
across a table in the front of the room.
Lesson Launch:
 Explain to your class that the objects sitting on the table
represent all the activities, interests and possessions that have a
place in our lives and in which we spend our time and money. One by
one, explain what each object represents and place it in the jar.
If you weren’t able to fit all the objects into the
jar, or if you weren’t able to find objects that appropriately
represented all the life areas, tell your class that some key items
aren’t represented, mostly because of lack of space, such as
hobbies, extra jobs or volunteer activities (and the areas you left
out). But that’s just like our lives, isn’t it? We’re so busy and
our lives are so full, that sometimes we often think we couldn’t fit
one more thing into our schedule.
Ask your class: Does this jar appear full to you?
It is, but believe it or not, there is still space
for several more items. (At this point, begin pouring in the small
marbles/stones. It’s not absolutely necessary to pour in all of the
stones, as long as they understand the point that no matter how full
our lives may seem, we always manage to add even more activities.)
These smaller items represent events in our lives that aren’t
constants, that aren’t an everyday part of our lives, such as:
music/choir practice, committee meetings, church revivals, VBS,
concerts, birthday or anniversary celebrations, etc.
After adding the marbles/stones, ask your class:
Does the jar appear full now?
Review that we thought the jar was full after adding
the objects, but it was still able to hold quite a few small stones.
Now it looks full again, but if we poured in sand, what would
happen? Obviously the jar would still be able to hold a fair amount
of sand particles, meaning that no matter how full our lives, a
schedule can always be readjusted and events moved because of
emergencies or unexpected events, such as: a flat tire, illness, a
doctor’s visit, filling a prescription, a run to the grocery store
for a forgotten recipe item, etc. (I make this point about adding
the sand, but I choose not to pour in sand because it makes the
illustration too messy.)
At this point, we’ve added objects, small stones,
and imagined adding in sand. For one last time, ask your class: Does
the jar appear full now?
 Unless your class members have seen the illustration
before, most will agree the jar is full at this point. Well, you’re
going to show them one more time that the jar still has room for one
more item. Tell your class you’re going to add another substance,
and that’s the Holy Spirit, represented by water. Begin pouring the
water into the jar until it is full.
Ask your class: Based on the number of items in the
jar, were you surprised by how much water the jar was able to hold?
While it may appear to be a lot of water, consider
the following. Because our life (jar) is so full, and we are so
busy, the Holy Spirit (water) is only able to fill those small areas
that are left over. In and of themselves, none of the items
represented here are evil or bad. Actually, most of them
enrich and give our lives fulfillment. But, like the scientific law
that says no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time,
the Holy Spirit (water) isn’t able to co-exist with the activities
and possessions already in our life.
Ephesians 5:18 states that we are to be filled with
the Holy Spirit. In other words, we are to be controlled by Him.
Does this jar, as it is, illustrate this point?
It absolutely does not. Ephesians 5:18 doesn’t
direct us to give the Holy Spirit our leftovers, or to only fill, or
control, the crevices.
If you’ve ever seen this object lesson before,
here’s where it takes a detour. At this point, remove all the items
that were in the jar and place them in the pan, which leaves only
the water, the Holy Spirit. Now that the jar has been emptied of all
the activities and events in our life, we can really see just how
much influence of the Holy Spirit (water) has been allowed into our
life….not a whole lot.
Let’s go back to Ephesians 5:18. To allow the Holy
Spirit more influence in our lives, what has to happen? Since the
activities and possessions in our life are to be filled and
controlled by the Spirit, then the Holy Spirit has to be the
dominant occupier of the space. God is the creator of this world and
the author of science, so in His law two objects can occupy the same
space.
Instead of replacing the objects as they were,
because we know it would put us back in the same dilemma of a
self-controlled life, our activities will now be represented by
sponges, which will allow the Holy Spirit (water) to be absorbed and
co-exist in the same space. (Have each of the categories represented
by the objects printed on a sponge.)
 As the activities/possessions are placed back in the
jar, ask your class members for their input as to how each activity
could be filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit. It’s really
important that they understand how each object can have a spiritual
use and that every area of their life can, and should, glorify the
Lord. Here are some ideas: Entertainment (“Be careful little
eyes what you see,” or use the entertainment as an outreach, or to
disciple another), Music (that the music would be edifying and
uplifting, i.e. praise/worship music), Pet (don’t abuse it, care for
it as God would), Food (eat food good for the body), Security (place
your fears and trust in the Lord), Sports (use it as an outreach),
etc. Be sure you are prepared to give a response for each object in
the event your class members don’t have one, or to be able to expand
on what they say.
Now that the objects have been replaced by the
sponges in the jar, and co-existing with the Holy Spirit, what’s
different? There is a lot of room left over, meaning that we can
allow the Holy Spirit even more control over our lives. Pour the
remaining water into the jar to illustrate this point.
This object lesson not only illustrates the
significance and difference in our lives when we hand over our
control to the Holy Spirit, but it is also a great illustration of
Romans 12:1-2, focusing particularly on verse 2:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and
perfect, will of God.”
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