We Are Vessels
We are vessels and we can be vessels of honor or vessels of dishonor (II Timothy 2:
19-22) “nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure; having this seal, the Lord
knows them that are His, and, let every one that names the name of Christ depart
from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver,
but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man
therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and fit
for the master’s use, and prepared to every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but
follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace; with them that call on the Lord out of a
pure heart”. The key is found in verse 21 if a man therefore purge himself from
these, he shall be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and fit for the master’s use, and
prepared to every good work. When it says that we have to purge ourselves, it
means that as we yield our selves to the Lord and walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill
the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
As we ask the Lord Jesus to come into our hearts, the Holy Spirit comes into our
vessels and as we let the Holy Spirit lead us, our vessels are made clean; we are
washed with the water of the word. David says in Psalms 5:7-8 “as for me, I will
come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; and in Your reverence will I
worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord Yahweh, in Your righteousness
because of my enemies, make Your way straight before my face”.
God can take the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (I Corinthians 1:26-
2:5) “for you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things that are mighty. And base things of the world,
and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to
bring to nought things that are. That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of
Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption. That according as it is written, he that glories,
let him glory in the Lord. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellence of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. For I
determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech
and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the
wisdom of men, but in the power of God”.
All God needs is a willing vessel, remember that God was able to use even a
donkey, this was when Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel and God used the donkey
to hinder him (Numbers 22:27-34) “and when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord,
she fell down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the
donkey with a staff. And the Lord Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and
she said to Balaam, what have I done to you, that you have smitten me these three
times? And Balaam said to the donkey, because you have mocked me; I would
there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill you. And the donkey said to
Balaam, am not I your donkey, upon which you have ridden ever since I was yours
to this day? Was I ever in a habit to do so to you? And he said, nay. Then the
Lord Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord
standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down his head,
and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the Lord said to him; wherefore have you
smitten your donkey these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand you;
because your way is perverse before me. And the donkey saw me, and turned from
me these three times; unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain
you, and saved her alive. And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned;
for I knew not that you stood in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease
you, I will get me back again”.
Through out the years, God have used many vessels to do His will; Noah, Moses,
Gideon to name a few; each of these in their own ability was not able, but as they
yielded themselves to God, His grace gave them the supernatural ability to do
exploits.
Paul also was a chosen vessel of God (Acts 9); as Saul was on his journey to
Damascus with letters to persecute the church (those of the way) he was blinded by
a bright light from heaven and as he fell to the ground a voice saying to him, Saul,
Saul, why persecute you Me? And he said, who are You, Lord? And the Lord said I
am Jesus whom you persecute. Saul trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will
You have me to do? He was told to arise and go into the city. After being led into
the city, he was three days without sight, and food. The Lord called Ananias and
told him to go to Saul and lay hands on him so he could receive his sight. And
Ananias told the Lord the things which Saul had done; but the Lord said to him, go
your way for he is a chosen vessel to Me; to bear My name before the Gentiles, and
kings, and the children of Israel. We know that Saul which was later called Paul,
was used in a mighty way for the Lord.
The early church did veracious things, because they yielded themselves to Jesus
Christ. Many called themselves “slaves of Jesus Christ”.
Romans 9:21-24 Paul explains “has not the potter power over the clay of the same
lump to make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor? What if God, willing to
show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the
vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. And that He might make known the riches of
His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared to glory. Even us,
whom He has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles”?
He goes on to explain in II Corinthians 4:6-7 “for God, who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”.
Paul tells us that the mystery of God is Christ in you the hope of glory. That’s why
he tells us “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your
reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God”. Paul goes on in I Thessalonians 4:1-5 explaining how we
should walk; it says “furthermore, then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by
the Lord Jesus, that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to
please God, so you would abound more and more. For you know what
commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even
your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication. That every one of you
should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Not in the lust of
concupiscence; even as the Gentiles which know not God”.
God tells us in Isaiah 52:11-12 “depart you, depart you, go you out from there;
touch no unclean thing; go you out of the midst of her; be you clean, that bear the
vessels of the Lord Yahweh. For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight;
for the Lord Yahweh will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rear
guard”. You see we don’t do this on our own, as we yield ourselves to God, He
directs our steps.
Just like many have yielded their vessels as vessels of honor to be used of God;
many have yielded their vessels as vessels of dishonor to be used of the devil
(Jeremiah 22:28-29) “is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? Is he a vessel
wherein is no pleasure? Wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are
cast into a land which they know not? O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the
Lord Yahweh. Thus says the Lord Yahweh, write you this man childless, a man that
shall not prosper in his days; for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the
throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah”. By yielding himself as a vessel of
dishonor, he brought a curse upon himself and his seed. We are warned not to
give a place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). Romans 6:16 says “know you not, that
to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you
obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness”?
James says in James 4:7-8,10 “submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you, cleanse
your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: November 12, 2010
We are vessels and we can be vessels of honor or vessels of dishonor (II Timothy 2:
19-22) “nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure; having this seal, the Lord
knows them that are His, and, let every one that names the name of Christ depart
from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver,
but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man
therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and fit
for the master’s use, and prepared to every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but
follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace; with them that call on the Lord out of a
pure heart”. The key is found in verse 21 if a man therefore purge himself from
these, he shall be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and fit for the master’s use, and
prepared to every good work. When it says that we have to purge ourselves, it
means that as we yield our selves to the Lord and walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill
the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
As we ask the Lord Jesus to come into our hearts, the Holy Spirit comes into our
vessels and as we let the Holy Spirit lead us, our vessels are made clean; we are
washed with the water of the word. David says in Psalms 5:7-8 “as for me, I will
come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; and in Your reverence will I
worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord Yahweh, in Your righteousness
because of my enemies, make Your way straight before my face”.
God can take the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (I Corinthians 1:26-
2:5) “for you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the weak things
of the world to confound the things that are mighty. And base things of the world,
and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to
bring to nought things that are. That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of
Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption. That according as it is written, he that glories,
let him glory in the Lord. And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with
excellence of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. For I
determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech
and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the
wisdom of men, but in the power of God”.
All God needs is a willing vessel, remember that God was able to use even a
donkey, this was when Balak hired Balaam to curse Israel and God used the donkey
to hinder him (Numbers 22:27-34) “and when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord,
she fell down under Balaam; and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the
donkey with a staff. And the Lord Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and
she said to Balaam, what have I done to you, that you have smitten me these three
times? And Balaam said to the donkey, because you have mocked me; I would
there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill you. And the donkey said to
Balaam, am not I your donkey, upon which you have ridden ever since I was yours
to this day? Was I ever in a habit to do so to you? And he said, nay. Then the
Lord Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord
standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed down his head,
and fell flat on his face. And the angel of the Lord said to him; wherefore have you
smitten your donkey these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand you;
because your way is perverse before me. And the donkey saw me, and turned from
me these three times; unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain
you, and saved her alive. And Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned;
for I knew not that you stood in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease
you, I will get me back again”.
Through out the years, God have used many vessels to do His will; Noah, Moses,
Gideon to name a few; each of these in their own ability was not able, but as they
yielded themselves to God, His grace gave them the supernatural ability to do
exploits.
Paul also was a chosen vessel of God (Acts 9); as Saul was on his journey to
Damascus with letters to persecute the church (those of the way) he was blinded by
a bright light from heaven and as he fell to the ground a voice saying to him, Saul,
Saul, why persecute you Me? And he said, who are You, Lord? And the Lord said I
am Jesus whom you persecute. Saul trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will
You have me to do? He was told to arise and go into the city. After being led into
the city, he was three days without sight, and food. The Lord called Ananias and
told him to go to Saul and lay hands on him so he could receive his sight. And
Ananias told the Lord the things which Saul had done; but the Lord said to him, go
your way for he is a chosen vessel to Me; to bear My name before the Gentiles, and
kings, and the children of Israel. We know that Saul which was later called Paul,
was used in a mighty way for the Lord.
The early church did veracious things, because they yielded themselves to Jesus
Christ. Many called themselves “slaves of Jesus Christ”.
Romans 9:21-24 Paul explains “has not the potter power over the clay of the same
lump to make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor? What if God, willing to
show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the
vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. And that He might make known the riches of
His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared to glory. Even us,
whom He has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles”?
He goes on to explain in II Corinthians 4:6-7 “for God, who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us”.
Paul tells us that the mystery of God is Christ in you the hope of glory. That’s why
he tells us “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your
reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be you transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God”. Paul goes on in I Thessalonians 4:1-5 explaining how we
should walk; it says “furthermore, then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by
the Lord Jesus, that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to
please God, so you would abound more and more. For you know what
commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even
your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication. That every one of you
should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor. Not in the lust of
concupiscence; even as the Gentiles which know not God”.
God tells us in Isaiah 52:11-12 “depart you, depart you, go you out from there;
touch no unclean thing; go you out of the midst of her; be you clean, that bear the
vessels of the Lord Yahweh. For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight;
for the Lord Yahweh will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rear
guard”. You see we don’t do this on our own, as we yield ourselves to God, He
directs our steps.
Just like many have yielded their vessels as vessels of honor to be used of God;
many have yielded their vessels as vessels of dishonor to be used of the devil
(Jeremiah 22:28-29) “is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? Is he a vessel
wherein is no pleasure? Wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are
cast into a land which they know not? O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the
Lord Yahweh. Thus says the Lord Yahweh, write you this man childless, a man that
shall not prosper in his days; for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the
throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah”. By yielding himself as a vessel of
dishonor, he brought a curse upon himself and his seed. We are warned not to
give a place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). Romans 6:16 says “know you not, that
to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you
obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness”?
James says in James 4:7-8,10 “submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil,
and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you, cleanse
your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: November 12, 2010
