Just one week before Christmas. Imagine all the workshops – some like this one – running full steam, working hard to finish their Christmas gifts. Woodchips and sawdust cover the floor, reminding us that each project took time and care to transform a piece of wood into something to be enjoyed and treasured by the recipient.
In a similar way, the Master Carpenter is busy working on His project – us, the Church, preparing himself a gift for his return. A gift that will be enjoyed and treasured throughout eternity.
This morning, I’d like to talk about useful gifts because I don’t want to give the impression that the gift Jesus is making is one that will simply sit on the shelf for display. No, the Master Carpenter is creating a gift that will not only be a showcase of His skilled craftsmanship, it will be a gift that He puts into service for His purposes.
[2 Timothy 2:20-21] In a large house there are vessels not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Before we dig into this passage and its context, I want to take a little trip into the Old Testament. Remember when the Israelites had left Egypt and were in the wilderness? God gave them instructions for building the tabernacles and everything in it. Here are a few of the verses…
[Exodus 26:1] Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman.
[Exodus 28:6] Make the ephod (the high priest’s vestment) of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen – the work of a skilled craftsman.
[Exodus 39:2-3] They made the ephod of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen – the work of a skilled craftsman.
[Exodus 28:15] Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions – the work of a skilled craftsman. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.
There are two things I’d like to point out from these verses:
God knows what He wants. He doesn’t just tell Moses to pick out colors that look good. Our Sovereign God gives the particulars of His plan and expects them to be carried out.
God requires skilled craftsman to do the work. He’s not looking for just any volunteer. He requires people equipped to carry out His plans.
When it comes to His work in the Church, the Master Carpenter knows what He wants. He has a plan and He expects that plan to be carried out to the letter.
He also requires skilled craftsman to do the work. Too often churches beg for warm bodies to fill a slot. The Master Carpenter is doing His work in us, so we can be useful in carrying out His plans.
As Paul puts it to Timothy: so we “will be vessels for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”
The large house Paul is writing about is the Church of Christ. So within the Church there are vessels – people – people of honor and people of dishonor. How can this be? I believe Jesus gives the explanation…
[Matthew 13:47-50] "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
In any given church on any given Sunday, there are the redeemed, those born again, new creations in Christ and there are the hypocrites, those having a form of godliness but denying its power, self-righteous, those to whom Jesus will say, “I never knew you.” Just as the good fish were separated from the bad, so on judgment day, the sheep will be separated from the goats, the noble vessels from the ignoble.
Do you want to be a noble vessel, useful to the Master?
2 Timothy 2:15-26
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Approved = tested, acceptable, pleasing
How can I present myself to God as one approved? By my own efforts, my own righteousness? That falls short. Sin has separated me from the Father and trying to be saved by obeying the law is futile. Then the only other solution is through the work of Jesus on the cross – where he took upon himself my sin and gave me his righteousness when I surrendered my life before him in repentance and faith.
A workman who does not need to be ashamed…
I think of the pieces of furniture my dad has made for me and my family. On each piece you’ll find this stamp burned into the wood: “Hand crafted by Stanley J. Opseth”
Are we confident enough in the work we do for the Lord that we can stamp our name on it? Have we given Him our best work? Just like in the tabernacle, God is looking for skilled craftsman to carry out His plans.
Correctly handles the word of truth = rightly divides, to cut straight, hold a straight course
A noble vessel doesn’t add to or take away from Scripture
A noble vessel doesn’t veer to the left or to the right, but holds a straight course
Remember, we’re learning from God’s word how to be a noble vessel. Let’s continue…
16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
Godless chatter = fruitless discussions, empty sounding
Gangrene = gnaws and feeds on the flesh, spreads quickly and endangers the whole body
Paul names two false teachers among them: Hymenaeus and Philetus.
19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
No matter how much false teaching is out there, God’s solid foundation stands firm…
[Ephesians 2:19-20] God’s household is built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone.
[1 Timothy 3:15] God’s household is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
[Matthew 16:18] And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Sealed with two truths:
1. The Lord knows those who are his
2. Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness
[Matthew 7:23] I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!
20 In a large house there are articles (vessels) not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument (vessels) for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Noble vessels are made of gold and silver, which will endure through the fire of judgment. Wood and clay will be destroyed. The work done for the Lord will endure, but the work done in the flesh will be burned up.
Noble vessels are cleansed
If a man cleanses himself from the latter: Cleansed from dishonorable, ignoble vessels, like Hymenaeus and Philetus;
This Greek word “cleansed” is only used in one other verse…
[1 Corinthians 5:7] Get rid of (cleanse) the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast – as you really are. For Christ, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed.
What is the old yeast Paul is urging them to get rid of? A sexually immoral man in the church. In both passages, Paul is urging people to separate themselves from communion with the willfully sinful and the false teachers.
Of course Scripture calls us to be cleansed from sin. Paul urges noble vessels
Not to quarrel
to avoid godless chatter
turn away from wickedness
Flee the evil desires of youth
Don’t have anything to do with foolish and ignorant arguments
Noble vessels holy. They are set apart unto the Lord, apart from the things of the world.
Noble vessels are useful for the Master. Why? Because they are prepared to do any good work.
Articles (G4632) = vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (literally or figuratively [specifically a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband]) (Strong’s Greek Dictionary)
Just as Eve was the helpmate of Adam, the Church (Bride) is the helpmate of Jesus. We are carrying out the works he has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
Church, the Master Carpenter continues His good work in us. If we are to be the noble vessels he wants us to be, we must purge ourselves from false teaching, turn away from sin and consecrate ourselves to the Lord and his service.
