Be A Vessel Unto Honour
A Readiness to Be Used of God
2 Timothy 2:15-21
April 14, 2013 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (2Timothy 2:15-19)
A.
Our Theme, our Focus this
month is “Getting Ready to Work/Serve the Lord”
1.
Remember our main Memory
verse for the year? Revelation 19:7
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give
honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come,
and his wife hath made
herself ready.”
2.
Are we preparing
ourselves, so that we are ready at a moment’s notice to do what is asked of
us for the
B.
God’s Foundation
1.
Built on God’s word –
God’s truth (2:15)
2.
It Still Stands!
3.
Nothing else stands the
test of time like the words of this Book
a.
“Heaven and earth shall
pass away” (Mt 24:35)
b.
Isa 40:8 “The grass
withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
C.
God knows those who are
HIS
1.
Not the fakers and frauds
who will one day try and stand before God and say, “Lord, Lord, did not we
do many wonderful works in thy name?”
2.
But those who have been
truly born again, by humbling themselves, and desperately begging God to
have mercy on them and save them from the coming judgment!
3.
God knows who you are!
4.
You better know! If you
don’t know, today needs to be the day you get born again!
D.
The world should know too
1.
Because they (God’s
people) live apart from iniquity
2.
They are NOT like the
world around them
3.
Live, love, talk, dress,
act, walk differently
4.
And they are not ashamed
of it!
E.
That leads to the next
Scripture in 2:20,21…
II.
Message – Be a Vessel Unto Honour (1 Timothy
2:20,21)
A.
God has a great house – a BIG house
1.
It is a big house with
lots of furniture, kitchenware
2.
Not referring to His
church, but to this whole world! To His entire creation.
B.
There are All Kinds of Vessels in this World
– God’s House
1.
Refers to vessels –
containers, cups, dishes, plates, bowls – anything that carries something in
it or on it
2.
Bowels, cups, Tumblers,
Buckets
3.
They are all containers
in God’s reach
4.
Some stunning things made
of gold
5.
And some mundane things,
made of clay, or plastic
6.
These “vessels” are what
we are! We were created for something greater than just ourselves! We have a
purpose, and a design! We were created by God to be used for His glory, and
His praise, and His purpose!
C.
There are really Only Two Kinds of Vessels
that God Sees in the world:
1.
Only two categories, or
groups
a.
Those that are
honourable, and those that are dishonourable
b.
One is highly thought of,
and showed off, The other he is embarrassed for anyone to see!
c.
Both will be used! But
not like we might like!
2.
Honourable Vessels
a.
They can be like Fine
China, or a silver vase
b.
Coffee or Tea Cup
c.
Water Jug
d.
Serving Dish
e.
Soup Bowl
f.
Or they can be like a
clean dinner plate
g.
Or even Plastic
Tupperware
h.
They usually are on
display in cabinets, on shelves, on mantles and on pianos
i.
They don’t have to be
expensive,…
j.
JUST CLEAN!
k.
Ready to be drank from or
served from
l.
Ready to be used!
3.
Dishonourable Vessels
a.
A Dog Dish, Kitty Litter
Box, Mop Bucket
b.
c.
Bed Pan
d.
A Pee-Can – even if made
out of pure gold, it is something you hide away out of sight!
e.
All of these are very
useful, yes, but are filthy and not used for anything honourable!
f.
These are usually in
their out of the way places, under the sink, behind the toilet…
g.
AND, you wouldn’t want to
normally talk about them and be proud of them and show them off, would you?
D.
God Uses All Kinds of Vessels
1.
Both the saved, and the
lost person; the clean, and the unclean (remember, he made all the clean
animals AND the unclean ones too)
2.
They both have their
purpose, but only one is worth noticing, and only one has value
3.
People are compared to
these two kinds of vessels
a.
The apostle Paul was
called a “chosen vessel” (Acts 9:15)
b.
A vessel of God’s mercy
(Rom 9:23)
c.
Pharaoh was called a
vessel that was only to be destroyed (Rom 9:22)
4.
So as you read your
Bible, you will notice how that God used the:
a.
Godly Abraham’s, Moses’,
David’s
b.
AND the wicked Pharaoh’s
and arrogant Nebuchadnezzar’s
c.
He greatly used the
apostle Paul’s and Matthew’s
d.
As well as the cultish
Diotrephes – as an example to rebuke!
e.
He used the Jerusalems as
a centre of worship
f.
As well as the
g.
God will use preachers to
make fools of themselves for Christ
h.
And God will let atheists
make fools of themselves!
5.
Everyone is used by God
in some way
E.
The Big Deal is, You CHOOSE How you Want to
be Used by God. How READY you want to be so He can use You!
III.
Application/Challenge (1 Timothy 2:21)
A.
Our Duty – Purging and Protecting our Lives
1.
Purging
a.
Purging means breaking
away, separating from, putting distance between yourself, and someone or
something that defiles you!
b.
To defile is to soil you,
taint you, spoil you
c.
A spoiled vessel is a
dishonourable one!
1)
Like a cereal bowel if
clean is great, but when eaten out of by a dog, it is not fit for anyone to
touch!
2)
Like a fork used to
unclog a drain – not fit to be used at dinner
3)
That is, until it has
been cleaned and sterilized!
d.
There are two kinds of
purging
1)
An Instant Salvation -
God’s Forgiveness at Christ’s Expense – God’s Business
a)
The perfect life of the
Son of God, judged and condemned in our place
b)
His blood shed as an
innocent Lamb for the guilty!
c)
His offer to anyone to
just ask Him to forgive them, completely
d)
When Jesus gave Himself,
He did all that was necessary to pay off ALL the debt of all the sins that
you ever have and ever will commit against God!
e)
And by just calling on
His name, asking HIM to forgive you and save you and make you HIS child, you
receive the most precious gift of all time – eternal life!
1.
Hebrews 1:3 “Who
[Jesus] being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his
person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he [Jesus]
had by himself purged our sins,
sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high!”
2.
Hebrews 9:14 “How
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
3.
To “purge” is to burn
out, totally remove, take away what is blocking access! We would say, flush,
or clear out a blocked pathway! That’s what Christ’s blood on the cross did
with our sins! Took them all away!
4.
Psalm 103:12 “As
far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions
from us.”
5.
Hebrews 10:11,12 “And
every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had
offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God”
6.
Romans 5:1 “Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ”
7.
Ephesians 2:8,9 “For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
2)
Secondly, Our On-going,
Daily Sanctification – Our Business – Our Duty
a)
You can do NOTHING to get
clean - obtain forgiveness
b)
But you must do
everything to stay clean
c)
Sanctification
d)
God keeps us SAVED; He
keeps us in His hand… but we keep ourselves clean! That’s the next point!
e)
If Jesus did ALL THAT for
us, to save us from our sins, and cleanse us, and forgive us…, are you
telling me you won’t do anything to stay clean?
2.
Protecting
a.
Christians forget they
have a responsibility to stay clean!
b.
Like a child who just
took their bath and needs to stay away from water puddles!
c.
See Daniel 1:8 “But
Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the
portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he
requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”
1)
Daniel was already clean
– already born again – already washed from his sins
2)
He needed to protect his
heart, and his mind from idols and things that would come between him and
the Lord God!
3)
God was not a distraction
to him – He was Daniel’s Lord! God was Daniel’s life
d.
You protect God’s work in
your heart by Separating yourself from…
1)
False doctrines – too
many to count! (2:16-18) – saturate with the Bible (Jn 17:17)
2)
Wicked men (2:18) – get
away from vain babblers and into Church in every meeting!
3)
Wicked imaginations (2Cor
10:5)!
4)
How quickly we can throw
the new life we have in Christ away and become so dishonourable, and
dishonouring
a)
By a filthy mouth –
showing off just how low you can go in your speech
b)
By a bitter spirit –
proud wrath!
c)
By a hard heart –
stubbornness is as witchcraft
d)
By an adulterous eye –
just the constant undressing and desire for flesh and nakedness in every
look!
e)
By a covetous spirit –
never praising God, but having a complaining attitude
f)
By a worldly attitude of
rebellion against God’s laws
g)
By wicked lifestyles
(Roman 1:24)
h)
Do you not think
Christians can get back into all that stuff? YES! If they don’t KEEP
themselves clean and humble and close to God!
5)
We expect politicians to
be honourable – to be trustworthy
6)
We expect car salesmen to
be honourable – to be trustworthy
7)
Rarely is it the case
8)
We expect doctors to be
honourable – to be trustworthy
9)
We expect teachers to be
trustworthy with children
10)
It is only natural that
the world expects if US Christians to be honourable, and trustworthy TOO!
3.
It is important to purge
throw out things that are defiling us!
B.
Our Goal – To Be A Vessel Unto Honour
- The Ultimate Goal in a Christian’s Life
Listen again to 2Timothy 2:21 “If
a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour,
sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”
1.
An honourable vessel
– is an honourable Christian life
a.
Not just pretty vessel
1)
There are a whole bunch
of people that look good on the OUTSIDE
2)
But on the inside are
filthy and wicked and frauds
3)
A lot of people know how
to be sweet and nice outwardly, but they are ravening wolves, and vile,
demon possessed people on the inside, full of every hateful thought!
b.
But honourable – very
respected, and of rare value – trustworthy
c.
Our goal needs to always
be someone that God would like to show off
1)
Revelation 19:7 “Give
honour to HIM…!”
2)
Not because of abilities
and beauties
3)
But because of cleanness,
and readiness to be used by Him, whenever, and however he see fit!
2.
Sanctified Vessel
a.
It just means “Clean” –
not already used! Oh that men and women kept themselves clean and pure so
that when they get married, they are CLEAN and NOT ALREADY USED!
b.
It also means, “Set
apart” (from the dirty dishes), and “ready to be used”
c.
You wouldn’t (SHOULDN’T)
reach into the pile of dirty dishes and grab a plate, fork, and cup for your
guest to eat from!
d.
You keep clean
kitchen-ware up, out of the way of the dirty floor, and away from other
dirty dishes!
3.
“Meet” Vessel (prepared,
just right for the occasion)
for the Master’s use
a.
Not mainly prepared for
our own use, or even for our own will
b.
This body, this life of
mine belongs to the One who bought it on
c.
This body is not mine to
do with it as “I” please anymore!
1)
I cannot smoke now that I
am a Christian
2)
I cannot drink now that I
am a Christian
3)
I cannot allow my heart
to fill up with bitterness and anger and depression and hatred and lies and
covetousness
4)
I cannot stay up late and
fill my eyes and mind and heart with every wicked imagination the world
wants to throw at me!
5)
WHY?
a)
Because all of that was
the DEVIL using me before I got saved!
b)
My life is meant for
the Master’s use now!
d.
“The Master” is God, if
you haven’t figured it out yet!
1)
Remember? This world is
HIS house!
2)
HE is the LORD, the
Master, the Owner, the Boss of everything
e.
Whether we agree with it
or not, He IS Lord!
f.
And I want…, my goal is,
to be used by Him!
1)
No matter how small a
task
2)
OR… how hard and
impossible a task!
3)
If it be His will, it is
mine too!
4)
Look yourself in the
mirror and see what you are going through, and decide, if it be God’s will,
then so be it – as long as I can be used by God to praise Him, and honour
Him through it!
4.
Lastly, Our Goal is to
be a Prepared Vessel – prepared for every good work
a.
The devil prepared all of
us for HIS devices
1)
By all our bad friends
2)
And through all the
rebellious music and movies
3)
No wonder we did things
that are shameful
b.
We were saved to do good
works (Eph 2:8-10)
c.
We are prepared,
fashioned, equipped, geared up for every good work just by wrestling with
the sin in our own lives, and getting the best of it!
d.
Having this kind of
attitude about sin (hating it enough to purge it out of your life), is 99%
of all the preparation we need to be used of God!
1)
David, as a SHEPHERD,
hated sin (go back and reread the Psalms), and that attitude actually
prepared him to be KING!
2)
Paul, as a hateful
Pharisee, when he discovered all the sin in his life on the road to
5.
Do you ever wonder why
God is not using you to win people to faith in Jesus Christ? Do you ever
wonder why the devil has so much dominion in your life? It could be that you
have too casual a view of sin in your life, and you won’t do what is
necessary so that your life honours your Lord Jesus Christ!
IV.
Conclusion
A.
Our Theme, our Focus this month is “Getting
Ready to Work/Serve the Lord”
1.
God’s Foundation is His
Word
2.
God knows those who are
HIS
3.
The world should know who
belongs to God too!
B.
The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus
Christ saves a man, a woman – cleans anyone, perfectly, from the
inside out!
1.
Every person born, is
born a sinner, and must get forgiven in total before they die
2.
No good work that you
ever do will ever be good enough for God
3.
Only what Jesus did, is
good enough to save your soul!
4.
It is called being saved,
born again, forgiven!
5.
And, it is a gift – “the
gift of God is eternal life” – not WILL BE, but IS – anyone can have eternal
life right now
6.
He that hath the Son of
God, hath eternal life – right then and there!
C.
But we need to stay clean! Sanctified!
1.
So that we can be useful
to God
2.
Not end up as a wasted
life, or a castaway, or a throw away in God’s kingdom!
D.
There are really Only Two Kinds of Vessels
that God Sees in the world
1.
Honourable
2.
And Dishonourable
E.
God Uses All Kinds of Vessels –
all kinds of people
F.
You CHOOSE How you Want to be Used by God
G.
Our Duty – To Purging and Protect
our lives
H.
Our Goal – To Be A Vessel Unto
Honour. That means become…
1.
An honourable vessel
2.
Sanctified Vessel
3.
“Meet” Vessel (prepared,
just right)
4.
Lastly, Our Goal is to be
a Prepared Vessel
I.
Do you have too casual a view of sin in your
life? Will you do what is necessary so that your life honours
your Lord Jesus Christ?
J.
Every soul must be READY to meet God!
That’s why Jesus said, ye must be born again!
K.
EVERY Christian must be prepared to do good
works! That’s why we don’t just come and “worship” – we come to
hear how to purge away the sins and filth so that we are always ready to be
used of God for His purposes!