Dear all, welcome to The Nathan Report!
Such a beautiful day, we have so many guests at our Church today. Before I start with the service, I like to share this beautiful photo-verse:
We all started off with praise and worship, here is today's playlist.
1) Everything that has breath - Hillsong United
2) Bigger than any mountain - Bill and Gloria Gaither
3) Leaning on the everlasting arms = Bill and Gloria Gaither
4) Majesty - Jack W. Hayford
Pleasant session ended with a beautiful prayer. We have offerings and announcements coming up.
- Yesterday, GLTC graduation service went very well, thanks for all your prayers.
- People who would like to volunteer for Jaipur trip, can speak with Church officials.
Today we have guest Pastors from various parts of Maharashtra and today's message is delivered by Dr. Rev. Rajamani from Madurai. Below is one of the photograph:
Today's topic is "We all are vessels in the house of God".
References:
2 Timothy 2:21-22, "21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart."
Luke 15:16, "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him."
By these words is meant the execution of the matter, and not the cause: for in that we purge ourselves, it is not to be attributed to any free will that is in us, but to God, who freely and wholly works in us, a good and an effectual will.
All of God’s people are a vessel of some kind. We are either a vessel that brings honor to Him, or we are a vessel that dishonors His name. Which kind of vessel are you? Paul teaches us what God expects of each of us in his instructions to Timothy, a young minister of the Lord. We need to apply this teaching to our lives to help us become a VESSEL FOR GOD’S USE.
Notice that Paul tells Timothy that there are in every great house two kinds of vessels--“gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.”
Illustration: Most of us have some special dishes and silverware that we use only for special occasions. These are those china plates, sterling silver, and crystal glasses we use only when we have company. We use our everyday plates, and jelly glasses at other times.
Paul says that God knows those who are His. God has chosen His people to serve Him. We are to depart from iniquity. We would not serve Him out of the ordinary vessels. How can we offer to Him lives filled with iniquity?
In this, and every church there are two kinds of Christians--those who bring honor to the name of Jesus (gold or silver), and those who bring dishonor to the name of Jesus (wood or earth).
God would honor three kinds of vessels:
1. Sanctified & Purified Vessel
Four things that would sanctify us:
a) Blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7).
b) Word of God and obedience to His word (John 15:3).
c) Holy Spirit (2 Thessalonian 2:13)
d) Prayer and word (1 Peter 4:5)
1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."
John 15:3, "Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you."
2 Thessalonian 2:13, "But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth."
1 Peter 4:5, "But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
2. Useful Vessel
- Are we useful to God?
- We buy many things to use, Jesus bought us with His blood so that we could be used for God.
- Are we customer or Partner in the Church?
- What kind of part you have in the church?
We should be a useful Vessel for God.
How can I be a part?
- Pray.
- Giving.
- Bringing new souls.
- Using talents and gifts (Matthew 25)
- Sharing administrative tasks.
3. Prepared for every good work available for God.
- David was available to kill Goliath.
- Samson was available.
- The boy among 5000 people who had fish and bread was available.
We need to love our church and be useful. Not like the pillars that do not move, but very active. At the same time we need to be very active praying for our church, government, families and nations as well.
There are two types of vessels for our Master to use
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.
A. Great house = whole estate or group – in this context it refers to the body of believers
B. Vessel = A container, or a person held to be the recipient of something
1. There are vessels of dishonor – fit only for some tasks
2. There are vessels of honor fit for all tasks
C. 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.
1. Must be cleansed
Psalm 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.
2. Must be sanctified – set apart
3. Must be prepared = useful – for every good work
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.
A. Flee youthful lusts
1 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;
B. Follow good things
1. Righteousness = being right
3 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.
2. Faith = firm persuasion
1 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.
3. Charity = agape love
1 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,it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
4. Peace = harmonious relationship
James 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.
5. Follow others that do right
Hebrews 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.
We must purge our external relationships in order to be fit for the Master’s use
A. Avoid foolish questions
2 Timothy 2:23 - But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
1. Foolish = "moros" – morally worthless
2. These questions gender strifes
a. Gender = bring forth
b. Strife = fighting, discord, contention, dissention
1 Timothy 6:3-5 - 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
3. Seek edification, not pointless 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.
B. God’s servant must not strive
2 Timothy 2:24 - And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
1. This is a command, not merely advice
2. We do not need to rely on fleshly means to try and accomplish a spiritual outcome
2 Corinthians 10:14 - For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
James 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.
James 1:20 - For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
3. We must be gentle and humble, like Christ
Philippians 2:3-7 - 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
4. We must teach, not argue
5. We must be patient = forbearing and enduring
C. We must instruct with meekness
2 Timothy 2:25-26 - 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
1. We must be meek = tender and patient
Matthew 11:29-30 - 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
2. We must recognize that those who embrace error actually oppose themselves
Galatians 6:1 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Jeremiah 13:15-17 - 15 Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken. 16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. 17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’S flock is carried away captive.
3. The goal of this meek instruction is restoration
a. God may grant repentance
Zechariah 4:6 - Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
b. As they repent, they can recover from the Devil’s snare
Acts 5:13 - And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
And we move to the closure.
If you wish yourself to be used as a vessel for God, we encourage all of you to say this prayer with us:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for today. Thank you for the air in my lungs and the beat in my heart. I lay myself down and ask that you would lead me. Holy Spirit I yield to you. May you use me as a vessel for your glory, so that your will may be done. I lift up my family and all families to you. Please protect our families, friends, church and strengthen them. Help us use our past experiences and the wisdom you have given to teach others on the journey. Inspire us to support each other and to seek you daily in Jesus’ name..
AMEN!
We hope you enjoyed this service. We will see you again, next Sunday. God Bless!
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