BECOMING A Vessel of Honor

SET APART FOR NOBLE PURPOSES

2nd Timothy 2. 

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, (Vessel of Honor)

 made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Vessel: 

• A hollow utensil used to hold something, such as a cup, bowl, pitcher, or vase. 

The value of a Vessel depends on its purpose/use as assigned by the owner (master)

The value of a Vessel can also be derived from its content/what it carries. 

This is what makes it: 

• A Vessel of Honor (Special and Uncommon) – Set Apart for Noble Purposes 

or

• A Vessels of Dishonor (Ordinary and Common) – Used for every other purpose. 

Quote: All vessels are hollow, but some are not. – Timothy Nyamgero 

The making of a Vessel of Honor – A call to Training and Discipline 

• Vessels of Honor are made and Equipped by God through training and discipline 

2nd Timothy 2:1-7 

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 

3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 

4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 

5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 

6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 

7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

The value of a Vessel of Honor – A call to Distinction and Competence 

14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. 

Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 

16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 

17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 

18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 

19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” 

and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 

21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, 

• made holy, 

• useful to the Master and 

• prepared to do any good work.

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and 

pursue 

• righteousness, 

• faith, 

• love and 

peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 

24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 

25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

SERVING GOD AS A VESSEL OF HONOR

1. Who Qualifies to Serve God? 

2. How are the Qualified equipped for Effective Service? 

3. What makes one a Vessels of Honor?

1. Who Qualifies to Serve God?

Just like in the military or in athletics as Paul paints it, the process of service begins with Qualification. 

People are tested and declared either fit or unfit for the kind of service they enrol for. 

The Big Question at this stage is not how Qualified you are to Serve but whether you will qualify for admission. 

The reason why it is not so much about how qualified one is because once you are admitted, service begins with training. You will be trained and equipped for service. 

Paul mentions in Ephesian 2:8 what it takes to qualify for Christian Service. 

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Who Qualifies to Serve God? – Those who are saved by Grace though faith in Christ Jesus.  

Not so much effort is put in Qualifying for Christian Service like we do today in seeking for admission into KDF or any other Disciplined force. 

This is because participants are not qualified based on Merit but by Grace though faith in Christ Jesus. This however does not mean they don’t have a role to play. We will be looking at that as we answer the next Question.  

2. How are the Qualified equipped for Effective Service? 

Qualification into Christianity opens us up to Spiritual Blessings and realities that equip us for Effective Service. 

In Paul’s teaching he raises key things that characterize the lives of those who qualify for Christian Service. 

1. Training – Being Equipped

2. Discipline and Consistency – Applying what you have been trained to do consistently in the right way. 

3. Distinction and Competence – The Quality of service that comes with excellence and transformational impact. What Paul calls Good Works. 

Training for Discipline, Consistency and Competence with Distinction. 

As a young man seeking for wisdom and guidance for Christian service. Paul, with the help of God took up the responsibility to train and equip Timothy with the necessary skills, disciplines and character that would present Him as an approved workman. Qualified and Competent in Christian Service which Paul commonly referred to as Good Works. 

Just like any other training, Training for Christian Service has these four mandatory components. 

1. Trainer 

2. Curriculum 

3. Manual

4. Graduation 

1. Trainer – God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

   1. God plays a central role in our training. 

   2. He is the one who equips us with everything good for doing His will. Hebrews 12:20-21, 2nd Timothy 2:21

He also works in us what is pleasing to him through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit which lives in us. 

Those who yield to God’s training and moulding are eventually equipped to serve Him and bear good fruit and good works. 

Hebrews 13:20-21

May the God of Peace…equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ. 

2. Curriculum – The Race marked out for Us. 

3. Life in Christ 

4. Our Daily Walk with Christ 

5. The opportunities to serve God on earth. 

6. Paul likens our curriculum in the School of being equipped for service to a race.

7. He uses the analogy of a well trained athlete who has learnt how to compete according to the rules to the rules to emphasize on the value of training for effective service. 

8. The Race we are called to run is one that requires diligence and perseverance. 

9. This is because our service will face opposition from Satan. 

10. Choosing God as you master and giving your self to his service makes you an enemy to your former boss Satan. 

11. When you face opposition and trials in service, please don’t give up. Don’t drop off from this noble training. Find strength in the grace that is in Christ Jesus as mentioned in 2nd Tim 2:1. 

12. These are realities that Paul warned Timothy to expect and be equipped to face in the last days. 

2nd Timothy 3:10-14 

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a] you learned it

2nd Timothy 2:3-7 

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 

5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 

7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Hebrews 12:1 & 2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. Manual – The Bible (God’s Word/Scripture)

4. The Bible is our Training Manual. Both for content and reference. 

5. It is our Guide and Standard both on policy and practice in our Christian Training and Service.  

6. Paul calls Timothy to embrace God’s Word in His Christian Service.

7. He emphasizes on the Centrality of God’s Word in training and Service. 

2nd Timothy 2:15 

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[c] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 

2nd Timothy 3:16- 17 

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for 

• teaching, for 

• reproof, for 

• correction, and for 

• training in righteousness, 

17 that the man of God[b] may be complete, equipped for every good work.

• Those who embrace God’s word and draw their principles for service from it become competent and effective in their service to God. Their labor produces a harvest of good works, and they bear good fruit. 

• They are likened to a hardworking farmer. They are the first to receive a share of their crops. 

4. Graduation – The Price/Crown/Heavenly reward 

In anticipation for Graduation, God presents an approved worker/ Servant who is: 

1. Well trained and equipped for Every good work. 

2. Fixed their eyes on Jesus the perfector of their faith. 

3. Looking forward to the ultimate heavenly reward and not men’s applause, recognition or even material gain. 

4. Disciplined, Consistent and Competent in their service to God and His people. This causes them to have great impact and experience transformation both in their personal lives and in their service. 

3. What makes one a Vessels of Honor?

The greatest fulfilment of our Christian Service is the Nobility and Honor that comes with it. 

The fact that we are considered worthy to serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords gives us great joy and contentment.

It gives us an a unique identity and Vessels of Honor. 

Our nobility is not just drawn from what we do but also who we serve. 

I invite you today to respond to God’s Word by making this noble Choice as highlighted in 2nd Timothy 2:20-21. 

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

God’s call to serve Him is a call to Distinction. 

He calls us first to be Set Apart As Vessels of Honor the to be Equipped for Good works. 

I call us to respond to God’s word today by offering ourselves to be Vessels of Honor and Instruments for noble purposes. Who will serve with humility and wait to be served. 

Hymn - Stand up, stand up for Jesus

Stand up, stand up for Jesus ye soldiers of the cross; lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From vict'ry unto vict'ry his army he shall lead till ev'ry foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey; forth to the mighty conflictin this his glorious day. Ye that are men now serve him against unnumbered foes; let courage rise with danger and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in his strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own. Put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer; where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long; this day the noise of battle, the next, the victor's song. To him that overcome tha crown of life shall be; he with the King of glory shall reign eternally.