Vessels fit for the Master’s Use

2 Tim. 2:15-21

Lord, please use me!

Isaiah…Lord, Here am I, send me. Isa. 6:8

Ananias. The Lord hath sent me..Acts 22:14

Dorcas. Acts 9:26 She hath done what she could

Are you fit to be used?

• Our lives are short and fragile. Jas.4:13-14• Life is Fragile: Handle with care!

• Riches pass…

• Personal pleasure becomes empty.

• The only thing that will truly outlive me is• the way in which I impact the world for Jesus

Christ. Gal. 2:20

The Devil’s work

• 1. He wants to distract you

• 2. He wants to discourage you

• 3. He wants to discredit you—

• He wants to render you silent and

• ineffective as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

• How effective is he with you and me?

His strategy• Mix false teaching in with true teaching.

• We must KNOW the truth and adhere to

• It. John 8:32; Prov. 23:23

• Otherwise, we are not ‘fit for the kingdom of God”!

Can God use you in yourpresent condition?

•“Are you fit (suitable, useable) for the kingdom of God.? (Lk. 9:62)

In our text, we note:

•The foundation upon which our salvation rests is unshakable!

• 2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity

2 Tim. 2:16-18• Even though there are false teachers out there•

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Jesus is the foundation of our faith

• Isaiah 28:16 - Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 - 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

We can go to this truth for comfort

•Hebrews 6:18-19 - 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

• Romans 11:2 - God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel,

Are we fit for the kingdom of God..NO if we do not depart from evil…and

• Psalm 34:14 - Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 37:27 - Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

Proverbs 3:7 - Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Galatians 5:24 - And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

There are 2 types of vessels mentioned here:

• 2 Timothy 2:20 - 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 honour, and some to dishonour.

..Great house = whole estate or group – in this context it refers to the body of believers

• …. Vessel = A container, or a person held to be the recipient of something

1. There are vessels of dishonor – fit only for some tasks2. There are vessels of honor fit for all tasks

. In order to be used as a vessel of honor, one must purge himself2 Timothy 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

Paul makes one thing veryclear to all of us:

• In order to be used as a vessel of honor, one must purge himself

• 2 Timothy 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

• How many of us are not fit for the kingdom of God because we won’t clean up our vessels!

Vessel: of honor,sanctified(set apart) and meet (suitable)

• He shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Must be cleansedPsalm 119:9-11 - 9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

. Must be sanctified – set apart John 17:17

. Must be prepared = useful – for every good work • Amos 4:12 O Israel, prepare to meet thy God• Matt. 25:1-10 5 wise/5 foolish…5 were fit, because they had • Prepared themselves.! • Have you? Are you fit for the kingdom of God?

Have you purged your innerman? Are you fit for His use?

• We must purge our inner man in order to be vessels fit for the Master’s use 2 Timothy 2:22 - Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Flee youthful lusts1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.1 Peter 2:11 - Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

Follow good things

• Righteousness = being right3 John 11 - Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Faith = firm persuasion1 Corinthians 13:11-13 - 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

• Charity = love1 Corinthians 13:1-4 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity,

• Peace = harmonious relationshipJames 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Follow others that do rightHebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Seek Edification, notpointless rambling!!

•1 Timothy 1:4 - Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Titus 3:9 - But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

1 Timothy 4:7 - But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Are you a vessel unto honor…Are you fit for the kingdom of God?

• My half dozen questions:• 1. How can you worship with the saints if you

don’t participate when here…or you• Just don’t come! (John 4:23,24)• 2. How can you be an elder of the church• If you don’t even know the church? (Acts 20:28)• 3. How can you preach as a preacher of the

gospel, if you don’t know the gospel• to preach? (Rom. 1:16)

• 4. How can you beg others to follow you

• If you don’t follow Christ.? I Cor. 11:1

• 5. How can you hope to be in Heaven,

• If you are not even in his kingdom on

• Earth? (Col. 1:13)

• 6. Are you, am I, fit for the kingdom of God?

• I Cor. 15:58

• James 2:24