A Vessel Fit for His Purposes

26 April 2009
Speaker: Ps Barnabas Boon
Text: 2 Timothy 2:15-26

In our quest to please God, we need to ask these questions: “How can we obtain his approval as workmen for the Lord? What should we do in order to win his approval for our lives? How can we be fit vessels for his purposes?"

2 Timothy 2:15-26 teaches us that in order to be fit vessels we must satisfy three conditions. They are:

• A vessel fit for God (15-19)
• A vessel fit for oneself (16-22)
• A vessel fit for others (22-26)

A vessel fit for God

In order to be a vessel fit for God, we must first gain his approval (15a). There is a need for us to cultivate a lifestyle that gains the approval of God. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved (15a). To be one approved of God, one must be one who is loved and accepted by God. Our one aim is to seek for his approval. He is the father who would approve of our conduct and our behaviour. Our actions are to be geared so that we will please him and him alone. How can we know what is pleasing to God? The answer is to read the bible. It contains all that is sufficient for us to win his approval.

Secondly, we must be his people and gladly bear his name and mark. (19c). We must seek to cultivate a lifestyle that honors his name. “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness”19Nevertheless, 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." His name is the basis of God’s approval over our lives. There is no other name except that of Jesus that we are saved. (Acts 4:12…And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, which is given among men, wherein we must be saved.). Also, we must turn away from wickedness. If we confess and is branded with his mark which is his name, then it is imperative that we should turn away from wickedness. His name must mean something.

Thirdly, there is a need for us to cultivate a lifestyle which is a testimony to the truth and power of his word. A workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. A workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." We must not be ashamed of his word. Our relationship with God must impact our attitude to his word. We must not be ashamed of his word. If we are then we are ashamed with God. Not only must we not be ashamed of his word, we must also learn how to correctly handle his word. This is particularly important to all preachers.

A vessel fit for oneself

First, An inward look (20 & 21). We need to have an inward gaze to know where we came from and where we are going. In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay; some for noble purposes and some ignoble 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. We are articles made of gold and silver, as well as of wood and clay. It does not matter where one comes from. Our origins do not matter in the eyes of God. What matters is how we put your bodies to use. If a man cleanses…Even if one has put one’s body to ignoble use, if there is cleansing, there is still the possibility that the body can be redeemed for noble use. We will be an instrument useful to the Master. Let us remember that it is the Lord who will use us. He will be the one who will make us his instruments. The important role for us then is to be available to God and that is all.

Second, An outward look (16). Our outward behaviour very much concerns how we deal with others. And how we deal with others often is through the use of words from our mouths. How we control our mouths and the words that come out will do so much to order the inner part of ourselves. Our mouths are like springs of water. A fresh water spring has fresh water that comes from the earth. A fresh water spring cannot yield brackish water (James 3:11-12… 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.) Avoid godless chatter because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Our mouths cannot be openings from which comes blessings and godless chatter. We need to remember that there is a link between indulging in godless chatter and becoming more and more ungodly. John Wesley observed, “They who babble will grow worse and worse”.

A vessel fit for others

First, Hand to hand (22b). In order to grow a vessel approved of God we must join with like minded others who are on the same journey of faith. This is something one must do. (Join) along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (22b). We must come together with those who are pure in heart and who call on the Lord. Like coals with dim fires they will soon ignite a roaring one.

Second, Mouth to mouth (23-25). We must not join with others in fostering stupid and foolish arguments because they produce quarrels. Do not have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth. We must avoid the quarrelsome ones. The jaw to jaw response of those who are contentious must be strenuously avoided. Our efforts must be directed rather to their salvation not through arguments and quarrels but through gentle, patient and kind engagement. We must never be resentful even when they try to hurt us.

May the Lord cleanse and sanctify us, and make us vessels fit for his purposes, to the glory of his name. Amen.