Page 16 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009
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3. USEFUL “...IN A GREAT HOUSE THERE ARE NOT ONLY VESSELS OF GOLD AND
SILVER, BUT ALSO OF WOOD AND CLAY, SOME FOR HONOR AND
TO THE SOME FOR DISHONOR. THEREFORE, IF ANYONE CLEANSES HIMSELF
MASTER FROM THE LATTER (“A VESSEL OF DISHONOR”)
HE WILL BE A VESSEL FOR HONOR, SANCTIFIED AND USEFUL FOR
THE MASTER, PREPARED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.”
2 Tim.2:20-21
THE MARK OF When an important person comes to your house for dinner, you will seek to put on the
A SERVANT table all your vessels of honor. You will not serve his drink in a paper cup, or give him a
plastic fork, will you? The verses above imply that God saves His vessels of honor for
His good works. He wants sanctified saints who have cleansed themselves from all that
would bring dishonor to His name. These are vessels considered to be useful for the
Master.
When God had a message to impart which “in other ages was not made known to the sons of men”, He
entrusted it to His holy apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:5). When the early church had need of men even to wait
on tables, God wanted men chosen with the criteria of being “of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and
wisdom” (Acts 6:2-3). One of those men, Stephen, would go from the lowly task of waiting on tables to being
“full of faith and power, doing great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). It could be said of
Stephen “he who was faithful in what is least is faithful also in much...” (Luke 16:10). The U. S. Marine Corps is
always advertising for a few good men, and so is God looking for a few good vessels of honor to carry out His
good works. A good servant is one that is useful to the Master.
4. FAITHFUL “MOREOVER IT IS REQUIRED IN SERVANTS
TO THE THAT ONE BE FOUND FAITHFUL”
MASTER 1 Cor. 4:1
THE MARK OF “AND MOSES INDEED WAS FAITHFUL
A SERVANT IN ALL HIS HOUSE
AS A SERVANT,
FOR A TESTIMONY...”
Heb.3:5
God requires His servants to be found faithful. Moses was “faithful in all his house as a servant.” The very next
verse states that Christ is “... over His own house, whose house we are...” (vs.6). The question is whether we,
as the church (the house of Christ), will have a testimony like Moses of being found faithful as a servant.
“...WHO CAN FIND A FAITHFUL MAN?”
Proverbs 20:6
This verse from Proverbs implies that faithfulness is a rare quality. This is strange in light of the fact that
faithfulness is listed as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22). Is it possible that this is the main area in
which God’s people are “grieving the Holy Spirit by whom they were sealed for the day of redemption”?
(Eph.4:30). The fact of the matter is that God asks His people to be available to Him. He takes the available and
makes them capable. It was so with Moses, although he was slow of speech and not eloquent (Ex.4:10-12). In
spite of his deficiencies, God sent him to speak on His behalf to Pharaoh. God told Moses,
“I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say” (Ex.4:12).
Our faithfulness as servants will determine our rewards in heaven. This is the clear teaching of Jesus in the
parables of the talents and minas (Luke 19:11-27, Matt.25:14:-30). The unprofitable servant, however, was cast
into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt. 25:30). Truly it is required in
servants that one be found faithful.