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A Prepared Vessel

LORD, please make me a vessel unto honor!

“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.” 2 Timothy 2:21

Many doing ministry today are heavy on the performance and yet light on the preparation.

Jesus was in prep for 30 years to perform a 3.5 year ministry. Today we want to prepare for a brief time for decades of ministry. Not God’s way.

YOUR PRAYER: Father, please make my life count for You! Please use me as a messenger of Your great love and rich mercy toward all men. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

IF our hearts, minds, and mouths are not loaded to overflowing with God’s written Word, that’s the clear sign that we are not yet called to preach for Him. So, preparation! Study, read, learn, memorize, meditate upon Holy Scripture.

“Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Proverbs 22:17-21

The only way to learn to walk and talk Biblically/biblical is to study God’s Word like He told you to (2 Timothy 2:15). Do it now.

If you won’t be faithful to learn God’s Word, He can’t use you to minister it – because you don’t know it (2 Timothy 2:15). And if you go forth trying be minister, you’ll be a false witness.

“Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.” Proverbs 24:27 

Prepare in private and God will use you in public (Matthew 6:6).

God’s Word cannot be in me unless I am in it – daily in reading, study, meditation, and obedience.

We can only speak the truth into the hearts of men and dispel the opposing arguments if we know the truth so well that the truth is the only thing that flows from our lips (Proverbs 22:17-21; 1 Peter 3:15).

Until a man’s heart and mind are filled to the full with the counsel of God, the written Word, having walked it out through years in Christ, he is not yet qualified to be in an eldership calling in Christ’s body. He is still a “novice” “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6).

ALL who desire God to use them, for God’s Word to flow through them, are filling up daily with His Word (Proverbs 22:17-21; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 4:11). Are you being prepared to be mightily used of God? (Daniel 11:32)  Anyone who says they want to be used of God and yet is not deeply, diligently, daily devouring God’s Word, is a liar.

“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:13-14 

It is more than obvious to the diligent Bible student that a large percentage of those men who lead in the apostate modern church world, are babes, novices.

Until a man is deeply seasoned by the knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God, he is not ready to lead. This takes many years involving seasons of testings, trials, purgings, corrections, humblings, repentances, and chastening. No one who truly walks with Christ escapes (John 15:2; 2 Timothy 2:21; Hebrews 12:5-12; 1 Peter 1:5-7). There are no short cuts.

“Christ’s words must abide or continue in us. We must study His words, fairly devour His words, let them sink deep into our thought and into our heart, keep them in our memory, obey them constantly in our life, let them shape and mold our daily life and our every act.” R.A. Torrey

GOOD NEWS: If God is purging you, that proves that you are truly in Christ and have born good fruit and now He is purging you so that even more good fruit will be produced in your life! Victory!

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15:2-3

“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.” 2 Timothy 2:21

For the way God works in and then through men, study the disciples of Christ and the Old Testament men of God and the progression of their spiritual maturity in Christ. This gives us much hope that if God could work in them, He can work in us – if we, like David, choose daily to be men after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

True disciples who walk with God, like beloved David, know what it means to fall, to sin, to repent, to re-turn to the LORD, and to be restored by the LORD. They therefore help you, they encourage, they admonish, and warn you to hasten to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace!

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 

YOU may not be acting it out BUT if it’s an un-crucified iniquity in your heart, God sees it just the same! We better get a kingdom clue saints! See Matthew 5:28; 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 4:13.

Has the Word of God, the very “sword of the Spirit” cut you deep? (Ephesians 6:17) Is it circumcising your heart – cutting away the evil?

“For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. … 14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?” Jeremiah 4:3-4, 14

True, seasoned disciples are “furnished” not only with the head knowledge of God’s Word but also a performance of the workings of God in their own daily lives. They are “doers of the word, and not hearers only” and therefore “by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14; James 1:22).

“Furnished” – Are you putting the furniture of God’s Word in your heart daily? Are you furnishing the vessel?

“That the man of God may be perfect, throughly FURNISHED unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:17

This word “furnished” here means fully equipped. And according to this passage, the only way to be “throughly furnished” is by being full of God’s Word.

ONLY if we are devouring God’s Word daily, will we be able to speak His words (Proverbs 22:17-21; 2 Timothy 2:!5; 4:2; 1 Peter 4:11).

ANY leadership curriculum that isn’t literally the Scriptures – and learning THEM – is a scam! (See Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21, etc.) How long shall we prop up the wolves and their self-agenda “ministries”? How long shall we be be deceived?

Be aware that clever men, operating as Christian pastors, authors, singers, etc., can make nearly anything look biblical. This is done in part by over emphasizing certain things while ignoring others. We must ask, we must test the spirits by asking whether or not their doctrine is expressly, directly, explicitly stated in Holy Scripture, or not – just exactly as the Berean disciples did (Acts 17:10-11). Again, nearly anything can be extrapolated using select Scriptures and yet, is that what the whole of Scripture communicates? Test. Discern.

“Walk worthy”

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” Ephesians 4:1   

Discipleship

You were made by God and placed on this HIS earth for such a time as this. Will He have to bring deliverance, ministry to those around you through another vessel? Or, will you obey Him? Esther 4:14

STORE | Support | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast] | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Parable of the Talents [podcast] | Proving Jesus Matters [podcast] | Money, Material Wealth, and Riches | Rusted Gold and Fire Untold [podcast]

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Abiding

Safety in Wise Counsel [podcast]


Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.” Proverbs 20:18

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalms 37:23

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalms 90:12

“Safety” in wise counsel from God’s wisdom, Word, and including at times with the help of His beloved saints.

“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14 

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” Proverbs 21:31 

“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:6 

Caprice means a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:13-18

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“Let Brotherly Love Continue” [podcast]


“Let Brotherly Love Continue.” Hebrews 13:1

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2

1 John 4

God Is Love

“7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19  We love him, because he first loved us.
20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

1 Corinthians 13

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is CharityBe Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God Walking with Jesus on His Stated Terms – the Cross | Fasting and PrayerThe Old Man Must be Put Down [podcast]The 5 Sins That Keep God’s People Out of Their Promised Land [podcast]What Did Paul Mean by “I Keep Under My Body”? [podcast]“Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith” [podcast]A Living Sacrifice unto God [podcast]Departing from Hell BeneathPrayer

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 5 Aspects of the Mind of Christ [podcast]


5 Components of the Mind of Christ from Philippians 2

Philippians 2:2-10

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

At Gethsemane the death before the cross, before His death on the cross occurred.

“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42

“He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8

Living in the mind, the disposition of Christ means you are truly following Him.

As Christ’s disciple, your devotion, your love is first to Him, then to your neighbor, not self (Matthew 22:37-39). You are commanded by the Savior to set self aside and to lift others above yourself—to prefer, to put God and others first. Those who do so, experience true freedom, liberty.

Being one with Christ, who gave all to save you, means your life is over—you now live to serve the LORD and others, not self (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3).

Have you poured prayerfully over Philippians 2:3-5 today? If you will begin every day this week pouring prayerfully over this passage, asking the LORD to internalize it in your heart, God will begin to deeply instill the very “mind of Christ” into your innermost disposition.

Part of the dying…. IS GOD calling us to Himself, to forsake this world, including the attempt to save an unrepentant nation long in rebellion against Him – America?

Prayer: LORD, I want to walk in the disposition You walked in on earth. I will esteem You and others above myself. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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