Freely you received mercy, freely give and you will receive more and more, pressed down, shaken together, running over (Luke 6:38). Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. He now lives for God's purpose. By speaking to us, He seeks to guide and lead us in making decisions that reflect His love and align with His will. Read the thirty-eighth verse: "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.". Mercy upon mercy. Despite the futility, he seeks to run "away from the presence of the Lord" (Jonah 1:3). A vessel filled to overflowing isnt the best use of its potential, either. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." ( 2 Corinthians 4:7) *Prayer Points*. Some even go to the highest point by saying that man can be a child of God. Jonah God's chosen instrument is a leaky vessel. I was told that I was going to marry a minister when I was around 16 years old. God was not afraid to step into the pathway of a sinner and pull him off it. (Oh yes! Consecrate yourselfset yourself, and your own will, asidefor His Purposes. God continually brought prophets to exhort His people to repent and turn back to Him. The Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god. The people of this inheritance are not defined by ethnic relations. Revelation 12:7-9,17, Isaiah 14:12-15,Ezekiel 28:11-17, The Bible is a mysterious book. Ananias went to meet Saul, and Saul became the man God had said he would be. Many of God's chosen vessels in the Bible had to leave their comfort zone in order to pursue and fulfill a higher calling of God in their lives. Without keeping the cause in mind, every chosen vessel of God is susceptible to complacency. We love it!) The absolute sovereignty of God is offensive to the human heart. Posted By : / actual instructions in flowcharting are represented in / Under : . "Your faith in Jesus is a wonder more wonderful than any of the seven wonders of the world." Any group, or any person, who boasts that there is something in them that justifies God's choosing them, has not experienced what the choosing is for. I had never had a boyfriend up to that point and I was just about to enter University. 1 Samuel 17, John 11, Psalm 78:70-72, Psalms 78:70-72, Psalms 78:70-72:70, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. Paul said these riches are unimaginable: What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined . C.S. We do not deserve to be chosen or called or saved or transformed or heaven-bound. I had my whole life ahead of me and I had it all planned out. and the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel; and he shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. Is Yoga Dangerous? When you move in the direction and will of God, rest assured there will be provision. He meets us in our mess! 102 views, 4 likes, 1 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Pilgrim Baptist Church -Kenner: Celebrating God's Chosen Vessel for His Purpose and Direction God has blessed our Church. We are also told in the parable that God would cause us to hear his voice, "There". It isnt confidence in self-righteousness. Rather, it is bearing a limp from a wounded hip, so we can have power with God (Genesis 3:24-31). The servant now speaks, declaring his purpose and reciting what the Lord told him. We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Elijah declared a famine in Israel and guess what? But thats what I went through in the will of God. Your body becomes His temple, therefore, there are certain things that we should . Perhaps you feel its impossible for you. God tells us still to do what he requires, with an assurance only that his commands are just, and that there are good reasons for them. 1. PRAYER OF THE SOUL ASPIRING VESSEL OF SANCTIFYING GRACE THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT That makes me confident to contend with the enemy for my marriage and family when the Devil tries to enter. And the apostle Paul, who was not even five feet tall, might have been even tougher. He can take someone who has been an enemy to us and transform them into a vessel to accomplish His purposes. First we must become shepherds or wise stewards, second we must seek God's direction, and third we must be willing to Go for God. In most cases, it has the idea of a common household utensil that has a . With your focus and expectations on His purpose, you have real confidence, because you know that you are among His greatest possessions. Meditate. No one likes pain. A chosen vessel - The usual meaning of the word "vessel" is well known. I could say some very scary things to you about that. Noah met grace because it was therein God's heart, in God's gaze, in God's eyes. . (Please note I said start off! Heres a heads up: pain is coming with your calling! I concluded that it was either the Devil who spoke to me about a husband so I could end up confused, or, I was mad. What a privilege! . Thats the nature of the call: God takes us out of the kingdom of darkness, drafts us into His kingdom of light, then uses us to fight against that kingdom out of which He took us. If you do, obey it and believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The Chosen Vessel. For the enemy knows who they are and the vision of God they carry within their heart. In other words, we will never know it fully, but will know it more fully every day forever and ever. Or perhaps you dont pursue with passion to know the glory of God because you simply have no taste for it and dont know what it is and therefore cannot feel drawn to it. The idea that God orders and controls everything is simply not acceptable to man. 11:3 ). Have you ever walked in the woods, sat by a lake, lain in a summer hammock? When the psalmist says, The heavens are telling the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), it does not mean that sunrises and sunsets are the glory of God. This is due to the fact that many are not sure about who we want to lead us in our pilgrimage to glory. We are God's "Out Called Ones" which is what the church is, a people that belong to the Lord. The called of God are his primary target. God will create the faith and desire for iteven if you dont have it yetwhen you simply ask. Instead of us choosing a pastor that is saved, we choose a look, we chose a school, or we chose a puppet that will be used only when called upon. When Paul says Gods purpose is to make known Gods glory he means make known as infinitely precious and infinitely pleasing. Or perhaps you turn away from Gods design by saying: I dont want to be lost in the crowd of ogling spectators standing in front of a work of art, saying, Oh, look at the glory, look at the glory. In this book Rebecca provides a road other women can follow in helping to restore the black family to a biblical foundation." From the Foreword by Dr. John M. Perkins "Chosen Vessels gripped my heart like no . Everything about being a chosen vessel is wrapped up in this truth (besides the fact that we were created for God's pleasure, Revelation 4:11). The Bible answers this question in Ezekiel 28:11-17, and offers a similar explanation in Isaiah 14:12-15. He is author of. Trust Him in the process. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. In this episode, we will spend some time reflecting on God's Word using references from Psalms 73 and 75, with particular emphasis on Psalms 73:2-4 and 75:1-3. Look what He chose a lowly shepherd boy. The issue for you this morning is not your background or race or your ethnic connections or your denomination or your parents faith. Youll find a devout pagan like Abraham; a farm hand like Moses; a shepherd boy like David; a fisherman like Peter; a tent maker like Paul; and if that is not enough we would find a carpenter like Jesus, and the thing that should stand out in our minds is that God Himself chose them all. It cant pour, move, or even come up with the idea on its own. The Bible talks a lot about literal vessels in the Old Testament, which were set apart for special use in the house of the Lord. Today's Verse: But 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: ~Acts 9:15 What comes to your mind when you hear the word "vessel?" In the Bible, the word "vessel" implies something similar to a vase or utensil. Robin, Thanks for your comment. pinkberry gossip girl. I really like how you include your thought life when it comes to pleasing God. Thanks so much, Isa, for your comment! Even if their message was for us we cannot pickup the phone to speak to him and to ask him to personally pray for us. While being carried away by Roman soldiers, Paul asked to address the crowd. Theme: You are a chosen vessel of Christ. If you are not in the potter's house, within GOD's Control and influence, then you cannot hear . god's chosen vessel for his purpose and direction. In his writing of the "Faithful Admonition to the Professors of God's Truth in England" of 1554, Knox expressed his support for the "elect and chosen vessel of God," whom Knox believed was King Edward VI, due to their similar religious beliefs and Knox's high view of royalty. In the Masters hand, you were planned and designed. Now David knew something about leading sheep and that qualified him according to Gods standards. Nothing is wasted, like the fragments of bread gathered . Here is a great mystery; our mistakes, suffering, chaos and pain can all be used for His glory and purpose. The suffering of a chosen vessel of God is a peculiar suffering because it is set apart for the peculiar people. Lets begin and lets end today with the wonder of being vessels of mercy prepared beforehand for glory. The phrase "chosen by God" is used in a variety of ways. Jesus' Baptism. God predestined you with purpose or a "call" on your life before you were formed in the womb. Thank you so much for commenting it encourages us so much to know that someone appreciates what we wrote. 2023Released to FlyAll rights reserved, Powered byWPDesigned with the Customizr theme, "Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Nothing about being a chosen vessel is in a vacuum- its all related to this one cause. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. Do you see that in the way verse 23 flows into verse 24? The Bible is very clear that there are people chosen by God to do specific things. So, when faced with a particularly stubborn demon, they were overcome. You can hardly find a story in the New Testament where an individual comes to faith apart from the involvement of another person. Gods purpose is not to be known as glorious and then exchanged for images. There are specific assignments that you are chosen to do. Im praying that God will lead me in what His purpose is for my life. My fellow laborers of the kingdom, it is getting harder to identify those who lead the Church of God. It is in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy. Got dents? What an honour! Finding Your Place in This World: The Rest of the Story Part 1, Obedience to God: Knowing Him Enough to Trust Him, Pursue Your Enemy: Be More Than a Conqueror, Lord, Send Me. Your Life Within the Labyrinth, Every Morning: Renewing the Newness in You, Your Faith in Action: The Power of an Endless Life, Until That Day of Christ Jesus: Stand Your Ground. | 233 N Walnut St, Lansing MI 48933. Just as the ark was God's chosen vessel of salvation from the flood that destroyed the world the church is God's chosen vessel of salvation from the condemnation of sin. First of all verses 70 and 71 tells us that. God made you to know his glory. There is an intimacy with God that is reserved for only those who suffer. Because of this, God's choices are perfect and will result in the . And if nature had never awakened certain longings in me, huge areas of what I can now mean by the love of God would never, so far as I can see, have existed. Love is the only context in which Spiritual gifts can fulfil God's purpose in the church . (2 Corinthians 4:7) The only thing a vessel can do on its own is to simply exist, and be available. Youre Gods First Choice. ), The apostle Paul is a clear example of this predicament because he was once a mess! Baptist. The suffering of the world is a common suffering. A truly converted person is no longer his own; he has been bought with a price. Homes For Sale By Owner Piperton, Tn, God does everything with that particular purpose in mind. Impossible to you, yes, but not to God. Regence Bcbs Oregon Timely Filing Limit, Remember you are a chosen vessel, someone whom God selected to serve Him, (I Samuel16:12). But in 2 Timothy 2:20-21, Paul's emphasis is on our responsibility to cleanse ourselves from the defilement of sin, especially the sin of false teaching, so that we will be vessels for honor. The Servant's Message (49:1-4) The servant begins by calling for the world to listen to him. We need to combine the message of the Bible with actions so that we are a relevant church in this time. I pray that God will lead you into His purposes, as you surrender to His will for your life. God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). God is reaching out to us to say: its like this, only better lots better! We saw in the last chapter that God designed you on purpose for His purpose. . So inspite of myself and my circumstances , im still going to lift him up on high . We receive so few comments here, I find myself checking less and less. He now lives for God's purpose. A filled vessel is a good thing, but one that is being poured out is even better. Its a horrible feeling. When God showed Joseph his destiny, we see no evidence in Scripture that God told him about the suffering that awaited him in the process (Genesis 37:5-11, 18-28; 39:20). Our knowledge of the riches of the glory of God will increase forever and ever, world without end. 3. You are chosen, and you are moreso much morethan you ever knew you could be. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. The Vessel of Mercy. The life of a chosen vessel is not passiveyet, the vessel itself must be passive in order to be used. He calls that oblique.. This word prepared beforehand simply underlines and emphasizes that our ability to see and savor Gods glory is all because of his mercy. Page Seen: 3,228 times. I say that you have tasted the appetizers. In Chosen Vessels we hear a voice from the inside. Undeserved. God told one of His servants Ananias to go pray for Paul. H. A new purpose and direction in life in line with God's sovereign will is a mark of true conversion. After Jesus returned to God, He came back and revealed Himself to Saul, a persecutor of Christians. It affected him too! These cookies do not store any personal information. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. God Chooses the Nation of Israel. 2017-2023 Rebecca L Matthews. You were intentionally made that wayto feel empty insidebecause you were designed to be filled. Daily submission (to both God and my husband) takes daily death to self. Hello, my name is Maria E. White, and I am the author of Chosen Vessels Pray with Purpose and Passion. I say this because verse 23 says the purpose of God is to make known the riches of his glory. That is what we are prepared for. 6. God again calls Israel his chosen nation. Luke 22:23 "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fails not . Psalms 78:70-72, Psalms 78:70-72:70, Denomination: God Chose David to Fight Goliath. People have suffered for the sake of getting a University degree for example. As chosen vessels we did not take this on ourselves; it was God who called, chose, processed and sent us. Youchosen oneare holy. Key Verse: Ananias went to the house. That is how powerful God is in our lives today. Jew and Gentile! Saul was a chosen vessel who would be a powerful testimony of Jesus before both Jews and Gentiles. This is a trust you display in spite of what you see in front of you. In Acts 9:15, God said, "But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is . God doesnt want a stationary vessel with a haphazard spillage all over the place. How wonderful that God has put it in your heart to spread the gospel. Many other students had similar experiences in university, and most of them werent even Christians. Under the unction of the Holy Ghost. 1. . But God commanded ravens and a widow to feed him. Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee.(Jeremiah 1:5a). Pursue that with all your heart and above all else. (1 Peter 2:9) The suffering of the world is comfortless; the suffering that comes with obedience to the call, purpose and will of God comes with consolation. You see a good shepherd pay close attention to the little things, he knows when one of the sheep is missing, he knows when they are sick with parasites, he knows the sheep by name and they know his voice, in discipline he even know the right amount of force to use with his stave. A chosen vessel doesnt just sit on a shelf in a closet somewhereit is frequently handled, moved, lifted, tipped and set in place on a family table. . Ask God to set you in place, put you into position, and be poured outfor His purposes, and not your own. But in truth, even the most gorgeous, shapely, bejeweled, most-adored vesselif it has no purposejust sits on a shelf, empty and unused. But to whom do I owe this empathising ability? We want him handsome and tall, intelligent and pulpit savvy, we even want him timid and passive so he can be swayed in one direction or another. So on this 17th anniversary of our pastor let us take a look at this lesson that we can identify Gods Chosen Vessel. It means being able to say, Surely goodness and mercy will follow me pursue me all the days of my life. There will not be one day neither the day of my delight nor the day of my death when mercy does not track me down and make me a vessel for his blessing. Dont limit yourself! Isnt it great to know you are chosen? He is still with me and is still consoling, comforting and strengthening me. We find a synopsis of this prophecys fulfilment in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27. Celebrating God's Chosen Vessel for His Purpose and Direction-Romans 10:15 God has blessed our Church Family with immeasurable grace, poured out through. The apostle Pauls life teaches us five things we need to accept about being a chosen vessel. You can be filled to the brim with the Divine substancethis Living Water Jesus speaks of. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. As we go forward in ministry, we must know that we did not choose ourselves. (Did I mention he was a mess?). It is therefore something to be surrendered to, rather than to be resisted. The vessel of mercy is very similar to the vessel of honor. He gives comfort that keeps us in peace. But some kind of discomfort is part of Gods purpose for His servants. Keeping this mindset and attitude also makes yourself available to your maker, so that His intentions for your lifeand purpose for your beingmay be fully carried out. by Rebecca L Matthews | Feb 11, 2018 | Messages. The church is God's chosen vessel to transform lives! He also had both patience and wisdom, and was introspective in his thoughts. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." In other words, because the riches of glory are infinite it will take ages for us to know it fully eternal ages! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. God had a call upon the life of Saul, a calling that was unknown to Saul at the time. Gods people, those indwelled with His Holy Spirit, have refuge from evil here and now. But God selected him to be the great apostle to the Gentiles. In Acts 9:13, we see the disciple Ananias hesitant to encounter Paul even after his conversion, because he had heard of the evil he had done to the saints at Jerusalem. Spiritual Discernment. We only need to gird up our minds with the expectation that there will be a cost to being called. I now bear their burdens in prayer and travail. (1 Peter 2:9). To obtain this desire, He made a plan. There was much sorrow and pain involved, but what a wonderful role to play in God's grand plan! Love is the only context in which Spiritual gifts can fulfil God's purpose in the church . Certainly, God's will is always being done. That keeps the vessel from taking any credit for itself, when it is used mightily for life-changing purposes. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org, Then I said to them, You are holy to the, and the pails and the shovels and the bowls; even all these utensils which Hiram made for King Solomon in the house of the, All the articles of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the, Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the, Within two years I am going to bring back to this place all the vessels of the. . Most of the time they didn't because even though they were physically from one of God's chosen 12 tribes of Israel, they really weren't God's chosen after all.