Are you a vessel?

If you were describe yourself as a vessel what would it be? Why?

• A vase
• A bowl
• A cup
• A jug
• A glass
• A can
• A plastic bag
• A jar
• A wok
• A pot
• A pan

A Vessel
All can be found in the kitchen. Some are new, some are well used. Some have chips and dents and others are merely for show. Some are blackened by the stove, while others are polished and shiny. Some for daily use, some for guests. Some for preparing and some for serving. Yet all are useful... Different vessels for different purposes.

Read 2 Timothy 2:20-22

• What materials are the different vessels made of in this passage? What might they represent? What purposes?
• Why is a clean vessel important?
• How do clean and holy relate to each other?
• How do we make our self useful to God?
• What is the one condition that prepares us for EVERY good work?
• How does verse 22 relate to being prepared?

Sitting on the Shelf?
Prepare yourself as a vessel to be used by God. Don't wait... Don't just sit on the shelf.

An apprentice demon was to be sent to earth on its first mission. His mission was to neutralize the effectiveness of Christians. In discussing his strategy with Satan he said, "I Know... I'll try to convince Christians there is no such things as sin and then they will have no reason to share the Gospel." Satan replied, that may work for a few, but not most. Even those most enslaved by my influence have moments of insight when they realize the destructiveness of sin," "Well then." the apprentice responded. "I'll convince them there is no hell" "Good thinking!" Satan replied. "That their friends and family members will suffer eternal punishment is a great motivation for Christians to witness. Yet, the idea of judgment is so ingrained in most men I think it too will be ineffective in preventing Christians from witnessing, "The young demon thought for a moment: then a look of devilish glee spread across his face. "I've got it!" "I'll convince Christians that there is no hurry. They can keep their doctrines of sin and hell, I'll just convince them that they need not think about it and inconvenience themselves today. Of course you can share with him, but it will be fine to put it off to next week... for the vast majority of Christians that next week will never come," "You have done well!" replied Satan,,. "Many will go to hell with us simply because their Christian friends plan to share with them--tomorrow."

Pray that God might give you the desire to make your life available as a vessel to be used by Him each and every day, without delay, that you might be useful to him!

"We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us."
- 2 Corinthians 4:7

Copyright 1998 by Ken Sapp