VESSEL UNTO HONOR

1. Introduction

Rom 9:21

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

            A vessel is a useful household material. It may be a container, pot, bowl, jug, pitcher, basin, bottle or cup. A vessel may be used for honorable or dishonorable purpose in the house. China is used to drink. But who will put his tea in a toilet bowl or put a vessel of dishonor like toilet pot in the same place with a vessel of honor like tea pot and drinking glasses?

            All the vessels in the house are useful.

Rev. 4:11

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Even the toilet bowl has its own good use. It is bought and kept for a purpose. All human beings belong to God and can be used to serve the good purpose of God. For this reasons, all human beings can be regarded as vessels before God. But who are the vessels of dishonor and who are the vessels of honor?

2. Vessels unto dishonor.

Rom 9:17

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Exodus 9

13 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.

16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

God created every man for a good purpose. But some choose to go their own way and help the devil in his bids to frustrate the purpose of God. Since these people cannot serve God as vessels unto honor, they can serve Him as vessels unto dishonor. This means that they still serve God’s purpose, as vessels, although their service, which they unwittingly render to God, is not to their benefits but to their dishonor. Though their heart is hardened, disobedient, ungodly, God can still use them for His honor and glory. God brought Pharaoh into the world, gave him kingdom and power, made him famous and great. But Pharaoh chose to disobey and dishonor God

Ex 5:2

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

The beautiful part of this case is that a person has the choice to be a vessel of honor or a vessel of dishonor. The story of Pharaoh on earth and in eternity would have been different had he chosen to be a vessel of honor by honoring and obeying the Lord of heaven and earth. 

Fellow, choose not to be a vessel of dishonor like Pharaoh, but of honor like Paul

Acts 26

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.

2.1. Through the disobedience and ungodliness of a vessel of dishonor, God can show His great power to the people of the world. If Pharaoh hadn’t stubbornly refused to obey the word of God, how would the world have known that God was capable of all He did in Egypt in Exodus chapters 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. See how God used Paul as a vessel of honor to show His power—Rom. 15:19;Act 19:11.

2.2. Through the disobedience and ungodliness of a vessel of dishonor, God can show the people of the world the folly of disobedience to Him - Exo 15:9-16. Pharaoh learnt the hard way that it didn’t pay to mess about with the words of the God. He served as a vessel to bring this point home to the people of  the world. Through him, God caused His fear to spread to hearts where it had never been.  Friend, obey God—Ex 19:5; Jer 7:23

2.3. Through the disobedience and ungodliness of a vessel of dishonor, God can prove to His people who trust in Him that He can defend them against the enemy and give them the victory they need—Ex 14:13-14, 27-30. God gave the Israelites great victory over Pharaoh and his ungodly army. God used Pharaoh to prove to his people his power to save and to deliver.

2.4. Vessels of dishonor are no threats to God’s vessels of honor— Jos 24:9; Num 23:11,20; Num. 24:10; Deut 23:5 ….. Isa. 7:5-7; Isa. 8:9-10.

2.5. Facts about vessels of dishonor:

1.2.4.1. ‘Vessels unto dishonor’ include unbelievers, unrepentant sinners— Eph 2:2; Eph 5:6; Col 3:6

1.2.4.2. ‘Vessels unto dishonor’ include backsliden Christians.1King 11:4; John 6:66; 1Tim 5:15. All these people stopped being vessels of honor in the house of God. Yet they are still used as vessels to warn us.

1.2.4.3. Careless and undedicated Christians who never allow themselves to be guided in their walk in the world by the word of God. Such Christians refuse to walk in the light of the word of God.  They do not allow the Holy Spirit to take total control in their lives. They nurse in their heart love for money and love for the world. 2 Timothy 4:10; Heb 10:38-39.

1.2.5. Those who allow themselves to be ‘Vessels unto dishonor’ will suffer disgrace and dishonor in spite of the fact that God uses them as a vessel to bring glory and honor to Himself—Mat 7:21-23; Mat 25:11-12; Luke 6:46; Luke 13:25

3. Vessels unto honor

These are believers who listen to, obey and serve God wholeheartedly. God is willingly honored and glorified through vessels of honor. Unlike the vessels of dishonor, the vessels of honor benefit tremendously from their service for God because what they do they do in obedience to and reverence for God. These are the people who will receive eternal inheritance and reward.

3.1. God can honor and glorify Himself by showing His power to the people of the world through the obedience, commitment, dedication and service of a vessel of honor. Acts 19:11-12; Rom 15:18-19; Acts 5:15-16.

3.2. God can honor and glorify Himself by showing the people of the world the wisdom of living a life pleasing to God—Matt 5:16; Joh 15:8;1Pe 2:12

3.3. God can honor and glorify Himself by bringing people into His kingdom through the obedience, commitment, dedication and service of a vessel of honor— Acts 4:32:33; Acts 26:15-22; Acts 19:8-12; Rev 17:14

3.4. Be a vessel of honor.

3.4.1. Accept Him as your Lord and Savior and abide in Him - John 1:12

3.4.2, Abide in Christ—John 15:4-8; Matt 7:21

3.4.3. Prepare yourself so that you might do it - Luke 12:47

Click here to go to Part Two - God Needs Vessels

Prepared by:

Raphael Oye Taiwo

Unity Christ Evangelical Ministry (UCEM)

www.ucevam.com