Pure Vessels

By: Paul Beamon

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.

One of the most common questions asked among Christians is, " How can I know the will of God?" I'm happy that I can answer that question with certainty. God's will is that we give thanks continually (1 Thessalonians 5:18). God's will is that none should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 peter 3:9). God's will is that we possess our vessels in purity.

The word vessel means pitcher or container. Under the old covenant (old testament) vessels were used to hold wine for a drink offering to the Lord (numbers 15). Under the new covenant (new testament) Christians are earthen vessels to hold the treasure of Christ. Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit tells us to keep our vessels (bodies) pure.

Daniel 5 shows us what happens when a holy vessel is used in an unholy manner. Belshazzar organised a great feast for his lords and drank wine. To paraphrase the story a little, Belshazzar basically partied hard and then commanded the holy vessels, which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken when he conquered Jerusalem, to be brought in so he and his guests could drink from them. In the midst of all the drunken revelry a hand appeared on the wall and wrote, "Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin," which when translated meant, " You have been weighed in the balance and have been found wanting. Tonight your kingdom will crash down upon you."

True to the prophetic writing, the Medes dammed up the Euphrates river, crawled beneath the wall surrounding Babylon and into the city. Once inside they were able to capture Belshazzar's kingdom right from under him.

It is not God's will for a believer to stay in the same condition he was before he got saved. Getting saved 20 years ago with absolutely no growth since then would bring into question a believers commitment. Struggling then failing to keep ones vessel pure does not jeopardize an already existing relationship with Christ, for we are save by grace through faith. However, it does compromise the believers joy, effectiveness, and ministry.

So how do we keep our vessels pure? I suggest three ways....

Hide The Word In Your Heart

Psalm 119:9-11

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking thereto according to thy word.....Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Filling up on the Word of God is an absolute must for the Christian on the path of purity. We are designed in such away that whatever we give our attention to the most we become. For example, a gossip loves to hear gossip, and loves to spread it. They gravitate to any and every juicy bit of gossip going; they just can't help themselves, why? Because they have filled up on gossip and have become what is in their heart in abundance, a gossip!

Now here is the good part, when a believer fills his heart up with the Word he becomes what the Word wants him to become, Christ like. When a believer spends time reading and meditating in the Word his heart begins to fill up with light and darkness is driven out. The Word literally delivers a death sentence to impurity.

It should be noted that this is a life time process that began the moment we were born again. At the new birth we are sanctified (set apart) for the work of sanctification. In other words, when we first excepted Christ as our saviour, we were put in right standing with God (righteousness), and set apart for the process of sanctification (possessing our vessels with honour). Scripture commands, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity, 2 timothy 2:19. Verses 20-21 also says, But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth; and some to honour and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself of these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meat for the Masters use, and prepared unto every good work. Some misread the text here and think that the earthen vessel, which is mentioned last, is the vessel unto dishonour. The opposite, however, is true. For the Christian, it's the earthly vessel that is to be purged unto a vessel of honour.

2 Corinthians 4:7 says, But we have this treasure (Christ) in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. The key is to purge ourselves from iniquity using the Word and....

Running To The Congregation

2 Timothy 2:22

Flee also youthful lusts: But follow righteousness, faith, charity(love), peace with them that call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart.

When faced with temptation do what Joseph did when Potiphar's wife grabbed him for a bit on the side, run! Potiphar's wife wanted Joseph to lie with her but Joseph refused her advances. She approached him day after day until one day she caught him by his clothes and practically forced herself on him. What did he do? he fled. Even though he ended up getting thrown into prison for his righteous actions scripture says that God was with him and granted him favour every where he went, eventually he rose to the position of Prime Minister in Egypt.

If you say "I'll flee temptation but I don't need other people", you're headed for trouble because no one can make it on their own. When you flee make sure you flee to the congregation, for this is where safety and strength will be found. A strong anointing becomes available to the people of God when they are gathered together in His name and pray in agreement. The battle weary soul can find much encouragement and strength when believers hold them up in corporate prayer.

In Matthew 16:13-18 Jesus told Peter that he was a rock, based upon his revelation of Jesus being the Christ. Jesus continued to tell Peter that upon that rock of revelation(my paraphrase) He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Take note of the word "it" in this verse because "it" means a collective group of people not a single stand alone believer. It's so important to get this right because we are not made to stand alone. A Christian who thinks he/she can make it on their own without the church (a collective group of believers) has been deceived by the enemy, and has become an easy target.

Hear what the scriptures say and run from sin to the saints, for it is there that the hounds of hell have no place and are cast out.

Fasting

Fasting is an essential key for those struggling with lustful sins of the flesh. When a believer commits a fast to Lord, God will meet that believer in a special way. God promises to reward those who fast in secret, Matthew 6:18. Its not that we can twist God's arm into doing something for us, rather He has made a promise to reward them who fast. He expects us to simply believe His promise.

No fasting seems pleasant (for the body) at the time but it's fruit is well worth the effort.

Isaiah 58:6 says, Is this not the fast I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

When I have fasted I've found it to be unpleasant on my body, yet at the same time I found that my spirit would begin to saw. If you have never fasted I would encourage you to try. Maybe start with just one meal a day then move to a whole day. During that time seek God, He will reward you with grace enough to possess your vessel with honour.

Remember:

Hide the word in your heart,

Run from sin to the congregation,

Fast.

Practise these things and you will be fulfilling God's will for your life. You will be blessed in your life and ministry.

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

Paul Beamon www.life-is-for-living.com

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