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The Person God Uses | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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You have your Bibles. Please me me.
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The book is second, Timothy as we continue in our Series in
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this precious Pastoral Epistles. written by Paul to his spiritual
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son, Timothy but more importantly written by the Holy
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Spirit himself, It's 2nd, Timothy Chapter 2 and me being
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here in verse 20. Now.
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In a great house. There are not only vessels of
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gold and silver, but also of wood and Clay, some for
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honorable, use some for dishonorable.
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Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from what is
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dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use set
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apart as holy useful to the master of the house, ready for
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every good work. Let's pray.
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Father, your word says concerning your son Jesus that
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while he was on the earth. He was anointed by the Holy
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Spirit and that he went about doing good, and delivering,
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those who are oppressed of the devil.
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For God was with him. We ask Lord for the anointing of
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the Holy Spirit. We ask Lord that your presence
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in your power would be in this place.
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Lord, protect this delivery from being in the flesh.
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Protect the reception from being in the flesh.
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May your Holy Spirit. At come brood over this place
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and do what only you can do. Do Miracles, change us.
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Lord, we ask that you would save the lost in this house this
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morning. And we ask that you would build
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up the Saved that we may look more like Christ.
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Lord again May the Holy Spirit. Rest upon the ministry of the
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word may he speak. Would you protect the service
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from any error from any confusion?
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Lord May there be Clarity precision, and ultimately the
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exaltation of your son, Jesus Christ.
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We pray for these things with one mind and one heart and the
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name of Jesus Christ. Our unifies us, amen, and amen.
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Our last time together in this book.
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We discovered Paul's encouraging words about God's Firm
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Foundation. And the text strongly suggested
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that Firm Foundation speaks of the Church of the Lord Jesus
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Christ. And we not only learned that
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this Foundation is immovable, despite every trick of Satan to
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try to uproot or destroy. We learned that upon this
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Foundation are two inscriptions. The one inscription declares,
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God Sovereign supervision over his church.
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The Lord knows those who are his and the second speaks of man's
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responsibility, if they claim to be a part of the church, that
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those who name the name of the Lord depart from iniquity, And
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we learned a great deal of what these things mean, concerning
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God's ownership and man's duty, but Paul's not finished yet.
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The spirit is not finished yet. There is yet so much that God
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longs to teach us concerning what it means for us to be
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numbered. Among the redeemed, what it
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means for us, if we truly understand these principles and
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apply them to our lives, how it can affect our experience if we
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claim to live in the household of God.
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And so that's why in the verses you just read Paul transitions,
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he transitions from what it means to be adopted into God's
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Kingdom. Let those who name the name of
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the Lord depart from iniquity? You ain't saved.
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If you haven't repented And now he transitions from what it
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means to even know the ABCs of Christianity.
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To what it takes to be used for God's Kingdom.
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And this transition of thought, tells us already something about
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what it means to be a follower of Christ, the satisfaction that
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you discover at Salvation, does not cease at Salvation, when
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your soul is opened up to the realization of God's Redemption
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and his grace over your life. It also opens up a brand-new
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appetite and here it is. God I need you.
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I want you. To use me.
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I want to be used for your glory.
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I want to serve you, and I want to spend my breath my energy to
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glorify the very one. Who saved my soul freely.
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It's amazing when the Apostle Paul met the Risen Jesus on that
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road to Damascus, ready to liquidate the church, ready to
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eradicate, any person who claims to be the follower of the way he
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Two questions. Can I show you those two
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questions because I believe these two questions should be
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the two questions. That every born-again believer
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should perpetually ask of God in Acts chapter 20 to turn your
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Bibles there, please. I want you to see what Paul
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asked. What he asked Jesus when he met
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Jesus and his eyes were open to the fact that this is truly the
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Messiah that I've been studying about the one that I claim would
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come. And deliver my people, this is
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him. And here's what Paul asked,
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Jesus Christ and I want to ask you this question this morning,
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have you been asking these questions?
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Dear Christian. Have you discovered?
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These questions in your soul and acts 22 verse 8.
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And I being Paul answered. Who are you?
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Lord Question. Number one, when you truly meet
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Christ you want to know him, you want to discover him.
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You want to study him. You want to have fellowship with
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him, who are you? Lord show me yourself.
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I know you're my savior but I need to know more of Who You
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Are. Then he goes on to say and he
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said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are
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persecuting and Paul discovered there.
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I believe that great theological point that the church is the
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body of Christ. If I'm touching the church I'm
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touching you you see we must go deeper in our knowledge of the
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Lord. Who are you?
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Lord are you asking this? Then he goes on in verse 9.
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Now those who are with me, saw the light but did not understand
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the voice of the one who is speaking to me verse 10.
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And I said, what shall I do? Lord And the Lord said to me,
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rise and go into Damascus and there you will be told all that
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is appointed for you to do. That's question number two.
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What shall I do? What do you have for me on the
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earth? What is your assignment for me
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on the Earth? Notice the order, though, our
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main ambition is to know Christ to have fellowship with him to
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understand, and to know him to love him, to cherish him.
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But from that place, we want to now serve him and declare him at
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whatever cost, whether it's on a platform where it's hidden.
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We want to do what he calls us to do, and notice the
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faithfulness of Jesus Christ, when a person truly wants to
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come to, those understandings of who Jesus is and what it is that
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he wants. You to do.
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He will answer. He'll answer.
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He'll tell you who he is. And in this case he told him I'm
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connected to my body. You thought you were touching a
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bunch of people believing in a cult know you're a touching to
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my members. And when he says, what shall I
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do? Okay, I know you are.
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But what do you want me to do now?
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In this life, he says, Rise and go to Damascus and there you
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will be told all that is appointed for you.
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Do you know what I love about that?
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Jesus didn't give him the whole blueprint for his life.
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It was step by step. All I need you to do is now go
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here. And then from there I'll tell
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you what to do. Isn't that a wonderful principal
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how he governs our own lives step-by-step and the text and
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second Timothy is going to help us as a church position
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ourselves in such a way that we will be ready vessels for God to
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use. That's what we want.
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I hope I'm speaking to a people who desire that today.
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I hope you're asking these questions.
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I hope you're asking these questions on your way here.
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Who are you? Lord and what All I do, he will
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never fail to answer that. He will never fail to show you
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in your private time through the church through circumstances,
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through providential leading but we have the text.
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Now, we have the text to focus on that.
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Second question, how do I know how can I position myself in
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such a way that God can utilize me with my short breath of an
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existence? And there are a few points here
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and we read it here in verse 20 of second Timothy.
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The first point is laid before as an absolute necessary truth
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to grasp because it clarifies a misconception.
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Paul says, now in a great house, there are not only vessels of
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gold and silver, but also of wood and Clay, some of, for
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honorable use and some for dishonorable.
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Here's, here's Point number one. Not all who are in.
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God's house will be used for God's glory.
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Not all who are in. God's house will be used for
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God's glory now that might be shocking, but it's true.
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Nonetheless. Paul says, now in a great house
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that word great speaks of the size more than the value but it
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doesn't negate the fact that God's house is in fact.
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Wonderful, it is great. God's church is great because it
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is governed by a great God. It is precious because it was
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purchased by the blood of the son of God.
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It is powerful because it, testifies of the wisdom of God
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to a dying and broken world, that there is a truth that can
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set you free from sin and Satan. And it is a beautiful house
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because it is made up of different people, tribes and
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tongues who all have one thing in common, that is this saved by
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grace. But Paul here, speaking about
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this large house, so he's speaking about the universal
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truths. This this Global congregation
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there is something about this congregation that I must inform
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you about. I must Enlighten you about.
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And that is this. There are different types of
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vessels. Yes, surely God is speaking what
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you just mentioned that there are different nations and
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languages and cultures that represent God's house Paul
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proves that otherwise. But that's not his main point
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here. Then surely he is speaking about
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the different gifts that God has decorated his house with and are
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different unique. Manifestations of the spirit
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through individual Believers true but that's not what Paul is
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emphasizing here. When Paul describes these
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assorted utensils and in God's house, this great house, this
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large house and compares. The materials that they are made
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of He's trying to illustrate this that there are contrasting
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conditions of Christians in God's house.
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In other words, the imagery here of this large house with
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different instruments and different vessels is trying to
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make the point to say that there are some Christians who will be
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used honorably. And there are some professing
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Christians who will function dishonorably those who are
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honorable, those who are holy, those who are faithful, those
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who are asking that question, what shall I do?
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Lord and whatever the cost I'll pay it.
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Whereas those who are dishonorable are the slothful.
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They're the lazy. They're the carnal ones, though.
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They are associated with the assembly.
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And this makes sense in light of the context, doesn't it?
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Paul just finished saying that for you to even be joined to the
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church. Let those who name the name,
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those who named Christ must depart from iniquity.
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But then he balances that Truth by saying, although that is the
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requirement. There will be those who fail to
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hold on, to that basic order within the church.
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And so he says there are some who will be dishonorable.
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Now some would say Paul, he is speaking about believer and
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non-believer and that that is true.
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You can have non believers in the midst, but the context
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suggest, otherwise, that there are two categories in Paul's
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mind in the spirits mind within the Church of Christians.
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And the main distinction is not is not personality.
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It's not the wealth that you have, it's not even the gifting,
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it's not, it's none of that the main distinction. if I were to
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cut this room in half, Is a holy heart.
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Is a heart that longs to be holy and longs to be consecrated unto
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the Lord. That's the main difference.
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Now, is that interpretation in line with scripture?
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Do we see this in other places? This is, this is interpretation
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makes sense. Or we can go many places and you
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don't have to turn there, but you remember.
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We're technically Jesus wrote letters to seven churches
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himself. Those letters in red, at the
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beginning of the book of Revelation.
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Well, in one of those letters, he makes a distinction within
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the same assembly. There was a church and a place
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called Sardis and I want you to hear, you don't have to turn
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there with Jesus, himself says, to this church and Revelation
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3324. Remember then what you received
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and heard and keep it and repent.
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Wow. Jesus telling a church to
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repent. Yeah, he is keep it and repent.
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He's telling this congregation. You need to wake up.
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You have a reputation of being alive but you're dead.
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God forbid. Everybody thinks you're
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passionate. You go back to the history of
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your church where things started, but, but you're all
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asleep. So you need to wake up, he
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signed this church arise. But then he goes on to say, I
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will come like a thief and you will not know at what hour I
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will come against you, his church.
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Come against his church. Yes.
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Because Christ is continually seeking to sanctify his bride.
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I will come against you not the world, you my church.
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Verse 4 yet. Here's the point, yet you have
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still a few names in Sardis people who have not soiled their
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garments and they will walk with me in white for they are worthy.
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Many things can be said from these verses, but this provides
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a wonderful example for us that it's possible that in the same
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congregation, the same church, the same Ministry you can have
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people who are asleep and people who are walking in the light and
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that's not the only place you can look at different churches
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in the same context, some were holding to the teachings of
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false teachers and some were not, you know what that proves
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to me that although you and I have been hearing that we must
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be unified and one and although Christ calls his church to be
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dependent upon one. Another as members are dependent
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upon one another because they are under the same head.
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God is just and he will judge every believer individually.
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Even in the Oneness of his church.
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And this is something we have to understand.
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I hope it helps. You believe that it's possible
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that there are categories of consecration within the Church
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of Jesus Christ, but I want to say something else.
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It's even, it's even deeper than that.
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It's even possible. For those who were once vessels
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of gold and silver, who are shining to change.
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We're over time. They become vessels of this
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honor and this is where I would like you to turn and
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Lamentations chapter 4. It's a very sad book.
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Written by the weeping prophet himself.
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And here's the context Lamentations was written after
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the destruction of Jerusalem. After that, final Exile, when
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Nebuchadnezzar came and swept through that place and Drew
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people to his own land, as God's Divine judgment over.
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His people Lamentations is a book of Brokenness and I want
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you to see what the prophet says in Lamentations 41.
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Remember, we heard that in God's household, there are vessels of
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gold and silver and some of clay and earthenware.
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Look at limitations for one. How the gold has grown dim?
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How the pure gold is changed, the holy Stones, lies scattered
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at the head of every street. The precious sons of Zion worth
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their weight and find gold, how they are regarded as Earthen
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pots, the work of a Potter's hands.
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You see the profit is describing not only the temple that was
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desecrated, not only the temple. That was destroyed were these
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Stones lights scattered where these wonderful jewels.
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And these wonderful materials decorated the house of God to
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reflect the Beauty. And the Divine glory of God, no,
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he's not talking about the building nearly.
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He's talking about the people. And we see that in verse to, the
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precious sons of Zion, can we pause there on that word
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precious. That's how God sees his people.
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Precious valuable cherished prized you see as a people who
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love to declare all things for the glory of God.
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Yes. Jesus Christ died for the glory
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of the father but Jesus Christ died.
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Also because he Delights in his creation, he actually Delights
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in those that he has created so much so that he beckons your
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presence into his presence for all eternity and if it was going
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to cost his blood to make it so, He bled.
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And we read here that these precious sons of Zion though,
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they were precious in the sight of God.
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Something happened to them. What happened they changed?
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They're different. The thing that made them so
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beautiful, the glow of Christ, the sanctity of their calling,
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where it off. And now they've become like
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Earthen pots. The dirt and dust.
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Covered their souls and now they cannot even be recognized as
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precious. They seem like their identity
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has been changed altogether. And that's the great danger for
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the precious Church of Jesus. Living Stones, right?
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Peter says, being built up as a spiritual house.
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It's possible to lose that shine, the shine of Holiness.
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The Purity that makes us unique and reflects like the moon,
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reflects the light of the sun, reflecting the face of the son
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of God. So going back to Pauls words, we
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should wonder why, why is Paul even bringing this up, why is he
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bringing up that? You can have these different
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categories of consecration with in God's house?
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Well, there's many reasons, here are a couple number one.
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The holy spirit is very honest with the description of his
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church. The holy spirit is very
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realistic, though. It is not his will or his
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standard. The holy spirit is fully aware
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that in the midst of his pure bride.
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There will be those who are compromised who are not
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consecrated who bear a terrible testimony before a watching
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world that would have them question the authority and the
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authenticity of this Christian message he's aware of that.
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And so I look at this and I have conversations with people often
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use the argument well Christians are a bunch of Hypocrites.
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And when I go to church, I see I see a bunch of people that don't
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really live what they preach to, which I would say, God would
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agree with you. He's not disagreeing with you.
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There are vessels of honor and his house, and there are vessels
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of Dishonor. He's not caught by surprise all
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that, although he doesn't agree with it.
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And it doesn't please him. So what you're telling me as an
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argument is actually something that the Bible prepared me for
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but I don't believe that's Paul's main point.
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What his main point is this that there's a statement being
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declared, that should provoke all listeners and even listeners
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this morning. God, help us.
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And that is this just because you attend And just because you
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enjoy listening to messages and just because you even claim to
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be a part of God's bride does not mean that God will use you
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the way he desires to use you at.
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This means, nothing for the person who's not asking what
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shall I do. Lord, but this does mean
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something for the person who is truly born of the spirit.
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Because you want to be used by God, don't you?
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And here's the point that Paul is making just because they're
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in the house, doesn't mean that they're going to be used by the
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Master of the House. I read that says.
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Oh Lord please I don't want to just cruise to my life playing
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Church, you need to do something about this in my own life.
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And Paul elevates our perception.
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And he wants us to view the church Through The Eyes of the
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one who purchased the church. And it's as though he's saying
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Christ sees his church, the global church as this Mansion of
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glory. And as the master of this house,
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that he uses that language later on in verse 21 as the master of
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this house, he has great plans for this house.
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He wants to invite people and host people in this house.
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He wants to bless the community where this house is Park namely
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on Earth and he wants to minister to people through this
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house and he even wants to build room so that more people can
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live in this house. And as he has these plans, he is
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continually examining to see. Which vessels can I use to make
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these goals possible? And which ones will I
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overlooked? Which brings us to point number
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two that although God has a house with vessels in.
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It does not mean that every vessel will be used.
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We should break our hearts at the thought but that Holy
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standard is quickly met with a gracious invitation and it is
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this that God has given all these vessels.
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Equal opportunity to be used by him.
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Verse 21. Therefore if anyone I love that
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word, anyone. If anyone thirsts let him come
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and drink, if anyone not a special class, not somebody
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who's been a Christian for a certain amount of years, not a
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certain person who's been gifted in a certain way.
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If anyone, if anyone would hear this truth, the invitation is
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open to everyone and anyone but listen, it's upon a condition.
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So it's an open invitation, but there is a requirement that must
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be honored and respected. Expected.
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Just one, just one out of all the ones that you would think
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that you would need to be used by almighty God Thrice.
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Holy If anyone cleanses himself. From what is this?
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Honorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use Are you
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excited for that? Truth believer.
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That God does not want you to jump through hoops.
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God does not need some special talent.
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God does not need some special wealth of knowledge that you
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possess one thing. One thing God wants from one
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person to be used from in great ways holiness.
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Holiness. Now this this can conflict if we
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do not have a balanced understanding of God's saving
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work and a person's life, this is going to shock.
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You, you ready? God saving work on the cross is
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sufficient for salvation what he is imparted.
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An imputed into US is all that is required for us to know
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eternal life. but although the blood is the basis for our
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holiness, You need to do something if you want to be used
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by him. He didn't say if you are
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cleanse, if you've been cleansed by the blood of Christ, you will
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be set apart useful to the master of the house.
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Ready for? He says cleanse yourself.
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You must be able to make that decision for yourself.
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There has to be an examination. There has to be a decision by
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yourself through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the
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empowerment of the Holy Spirit to say, I have to cleanse
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myself. And here's the encouraging part,
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you ready, you don't have to remain as a vessel of this honor
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and God's house. You don't have to anticipate a
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rebuke or discipline from the Lord like he did in the Book of
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Revelation. With those churches, you don't
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have to worry. One bit that God will Overlook
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you when he wants to do something.
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Glorious. In this dying generation.
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You can position yourself to know for certain that because
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I'm in a place where my heart longs to be cleansed from
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anything that offends. My God, God will use me.
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God will use me? and I think about, many servants
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in the scriptures where God implements this truth, many week
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vessels many vessels that seem insignificant in the eyes of
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society at godstow recruited upon this one basis think of
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Jeremiah I love the Prophet. Jeremiah, for many reasons.
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Very honest, profit broken profit and this profit.
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When we were introduced them in chapter, 1 of that glorious
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book. We are told about his
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hesitations to being recruited by God, to be a messenger.
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The you remember, one of them was, I'm too young and the
26:54
second one is I can't speak. Are you sure you pick the right?
26:59
Jeremiah because people are not going to respect me for my age.
27:03
They're going to look at me says who's this kid?
27:06
And secondly they're going to hear me speak and they're going
27:08
to laugh and mock me because I don't have boldness and I don't
27:10
have the eloquence. Are you sure you have the right
27:13
Jeremiah and the wonderful thing about it is that God does not
27:16
use those things against Jeremiah God is that, you know
27:20
what? You're right, I thought you
27:22
spoke better. So I'm going to reconsider my
27:24
decision nor did he say, you know what I thought.
27:27
I didn't think about the fact that you were young, I don't
27:29
think I'm gonna be able to use you. no, such hesitation In
27:35
fact, he Comforts him. Don't say that you're too young
27:37
and whatever I tell you to speak, you shall speak.
27:41
So that should comfort us again, right?
27:43
We go to text like that, we use it with youth groups, your
27:45
young, God can still use you. So despite your ability, despite
27:50
your lack of experience, God is still willing to draw you in and
27:54
launch you out for his glory, but it's amazing because a few
27:57
chapters later. God, revisits Jeremiah And he
28:02
says, something very important that I think you need to see
28:04
it's in Jeremiah 15. Verse 19.
28:16
God speaks to this Prophet this Prophet who spoke on behalf of
28:20
God God speaks to this prophet in Jeremiah 1519.
28:24
Therefore thus says the Lord. If you return, I will restore
28:28
you hold on for a second. You know what he's doing?
28:32
He's asking Jeremiah to repent. The preacher who preached
28:35
repentance is now being called to repent.
28:39
Hey Jeremiah, you went out of the way if you return I will
28:43
restore you. Well, what did he what does he
28:45
need to return from? And you shall stand before me in
28:49
my service. If you utter, what is precious,
28:55
And not what is worthless you shall be as my mouth.
29:00
They shall turn to you but you shall not turn to them.
29:05
Why is God saying this? You read the verses just before
29:08
this one, and Jeremiah just finished complaining and
29:11
accusing God of being a deceitful Brooke, the same.
29:17
Jeremiah who is declaring to his generation that this Lord is a
29:20
Fountain of Living Water. Has come to the conclusion at
29:24
one point in his ministry. In fact, you're not a Fountain
29:27
of Living Water. You're a deceitful Brooke.
29:31
You claim you claim to replenish you claim to give life.
29:35
In fact, what he's saying is you're not reliable.
29:39
You don't have the ability to strengthen me when I'm going
29:42
through these moments of Trials. So he is now charging.
29:45
God of unfaithfulness. The very same mouth.
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That Jeremiah was worried would not be able to serve God.
29:52
Right? Is now being corrected by God,
29:54
not because of the ability. But because of the worthless
29:58
words that he was speaking, And God comes in and he says this,
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Jeremiah, I was willing to call you though.
30:08
You thought you could not speak and I was willing to work with
30:10
that, but if you continue with these words, you will not be my
30:15
mouthpiece anymore. Proving what?
30:19
Again, it's not about skill being used by God, it's not
30:22
about experience holiness. Consecration a heart.
30:29
That's after Purity, a heart that flees from sin and embrace
30:34
his righteousness, one who is willing to continually sale or
30:37
whatever is of me that doesn't, please you remove it from my
30:41
life. And he goes on to say, they
30:45
shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.
30:48
This one's going to sting. So prepare yourself.
30:52
What's happening here? He's telling Jeremiah I want you
30:56
to know how to frame your life as you relate to other people.
31:00
And here it is. You as my messenger.
31:05
I will be pleased because you preach repentance.
31:07
If these fellow Israelites who are in compromise, listen to
31:10
that message and are now turning to me through your message, I
31:15
will be pleased with that. But Jeremiah, if because of your
31:19
association with others, if because of your environment, you
31:22
are being influenced by them, you will no longer stand before
31:27
me. In others.
31:29
What he's saying is, if you have elevated, the relationship of
31:33
those who are ungodly and in compromise and who do not fear
31:37
me and it, we were not asking what shall I do?
31:39
Lord, then you yourself will forfeit.
31:42
The very thing that I want you to do for my name sake.
31:45
Do you understand how serious that is?
31:46
Here's what I'm trying to say that God is so serious about
31:49
consecration that he is concerned about those in our
31:52
lives, that would contaminate our holiness.
31:56
Now again, this is a hard pill to swallow, but there is a
32:00
standard if God would want to use you.
32:02
In this life, you will pay a price.
32:05
You will you will have to say goodbye to some friendships.
32:08
If you want God to use you as a mouthpiece and God knows in this
32:11
generation, we need a mouthpiece.
32:14
We need a voice. We have many Echoes, we need
32:17
voices and not just do preachers but through churches and those
32:21
who represent Christ If they turn to you fine but if you turn
32:26
to them you're compromising your calling.
32:29
It doesn't mean that you can't hang out with your unbelieving.
32:31
Cousins at Thanksgiving. Take a breath every time I
32:34
preached on stuff like this. Like, can I go, can I say hi to
32:37
my coworker? Yes, you can say hi to your
32:38
coworker. I'm not talking about that.
32:42
I'm talking about the tug of war in this life.
32:47
That those you relate to, if they are pulling you towards
32:50
them and they're changing you from christlikeness, let go of
32:54
the Rope. But if you're pulling them, just
32:57
like what you said, Jeremiah and then let it be, let them be one
33:00
for Christ through your life. I'm talking about being used by
33:03
God. Oh, just because I'm a
33:04
Christian. God will use me wrong.
33:07
Oh, you're saved, but you'll be barely saved.
33:10
As Paul said, escaping fire when your works are judged.
33:15
I know this is a hard pill to swallow like I get it.
33:19
But God only needs one in a generation, so even if one
33:22
receives it, God can shake America.
33:26
If you don't believe what I'm saying about Jeremiah look what
33:29
Paul says back in second, Timothy 2 verse 22 because now
33:33
he he did this, he defines what it means to cleanse ourselves
33:37
like what does it mean to cleanse myself?
33:40
What does that actually look like?
33:41
And he describes it here in verse 22 and and would you
33:45
notice this that he's actually preaching to 2 Timothy before
33:48
congregation? He speaking to the man who was
33:51
pastoring this church? And this man should pass along
33:54
the message to those who Sitting in his ministry.
33:57
So he tells Timothy Paul tells Pastor Tim, so, flee, youthful,
34:02
Passions And pursue righteousness.
34:06
Faith, love and peace along. Here it is the same thing.
34:11
He told Jeremiah along with those who call on the Lord from
34:14
a pure heart. You know, if he says along with
34:19
those who call on the Lord period, it would be a different
34:21
thing. But, remember those who name the
34:23
name of the Lord must do, what depart from iniquity and so Paul
34:27
doesn't have the ungodly, the unbelieving, the refusing to
34:30
submit to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
34:32
Paul has in mind, those who name The name of the Lord, but have
34:37
not departed from iniquity. This is what it means to cleanse
34:41
yourself. It doesn't mean that you just
34:42
stop doing certain things by the power of the Holy Spirit.
34:45
It means that you also pursue certain things.
34:51
It's not just, I don't do this, it's here's where my heart is
34:55
driven towards righteousness. Peace faith, when God sees a
35:01
man, when God sees a woman in such a condition, such a heart
35:05
posture, they make themselves. Recruitable for God's service,
35:10
and here's the wonderful thing. We read a back in verse 21, he
35:13
will be a vessel for honorable use Set apart as holy not
35:19
positionally in Christ, practically for Christ.
35:24
Set apart as holy useful to the Master of the House large house.
35:30
There's a Master of the House and he's looking continually for
35:33
vessels to recruit and it's the last part here that's striking
35:37
to me. Ready for every good work.
35:41
Meaning what? I can't come up here and tell
35:44
you if you cleanse yourself or if you pursue these things and
35:47
reject these things, God will use you in this way.
35:51
It doesn't mean that everybody in, here's gonna be a pastor, or
35:53
a missionary or evangelist, he says ready for every good work,
35:58
beyond the titles and the positions in the church, in your
36:02
workplace, in your family, every good work possible.
36:06
You'll be ready for and it's interesting.
36:08
He speaking about preparedness. You may not know what it is that
36:12
God will use you for, but God will use you when he wants to do
36:16
something. You probably remember this
36:19
growing up as I did that whenever we had guests coming
36:23
over, my mom would often has two siblings, her children to get
36:26
ready, the table, especially for occasions.
36:30
And we had this one cabinet with all the special vessels, the
36:33
plates, and the cups, and the cutlery.
36:37
And we would open it set up the table.
36:38
And these vessels were used for one thing to serve a particular
36:41
people. And one thing about those
36:44
vessels, one thing about that China set, one thing about those
36:46
plates and those cups. And those Cutlery, one thing I
36:48
knew they were locked and loaded.
36:50
Every time they weren't hanging around, they were in the
36:53
dishwasher staying there. No, they were there ready, they
36:56
were there. Ready for those wonderful
36:57
meetings with people and friends and family.
36:58
We haven't seen for a while. And that's what God is calling
37:03
his people to. Because the same way such
37:04
vessels are used to serve people.
37:07
God uses, holy people to bless people.
37:12
God uses a holy people to bless people.
37:16
And that's what he's looking for.
37:16
Continually And what's incredible for us to comprehend.
37:23
Is that we might hear such a message and feel more
37:26
intimidated and encouraged because we realize, if we're
37:30
honest with ourselves, there are things that we need to be
37:32
cleansed from, but I just don't have the power to do it.
37:36
I've tried to defeat this thing for years.
37:39
I realized that this is this honoring Christ.
37:42
I know that it's harming. My testimony fact.
37:44
It's so annoying and it's so paralyzing that I don't even
37:48
want to serve God because this thing is nodding at my soul.
37:54
Christ is not asking you to cleanse yourself in your own
37:56
strength. The Lord Jesus is not asking you
38:00
to purify yourself with your own power.
38:03
And there is a text in the Old Testament that proves that all
38:07
that God Longs for you to do is submit yourself in the hands of
38:10
the Potter. Would you turn to Malachi
38:13
chapter 3, please? Malachi 3.
38:25
Malachi 3. We're told something about the
38:29
sons of Levi. Now coming up to this chapter,
38:36
there are skating, rebukes concern, the priest, and the
38:39
leadership of Israel, they were offering terrible sacrifices,
38:42
they were Unholy themselves. They were leading people astray
38:45
by their example, and by their teaching and is just rebuke
38:48
after rebuke, after rebuke for the leadership.
38:52
And finally and Malachi 3 verse 3, we read he being God will sit
38:59
as a refiner and purifier of silver.
39:03
And he will purify the sons of Levi, and refined them like,
39:06
gold and silver, then Impala, say, vessels of gold and silver.
39:11
Refined them like gold and silver and they will bring
39:14
offerings and righteousness to the Lord.
39:19
Who's doing the refining? Not you and not me.
39:23
God is doing the refining. And like what Jeremiah said, at
39:27
one point when God brought him to a Potter at a potter's wheel,
39:32
cannot I do to you what this Potter is doing with the clay.
39:38
I will guide your Sovereign. You can just take the clean.
39:40
Do what you want? No.
39:41
He's using that text as an example that yes you are clay
39:44
but you must submit yourself in the hands of the Potter.
39:49
Stop being stubborn, stop trying to do it in your own strength.
39:53
Something you have to strategize something, you have to do it in
39:55
the power of the Flesh and submit yourself.
39:59
And let God do his work. And you know what, I love about
40:01
this text that despite the record of rebellion of these
40:05
sons of Levi, God was still willing to cleanse them, not
40:09
cast them, cleanse them purify them, renew them, restore them.
40:13
And there's an interesting word in this verse, he will sit
40:20
there's sometimes I'm in a rush and when I eat, I stand, Hi, my
40:25
jacket on. I my keys in my on one hand and
40:28
I'm eating because I'm going to rush, I'm not focused.
40:32
Sometimes I miss my mouth, I need to get to my next place and
40:36
so I'm standing so that once I finish what I think is enough, I
40:39
run to my car so I can move on. God does not stand when he
40:42
refines us. He sits he's patient.
40:49
He's focused. He's very much dedicated to this
40:53
work. He's very much willing and
40:56
wanting to take his time, his energy, if he had energy to
41:01
waste his Focus, to take those who are willing to be cleansed
41:07
and for him to cleanse. And although he has creative
41:09
ways of refining you and me, does he not That joke that
41:14
people often say God give me patience and give it to me now
41:18
it's not how it works. Yes, God by the spirit can
41:24
Infuse within you a strength to overcome certain things in the
41:27
moment and I believe he does that specifically with sins of
41:30
the flesh, sins of the spirit. He can he can wipe it away, but
41:32
when it comes to character and attitude, oh, he finds creative
41:36
ways of refining you. He takes you through trials, he
41:40
lets you be burned, he takes you through circumstances, in which
41:43
you, you are dependent upon God, less you act out in the flesh.
41:48
And so, if you're going through a trial, fiery trial, know this,
41:52
he's refining. You and know this.
41:54
He's refining you so that he can use you.
41:57
He wants to use you. He's so longing to use his
42:01
people. For many reasons, God can do a
42:04
lot of things in his own, he can do all things on his own.
42:08
But you know what, he wants more Glory by you keep using week
42:12
vessels and showing his perfect strength through them.
42:15
And so he's looking for those vessels and he sits and he's
42:19
patient. You know what this shows me God
42:21
is Not Looking for instantaneous change.
42:24
You're not a candidate to be used by God, just because you
42:27
had a perfect week and then you lose that qualification because
42:29
you had a bad day. No, he sits and he doesn't just
42:35
refine you. And then once you're finished,
42:37
he uses you, he uses you as he refines you.
42:42
And so, I slip and I fall forward, and I reacted, in a way
42:46
that somebody shouldn't react, who claims to know, Christ, does
42:49
God disqualify me, know, he refines me further.
42:54
He brings me to my knees when I was at work and I showed
42:58
something that didn't represent him, he brings me to my knees
43:02
when I was in the father or the husband that I was called to be
43:05
in Light of Christ. And he refines me and he refines
43:11
you, the concern for this hour, as I bring forth this message to
43:15
you is the concern of ezekiel's day.
43:18
When the prophet was told by God and I sought for a man among
43:22
them I saw for a man among them who would stand in the gap.
43:29
That I would not destroy the land, but I found none.
43:33
But I found none. Meaning what I did not find the
43:36
vessels of gold and silver that I was needing to do a work in
43:39
this generation. And I pray that your life, my
43:44
life would be consecrated unto the Lord so that when he is
43:48
ready to do a great work, he will find a church ready to be
43:53
used. Can I give you one more hint
43:55
before we close ready for every good work?
43:59
Would you like another practical hint of how you can be ready for
44:02
every good? Was that phrase sound familiar?
44:04
Go back to 2nd Timothy please and will close here.
44:11
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself verse 21 from what is
44:14
dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use set
44:16
apart as holy useful to the master of the house, ready for
44:20
every good work. Go to 2nd, Timothy 3:16 All
44:24
scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for
44:28
reproof for correction, and for training in righteousness.
44:31
That the man of God, may be complete equipped for every good
44:34
work. You want to be a vessel that God
44:39
would use. I don't know how he's going to
44:40
use you. I don't know what he has planned
44:42
for you. My main goal in this message.
44:45
Today's for one thing for you to just be ready, if you want to
44:49
ready yourself. No, the scriptures.
44:54
Know the scriptures know, the will of God absorb the the word
44:57
of God examine your life and light of the word of God,
45:00
because the word of God equips us for every good work and God
45:03
is looking for vessels for every good work.
45:08
Brothers and sisters, I hope and my prayer over this message, as
45:11
it is declared to you today. Is that you would leave here
45:14
more excited. Than burdened that, you would
45:19
realize that it's available for all of us, but there's one
45:23
condition, Holiness unto the Lord.
45:27
May God be with us, let's pray. Lord, we come before you.
45:52
And we thank you that you do not require the strength of the
45:55
flesh, the wisdom of this world. The stature of a certain frame
46:01
of physical bodies. Lord, but you require one thing
46:05
a willingness to be cleansed by the refinery Lord, you know, in
46:09
this place who needs to be cleansed and we all needed.
46:12
Oh God continually. But for those who have perhaps
46:15
holding onto certain things that they know are dishonorable, We
46:20
pray and ask that they were not be one soul that represents this
46:23
ministry that would be within the house but not ready for
46:26
God's use. We want to be used for every
46:30
good work, whatever you have in mind Lord.
46:32
We pray that you would peek into this room of your great large
46:35
house and find every vessel ready for the plans in the
46:41
programs that you have for this generation. and we asked so God
46:45
that you would wash over us purify, our hearts may we be
46:49
like gold Lord. If there are those like in the
46:52
book of Lamentations who have lost that glow, who have grown
46:57
dim, who have been covered by certain things, that makes them
47:04
a different person. Altogether, a contradiction to
47:07
their convictions, Lord wash us, a fresh wash us and mind and
47:11
word, and deed cleanse us from within We asked, oh, God, that
47:17
this would create a hunger in our hearts, as, it wasn't Paul.
47:20
What shall I do? Lord what, what do you have for
47:23
me in this life? What do you have for me as a
47:25
husband? As a father as a wife as a
47:27
mother? What do you have for me?
47:28
As a single person? What do you have for me as a
47:31
student? What do you have for me?
47:32
As somebody who's working a nine-to-five?
47:34
What do you have for me? What shall I do?
47:36
Lord May that be our Perpetual plea and may you be pleased to
47:41
answer it because there's no Greater Joy in this life than to
47:44
know you first and then to be used by you as you see fit low,
47:49
we submit ourselves to you in this place.
47:52
Cleanse us afresh. In your name, we pray.
47:56
Amen. You don't have to stand.
47:58
If you don't want to, you can stand, if you want to.
48:00
I Really in the next few moments, I really would love for
48:04
us to apply this immediately. Put your hands in the hands of
48:08
the great refinery. And here's the encouraging thing
48:12
about the grace of God, listen if you're not even asking that
48:15
question, if you're not even concerned about you being used
48:17
by God, if you're finding a greater thrill and a promotion
48:23
and your retirement plan, there's nothing wrong with those
48:27
things. But if there's no what shall I
48:28
do in your mind in your daydreaming, in your nights,
48:32
laying your head, on that pillow, if you're not asking
48:34
that question, God is so gracious enough to birth that in
48:37
you. You can ask him saying God, I
48:40
don't know why it is but I'm not even craving this.
48:42
I need you to do something in my soul.
48:44
How is it that I can be born of your spirit and not crave to be
48:47
used by you do something in me and God will do it and listen to
48:52
how he'll do it in many ways you can.
48:54
But one thing he will certainly do is all the things that you
48:57
thought you would find pleasure and will grow strangely dim And
49:00
now you begin to get bored by things that thrilled.
49:03
You trivial things will become even more trivial, and you think
49:05
to yourself, I have nothing to live for except for Christ.
49:09
Entertainment won't be much entertainment.
49:11
I'm not against entertainment, but I'm a fan of the joy.
49:15
The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit Will.
49:18
So impart something in you that you will be wholly dissatisfied
49:23
and God will do something with you.
49:25
He will place his Spirit upon you.
49:26
He will place a fragrance on your heel.
49:28
Anoint you in a way in which you will do great things for his
49:32
kingdom. It may not be recognized and may
49:34
not be recorded, but I'll tell you, this, it will be recognized
49:38
one day. And it will bless people and it
49:43
will change their lives. This is the Cry of Christ this
49:47
morning, not just here but I believe all across the world
49:50
where are those who are willing to cleanse themselves?
49:54
Where those who are willing to pay the price, it's not really
49:57
much of a price. Is it let go of the things that
49:59
destroy your soul? Anyway, And embrace Holiness,
50:03
pursue righteousness, peace, faith, and love.
50:07
If you want a motivation for Holiness.
50:09
Yes, please Christ. But you want to know something?
50:12
You have every right to want to be holy because you want to be
50:16
used by God. In fact, a true, holy servant
50:20
will continually examine their words, their decisions there
50:24
meditations, where their eyes go to with their hands do for this
50:28
sole purpose. God, I don't want anything to
50:31
interfere with your Holy Spirit, anointing me and empowering me,
50:36
and using me, whatever it is that I need to let go of.
50:39
So that when people hear me, they hear Christ.
50:40
And when they see me, they see Christ, let it be.
50:42
So, I want the power of God on my life.
50:47
I want people to be able to Since the Holiness and the love
50:50
of Christ through my life. And so give me the grace to let
50:53
go of whatever I needed to let go of.
50:55
So that your Holy Spirit can radiate from my heart.
51:00
Unfortunately, in many places, many institutions, many churches
51:03
were just satisfied with being in the house.
51:07
But not being used by the Master of the House.
51:10
May God protect us from such a false ambition.
51:15
If you need to stay seated, pray to your God.
51:18
If you want to stand and worship worship your God, but we're not
51:22
going to rush out of here. We want to make sure that we do
51:24
business with God, Amen. Spend time with the Lord.
51:28
We're going to worship together and you will be dismissed.
51:31
Whenever you're ready.