Sermon Tone Analysis

Useful For The Master

Useful For The Master

INTRODUCTION

Do you want to be used of God.? I would suspect that deep in every person's heart here there is a desire that God might use him.

That is a normal and a proper desire.

There is no thrill like the thrill of being used of God.

There is nothing that remotely approaches, in terms of excitement, satisfaction and fulfillment, the consciousness that one has been the instrument in the hands of the Almighty God to do some of his work -- to change the direction of someone's life, perhaps, to prevent an injury, to resolve an argument, to answer a challenge, to heal a weakness, to rebuke a ruler, or to turn a nation.

Every person in the world is a possible vessel for God to use, regardless of what his attitude to God may be.

1.

To motivate Timothy toward faithful service, Paul used an

1.

To motivate Timothy toward faithful service, Paul used an

Scripture tells us that God uses his enemies, even the devil, to accomplish his work.

God's sovereignty, his majesty, is such that no matter who we may be or what we may be like, we can be used by him.

In the story of the Exodus, in the Old Testament, we learn that not only was Moses the instrument of God but so was Pharaoh.

In , Paul says that Pharaoh was used of God to resist the departure from Egypt in order that the greatness of God might be manifest.

The apostle says that God raised up Pharaoh, set him on his throne, and used him for his purposes.

In fact, in the ninth chapter of Romans, the 21st through the 23rd verses, the apostle uses this very same figure about vessels of mercy contrasted with vessels of wrath.

Romans 9:21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

So Scripture itself supports the idea that God can use anybody, believer or nonbeliever.

*****We want to look at the Scripture and see how Paul expresses his thoughts, or God’s thoughts’ on this.

Paul, in order.....

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1.

To motivate Timothy toward faithful service, Paul used an

The New King James Version.

(1982).

().

Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

says, "Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for beauty and another for menial use?" ( RSV).

So Scripture itself supports the idea that God can use anybody, believer or nonbeliever.1.

To motivate Timothy toward faithful service, Paul used an

illustration involving 'vessels'...

a.

Of varying qualities and value -

b. How one could be a vessel for honor, prepared for every good work

-

-- Thus becoming "Useful For The Master"

2. By considering the context (), we too can learn how to

be...

a. Vessels of gold or silver, not wood or clay

b.

Vessels for honor, not dishonor

-- And thereby also becoming "Useful For The Master"

Our text today;

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.

21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

8 set apart

a ; [];

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The New King James Version.

(1982).

().

Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

*****Being of use to our Lord involves effort, but such is necessary if we are going to be prepared for every good work.

First of all, to be useful for the Master...

prepared for every good work.

First of all, to be useful for the

*****Being of use to our Lord involves effort, but such is necessary if we are going to be prepared for every good work.

First of all, to be useful for the Master...

Master...

I. We Must Work On Our Personal Conduct

A. Things to avoid...

1.

We must cleanse oneself from "the latter" -

a. “The Latter” being vessels of dishonor -

b. Paul also mentions to avoid teachers of false doctrine like

Hymenaeus and Philetus

16 But shun profane and 5idle babblings, for they will 6increase to more ungodliness.

17 And their message will spread like cancer.

vHymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, wsaying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

17 And their message will spread like cancer.

Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

2. We must flee youthful lusts -

Philetus- cf.

2:16-18

6 lead

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2. Must flee youthful lusts -

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2. We must flee youthful lusts -

a.

The lust of the flesh, such as fornication -

18 Flee sexual immorality.

Every sin

that a man does is outside the body, but he who

commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

18 Flee sexual immorality.

Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

b.

The lust of the eyes, such as materialism, money and all the sins associated with seeking it.

b.

The lust of the eyes, such as materialism - cf.

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into

temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and

harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and

perdition.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of

evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their