Christian Living

Vessels in God's Hand

by Hezekiah Fakeye
06/02/16
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Whenever the word 'vessel in God's hands' comes on board, the average man thinks it describes a special set of people we often called ministers of God or perhaps those who are officially ordained into one ministry or the other.

I have heard many preachers tell people things they must do if they want to be an instrument in God's hand, while I am not disputing these claims, I however believe it is an act of not considering the totality of the Word of God because the scripture does not really establish it that God uses only the righteous people. The true fact is that God can use anyone regardless of their behaviour towards Him. The scripture revealed that God used unbelievers to accomplish His work.

In the story of the Exodus, in the Old Testament, we learned that not only was Moses the instrument of God but so was Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16). Likewise, In Jeremiah 27:6-11, God called Nebuchadnezzar His servant, though he was a Babylonian pagan. Cyrus the Persian king was called "my shepherd" and "my anointed " in Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1 respectively despite that he too was an unbeliever. If we therefore understand life from the real Biblical perspective, we will realize that everyone can be a vessel in God's hand. However, the purpose to which God uses every individual is what should be the major concern.

 Now let's consider what Apostle Paul said in this regard in the scripture; a verse we shall dwell so much on.

 2 Timothy 2:20;

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood  and clay, some for honor and some for  dishonor.

 In this very verse that we read, many would want to relate the word great house to the church of God. Though this may seem the perfect analogy, but there is no crime in extending it to the whole world due to the fact there are people who are not in the church but are still being used by God.
Therefore, in our immediate environment, there are vessels of gold and silver, but there also exist vessels of wood and clay. The first clear point is that they are all vessels whether it is of gold or otherwise. They are all instruments and are useful, only the purpose of uses and how we treat them differs. According to that scripture, some are used for honourable purposes and some for dishonourable purposes.

So the question now is not to be used by God, but rather for what purpose do you want to be used? It is no longer a matter of am I a vessel in God's hand, you might actually be a vessel but to ignoble use. You can be a vessel but not presentable on honourable occasions; a vessel of dishonour. Judas was a vessel too.

"In every house," he says, "there are vessels." That is true of all homes -- we have "vessels for honor," i.e., dishes we eat from, pots and pans we cook in, decorated vases, etc., are all vessels unto honor. They are not only useful but they are preserved, they are permanent, we want to keep them. But every house also has "vessels for dishonor" -- we have garbage cans, slop buckets, bedpans, trash barrels, wastebaskets, etc. We do not display them. They are useful, but they are not presentable. We may even intend to dispose them off, sometimes after only one use. Those are vessels of dishonor.
However, unlike non-living utensils, though we do not have a choice to be used by God, we definitely have a choice as to what purpose we will be used for. God does not use people willy nilly to accomplish good works against their will, it is a choice from the individual. One of the greatest assets God gave the human race is the ability to choose between life and death, the ability to discern between the truth and falsehood, or in simple terms, the ability to make choices; including how we want God to use us.

 Verse 21 says,

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.

 I would want us to note that it is our responsibility to choose to be a vessel for noble use. If anyone cleanses himself, he will be a vessel for honour, otherwise he will still be a vessel, but for ignoble use.

Now let us take a critical look at that verse. "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself....". Does that mean we have the power to get ourselves cleansed? To answer this, let us quickly consider this simple analogy.
When you get yourself dirty perhaps during a mechanical work on your vehicle, and you need to wash your hands, what do you do?
I guess you'll get soap and water, rub your hands together with it, and then after you're done, you say I have cleansed myself. Am I right? But in the real sense, who does the cleaning activity; you or the soap and water? I hope you know it's the soap and water. Good! But despite that you're not the one who does the real cleaning, you still profess to people that you've cleansed yourself. No matter how you rub your hands together, your hands won’t get cleansed unless you include the soap and water.

The same thing is applicable to the matter at hand. There are cleansing materials that God has provided for all by which we can get ourselves cleansed which are the blood of Jesus, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, but it is our sole responsibility to use these provided materials.

To get ourselves cleansed, we have to do three major things. We must acknowledge we are dirty and needs cleansing, we must decide to move towards the provided materials for cleansing, and finally we must use them for that very purpose. No matter how you struggle, you can get cleansed without the use of those three vital instruments. The blood of Jesus and the Word of God are the spiritual soap and water without which you cannot be cleansed. And if you read that very verse carefully, you will discover that the only way you can be a vessel of honour, and fit for the master's use is to cleanse yourself.

Another thing I would like us to consider is the word "cleanses" which is a present tense. It actually indicates that the action is habitual. It is not a one-time action or past event. In other words, the cleansing of yesterday does not qualify you for today's honourable work. No one would use dirty utensils to serve visitors unless they have been duly washed. So even the honourable vessels need adequate and continual cleansing.

It is a daily duty to get cleansed if you are going to be a vessel of honour on daily basis. You may be fit for yesterday's work but unfit for today's work if you are filled up with yesterday's junks or haven't be duly washed. Vessels that are used continuously without habitual washing will sooner or later become vessel of dishonour. A time will come they will not be fit for honourable occasions. Daily cleansing means a daily checkup for spiritual fitness. That is why that verse says those who cleanses themselves will be FIT for the master's use. The place of cleansing is a place where God check you and whether you have sustained injury, and if you have, fix it so that you will be fit. If anyone cleanses himself, then he will be a vessel of honour, sanctified, and useful for the master's good works.

Dear reader, it is actually your responsibility to choose whether you will be used for good works or otherwise. If you want to be used for good works, then you have to be available for that very purpose.

True revival has tarried not because of inability of God, but for unavailability of useful vessels. God is looking for vessels that are carrier of the Holy spirit. Vessels that have been purged, emptied and cleansed. Filled vessels cannot carry the presence of God; we don't pour water in a filled cup after all. Therefore, if you want be keep your freshness and continual usefulness for good works, you have to pour out the old wine that you may be cleansed and refilled. That's what is meant by renewal of the spirit. You might have been used for good works in the past, but you have to pour them out and get cleansed to be available for the next use.

Choose to be a honourable vessel in his hand today by cleansing yourself, and asking for fresh outpouring of Holy ghost and Power, and then you will be fit for the master's noble use.

You're blessed!