A Sanctified Vessel for the Master’s Use - 2

A Sanctified Vessel for the Master’s Use - 2
2 Timothy 2:19-21

“19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

What We Have Learned

The Need to be Sanctified

• Infiltration of false doctrines (vv. 14-18, 23)
• Unwholesome, filthy, destructive communication (vv.16, 22).
• The pastor is charged to respond to such destructive attack of the devil on the church with appropriate teaching that men who are entrapped might be brought out (vv. 24-26).

The Encouragement to be Sanctified

v.19a

• “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure”
• “having this seal”
• “The Lord knoweth them that are his”

The Process of Sanctification

v.19b-21

• Individual sanctification: “And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
• Strive to be a vessel of honour:"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work."

The Rewards of Sanctification

v. 21b

• “he shall be a vessel unto honour”
• “sanctified”
• “and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

How should a Church Strive for Sanctification?

A call for individual sanctification must be made

• V. 19b – “And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
• V. 21 – “If a man therefore purge himself from these”

A classical example of a congregation of God sanctifying themselves: Ezra 10

Following are 12 important steps for the sanctification of a church that we can learn from Ezra 10. All of it ought to be pursued with total dependence upon God’s grace and His grace alone.

1. Every time when there is a serious infiltration and spreading of sin or falsehood there must be an effort to sanctify the whole congregation
2. Sanctification must begin with the leader of God’s people (Ezra 9:1ff; 10:1)
3. Let the people come voluntarily to sanctify themselves (Ezra10:2,3).
4. There must be genuine sorrow for the sins among the people and every one must humble and repent before the Lord (Ezra 9:1-10:1)
5. There must be a willingness to put away sin - “to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them”(Ezra 10:3a).
6. There must be a willing submission to the spiritual counsel of the godly leader(s) – “according to the counsel of my lord” (Ezra 10:3b).
7. There must be a grave or serious reverence for the Word of God and its commandments – “and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law” (Ezra 10:3c).
8. There must be a whole-hearted unity among the people (leaders and the congregation) to be sanctified - “Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it” (Ezra 10:4).
9. There must be an avowal (taking of an oath or a pledge) in renewing our commitment to walk in holiness – “Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware” (Ezra 10:5).
10. Let it be done with much prayer, and even fasting – “Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away” (Ezra 10:6).
11. Let there be a deliberate and meticulous effort to get people separated from the plague of sin – “And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away” (Ezra 10:7-8).
12. Let there be prayers for God’s mercy for forgiveness and for His wrath to turn away that we might continue to progress in His work – “Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.” (Ezra 10:14).