The Master’s Vessel!

The Apostle Paul writes like this in 2 Timothy 2:20-21 – “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. 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.”

The context tells us that this personal instruction came to Timothy from the Apostle Paul who was in prison. It was a great joy for Paul to see Timothy grow as a young Pastor/Leader in the Church at Ephesus. He encourages him in many ways but warns him of false teachers and that he should not be intimidated by them…Rather, he should confront them and rebuke them.

This is the background in which 2 Timothy2:20-21 is written! Let us look at THREE VALUABLE INSIGHTS:

I. THE MASTER

Paul reminds us here…We don’t serve an institution, people or an organization…we may be affiliated or attached to it but…WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE THE MASTER! In the New Testament Jesus was referred to as ‘MASTER’ on many occasions. The common use of this title rendered ‘Rabbi’ or ‘Teacher’ – One who teaches concerning the things of God and the duties of man! But this word ‘MASTER’ is so rich in its usage…it also expresses ‘LORDSHIP’!

When Paul tells Timothy in verse 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…” The ‘large house’ is a metaphor of ‘The Church…the family of God’! We must never forget that JESUS IS THE LORD AND MASTER OF THE INVISIBLE CHURCH!

The truth is…BEFORE JESUS USES US AS HIS VESSELS…OUR TONGUES MUST CONFESS THAT HE IS OUR MASTER…OUR KNEES MUST BOW TO HIS LORDSHIP…OUR HEARTS MUST LOVE HIM AND HIM ALONE!

The Psalmist in Psalms 73:25 writes, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” Precious ones…DOES YOUR HEART DESIRE FOR JESUS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE? Jesus made this very clear…YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND THE WORLD AT THE SAME TIME! THERE MUST BE AN ABSOLUTE SURRENDER TO JESUS! As someone said, JESUS MUST NOT ONLY BE RESIDENT IN YOUR LIFE BUT HE MUST BE THE PRESIDENT OF YOUR LIFE! The question is…DOES JESUS HAVE EVERYTHING OF US? or Are we holding back something from our MASTER AND LORD? Here is the truth…EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS IN JESUS…DON’T LOOK ELSEWHERE!

II. THE MESSAGE

Paul’s message to Timothy is loud & clear. As God’s children and servants called by him…God wants us to LIVE A LIFE THAT HONOURS HIM! Let our life in the sight of God be PURE AND BLAMELESS! Paul in 2 Timothy 2:19 says, “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.”

Paul reminds Timothy that for him and others to be useful to the Master, they need to walk in righteousness! The message is very clear: GOD ISN’T GOING TO USE UNRIGHTEOUS PEOPLE FOR HIS WORK! King David had to cry out to God like this in Psalms 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Paul’s exhortation in verse 21 makes it clear too – “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

GOD CANNOT USE ANY OTHER VESSELS BUT ONLY VESSELS OF HONOUR FOR HIS GLORY! Let us allow him to MAKE US INTO AN VESSEL OF HONOUR! To live a life that honours Jesus…we must daily crucify ourselves to Christ. Listen to Paul in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:26&27 to be RUTHLESS AND HARD ON OURSELVES – “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Precious ones…whenever the enemy/temptation tries to make inroads into our lives…Let us be RUTHLESS/HARD ON OURSELVES! We must ‘STAY PURE’ in Christ! How can our heart and life be kept pure? By staying connected to GOD’S PRESENCE AND HIS WORD! May our hearts cry be like that of the Psalmist in Psalms 27:4, “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

III. THE MANDATE!

Paul makes God’s heart very clear in verse 21 – GOD WANTS TO USE US! Listen to Paul’s exhortation as to how God looks upon us: “…instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Precious ones…God does not want us to ‘STAGNATE’ but to ‘SERVE’ him! The purpose of us being the Master’s Vessel is to serve and bless people! When Jesus encountered Saul on the road to Damascus, Saul’s life was totally changed. This is what Jesus had to say about Paul to Ananias in Acts 9:15 – “But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:”

As a chosen vessel…the Apostle Paul served Jesus till his last breath! The Apostle Paul was UNSTOPPABLE WHEN IT CAME TO THE MANDATE OF GOD…WHEN IT CAME TO SERVING GOD!

Illustration: Playwright George Bernard Shaw was playing the “What If?” game with some friends shortly before he died. Mr. Shaw was asked, “If you could live your life over and be anybody you’ve ever known, or any person from history, who would you choose to be?” Mr. Shaw’s reply was, “I would choose to be the man George Bernard Shaw could have been, but never was.”

Have we ever thought about what we could be if we would only surrender to God’s purpose and power? As THE MASTER’S VESSEL…we are not called to be a ‘SHOW-PIECE’ but go out to ‘MAKE HIM KNOWN’! The Master is looking for vessels he can fill with his love, grace and compassion to reach out to our hurting world…that is why we are here on planet earth!

Precious ones…As God’s vessel…Let GOD POUR IN YOU SO YOU CAN POUR INTO OTHERS! TELL THE MASTER…I AM YOUR VESSEL…USE ME FOR YOUR GLORY! Remember…YOU ARE A CHOSEN VESSEL FOR THE MASTER! Be faithful to your calling!

God bless you!