VESSELS OF HONOUR
Passage: 2 Timothy 2:19 – 22 [NIV]
“19 Nevertheless, God’s
solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: The Lord knows
those who are His, and everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn
away from wickedness. 20 In a
large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood
and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the
latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the
Master and prepared to do any good work. 22
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and
peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 4: 7 [NKJV]
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the
power may be of God and not of us”.
A vessel is any craft designed
to serve a specific purpose. A vessel can also be a person who possesses a
particular or who is used for a particular purpose. Every believer has been moulded
as a craft to carry out a particular task.
“You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry,
written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of
stone but on tablets of human hearts.” [2 Corinthians 3:3 NIV]. This verse makes us aware
that, we are the letters of Christ, meaning each believer communicates a
particular idea of God to the world. Thus, we are the embodiments of His
message to the world. In this write up, we are going to consider what it means
to be a Vessel for the Lord.
THE “GREAT HOUSE”
From 2 Timothy 2:19 – 22, Paul
talks about a great house with vessels made of different materials such as
gold, silver, clay and wood. Paul in this analogy draws our attention to the
truth that not all who make up the church are serving as honourable members.
Some are with iniquity and cannot be regarded as the precious vessels God
requires all to be. This categorization of believers as either type of vessels
is based on the functioning of the vessels and not in their abilities. Thus,
those who deeds are full of iniquity are seen unto dishonour whiles those who
have purged themselves from iniquity are unto honour. What matters is how well
the vessel has made itself ready and available for the master’s use.
Bringing this to our lives, it
is clear that not all in the church are regarded by God as Vessels of honour.
There are people with admirable abilities that everyone seems to admire, people
with sweet melodies voice, others with good oratory abilities, some graced with
breath taking beauty and many more. But the fact that one has all these
characteristics and abilities does not make the person a chosen vessel of God.
A
clear example can be seen when Jesus while on earth and choosing disciples, He
left those who were well versed in Scriptures, had the respect of people among
others and went for ordinary fishermen, sinful tax collectors and others not
even respected by their families but were willing to give themselves to be used
of the master. What God needs is a vessel that is readily available and willing
to be cleansed for used.
KINDS OF
VESSELS
·
Vessels
of gold and silver
These
are those precious vessels fit to be used at the table of the master. The
vessels of gold and silver refer to the kind of believers that exhibit the
characteristics of the elements gold and silver. These elements can stand fire
or heat. When these elements are passed through fire they are refined all unwanted particles are
burnt away. In effect these vessels of gold and silver core refined when passed
through challenging times and circumstances. They continue to trust God even in
those hardship or difficult circumstances, and these gutter. They are faithful
unto death [Rev 2: 10].
Secondly,
just like gold, these crop of believers can easily, be moulded to suit the
masters use. They are ever willing to
follow the master’s purpose for their uses. In most cases, God uses events and
daily encounter in life to shape us into more purposeful ambassadors. However,
some believers do not avail themselves in order to be moulded to suit the
masters’ use. It takes a while for them to submit their will, passion and
emotions to conform to their plan of God for their lives.
Again,
these kind of vessels shine incomparably and brighten every area of darkness
encountered. Darkness is not able to overcome the radiance of their light. They
have not lighted their lamps and put it under a bushel but
on a lamp stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Thus, the become
men and women people look up to for inspiration. They declare the truth boldly
and wisely, shinning everywhere they find themselves.
· Vessels of wood and clay
These
are the vessels which are not fit to be used by the master at the table. These
kind of believers have not set themselves apart from the world and are easily
deceived because they do not have the truth well-grounded in them. Just like
wood which loses its shape and is burnt to ashes when passed through fire there
are believers who cannot stand the test of fire and even heat. Sometimes, what
is needed to change their confession is a small wind of a challenging moment or
a moment of unanswered prayers. They are tossed to and fro by any wind of
testing moments. In most of the time their resilience is quite questionable.
Secondly,
contrary to the vessels of gold and silver, these kind find it extremely
difficult to submit their will, intellect and emotions to God. Their actions
usually oppose the workings of the Holy Spirit in them. Just like Jonah, they
have to be subjected to a lot of inconveniences before their will be submitted.
These kind of believers are yet to explore the depth of brokenness.
Moreover,
these kind of vessels express radiance far below the divine capacity deposited
in them. They are not able to rely on the Holy Spirit for optimum manifestation
of God’s glory in them. Sadly enough, some have their lamps lighted but the
lamps are hidden under blankets and bushels. These vessels are therefore used
for ordinary purposes. It is worth knowing that irrespective of the nature of
the vessels, it can still be used as a vessel of honour (2 Timothy 2:21).
Vessels of honour are more precious and reserved for special purposes. Our
being used as vessels of honour is however dependent on our willingness to be
broken.
THE WAY FORWARD
· Purging one’s self
To
be a vessel of honour fit for the master’s use, Paul admonishes us to shy away
from people who have corrupting influences and desist from ignoble and unclean
things. Also, he continued to say in 2 Timothy 2:22 that “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love
and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” [NIV].
Paul used a similar admonition in 1 Timothy 6:11 – 12, “Flee……….. pursue ……….. fight”. True Bible separation is balanced: we flee sin, but we
pursue righteousness. If we are not balanced, then we will be isolated instead
of separated. In fact, Paul admonishes us to fellowship “…. With them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” [2 Timothy
2:22]. After all, this is the purpose of ministry of the Word [1 Timothy
1:15]. It is sad when true believers are isolated because of a false view of
separation. We are to note that, it does not matter how outstanding our
abilities, talents and beauty are, what matters is a vessel that has cleaned
itself from all worldliness and is ready to be used by God for an honourable
purpose.
· Purging by the Lord (John
Chapter 5)
For
God to be able to use us as vessels, we must be empty, clean and available. He
will take us, fill us and use us for His glory.
But if we are led by sin of defiled by disobedience. He will first have to
purge us; and that might not be an enjoyable experience. In the “great house”
or Christian family, there are true believers and false. We must exercise
spiritual discernment and be careful that we are vessels sanctified unto
honour. Potters use water to soften hard clay before moulding. In the same
vein, God uses His Word which is described as water in Ephesians 5:26 to soften
and mould us into His original intent. Our temper and self-control among other
characters and qualities are been worked on by the dual partnership of the Word
and Holy Spirit in us.
WORK OF THE VESSEL
After
we have availed ourselves to be used, what we produce as vessels count. The
Bible has made it clear that what we produce would be tested. For one’s works
to stand the test of fire, it is to have its source from God. Any work
originating from the flesh has no life and as such corrupts with time. The
Bible clearly states that God is Love (1 John 4:8). In other words, whatever we
produce only matters when it emanates from or is motivated by love. Paul
explains this truth in 1 Corinthians 13: 1 – 3; “1 If I speak in
the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding
gong or a clanging cymbal. 2
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess
to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain
nothing.”
A
responsibility is placed on us as vessels of honour to produce lasting works.
Thus, works which have life and works fueled by love. Not that which perishes
after it has been passed through fire. Works fueled by selfishness, envy,
greed, bitterness, pride, etc…these are dead works.
For
we will all stand before the “judgment seat” to account for our works (2
Corinthians 5:10). We must remember that, we were not saved by good works
rather we were saved to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). We are to manifest the
good works God has prepared in advance in us. We are to be the light and salt
of the world. We have but one purpose as vessels and this purpose is to be fit,
ready and profitable to the master and to show forth the praises of Him (1
Peter 2:9).
As
vessels, members of the household of God, God has ordained every believer to be
a vessel of honour. Depositing in each believer a treasure needed for the
benefit of the world, for creation is eagerly waiting for the manifestation of
this treasure. We should also know that the excellency and glory of this
treasure is of God, not man; as such we should know how to possess the treasure
deposited in us as vessels in sanctification and honour. That the world will
know the riches of these vessels of honour which God has afore prepared unto
glory.
#The_Grace_Factor
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