"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal; the Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth 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 honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." 2 Timothy 2: 19-21
INTRODUCTION
The word ‘vessel’ literally means a person as a container of qualities or feeling; that is, a loaded container, a container with content or deposit. No vessel is created for the sake of emptiness; all vessels are formed to hold something.
EXPOSITION
We need to get the understanding that when we are talking about Vessel, we are talking about an instrument formed to serve a purpose, and this instrument might have been chosen before its creation or raised and trained along the line. In relation to this Bible passage, the vessels mentioned is about God and mankind which can be likened to a creator and his creature, or a potter and his pitchers. When the Potter moulds, He may mould a vessel for the use of holding flowers or for the sake of cooking, each one of them is molded to serve a purpose. And this purpose they served placed them into different location in the great house; one for ordinary use and another for special use. What spelt their royalties and honour is not how they were made or what they were made of, but the purpose they chose to fulfill. As a man created by God, it is your stand with Him that will advertise your category, either as a vessel unto honour or otherwise.
In a well furnished kitchen, there are dishes made of gold and silver, also there are waste bin and compost bucket. One thing so similar between them is that they are all kitchen utensils, but serve different purpose. The honour of one when compared to the other is what defines the capacity of their special treat. This special treat don't just come, it is graced by our standing. Every treat given to a man is always equivalent to his status which is guaranteed by his stature, and what determines the stature is how he stands, that is his posture. Physically, you may earn honour by cheating, bribing, or any other means, but in spiritual dealings; our posture in the great house is what classify our treat. King David make it cleared that we are categorised as blessed or cursed, honoured or dishonoured by our standing "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." Psalms 1:1.
There have been misconceptions and arguments about this bible reading, 2 Timothy 2: 20-21 and its cross reference of Romans 9 over the years. This has been chosen by some to source division in the Christendom. Where some had spoken of eternal life through predestination, some says salvation cannot be lose and many other theories and doctrine where fashoined, but through this teaching we are going to speak on what brings honour from three different categories: by works, predestination or inheritance and by grace. Hallelujah!
I am so happy teaching this topic, because it is going to clear some misrepresentation, and of which I know that it will either leads to many conviction or questions, which I guarantee that the source of inspiration to this writing will attend to it all, if there is someone who is lowly in heart and ready to learn. Vessel unto Honour, honour just don't come, it comes with a price. Even though you inherited it, it also takes a price to maintain it, or maybe you were chosen and trained, it also takes a price to sustain it. That gold dishes in a well-furnished kitchen as passed through intense fire, same thing with the pitcher which as go through kiln.
Many are honoured because people recognized their importance, value or worthiness, because their impact is felt, or heroism is obviously seen. This is the category of those who earn their honour. Naturally, they don't deserve it, they were not chosen for it, but they work it out. These are the people that were honoured with medals, awards, scholarships and the like as per the results of their inputs and output of their works, merely speaking from the physical level.
The second categories are those who earned it, not by works but were naturally gifted by inheritance or predestination: THE ROYALTIES (kings, queens, princes) and PEOPLE IN POWER (Government, immediate boss or general manager, ones master) OR POSITION (parents, elder or eldest member of a family), those with highly recognized status (pastors).
The third category, you may not deserve honour by inheritance, works or naturally gifted but being chosen by grace, God speaks in the book of Hosea, "I will call nobodies and make them somebodies; I will call the unloved and make them beloved." This is where grace speaks; this is the point of inheriting unmerited honour. Peter the fisherman, when he meant with Jesus said to Him "leave me Lord, for I am a vessel with no great purpose and of dishonour" all because he was a sinner, but Jesus answered, "don't worry dear, I have chosen you to make you a vessel unto honour"
I am a vessel unto honour, but don't really know about you. There is this popular saying that if you don't know who you are, you will be called whom you are not. Many lives are in their state of confusions and walking towards condemnations, because they failed to know, either the truth about themselves or admit it. Apostle Paul became principal over principalities because he understood the power in identification and activated it.
Do you know that the woman with the issue of blood was not in the agenda for that day healing, when she got herself made whole by rushing to the crowd to actualize her determination, touching the helm of Jesus’ garment? It was Zaccheaus that struggled; he left all to seek Jesus. Tabitha who is also known as Dorcas was revived because of her good deeds and lastly, let me say of the Canaanite woman whom Jesus speaks of her great faith, she never deserved the healing blessings for her daughter but she worked it out through perseverance, endurance, tolerance, patient and firm faith before she earned it at that very same hour; your faith becomes great because your works is noticeable.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2: 8- 10. This verse speaks of two works and says, one is approved while the other is not. Listen, it is not of your work, but unto good works done by regenerated souls. Your works might seem responsible, but I tell you today that any work done by soul not being under the government of light is a dead sacrifice. It is this good works in Christ Jesus that will propel us to shine forth our light as the light of the world and flavour the earth as the salt of the earth. This is also the work of professing, proclaiming and witnessing. I want us to know that there are good works and dead works and this is what paints one to either be a vessel unto honour or dishonour. They are both working, they are both vessels, but something popped up and tagged them with differences. A man of God once said, you can be doing evangelism, singing praise in the choir department, you could be the head of Bible unit and yet your works are dead works, plainly unto dishonour. Some have started well but along the line got exhausted of doing good works, they won't be honoured. Some of these sects are the people Apostles Paul spoke about in the verse seventeen of our Bible passage, Hymenaeus and Philetus.
Jesus spoke of a prophesy that many would have worked so hard, many will labour, but their works are dead because of their iniquities, and such sect are not meant to be honoured. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7: 22-23. Your works might be wondrous and great but might not earn you honour. Jesus never answered those who will be complaining that they had lied; for being identified to the church, or being actually renowned prophets, workers of miracles or deliverance minister. But one thing about them is that, they are denied of being honoured, for they have defiled themselves. Sanctification proceeds honour, Remember that the pearls are not meant for the swine, neither is the Holy things meant for the dogs.
It is quite possible to be all punctual in every activity and be fully committed to the work of God and yet being counted as dead works. It is not all about being busying for God, but busying with Him; working for Him without walking with Him is a waste. This explains the differences between intimacy and activities. Today's church needs to be careful. " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.." Romans 12:1. This verse made us to understand when you are conformed to the world system you become a dead sacrifice, which is of no use and disapproved our acceptance before God. No matter the stress taken, insult absolved, endurance and tolerance while working in the vineyard, it doesn't count, what matter is the total commitment of our whole being, surrendering all withholding nothing.
Who determines the vessel you will be is yourself, either unto honour or dishonor. "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." 2 Timothy 2:21.