Theme For Open Heavens Devotional 18 July 2019 – THE VESSEL THAT GOD USES.
MEMORISE:
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 2 Timothy 2:20
READ: 2 Timothy 3:1-7
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
MESSAGE
In today’s memory verse, the Holy Spirit makes it clear that there are different categories of vessels, all of which God uses. In other words, there is no one who comes into the world without serving one divine purpose or the other. The question is, what material are you made of, and what category of vessels do you belong to? There are vessels made of gold, silver, wood and clay. However, more sobering is the classification of vessels into those for honor and those for dishonor. I pray that you will be a vessel unto honor in Jesus Name. pharaoh was a vessel unto dishonor. In Romans 9:17, the Bible says concerning him:
“For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.”
A deep secret in the above scripture is that man is give the freewill to choose what type of vessel he wants to be. Pharaoh was given ample opportunity to write a beautiful history concerning himself as a king who feared God and save his people the agony of catastrophic destruction. What did he do with that opportunity? He bungled it and perished in the Red Sea. Unlike him, Abimelech who took Abraham’s wife listened to God, did exactly what God instructed him to do, and he was blessed (Genesis 20:2-18). His barren wife and maidservant became fruitful. The king of Nineveh also was a vessel unto honor. He led his city to repentance, and they obtained God’s mercy because they chose to obey His instructions.
Today’s Bible text gives clue on how to become a vessel unto honor. In it the Holy Spirit emphatically says that whoever choose to be a vessel unto honor, such as a minister of the gospel, must be blameless, among other requirements. The reason for this high standard is not far-fetched: honorable assignments are meant for honorable people. Sinners are not honorable in the sight of God. No wonder 2 Timothy 2:21 says:
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
This is the higher ground to which the Lord is calling us. We can be vessels of honor if we choose to be. All that is required of us is to do what the Holy Spirit specified in 2 2 Timothy 2:21. Cleanse yourself of the dishonorable works of the flesh, be sanctified by grace and let the Holy Spirit dwell in you. God bless you.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please make me a vessel unto honor in Your hands, in Jesus Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 10-11
Ezekiel 18: 30-19:14
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
1.Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise,
Let them flow in endless praise.
2.Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3.Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
Credit – Pastor E. Adeboye