• Home
  • Issues
  • Articles
    • Alan Day
    • Alan Stewart
    • Ed Litton
    • Gary Miller
    • Keith Drury
    • Michael Catt
    • Stephanie Bennett
    • Vance Havner
    • Warren Wiersbe
  • Quotes
  • Sermon Outlines
  • Podcasts
  • More
    • Book Reviews
    • Calendar
    • Odds n Ends
    • Web Resources

Calendar

February 2021
S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28  
« Jul    

Archives

  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019

Categories

  • Alan Day
  • Alan Stewart
  • Articles
  • Book Reviews
  • Calendar
  • Ed Litton
  • Gary Miller
  • Issues
  • Keith Drury
  • Michael Catt
  • Odds-n-Ends
  • Podcasts
  • Quotes
  • Sermon Outlines
  • Stephanie Bennett
  • Uncategorized
  • Vance Havner
  • Volume 01 | Issue 01
  • Volume 01 | Issue 02
  • Volume 01 | Issue 03
  • Volume 01 | Issue 04
  • Volume 01 | Issue 05
  • Volume 01 | Issue 06
  • Volume 01 | Issue 07
  • Volume 01 | Issue 08
  • Volume 01 | Issue 09
  • Volume 01 | Issue 10
  • Volume 01 | Issue 11
  • Volume 01 | Issue 12
  • Volume 01 | Issue 13
  • Volume 01 | Issue 14
  • Volume 02 | Issue 01
  • Volume 02 | Issue 02
  • Volume 02 | Issue 03
  • Volume 02 | Issue 04
  • Volume 02 | Issue 05
  • Volume 02 | Issue 06
  • Volume 02 | Issue 07
  • Volume 02 | Issue 08
  • Volume 02 | Issue 09
  • Volume 02 | Issue 10
  • Volume 02 | Issue 11
  • Volume 02 | Issue 12
  • Volume 02 | Issue 13
  • Volume 02 | Issue 14
  • Volume 02 | Issue 15
  • Volume 02 | Issue 16
  • Volume 02 | Issue 17
  • Volume 02 | Issue 18
  • Volume 02 | Issue 19
  • Volume 02 | Issue 20
  • Volume 02 | Issue 21
  • Volume 02 | Issue 22
  • Volume 02 | Issue 23
  • Volume 02 | Issue 24
  • Volume 02 | Issue 25
  • Volume 03 | Issue 01
  • Volume 03 | Issue 02
  • Volume 03 | Issue 03
  • Volume 03 | Issue 04
  • Volume 03 | Issue 05
  • Volume 03 | Issue 06
  • Volume 03 | Issue 07
  • Volume 03 | Issue 08
  • Volume 03 | Issue 09
  • Volume 03 | Issue 10
  • Volume 03 | Issue 11
  • Volume 03 | Issue 12
  • Volume 03 | Issue 13
  • Volume 03 | Issue 14
  • Volume 03 | Issue 15
  • Volume 03 | Issue 16
  • Volume 03 | Issue 17
  • Volume 03 | Issue 18
  • Volume 03 | Issue 19
  • Volume 03 | Issue 20
  • Volume 03 | Issue 21
  • Volume 03 | Issue 22
  • Volume 03 | Issue 23
  • Volume 03 | Issue 24
  • Volume 04 | Issue 01
  • Volume 04 | Issue 02
  • Volume 04 | Issue 03
  • Volume 04 | Issue 04
  • Volume 04 | Issue 05
  • Volume 04 | Issue 06
  • Volume 04 | Issue 07
  • Volume 04 | Issue 08
  • Volume 04 | Issue 09
  • Volume 04 | Issue 10
  • Volume 04 | Issue 11
  • Volume 04 | Issue 12
  • Volume 04 | Issue 13
  • Volume 05 | Issue 01
  • Volume 05 | Issue 02
  • Volume 05 | Issue 03
  • Volume 05 | Issue 04
  • Volume 05 | Issue 05
  • Volume 05 | Issue 06
  • Volume 05 | Issue 07
  • Volume 05 | Issue 08
  • Volume 05 | Issue 09
  • Volume 05 | Issue 10
  • Volume 05 | Issue 11
  • Volume 05 | Issue 12
  • Volume 05 | Issue 13
  • Volume 05 | Issue 14
  • Volume 06 | Issue 01
  • Volume 06 | Issue 02
  • Volume 06 | Issue 03
  • Volume 06 | Issue 04
  • Volume 06 | Issue 05
  • Volume 06 | Issue 06
  • Volume 06 | Issue 07
  • Volume 06 | Issue 08
  • Volume 06 | Issue 09
  • Volume 06 | Issue 10
  • Volume 06 | Issue 11
  • Volume 06 | Issue 12
  • Volume 06 | Issue 13
  • Volume 06 | Issue 14
  • Volume 06 | Issue 15
  • Volume 07 | Issue 01
  • Volume 07 | Issue 02
  • Volume 07 | Issue 03
  • Volume 07 | Issue 04
  • Volume 07 | Issue 05
  • Volume 07 | Issue 06
  • Volume 07 | Issue 07
  • Volume 07 | Issue 08
  • Volume 07 | Issue 09
  • Volume 07 | Issue 10
  • Volume 07 | Issue 11
  • Volume 07 | Issue 12
  • Volume 07 | Issue 13
  • Volume 07 | Issue 14
  • Volume 07 | Issue 15
  • Volume 07 | Issue 16
  • Volume 07 | Issue 17
  • Volume 07 | Issue 18
  • Volume 07 | Issue 19
  • Volume 07 | Issue 20
  • Volume 07 | Issue 21
  • Volume 07 | Issue 22
  • Volume 07 | Issue 23
  • Volume 08 | Issue 01
  • Volume 08 | Issue 02
  • Volume 08 | Issue 03
  • Volume 08 | Issue 04
  • Volume 08 | Issue 05
  • Volume 08 | Issue 06
  • Volume 08 | Issue 07
  • Volume 08 | Issue 08
  • Volume 08 | Issue 09
  • Volume 08 | Issue 10
  • Volume 08 | Issue 11
  • Volume 08 | Issue 12
  • Volume 08 | Issue 13
  • Volume 08 | Issue 14
  • Volume 08 | Issue 15
  • Volume 08 | Issue 16
  • Volume 08 | Issue 17
  • Volume 08 | Issue 18
  • Volume 09 | Issue 01
  • Volume 09 | Issue 02
  • Volume 09 | Issue 03
  • Volume 09 | Issue 04
  • Volume 09 | Issue 05
  • Volume 09 | Issue 06
  • Volume 09 | Issue 07
  • Volume 10 | Issue 01
  • Volume 10 | Issue 02
  • Volume 10 | Issue 03
  • Volume 10 | Issue 04
  • Volume 10 | Issue 05
  • Volume 11 | Issue 01
  • Volume 11 | Issue 02
  • Volume 11 | Issue 03
  • Volume 11 | Issue 04
  • Volume 11 | Issue 05
  • Volume 11 | Issue 06
  • Volume 11 | Issue 07
  • Volume 11 | Issue 08
  • Volume 11 | Issue 09
  • Volume 11 | Issue 10
  • Volume 11 | Issue 11
  • Volume 11 | Issue 12
  • Volume 11 | Issue 13
  • Volume 11 | Issue 14
  • Volume 11 | Issue 15
  • Volume 11 | Issue 16
  • Volume 12 | Issue 01
  • Volume 12 | Issue 02
  • Volume 12 | Issue 03
  • Volume 12 | Issue 04
  • Volume 12 | Issue 05
  • Volume 12 | Issue 06
  • Volume 12 | Issue 07
  • Volume 12 | Issue 08
  • Volume 12 | Issue 09
  • Volume 12 | Issue 10
  • Volume 12 | Issue 11
  • Volume 12 | Issue 12
  • Volume 13 | Issue 01
  • Volume 13 | Issue 02
  • Volume 13 | Issue 03
  • Volume 13 | Issue 04
  • Volume 13 | Issue 05
  • Volume 13 | Issue 06
  • Volume 13 | Issue 07
  • Volume 13 | Issue 08
  • Volume 13 | Issue 09
  • Volume 13 | Issue 10
  • Volume 13 | Issue 11
  • Volume 13 | Issue 12
  • Volume 13 | Issue 13
  • Volume 13 | Issue 14
  • Volume 13 | Issue 15
  • Volume 13 | Issue 16
  • Volume 14 | Issue 01
  • Volume 14 | Issue 02
  • Volume 14 | Issue 03
  • Volume 14 | Issue 04
  • Volume 14 | Issue 05
  • Volume 14 | Issue 06
  • Volume 14 | Issue 07
  • Volume 14 | Issue 08
  • Warren Wiersbe
  • Web Resources
2ProphetU
  • Home
  • Issues
  • Articles
    • Alan Day
    • Alan Stewart
    • Ed Litton
    • Gary Miller
    • Keith Drury
    • Michael Catt
    • Stephanie Bennett
    • Vance Havner
    • Warren Wiersbe
  • Quotes
  • Sermon Outlines
  • Podcasts
  • More
    • Book Reviews
    • Calendar
    • Odds n Ends
    • Web Resources
Articles . Michael Catt . Volume 01 | Issue 09

What Kind of Vessel Are You?

written by: Michael Catt

In Second Timothy Chapter two, Paul wrote these words to a young minister named Timothy. “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” ( 2 Timothy 2:21, NASU). Other translations read: “a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use”, or “become the kind of container God can use,” or “you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.”

We need to look for a few moments at this picture of Christian service and ministry. If we are going to be used by God to the fullest, we must adjust our wills to His will. Our purposes and plans must be submitted to Him for approval. The danger for many ministers is that they will fall into the trap of ‘who do you know?’ Our focus should be, ‘How’s my relationship with the Lord?’ The minister who desires the blessings of God on his ministry must readjust his life to the will of God on a daily basis.

In the book of Isaiah, we read, ‘This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.’ What follows is tragic. The people blew it and failed to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for their lives. When you turn to the New Testament, to First Peter you read about “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that we shall show forth the virtues of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” It’s sad to say, but many have failed to live up to that picture. Far too many have failed to fulfill God’s high calling on their lives. For some reason, they have settled for the ministry of mediocrity.

All of us need times of reflection and heart-searching when we examine our lives in relation to our call. We live in a world that is filled with distractions, characterized by drifting, dominated by dissatisfaction and overwhelmed by disillusionment. God stands waiting to meet these situations head on. God’s method is you and I. The only way God can meet the need of this world is through lives adjusted to His will and purpose.

In the New Testament there are multiple metaphors that tell us how God seeks to use us and what God requires of us. The metaphor in Second Timothy isn’t hard to figure out. We all may have different definitions or ideas of what serving our Lord looks like. However, this picture is one that demands a closer look and self-examination. To be a fit vessel, we need to remember that we are not so much working for Him as with Him. As vessels for the Master, we are to be available for whatever the Master has in mind. We are to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us. To be a fit vessel, I need to be consecrated for His use. I must prepare my heart to be a vessel He can use.

Sometimes preachers and teachers pray, “Lord, use me.” The truth is, He is using us as much as He can. The better prayer would be, “Lord, make me usable.” If we take care of the depth of our ministry, God will take care of how far our ministry goes. In reality, God is more willing to use you than you are to be used.

Two reasons’ ministers are not used to the fullest. One is uncleanliness. God can’t use a dirty vessel. I know God can draw a lot of straight lines with crooked sticks. I know God got the prodigals attention in the pigpen B but I’m talking about the clear teachings of the Word of God. Before Isaiah could be used, he needed a vision of God. In that vision, he saw himself, as he really was, unclean. “I am a man of unclean lips.” Are your lips clean? In the Word of God you’ll find verses and illustrations of many forms of unclean lips. The list is endless, but it includes: lying lips, flattering lips, perverse lips and impure lips. Like Isaiah, we need the Spirit of God to touch our lips so we can speak the Word with power.

The Psalmist prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” It was only after David prayed for cleansing that he felt God could use him again. Every minister needs to seek a scrubbing from the Lord. We should ask God to search our hearts and shine the light of His holiness into our hearts to reveal any unclean areas of our lives.

The other problem is unyieldedness. How easy it is to hold back an area from the Lord. I remember the first time I read the little classic, My Hear, Christ’s Home. It’s easy to cover up and hide. It’s tempting to lock the Lord out of a few rooms in our lives. Paul writing to the Romans said, “Yield your members as servants to righteousness.” In chapter twelve you find the familiar words, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” It’s hard for us to get on the altar. Our flesh wants to crawl off.

God can only use what we yield. What we yield, He possesses. What He possesses, He will use. There’s not a one of us that hasn’t talked about yielding to the Lord. We preach about it, but are we doing it ourselves? We sing about it, but does the word strike a chord in our heart of hearts? It’s easy to sing, “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I Freely Give . . . ” and leave the surrender in the Hymnal?

To yield to Christ means to put myself at His disposal. It also means to be ready to serve in whatever capacity He demands. I don’t argue about the field. I don’t question the assignment. Like Paul, I may be required to suffer for the gospel. I cannot be like Simon Peter who wanted to know what Jesus would ask John to do. I must simply love Him, feed His sheep and do what He says.

Let me ask you, have you put yourself at God’s disposal? Does your consecration have reservations? Are you holding anything back? The process of absolute surrender to God, and of putting yourself at His disposal is not easy. It can be costly. It can be a painful process. It could require brokenness. It always requires an emptying of self. What would happen in our churches on the next Lord’s Day if every preacher and teacher of His Word stood before the people of God as a vessel fit for the Master’s use?

In Second Timothy Chapter two, Paul wrote these words to a young minister named Timothy. “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work” ( 2 Timothy 2:21, NASU). Other translations read: “a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use”, or “become the kind of container God can use,” or “you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.”

We need to look for a few moments at this picture of Christian service and ministry. If we are going to be used by God to the fullest, we must adjust our wills to His will. Our purposes and plans must be submitted to Him for approval. The danger for many ministers is that they will fall into the trap of ‘who do you know?’ Our focus should be, ‘How’s my relationship with the Lord?’ The minister who desires the blessings of God on his ministry must readjust his life to the will of God on a daily basis.

In the book of Isaiah, we read, ‘This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.’ What follows is tragic. The people blew it and failed to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for their lives. When you turn to the New Testament, to First Peter you read about “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that we shall show forth the virtues of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.” It’s sad to say, but many have failed to live up to that picture. Far too many have failed to fulfill God’s high calling on their lives. For some reason, they have settled for the ministry of mediocrity.

All of us need times of reflection and heart-searching when we examine our lives in relation to our call. We live in a world that is filled with distractions, characterized by drifting, dominated by dissatisfaction and overwhelmed by disillusionment. God stands waiting to meet these situations head on. God’s method is you and I. The only way God can meet the need of this world is through lives adjusted to His will and purpose.

In the New Testament there are multiple metaphors that tell us how God seeks to use us and what God requires of us. The metaphor in Second Timothy isn’t hard to figure out. We all may have different definitions or ideas of what serving our Lord looks like. However, this picture is one that demands a closer look and self-examination. To be a fit vessel, we need to remember that we are not so much working for Him as with Him. As vessels for the Master, we are to be available for whatever the Master has in mind. We are to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us. To be a fit vessel, I need to be consecrated for His use. I must prepare my heart to be a vessel He can use.

Sometimes preachers and teachers pray, “Lord, use me.” The truth is, He is using us as much as He can. The better prayer would be, “Lord, make me usable.” If we take care of the depth of our ministry, God will take care of how far our ministry goes. In reality, God is more willing to use you than you are to be used.

Two reasons’ ministers are not used to the fullest. One is uncleanliness. God can’t use a dirty vessel. I know God can draw a lot of straight lines with crooked sticks. I know God got the prodigals attention in the pigpen B but I’m talking about the clear teachings of the Word of God. Before Isaiah could be used, he needed a vision of God. In that vision, he saw himself, as he really was, unclean. “I am a man of unclean lips.” Are your lips clean? In the Word of God you’ll find verses and illustrations of many forms of unclean lips. The list is endless, but it includes: lying lips, flattering lips, perverse lips and impure lips. Like Isaiah, we need the Spirit of God to touch our lips so we can speak the Word with power.

The Psalmist prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” It was only after David prayed for cleansing that he felt God could use him again. Every minister needs to seek a scrubbing from the Lord. We should ask God to search our hearts and shine the light of His holiness into our hearts to reveal any unclean areas of our lives.

The other problem is unyieldedness. How easy it is to hold back an area from the Lord. I remember the first time I read the little classic, My Hear, Christ’s Home. It’s easy to cover up and hide. It’s tempting to lock the Lord out of a few rooms in our lives. Paul writing to the Romans said, “Yield your members as servants to righteousness.” In chapter twelve you find the familiar words, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” It’s hard for us to get on the altar. Our flesh wants to crawl off.

God can only use what we yield. What we yield, He possesses. What He possesses, He will use. There’s not a one of us that hasn’t talked about yielding to the Lord. We preach about it, but are we doing it ourselves? We sing about it, but does the word strike a chord in our heart of hearts? It’s easy to sing, “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I Freely Give . . . ” and leave the surrender in the Hymnal?

To yield to Christ means to put myself at His disposal. It also means to be ready to serve in whatever capacity He demands. I don’t argue about the field. I don’t question the assignment. Like Paul, I may be required to suffer for the gospel. I cannot be like Simon Peter who wanted to know what Jesus would ask John to do. I must simply love Him, feed His sheep and do what He says.

Let me ask you, have you put yourself at God’s disposal? Does your consecration have reservations? Are you holding anything back? The process of absolute surrender to God, and of putting yourself at His disposal is not easy. It can be costly. It can be a painful process. It could require brokenness. It always requires an emptying of self. What would happen in our churches on the next Lord’s Day if every preacher and teacher of His Word stood before the people of God as a vessel fit for the Master’s use?

©2001 MCC This article is copyrighted by the author and is for your individual use.
Reproduction for any other purpose is governed by copyright laws and is strictly prohibited.

Michael Catt
Dr. Michael Catt has served as senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, since 1989, and is the executive producer of the popular films Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof and Courageous, which originated from the congregation. He has also served as Executive Producer for the Erwin Brothers’ film Woodlawn. He is also the founder of the ReFRESH® revival conferences (ReFRESHconference.org).
Michael is the author of several books, including The Power of Desperation, The Power of Persistence, The Power of Surrender, The Power of Purpose, Prepare for Rain, Upgrade, Courageous Living, Courageous Teens, Fireproof Your Life, Fireproof Your Life for Teens, and the Refinance Bible Study for LifeWay, as well as co-authored the Love Dare Curriculum.

Michael served as the President of the Large Church Roundtable, the Southern Baptist Convention as an IMB Trustee, President of the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Preaching Conference, Vice President of the Georgia Baptist Convention, and President of the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference. He has spoken at conferences, colleges, seminaries, rallies, camps, NBA and college chapel services, well as The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. Michael is the recipient of The Martin Luther King Award, The MLK Unity Award, and a Georgia Senate Resolution in recognition of his work in the community and in racial reconciliation.

Michael and his wife, Terri, have two grown daughters, Erin and Hayley.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print

Read An Article

  • Performing Well Under Pressure
  • The Pastor And His Books Part 2
  • Dealing With Suffering, Part 1

RSS Warren Wiersbe Podcast

  • Paul And The Churches
  • Perspective
  • Jesus And The Disciples
  • Hills and Valleys

RSS Michael Catt Podcast

  • The Problem is Sin the Solution is God
  • Restrict!
  • Seeing God as an Ideal Father
  • Receive!

Verse

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
James 1:13

Quotes On

  • Culture

Search

Links

Michael Catt

Vance Havner

Ron Dunn

Sherwood Church

Copyright 2ProphetU 2021. All righrts reserved.