Last saved by: Ron Burk

Vessels of Honor
Sunday, May 27
Class Plan - Content
1. Introduction
2-3 Of much we have been FORGIVEN, 
therefore we pray that all men be saved
4 Personal Relationships – how we should treat others
5-6-7 False Teachers; Why, How, What
8  All SCRIPTURE is inspired by GOD and PROFITABLE 
9-10 The role of WOMEN in the Church
11-12 Widows; Then & Now

Using Vessels of Honor for common purpose
Daniel 5:2-6 _(NASB)  ^2When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. ^3Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ^4They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone. 
^5Suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. ^6Then the king’s face grew pale and his thoughts alarmed him, and his hip joints went slack and his knees began knocking together.

Daniel 5 is an example where someone took vessels that had been dedicated to a holy purpose and profaned them by using them for a common purpose. 
We still use the saying “He saw the writing on the wall” to this day.
Belshazzar had to find the man of God to read what had been written. It said “you have been weighed and found wanting “
Vessels 
In Daniel 5
H3984 מָאן (Aramaic) mâʼn ; an enclosure, something with a bottom and sides
In 2 Timothy 2:20-21 (+ 21 other passages)
G4632 σκεῦος skeuos skyoo'-os ; a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively [specifically a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband]):—goods, sail, stuff, vessel.
In English translations the word is rendered in three senses; 
•	a container (e.g. Jesus was offered sour wine from a jar-skeuos while on the cross.)
•	Contents (e.g. in the parable about being ready, the strong householder would not be robbed of his household property-skeuos if he knew the thief was coming.)
•	Implement (e.g. in the story of Paul’s being shipwrecked, they put out the sea-anchor –skeuos to slow them as the wind drove them.)

Vessels of Honor
2 Timothy 2:20 _(NASB)   ^20Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 

Vessels: honorable and common use
Romans 9:19-24 _(NASB) ^19You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” ^20On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? ^21Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? 
^22What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? ^23And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, ^24even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. 

The point being:
That we individually are like earthen vessels, specifically designed by our maker. 
We are fashioned out of weak material with cracks formed in us that make us prone to fail. 
Yet we are designed for a purpose. We are designed to be useful in some way. The purpose is that of our maker.
Our weakness reinforces that we are the instrument of the one who made us and not that we ourselves are important.
With this in mind we return to consider our place in life and our place within the Body, the Church. 

Under a Brother’s yoke
1 Timothy 6:1-2 _(NASB)   ^1All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. ^2Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren, but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved. Teach and preach these principles. 

The Subjection of a Bondslave
Titus 2:9-10 _(NASB)   ^9Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ^10not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect. 

To Philemon …
Philemon 1:1-3 _(NASB)   ^1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, ^2and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: ^3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
… regarding Onesimus ..

Philemon 1:10-16 _(NASB) ^10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, ^11who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. ^12I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, ^13whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel; ^14but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will. ^15For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, ^16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 

Weaker Vessel
1 Peter 3:7_(ESV) ^7Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Treasure in Earthen Vessels
2 Corinthians 4:5-10 _(NASB) ^5For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. ^6For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 
^7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; ^8we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; ^9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ^10always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 

The Common Vessel suffers …
2 Corinthians 4:11-14 _(NASB)^11For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ^12So death works in us, but life in you. ^13But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, ^14knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 

… for a Noble Purpose
2 Corinthians 4:12-18 _(NASB)^15For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. ^16Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. ^17For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ^18while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

He is a chosen Vessel to Me
Acts 9:11-16_(KJV) ^11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, ^12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. ^13Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: ^14And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. ^15But 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: ^16For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Power perfected in weakness
2 Corinthians 12:7-10_(NASB) ^7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! ^8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. ^9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ^10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 

Although Paul was a powerful influence in the early Church, the real power was from God and not Paul.
Paul, being able to do powerful things for God in spite of his own weakness made clear whose power it was.
God purposed that Paul be weak so that his, God’s power would be evident.
So, with the point made that God’s servant is just that, a servant, and implement, something made to be useful to the maker, let’s look at what Paul was telling Timothy and Titus to do. 

Cleanse the Vessel
2 Timothy 2:20-22_(NASB) ^20Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. ^21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. ^22Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Gently Correct
2 Timothy 2:23-26 _(NASB)   ^23But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. ^24The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,    ^25with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, ^26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 

Preach the Word!
2 Timothy 4:1-4_(NASB)  ^1I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: ^2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. ^3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, ^4and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Avoid Worldly Entanglements
1 Timothy 5:21-22 _(NASB)   ^21I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality. ^22Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin. 

2 Timothy 2:14 _(NASB)   ^14Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 

Titus 2:9 _(NASB)   ^9Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 

Titus 2:15 _(NASB)   ^15These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. 

Titus 3:1 ^1Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 

Instruct in Goodness
1 Timothy 6:17-19 _(NASB)   ^17Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. ^18Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ^19storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. 

Join in suffering
2 Timothy 1:8-12_(NASB) ^8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, ^9who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, ^10but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ^11for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. ^12For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Vessels of Honor
2 Timothy 4:7-8 _(NASB)   ^7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; ^8in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.