What Type of Vessel are You?

There are many different types of vessels described throughout the pages of Scripture. Some vessels were made of wood, clay, gold, silver, brass, stone, iron, copper, ivory and marble. Each vessel was different and served a distinct purpose. They were used for food, oil, ashes, spices, precious ointments, and a variety of other things. In the kingdom of God, there are many types of vessels. As we consider the various ones, the question must be asked – what type of vessel are you?

II Timothy 2:20-21,

“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. 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.”

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Let us consider several types of vessels…

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A Chosen Vessel

Ephesians 1:4,

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

Every child of God is a chosen vessel. There is a vast array of chosen vessels in God’s kingdom. Each one of us serves a different purpose. Some people may be like a beautiful vase – out there, where everyone sees them. Others may have roles that seem insignificant which no one seems to notice. No matter what role we have, we still serve a meaningful place in the Lord’s kingdom. Every type of vessel has a vital role to fulfill. 

Sometimes it is easy to look at other people and think they serve a more useful function than we do. Oftentimes, however, it is the simplest vessels that serve the greatest purpose. You may not think you are contributing much to the work of the Lord, but each one of us has a unique role to fill.

Our purpose

If I decided one day, to put sugar in the creamer and cream in the sugar bowl, it would be a bit difficult to pour the cream. When we try to fill a calling not intended for us or compare ourselves to others, we are displaying a lack of faith. We are in a sense telling God that He did not know what He was doing when He made us. The Bible warns that comparing ourselves one to another is unwise. We should not try to fulfill the role of another person. God places each of us here on earth at a particular time for a specific reason.

2 Corinthians 10:12,

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

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A Sanctified Vessel

There were a variety of vessels in the temple. Each of these vessels, however, had one thing in common. They were all sanctified or set-apart for the work of the Lord.

Joshua 6:19,

“But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.”

When we are saved, we become sanctified in our position in Christ. This is called positional sanctification. However, we must make a choice as to whether or not we will live consecrated to the Lord, for His use and for His purpose. This is practical sanctification. Because we still have a fallen sinful nature inside of us, we have to make a daily decision to live sanctified, separated, and holy lives. 

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A Dirty Vessel  

The dirty vessel represents a life characterized by sin. Harboring known sin in our lives keeps God from being glorified through us. 

What sin are you harboring in your heart, dear friend?

Perhaps it may be the sin of worry, gossip, a critical spirit, pride or jealousy. If we want the Lord to work in and through us, we must be willing to deal with sin. The cleansing process is not pleasant, but it is a necessary process. God promises if we confess our sins, He will forgive and cleanse our hearts. 

I John 5:9,

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

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A Cracked Vessel

The Bible refers to women as being the weaker vessel. Oftentimes, we think of this in the physical sense, but it can refer to the emotional aspect as well. With having a more sensitive nature, there is a greater tendency to experience cracks in our vessels. We allow “cracks” in our lives when we permit bitterness and unforgiveness to seep through our hearts. 

It is easy to let bitterness creep in when someone does or says something hurtful to us. We may not notice the crack in our hearts right away. But it will quickly spread, destroying our lives, if we do not deal with it. Bitterness will always cause more damage to the offended, rather than the offender. 

“Frequently the enemy entices Christians to harbor an unforgiving spirit – a very common symptom indeed among God’s children. Such bitterness and fault-finding and enmity inflict a severe blow upon spiritual life” (Watchman Nee).

When we harbor bitterness, we prevent the Holy Spirit from working through us, as He desires. Replacing the bitterness in our hearts with forgiveness will heal our “cracks” and allow us to be useful vessels in God’s service. 

Hebrews 12:15,

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;”

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A Broken Vessel

“In II Corinthians, Apostle Paul compared men to earthen vessels. He implied that, just as a vessel, we are something fragile, inferior, expendable, ordinary, easily chipped, cracked and broken and temporary. One single tap to an earthen vessel is enough to destroy it, just as one bump can crush us” (Pastor Rudy Verdin).

Have you ever come to a place in life where circumstances are just piling up, and you feel like you are going to break?

Maybe you have had a child that has strayed from the Lord. Maybe you have experienced sickness or the death of a close loved one. Trials always seem to come in multiples. God’s purpose in all of this is to bring us to the end of ourselves. Sometimes He does give us more than we can handle, because He wants us to be completely and solely dependent upon Him. He has to bring us to this point in order to break us. 

Vance Havner said,

“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength…the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.”

Throughout his life, David went through many differing and painful trials. In Psalm 31, he writes of his brokenness, 

Psalm 31:9-16,

“Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed…I am like a broken vessel…But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake.”

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A Restored Vessel

The Lord brings trials in our lives to refine and purify us. His purpose is not one of defeat, but of restoration. He wants to take those broken pieces of our lives, put them back together, and make something even more beautiful out of our lives. 

Proverbs 25:4,

“Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.”

In Mark 3, we read the story of the man of the man with the withered hand. Jesus told him, “Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

Jesus brought healing and restoration to this man and many others while He was here on earth. In the same way, He delights in bringing healing and restoration to our lives.

God desires to make us “a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (II Tim. 2:21).

Everything the Lord allows into our lives is conforming us to His image. The more Christlike we become, the more God can work through us. The more intense the refining process is, the more beautiful the vessel becomes. 

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A Filled Vessel

Ephesians 5:18,

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

Once Christ has restored us and made our lives pure and holy, He longs to fill us. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit will be manifested in our lives. This fruit will be evident in the life of the believer who is living a sanctified or set-apart life.

Galatians 5:22,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

When a vessel is subjected to pressure, its true strength of character will be displayed. When we are inflicted with the burdens and suffering of this world our true spirituality will be revealed. The primary key to being filled with the Spirit is abiding in the presence of Christ.

Fruit of the Spirit Scripture Memory Challenge Printable

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Conclusion – What type of vessel will you be?

Apart from Christ, we are nothing but empty, broken, and useless vessels. God wants us to be vessels that are sanctified and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

What type of vessel will you be?

Will you choose to allow Him to restore your life and fill you up with His presence, so you can be poured out into the lives of others?

May we surrender our wills to Him so that He can make us beautiful vessels of honor unto Him!

 

 

 

For further reading:

Becoming a Vessel God Can Use
By Donna Partow / Bethany House

Viewed as God’s vessel, how would you describe yourself? Chipped? Cracked? Broken? Discover how the Master Potter can shape and mold you into a useful servant, imperfections and all! Ideal for small groups or individuals, Partow’s best-selling 10-week study offers you hope, encouragement, and transformation as you seek to follow God’s will for your life. 240 pages, softcover from Bethany.