VESSEL FIT FOR THE MASTER’S USE
(Vacancy: Vessel for the Master’s Use Need) by Henry Afor
Introduction
The book of 2Timothy is a book written by Apostle Paul to his son in the Lord. In this book, Paul, the Apostle saw it a duty to write not only to the head of Pastor, Timothy the young overseer of the church at Ephesus but he communicated to the heart of his spiritual son on several critical matters as concerning life and ministry respectively.
Before writing this, my wife and I took stuck of our lives and ministry in Bayelsa State especially among the teens and tweens; we did critical deliberation of our experiences, we counted our victories, and saw also our weakness… my wife commented, “hmm… this life is full of darkness: I responded with a deep breath yes, very deep darkness! Yes, very deep darkness!
We wondered how the youths and students alike are being choked in the fume of darkness, yet many grapple to escape still they suffocate. But great is LORD who also included our memory and counted us in the salvation plan through Jesus Christ.
The question I daily ask; those numbers of youths and students we have harvested for the LORD, how do we equip and encourage them so that they can fan their spiritual gift to flame?
Through this piece I shall speak to 2 kinds of audience the saved (and many that I have contacted and privilege to disciple) and the unsaved, who desire to be saved and to be effective in the vineyard of our LORD Jesus Christ.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Under this subtopic we will seek to find meaning of the terms used in this master piece, this is important as it will help to drive “the nail into the wood” in good time without ambiguity in mind at all.
1) Vessel:
- A craft for traveling on water; a ship or boat
- An airship
- A hollow or concave utensil, as a cup, bowl, pitcher, or vase, used for holding liquids or other contents.
From the above it is obvious that a vessel is a container. The word Vessel has been used often to translate the Hebrew tongue of the Old Testament which is pronounced as “Kel-ee”; the Greek word of the New Testament pronounced as ‘Skeous’! Both words have similar meanings, and also possess a number of applied meanings.
As early as 3000 B.C., Cups and goblets of precious metals were crafted by Silversmiths and Goldsmiths throughout the Near East. These materials were used for religious service (Numbers 7:13, 19; 1Chronicles 28:17; 2Chronicles 4:8; Ezra 1:9-10, 8:27) or by persons of great wealth or authority (Genesis 44:2).
Copper and bronze (Exodus 27:3; Leviticus 6:28) vessels were also known in the Holy Bible, Vessel” also has both physical and Spiritual applications.
* By implication, in the New Testament Church every member of the church universal is a vessel which God yearns to use for His glory.
2) Fit:
- Suitable, Proper
- Adapted to a purpose or environment
- In good shape; physically well
- Good looking, fanciable, attractive and beauty.
* By implication God's utmost desire for his humans to become ministerial instrument; to produce, and to display you “attractive, fanciable, and beautiful” for his Kingdom people to hear and see.
3) Master:
- Someone who has control over something or someone
- Owner of an animal or slave
- Someone who employs others
- And the list can go on and on
The “Master” has been used interchangeably with words like “Teacher” and “Rabbi”. In several passages Jesus Christ is being addressed as Master, Teacher or Rabbi but translated according to various versions. A title given by Jews to their doctors and teachers, and often addressed to our LORD. (John 20:16, 1:49, 3:2, 3:26; Mark 9:6, 11:21, 14:45; Matthew 23:7, 26:49).
Therefore, in this context, the word ‘Master’ is used for indicating the LORD Jesus Christ and sole ownership over the church… field of ministry, and the life of human instrument – vessels regardless the race, ethnic group, tribe and colour. Jesus Christ is the Master over all but especially of the Church Universal – the Catholic.
REHMA
Apostle Paul in his letter to the young Bishop of the Church of Ephesus pictured an illustration of a house owned by a great and wealthy master / Lord (There is nothing great about a house in the absence of the owner. A house is said to be great out of the greatness of the owner).
The Lord of the illustrated house loaded his mighty house with utensils and decors. The Apostle Paul described these vessels to be gold, silver, wood and clay. Some were used for honourable and noble presentations and programmes while others for dishonour.
Amidst his illustration he made clear that the later vessels can be transformable into the first mentioned category of vessels. Logically, there is no possibility for such physical ignoble vessels can suddenly become transformed into a noble vessels. But Apostles Paul was careful in his illustration knowing well he was but personifying and typifying … He was careful to render in his letter to the young Overseer, Bishop Timothy the grace for transformation is heavily available for any human vessel who so desire a complete change, regeneration, transformation.
Dear audience, the illustrated house, which is pictured as mighty or great is today the New Testament Church to which you and I belong.
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens the saints and members of the Household of GOD” (Eph. 2:19 Emphasis added).
The Master / Lord / Adonai of the house, Christ Jesus, imparted upon the great house (Church) indelibly as He gave gifts fitting to every member of the household, thereby making each a vessel unto Himself, his wonderful service and worship.
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift…. And He Himself gave some to be Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” – (Eph. 4:7, 11).
Therefore, the intention of God in Christ Jesus is to have a household full of wonderful, beautiful, noble and fitting vessels for His service and worship to His own glory. And it is not automatic! As each human vessel has the ability to make his/her own decision.
“Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter …(Nkjv)”.
“Those who stop associating with dishonourable people will be honoured”. (LHB)
This was the background / inspiration upon which Apostle Paul wrote to encourage, inform and caution Bishop Timothy of the Ephesians Church. He wrote to inform young Timothy of the categories of vessels, to encourage him to always keep fit, and caution him about men who may pretend to be vessels they have not been cut out for.
The sole, the very reason a man or women (young or old) teenagers or tweens would be reduced to an ignoble, undeserving, unfit, dishonourable vessel is ASSOCIATION!
As Christian our relationship / association should be:
Vertical Association: Speaks of our relationship with fellow Christians.
Horizontal Association: Speaks of our relationship with God.
A fugitive is a runner. To become a vessel fit for the master’s use you need to run (flee) from the lustful desire for material things, envy, pride, self-assertiveness. Flee from all that corrupts, stains and blights. To flee here is a command which must be obeyed.
The more persistent we become in following that which is good, the faster and further we become fugitive from that which is evil.
Another important attention in this verse is the other side of being a fugitive – that is, “pursue”. As a Christian who desires to become a vessel fit and honourable must “Run from and Run toward”. We are therefore encouraged and instructed to run from such things which begin from youthful age even unto full adulthood even to old age which are clouds of sin which easily besets us, but then we are to pursue, chase communion of saints, fellowship, faith, love, purity, those things that edifies.
(a) Marital Fidelity:- This is refraining from sex with other partners, the full extent of what it means to be faithful in a marriage. It is also avoiding sexual fantasies involving someone else other than your spouse. The Bible presents sex as part of married life, to be a source of mutual joy and satisfaction.
A man or woman who desires to be a fitting, deserving vessel unto glorious assignment would obey the law of marital fidelity. Sexual fantasy although approved by many professionals yet does not have favour with the Bible. Sexual fantasy could be wrong because it is an act done outside of marriage, and involved mental rehearsal and actions that are emotionally painful on your spouse. It exposes you to likelihood of committing adultery.
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