You have your Bibles. Please me me.
The book is second, Timothy as we continue in our Series in
this precious Pastoral Epistles. written by Paul to his spiritual
son, Timothy but more importantly written by the Holy
Spirit himself, It's 2nd, Timothy Chapter 2 and me being
here in verse 20. Now.
In a great house. There are not only vessels of
gold and silver, but also of wood and Clay, some for
honorable, use some for dishonorable.
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from what is
dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use set
apart as holy useful to the master of the house, ready for
every good work. Let's pray.
Father, your word says concerning your son Jesus that
while he was on the earth. He was anointed by the Holy
Spirit and that he went about doing good, and delivering,
those who are oppressed of the devil.
For God was with him. We ask Lord for the anointing of
the Holy Spirit. We ask Lord that your presence
in your power would be in this place.
Lord, protect this delivery from being in the flesh.
Protect the reception from being in the flesh.
May your Holy Spirit. At come brood over this place
and do what only you can do. Do Miracles, change us.
Lord, we ask that you would save the lost in this house this
morning. And we ask that you would build
up the Saved that we may look more like Christ.
Lord again May the Holy Spirit. Rest upon the ministry of the
word may he speak. Would you protect the service
from any error from any confusion?
Lord May there be Clarity precision, and ultimately the
exaltation of your son, Jesus Christ.
We pray for these things with one mind and one heart and the
name of Jesus Christ. Our unifies us, amen, and amen.
Our last time together in this book.
We discovered Paul's encouraging words about God's Firm
Foundation. And the text strongly suggested
that Firm Foundation speaks of the Church of the Lord Jesus
Christ. And we not only learned that
this Foundation is immovable, despite every trick of Satan to
try to uproot or destroy. We learned that upon this
Foundation are two inscriptions. The one inscription declares,
God Sovereign supervision over his church.
The Lord knows those who are his and the second speaks of man's
responsibility, if they claim to be a part of the church, that
those who name the name of the Lord depart from iniquity, And
we learned a great deal of what these things mean, concerning
God's ownership and man's duty, but Paul's not finished yet.
The spirit is not finished yet. There is yet so much that God
longs to teach us concerning what it means for us to be
numbered. Among the redeemed, what it
means for us, if we truly understand these principles and
apply them to our lives, how it can affect our experience if we
claim to live in the household of God.
And so that's why in the verses you just read Paul transitions,
he transitions from what it means to be adopted into God's
Kingdom. Let those who name the name of
the Lord depart from iniquity? You ain't saved.
If you haven't repented And now he transitions from what it
means to even know the ABCs of Christianity.
To what it takes to be used for God's Kingdom.
And this transition of thought, tells us already something about
what it means to be a follower of Christ, the satisfaction that
you discover at Salvation, does not cease at Salvation, when
your soul is opened up to the realization of God's Redemption
and his grace over your life. It also opens up a brand-new
appetite and here it is. God I need you.
I want you. To use me.
I want to be used for your glory.
I want to serve you, and I want to spend my breath my energy to
glorify the very one. Who saved my soul freely.
It's amazing when the Apostle Paul met the Risen Jesus on that
road to Damascus, ready to liquidate the church, ready to
eradicate, any person who claims to be the follower of the way he
Two questions. Can I show you those two
questions because I believe these two questions should be
the two questions. That every born-again believer
should perpetually ask of God in Acts chapter 20 to turn your
Bibles there, please. I want you to see what Paul
asked. What he asked Jesus when he met
Jesus and his eyes were open to the fact that this is truly the
Messiah that I've been studying about the one that I claim would
come. And deliver my people, this is
him. And here's what Paul asked,
Jesus Christ and I want to ask you this question this morning,
have you been asking these questions?
Dear Christian. Have you discovered?
These questions in your soul and acts 22 verse 8.
And I being Paul answered. Who are you?
Lord Question. Number one, when you truly meet
Christ you want to know him, you want to discover him.
You want to study him. You want to have fellowship with
him, who are you? Lord show me yourself.
I know you're my savior but I need to know more of Who You
Are. Then he goes on to say and he
said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are
persecuting and Paul discovered there.
I believe that great theological point that the church is the
body of Christ. If I'm touching the church I'm
touching you you see we must go deeper in our knowledge of the
Lord. Who are you?
Lord are you asking this? Then he goes on in verse 9.
Now those who are with me, saw the light but did not understand
the voice of the one who is speaking to me verse 10.
And I said, what shall I do? Lord And the Lord said to me,
rise and go into Damascus and there you will be told all that
is appointed for you to do. That's question number two.
What shall I do? What do you have for me on the
earth? What is your assignment for me
on the Earth? Notice the order, though, our
main ambition is to know Christ to have fellowship with him to
understand, and to know him to love him, to cherish him.
But from that place, we want to now serve him and declare him at
whatever cost, whether it's on a platform where it's hidden.
We want to do what he calls us to do, and notice the
faithfulness of Jesus Christ, when a person truly wants to
come to, those understandings of who Jesus is and what it is that
he wants. You to do.
He will answer. He'll answer.
He'll tell you who he is. And in this case he told him I'm
connected to my body. You thought you were touching a
bunch of people believing in a cult know you're a touching to
my members. And when he says, what shall I
do? Okay, I know you are.
But what do you want me to do now?
In this life, he says, Rise and go to Damascus and there you
will be told all that is appointed for you.
Do you know what I love about that?
Jesus didn't give him the whole blueprint for his life.
It was step by step. All I need you to do is now go
here. And then from there I'll tell
you what to do. Isn't that a wonderful principal
how he governs our own lives step-by-step and the text and
second Timothy is going to help us as a church position
ourselves in such a way that we will be ready vessels for God to
use. That's what we want.
I hope I'm speaking to a people who desire that today.
I hope you're asking these questions.
I hope you're asking these questions on your way here.
Who are you? Lord and what All I do, he will
never fail to answer that. He will never fail to show you
in your private time through the church through circumstances,
through providential leading but we have the text.
Now, we have the text to focus on that.
Second question, how do I know how can I position myself in
such a way that God can utilize me with my short breath of an
existence? And there are a few points here
and we read it here in verse 20 of second Timothy.
The first point is laid before as an absolute necessary truth
to grasp because it clarifies a misconception.
Paul says, now in a great house, there are not only vessels of
gold and silver, but also of wood and Clay, some of, for
honorable use and some for dishonorable.
Here's, here's Point number one. Not all who are in.
God's house will be used for God's glory.
Not all who are in. God's house will be used for
God's glory now that might be shocking, but it's true.
Nonetheless. Paul says, now in a great house
that word great speaks of the size more than the value but it
doesn't negate the fact that God's house is in fact.
Wonderful, it is great. God's church is great because it
is governed by a great God. It is precious because it was
purchased by the blood of the son of God.
It is powerful because it, testifies of the wisdom of God
to a dying and broken world, that there is a truth that can
set you free from sin and Satan. And it is a beautiful house
because it is made up of different people, tribes and
tongues who all have one thing in common, that is this saved by
grace. But Paul here, speaking about
this large house, so he's speaking about the universal
truths. This this Global congregation
there is something about this congregation that I must inform
you about. I must Enlighten you about.
And that is this. There are different types of
vessels. Yes, surely God is speaking what
you just mentioned that there are different nations and
languages and cultures that represent God's house Paul
proves that otherwise. But that's not his main point
here. Then surely he is speaking about
the different gifts that God has decorated his house with and are
different unique. Manifestations of the spirit
through individual Believers true but that's not what Paul is
emphasizing here. When Paul describes these
assorted utensils and in God's house, this great house, this
large house and compares. The materials that they are made
of He's trying to illustrate this that there are contrasting
conditions of Christians in God's house.
In other words, the imagery here of this large house with
different instruments and different vessels is trying to
make the point to say that there are some Christians who will be
used honorably. And there are some professing
Christians who will function dishonorably those who are
honorable, those who are holy, those who are faithful, those
who are asking that question, what shall I do?
Lord and whatever the cost I'll pay it.
Whereas those who are dishonorable are the slothful.
They're the lazy. They're the carnal ones, though.
They are associated with the assembly.
And this makes sense in light of the context, doesn't it?
Paul just finished saying that for you to even be joined to the
church. Let those who name the name,
those who named Christ must depart from iniquity.
But then he balances that Truth by saying, although that is the
requirement. There will be those who fail to
hold on, to that basic order within the church.
And so he says there are some who will be dishonorable.
Now some would say Paul, he is speaking about believer and
non-believer and that that is true.
You can have non believers in the midst, but the context
suggest, otherwise, that there are two categories in Paul's
mind in the spirits mind within the Church of Christians.
And the main distinction is not is not personality.
It's not the wealth that you have, it's not even the gifting,
it's not, it's none of that the main distinction. if I were to
cut this room in half, Is a holy heart.
Is a heart that longs to be holy and longs to be consecrated unto
the Lord. That's the main difference.
Now, is that interpretation in line with scripture?
Do we see this in other places? This is, this is interpretation
makes sense. Or we can go many places and you
don't have to turn there, but you remember.
We're technically Jesus wrote letters to seven churches
himself. Those letters in red, at the
beginning of the book of Revelation.
Well, in one of those letters, he makes a distinction within
the same assembly. There was a church and a place
called Sardis and I want you to hear, you don't have to turn
there with Jesus, himself says, to this church and Revelation
3324. Remember then what you received
and heard and keep it and repent.
Wow. Jesus telling a church to
repent. Yeah, he is keep it and repent.
He's telling this congregation. You need to wake up.
You have a reputation of being alive but you're dead.
God forbid. Everybody thinks you're
passionate. You go back to the history of
your church where things started, but, but you're all
asleep. So you need to wake up, he
signed this church arise. But then he goes on to say, I
will come like a thief and you will not know at what hour I
will come against you, his church.
Come against his church. Yes.
Because Christ is continually seeking to sanctify his bride.
I will come against you not the world, you my church.
Verse 4 yet. Here's the point, yet you have
still a few names in Sardis people who have not soiled their
garments and they will walk with me in white for they are worthy.
Many things can be said from these verses, but this provides
a wonderful example for us that it's possible that in the same
congregation, the same church, the same Ministry you can have
people who are asleep and people who are walking in the light and
that's not the only place you can look at different churches
in the same context, some were holding to the teachings of
false teachers and some were not, you know what that proves
to me that although you and I have been hearing that we must
be unified and one and although Christ calls his church to be
dependent upon one. Another as members are dependent
upon one another because they are under the same head.
God is just and he will judge every believer individually.
Even in the Oneness of his church.
And this is something we have to understand.
I hope it helps. You believe that it's possible
that there are categories of consecration within the Church
of Jesus Christ, but I want to say something else.
It's even, it's even deeper than that.
It's even possible. For those who were once vessels
of gold and silver, who are shining to change.
We're over time. They become vessels of this
honor and this is where I would like you to turn and
Lamentations chapter 4. It's a very sad book.
Written by the weeping prophet himself.
And here's the context Lamentations was written after
the destruction of Jerusalem. After that, final Exile, when
Nebuchadnezzar came and swept through that place and Drew
people to his own land, as God's Divine judgment over.
His people Lamentations is a book of Brokenness and I want
you to see what the prophet says in Lamentations 41.
Remember, we heard that in God's household, there are vessels of
gold and silver and some of clay and earthenware.
Look at limitations for one. How the gold has grown dim?
How the pure gold is changed, the holy Stones, lies scattered
at the head of every street. The precious sons of Zion worth
their weight and find gold, how they are regarded as Earthen
pots, the work of a Potter's hands.
You see the profit is describing not only the temple that was
desecrated, not only the temple. That was destroyed were these
Stones lights scattered where these wonderful jewels.
And these wonderful materials decorated the house of God to
reflect the Beauty. And the Divine glory of God, no,
he's not talking about the building nearly.
He's talking about the people. And we see that in verse to, the
precious sons of Zion, can we pause there on that word
precious. That's how God sees his people.
Precious valuable cherished prized you see as a people who
love to declare all things for the glory of God.
Yes. Jesus Christ died for the glory
of the father but Jesus Christ died.
Also because he Delights in his creation, he actually Delights
in those that he has created so much so that he beckons your
presence into his presence for all eternity and if it was going
to cost his blood to make it so, He bled.
And we read here that these precious sons of Zion though,
they were precious in the sight of God.
Something happened to them. What happened they changed?
They're different. The thing that made them so
beautiful, the glow of Christ, the sanctity of their calling,
where it off. And now they've become like
Earthen pots. The dirt and dust.
Covered their souls and now they cannot even be recognized as
precious. They seem like their identity
has been changed altogether. And that's the great danger for
the precious Church of Jesus. Living Stones, right?
Peter says, being built up as a spiritual house.
It's possible to lose that shine, the shine of Holiness.
The Purity that makes us unique and reflects like the moon,
reflects the light of the sun, reflecting the face of the son
of God. So going back to Pauls words, we
should wonder why, why is Paul even bringing this up, why is he
bringing up that? You can have these different
categories of consecration with in God's house?
Well, there's many reasons, here are a couple number one.
The holy spirit is very honest with the description of his
church. The holy spirit is very
realistic, though. It is not his will or his
standard. The holy spirit is fully aware
that in the midst of his pure bride.
There will be those who are compromised who are not
consecrated who bear a terrible testimony before a watching
world that would have them question the authority and the
authenticity of this Christian message he's aware of that.
And so I look at this and I have conversations with people often
use the argument well Christians are a bunch of Hypocrites.
And when I go to church, I see I see a bunch of people that don't
really live what they preach to, which I would say, God would
agree with you. He's not disagreeing with you.
There are vessels of honor and his house, and there are vessels
of Dishonor. He's not caught by surprise all
that, although he doesn't agree with it.
And it doesn't please him. So what you're telling me as an
argument is actually something that the Bible prepared me for
but I don't believe that's Paul's main point.
What his main point is this that there's a statement being
declared, that should provoke all listeners and even listeners
this morning. God, help us.
And that is this just because you attend And just because you
enjoy listening to messages and just because you even claim to
be a part of God's bride does not mean that God will use you
the way he desires to use you at.
This means, nothing for the person who's not asking what
shall I do. Lord, but this does mean
something for the person who is truly born of the spirit.
Because you want to be used by God, don't you?
And here's the point that Paul is making just because they're
in the house, doesn't mean that they're going to be used by the
Master of the House. I read that says.
Oh Lord please I don't want to just cruise to my life playing
Church, you need to do something about this in my own life.
And Paul elevates our perception.
And he wants us to view the church Through The Eyes of the
one who purchased the church. And it's as though he's saying
Christ sees his church, the global church as this Mansion of
glory. And as the master of this house,
that he uses that language later on in verse 21 as the master of
this house, he has great plans for this house.
He wants to invite people and host people in this house.
He wants to bless the community where this house is Park namely
on Earth and he wants to minister to people through this
house and he even wants to build room so that more people can
live in this house. And as he has these plans, he is
continually examining to see. Which vessels can I use to make
these goals possible? And which ones will I
overlooked? Which brings us to point number
two that although God has a house with vessels in.
It does not mean that every vessel will be used.
We should break our hearts at the thought but that Holy
standard is quickly met with a gracious invitation and it is
this that God has given all these vessels.
Equal opportunity to be used by him.
Verse 21. Therefore if anyone I love that
word, anyone. If anyone thirsts let him come
and drink, if anyone not a special class, not somebody
who's been a Christian for a certain amount of years, not a
certain person who's been gifted in a certain way.
If anyone, if anyone would hear this truth, the invitation is
open to everyone and anyone but listen, it's upon a condition.
So it's an open invitation, but there is a requirement that must
be honored and respected. Expected.
Just one, just one out of all the ones that you would think
that you would need to be used by almighty God Thrice.
Holy If anyone cleanses himself. From what is this?
Honorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use Are you
excited for that? Truth believer.
That God does not want you to jump through hoops.
God does not need some special talent.
God does not need some special wealth of knowledge that you
possess one thing. One thing God wants from one
person to be used from in great ways holiness.
Holiness. Now this this can conflict if we
do not have a balanced understanding of God's saving
work and a person's life, this is going to shock.
You, you ready? God saving work on the cross is
sufficient for salvation what he is imparted.
An imputed into US is all that is required for us to know
eternal life. but although the blood is the basis for our
holiness, You need to do something if you want to be used
by him. He didn't say if you are
cleanse, if you've been cleansed by the blood of Christ, you will
be set apart useful to the master of the house.
Ready for? He says cleanse yourself.
You must be able to make that decision for yourself.
There has to be an examination. There has to be a decision by
yourself through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the
empowerment of the Holy Spirit to say, I have to cleanse
myself. And here's the encouraging part,
you ready, you don't have to remain as a vessel of this honor
and God's house. You don't have to anticipate a
rebuke or discipline from the Lord like he did in the Book of
Revelation. With those churches, you don't
have to worry. One bit that God will Overlook
you when he wants to do something.
Glorious. In this dying generation.
You can position yourself to know for certain that because
I'm in a place where my heart longs to be cleansed from
anything that offends. My God, God will use me.
God will use me? and I think about, many servants
in the scriptures where God implements this truth, many week
vessels many vessels that seem insignificant in the eyes of
society at godstow recruited upon this one basis think of
Jeremiah I love the Prophet. Jeremiah, for many reasons.
Very honest, profit broken profit and this profit.
When we were introduced them in chapter, 1 of that glorious
book. We are told about his
hesitations to being recruited by God, to be a messenger.
The you remember, one of them was, I'm too young and the
second one is I can't speak. Are you sure you pick the right?
Jeremiah because people are not going to respect me for my age.
They're going to look at me says who's this kid?
And secondly they're going to hear me speak and they're going
to laugh and mock me because I don't have boldness and I don't
have the eloquence. Are you sure you have the right
Jeremiah and the wonderful thing about it is that God does not
use those things against Jeremiah God is that, you know
what? You're right, I thought you
spoke better. So I'm going to reconsider my
decision nor did he say, you know what I thought.
I didn't think about the fact that you were young, I don't
think I'm gonna be able to use you. no, such hesitation In
fact, he Comforts him. Don't say that you're too young
and whatever I tell you to speak, you shall speak.
So that should comfort us again, right?
We go to text like that, we use it with youth groups, your
young, God can still use you. So despite your ability, despite
your lack of experience, God is still willing to draw you in and
launch you out for his glory, but it's amazing because a few
chapters later. God, revisits Jeremiah And he
says, something very important that I think you need to see
it's in Jeremiah 15. Verse 19.
God speaks to this Prophet this Prophet who spoke on behalf of
God God speaks to this prophet in Jeremiah 1519.
Therefore thus says the Lord. If you return, I will restore
you hold on for a second. You know what he's doing?
He's asking Jeremiah to repent. The preacher who preached
repentance is now being called to repent.
Hey Jeremiah, you went out of the way if you return I will
restore you. Well, what did he what does he
need to return from? And you shall stand before me in
my service. If you utter, what is precious,
And not what is worthless you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you but you shall not turn to them.
Why is God saying this? You read the verses just before
this one, and Jeremiah just finished complaining and
accusing God of being a deceitful Brooke, the same.
Jeremiah who is declaring to his generation that this Lord is a
Fountain of Living Water. Has come to the conclusion at
one point in his ministry. In fact, you're not a Fountain
of Living Water. You're a deceitful Brooke.
You claim you claim to replenish you claim to give life.
In fact, what he's saying is you're not reliable.
You don't have the ability to strengthen me when I'm going
through these moments of Trials. So he is now charging.
God of unfaithfulness. The very same mouth.
That Jeremiah was worried would not be able to serve God.
Right? Is now being corrected by God,
not because of the ability. But because of the worthless
words that he was speaking, And God comes in and he says this,
Jeremiah, I was willing to call you though.
You thought you could not speak and I was willing to work with
that, but if you continue with these words, you will not be my
mouthpiece anymore. Proving what?
Again, it's not about skill being used by God, it's not
about experience holiness. Consecration a heart.
That's after Purity, a heart that flees from sin and embrace
his righteousness, one who is willing to continually sale or
whatever is of me that doesn't, please you remove it from my
life. And he goes on to say, they
shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.
This one's going to sting. So prepare yourself.
What's happening here? He's telling Jeremiah I want you
to know how to frame your life as you relate to other people.
And here it is. You as my messenger.
I will be pleased because you preach repentance.
If these fellow Israelites who are in compromise, listen to
that message and are now turning to me through your message, I
will be pleased with that. But Jeremiah, if because of your
association with others, if because of your environment, you
are being influenced by them, you will no longer stand before
me. In others.
What he's saying is, if you have elevated, the relationship of
those who are ungodly and in compromise and who do not fear
me and it, we were not asking what shall I do?
Lord, then you yourself will forfeit.
The very thing that I want you to do for my name sake.
Do you understand how serious that is?
Here's what I'm trying to say that God is so serious about
consecration that he is concerned about those in our
lives, that would contaminate our holiness.
Now again, this is a hard pill to swallow, but there is a
standard if God would want to use you.
In this life, you will pay a price.
You will you will have to say goodbye to some friendships.
If you want God to use you as a mouthpiece and God knows in this
generation, we need a mouthpiece.
We need a voice. We have many Echoes, we need
voices and not just do preachers but through churches and those
who represent Christ If they turn to you fine but if you turn
to them you're compromising your calling.
It doesn't mean that you can't hang out with your unbelieving.
Cousins at Thanksgiving. Take a breath every time I
preached on stuff like this. Like, can I go, can I say hi to
my coworker? Yes, you can say hi to your
coworker. I'm not talking about that.
I'm talking about the tug of war in this life.
That those you relate to, if they are pulling you towards
them and they're changing you from christlikeness, let go of
the Rope. But if you're pulling them, just
like what you said, Jeremiah and then let it be, let them be one
for Christ through your life. I'm talking about being used by
God. Oh, just because I'm a
Christian. God will use me wrong.
Oh, you're saved, but you'll be barely saved.
As Paul said, escaping fire when your works are judged.
I know this is a hard pill to swallow like I get it.
But God only needs one in a generation, so even if one
receives it, God can shake America.
If you don't believe what I'm saying about Jeremiah look what
Paul says back in second, Timothy 2 verse 22 because now
he he did this, he defines what it means to cleanse ourselves
like what does it mean to cleanse myself?
What does that actually look like?
And he describes it here in verse 22 and and would you
notice this that he's actually preaching to 2 Timothy before
congregation? He speaking to the man who was
pastoring this church? And this man should pass along
the message to those who Sitting in his ministry.
So he tells Timothy Paul tells Pastor Tim, so, flee, youthful,
Passions And pursue righteousness.
Faith, love and peace along. Here it is the same thing.
He told Jeremiah along with those who call on the Lord from
a pure heart. You know, if he says along with
those who call on the Lord period, it would be a different
thing. But, remember those who name the
name of the Lord must do, what depart from iniquity and so Paul
doesn't have the ungodly, the unbelieving, the refusing to
submit to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul has in mind, those who name The name of the Lord, but have
not departed from iniquity. This is what it means to cleanse
yourself. It doesn't mean that you just
stop doing certain things by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It means that you also pursue certain things.
It's not just, I don't do this, it's here's where my heart is
driven towards righteousness. Peace faith, when God sees a
man, when God sees a woman in such a condition, such a heart
posture, they make themselves. Recruitable for God's service,
and here's the wonderful thing. We read a back in verse 21, he
will be a vessel for honorable use Set apart as holy not
positionally in Christ, practically for Christ.
Set apart as holy useful to the Master of the House large house.
There's a Master of the House and he's looking continually for
vessels to recruit and it's the last part here that's striking
to me. Ready for every good work.
Meaning what? I can't come up here and tell
you if you cleanse yourself or if you pursue these things and
reject these things, God will use you in this way.
It doesn't mean that everybody in, here's gonna be a pastor, or
a missionary or evangelist, he says ready for every good work,
beyond the titles and the positions in the church, in your
workplace, in your family, every good work possible.
You'll be ready for and it's interesting.
He speaking about preparedness. You may not know what it is that
God will use you for, but God will use you when he wants to do
something. You probably remember this
growing up as I did that whenever we had guests coming
over, my mom would often has two siblings, her children to get
ready, the table, especially for occasions.
And we had this one cabinet with all the special vessels, the
plates, and the cups, and the cutlery.
And we would open it set up the table.
And these vessels were used for one thing to serve a particular
people. And one thing about those
vessels, one thing about that China set, one thing about those
plates and those cups. And those Cutlery, one thing I
knew they were locked and loaded.
Every time they weren't hanging around, they were in the
dishwasher staying there. No, they were there ready, they
were there. Ready for those wonderful
meetings with people and friends and family.
We haven't seen for a while. And that's what God is calling
his people to. Because the same way such
vessels are used to serve people.
God uses, holy people to bless people.
God uses a holy people to bless people.
And that's what he's looking for.
Continually And what's incredible for us to comprehend.
Is that we might hear such a message and feel more
intimidated and encouraged because we realize, if we're
honest with ourselves, there are things that we need to be
cleansed from, but I just don't have the power to do it.
I've tried to defeat this thing for years.
I realized that this is this honoring Christ.
I know that it's harming. My testimony fact.
It's so annoying and it's so paralyzing that I don't even
want to serve God because this thing is nodding at my soul.
Christ is not asking you to cleanse yourself in your own
strength. The Lord Jesus is not asking you
to purify yourself with your own power.
And there is a text in the Old Testament that proves that all
that God Longs for you to do is submit yourself in the hands of
the Potter. Would you turn to Malachi
chapter 3, please? Malachi 3.
We're told something about the
sons of Levi. Now coming up to this chapter,
there are skating, rebukes concern, the priest, and the
leadership of Israel, they were offering terrible sacrifices,
they were Unholy themselves. They were leading people astray
by their example, and by their teaching and is just rebuke
after rebuke, after rebuke for the leadership.
And finally and Malachi 3 verse 3, we read he being God will sit
as a refiner and purifier of silver.
And he will purify the sons of Levi, and refined them like,
gold and silver, then Impala, say, vessels of gold and silver.
Refined them like gold and silver and they will bring
offerings and righteousness to the Lord.
Who's doing the refining? Not you and not me.
God is doing the refining. And like what Jeremiah said, at
one point when God brought him to a Potter at a potter's wheel,
cannot I do to you what this Potter is doing with the clay.
I will guide your Sovereign. You can just take the clean.
Do what you want? No.
He's using that text as an example that yes you are clay
but you must submit yourself in the hands of the Potter.
Stop being stubborn, stop trying to do it in your own strength.
Something you have to strategize something, you have to do it in
the power of the Flesh and submit yourself.
And let God do his work. And you know what, I love about
this text that despite the record of rebellion of these
sons of Levi, God was still willing to cleanse them, not
cast them, cleanse them purify them, renew them, restore them.
And there's an interesting word in this verse, he will sit
there's sometimes I'm in a rush and when I eat, I stand, Hi, my
jacket on. I my keys in my on one hand and
I'm eating because I'm going to rush, I'm not focused.
Sometimes I miss my mouth, I need to get to my next place and
so I'm standing so that once I finish what I think is enough, I
run to my car so I can move on. God does not stand when he
refines us. He sits he's patient.
He's focused. He's very much dedicated to this
work. He's very much willing and
wanting to take his time, his energy, if he had energy to
waste his Focus, to take those who are willing to be cleansed
and for him to cleanse. And although he has creative
ways of refining you and me, does he not That joke that
people often say God give me patience and give it to me now
it's not how it works. Yes, God by the spirit can
Infuse within you a strength to overcome certain things in the
moment and I believe he does that specifically with sins of
the flesh, sins of the spirit. He can he can wipe it away, but
when it comes to character and attitude, oh, he finds creative
ways of refining you. He takes you through trials, he
lets you be burned, he takes you through circumstances, in which
you, you are dependent upon God, less you act out in the flesh.
And so, if you're going through a trial, fiery trial, know this,
he's refining. You and know this.
He's refining you so that he can use you.
He wants to use you. He's so longing to use his
people. For many reasons, God can do a
lot of things in his own, he can do all things on his own.
But you know what, he wants more Glory by you keep using week
vessels and showing his perfect strength through them.
And so he's looking for those vessels and he sits and he's
patient. You know what this shows me God
is Not Looking for instantaneous change.
You're not a candidate to be used by God, just because you
had a perfect week and then you lose that qualification because
you had a bad day. No, he sits and he doesn't just
refine you. And then once you're finished,
he uses you, he uses you as he refines you.
And so, I slip and I fall forward, and I reacted, in a way
that somebody shouldn't react, who claims to know, Christ, does
God disqualify me, know, he refines me further.
He brings me to my knees when I was at work and I showed
something that didn't represent him, he brings me to my knees
when I was in the father or the husband that I was called to be
in Light of Christ. And he refines me and he refines
you, the concern for this hour, as I bring forth this message to
you is the concern of ezekiel's day.
When the prophet was told by God and I sought for a man among
them I saw for a man among them who would stand in the gap.
That I would not destroy the land, but I found none.
But I found none. Meaning what I did not find the
vessels of gold and silver that I was needing to do a work in
this generation. And I pray that your life, my
life would be consecrated unto the Lord so that when he is
ready to do a great work, he will find a church ready to be
used. Can I give you one more hint
before we close ready for every good work?
Would you like another practical hint of how you can be ready for
every good? Was that phrase sound familiar?
Go back to 2nd Timothy please and will close here.
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself verse 21 from what is
dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use set
apart as holy useful to the master of the house, ready for
every good work. Go to 2nd, Timothy 3:16 All
scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for
reproof for correction, and for training in righteousness.
That the man of God, may be complete equipped for every good
work. You want to be a vessel that God
would use. I don't know how he's going to
use you. I don't know what he has planned
for you. My main goal in this message.
Today's for one thing for you to just be ready, if you want to
ready yourself. No, the scriptures.
Know the scriptures know, the will of God absorb the the word
of God examine your life and light of the word of God,
because the word of God equips us for every good work and God
is looking for vessels for every good work.
Brothers and sisters, I hope and my prayer over this message, as
it is declared to you today. Is that you would leave here
more excited. Than burdened that, you would
realize that it's available for all of us, but there's one
condition, Holiness unto the Lord.
May God be with us, let's pray. Lord, we come before you.
And we thank you that you do not require the strength of the
flesh, the wisdom of this world. The stature of a certain frame
of physical bodies. Lord, but you require one thing
a willingness to be cleansed by the refinery Lord, you know, in
this place who needs to be cleansed and we all needed.
Oh God continually. But for those who have perhaps
holding onto certain things that they know are dishonorable, We
pray and ask that they were not be one soul that represents this
ministry that would be within the house but not ready for
God's use. We want to be used for every
good work, whatever you have in mind Lord.
We pray that you would peek into this room of your great large
house and find every vessel ready for the plans in the
programs that you have for this generation. and we asked so God
that you would wash over us purify, our hearts may we be
like gold Lord. If there are those like in the
book of Lamentations who have lost that glow, who have grown
dim, who have been covered by certain things, that makes them
a different person. Altogether, a contradiction to
their convictions, Lord wash us, a fresh wash us and mind and
word, and deed cleanse us from within We asked, oh, God, that
this would create a hunger in our hearts, as, it wasn't Paul.
What shall I do? Lord what, what do you have for
me in this life? What do you have for me as a
husband? As a father as a wife as a
mother? What do you have for me?
As a single person? What do you have for me as a
student? What do you have for me?
As somebody who's working a nine-to-five?
What do you have for me? What shall I do?
Lord May that be our Perpetual plea and may you be pleased to
answer it because there's no Greater Joy in this life than to
know you first and then to be used by you as you see fit low,
we submit ourselves to you in this place.
Cleanse us afresh. In your name, we pray.
Amen. You don't have to stand.
If you don't want to, you can stand, if you want to.
I Really in the next few moments, I really would love for
us to apply this immediately. Put your hands in the hands of
the great refinery. And here's the encouraging thing
about the grace of God, listen if you're not even asking that
question, if you're not even concerned about you being used
by God, if you're finding a greater thrill and a promotion
and your retirement plan, there's nothing wrong with those
things. But if there's no what shall I
do in your mind in your daydreaming, in your nights,
laying your head, on that pillow, if you're not asking
that question, God is so gracious enough to birth that in
you. You can ask him saying God, I
don't know why it is but I'm not even craving this.
I need you to do something in my soul.
How is it that I can be born of your spirit and not crave to be
used by you do something in me and God will do it and listen to
how he'll do it in many ways you can.
But one thing he will certainly do is all the things that you
thought you would find pleasure and will grow strangely dim And
now you begin to get bored by things that thrilled.
You trivial things will become even more trivial, and you think
to yourself, I have nothing to live for except for Christ.
Entertainment won't be much entertainment.
I'm not against entertainment, but I'm a fan of the joy.
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit Will.
So impart something in you that you will be wholly dissatisfied
and God will do something with you.
He will place his Spirit upon you.
He will place a fragrance on your heel.
Anoint you in a way in which you will do great things for his
kingdom. It may not be recognized and may
not be recorded, but I'll tell you, this, it will be recognized
one day. And it will bless people and it
will change their lives. This is the Cry of Christ this
morning, not just here but I believe all across the world
where are those who are willing to cleanse themselves?
Where those who are willing to pay the price, it's not really
much of a price. Is it let go of the things that
destroy your soul? Anyway, And embrace Holiness,
pursue righteousness, peace, faith, and love.
If you want a motivation for Holiness.
Yes, please Christ. But you want to know something?
You have every right to want to be holy because you want to be
used by God. In fact, a true, holy servant
will continually examine their words, their decisions there
meditations, where their eyes go to with their hands do for this
sole purpose. God, I don't want anything to
interfere with your Holy Spirit, anointing me and empowering me,
and using me, whatever it is that I need to let go of.
So that when people hear me, they hear Christ.
And when they see me, they see Christ, let it be.
So, I want the power of God on my life.
I want people to be able to Since the Holiness and the love
of Christ through my life. And so give me the grace to let
go of whatever I needed to let go of.
So that your Holy Spirit can radiate from my heart.
Unfortunately, in many places, many institutions, many churches
were just satisfied with being in the house.
But not being used by the Master of the House.
May God protect us from such a false ambition.
If you need to stay seated, pray to your God.
If you want to stand and worship worship your God, but we're not
going to rush out of here. We want to make sure that we do
business with God, Amen. Spend time with the Lord.
We're going to worship together and you will be dismissed.
Whenever you're ready.