BUILDING A VESSEL UNTO HONOR

A vessel is a container, utensil, dish, article or thing. The Hebrew word for a
vessel (among others) is receptacle; a container or space for placing or storing
things. In short, a vessel is made for the sole aim of containing or storing
things. Every vessel is created by the intent of the maker. “… And the vessel that
he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another
vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it” (Jer18: 4). Notice, the vessel is
made only as the potter (creator) had in mind. Only the potter can determine when
a vessel is fit for use, because he only knows for what purpose it is made. In the
bible, there are different types of vessels. These includes: 1) vessel of honor 2)
vessel of mercy 3) clean vessel 4) broken vessel 5) chosen vessel 6) empty vessel
7) vessel of wrath 8) goodly vessel.
Note that the worth of the vessel is not necessarily what it is made up of, but
what it is used for, or the benefit derived from it.

The Lord relates the whole tribe of Isreal as vessel and Himself as the potter
(see Jer18: 4), and since we are spiritual Isrealites, we can infer that every
individual believer is a vessel in the hand of God, made in a certain way to carry
out a specific function predetermined by the almighty.
God is very jealous about His vessels. As stated earlier, a vessel is nothing in
itself, but its use determines its worth. Any vessel separated unto God, (no
matter what it is made of), becomes His. Anything that happens to it afterwards,
affects Him, because it is no more an ordinary vessels, but His vessel separated
for His use alone. Remember, our God is a jealous God. The importance He placed on
vessels is exhibited in His reaction to Belshazzer, a king in Babylon who out of
recklessness commanded that the golden and silver vessels taken from the temple in
Jerusalem be brought for his guests to drink from and make merriment. The wrath of
God descended on him that his reign was short lived. (Dan5:1-end)

Those were vessels made by man, but by their being separated unto God, their use
or misuse becomes His priority. How much more will the Lord react about His lively
stones and spiritual houses? (1Pet2: 5). We are the vessels of God, through whom
His great deeds are made manifest. The book of Hebrews says that God has prepared
better things to do with better promises but they cannot be made manifest apart
from us. (Heb11: 40). So, we are the ones to show forth His glory. Our worth is
determined by what we carry on the inside rather than what is seen on the outside.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the Excellency of the power may
be of God and not of us” (11Corith4: 7). We are just an earthen vessel; it is God
who transmits His power through us. The vessel does not bless anybody; the
blessing comes from the outflowing of that which the shepherd pours into the
vessel. “But in a great house there not only vessel of gold and silver, but also
of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore
purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet
for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (11Tim2: 20,21). The
emphasis here is that even in a great house, we have vessels made of different
qualities, shapes and sizes. Also, the quality, size and shape of the vessel do
not determine its value. For example, we can have an ashtray made with silver, a
beautiful canvass (made with paper and wooden frame), may be hanging on the wall
in a choice corner of the house. Where the canvass is placed is a conspicuous part
of the house, to be admired by all, but the ashtray is only used to satisfy a bad
desire and full of butt of cigarettes. In like manner, the great house of God, the
church, is full of many vessels of different qualities that are brought about by
the reason of our background, academic achievement, position, jobs etc. But just
like in the great house, these qualities do not determine what these vessels are
used for. The word of God made it clear that we are the determinant of what we
would be used for. ‘If a man purges himself from these ‘things’, (the man must
purge himself, God cannot do it for him). It shows that the decision you make
determines what kind of vessel you become. God is no respecter of persons, but He
said anyone who honors Him, He will honor and one that will not honor Him, He will
lightly esteem (1Sam3: 20). Where God will place you in His end time move is your
responsibility and not God’s. You must purge yourself of ‘these things’ (only you
know ‘these things’ peculiar to you). Anything that will not glorify Him, anything
that will not bring Him pleasure, anything that will not make Him look your way
(for His eyes are too holy to behold iniquity), you MUST purge yourself of these
things.
If a man therefore, irrespective of the quality of his vessel is made up of,
purges himself, he becomes a vessel unto honor fit for God’s use. So, as you
desire to be used by God and are crying, ‘Lord use me’, have you purged yourself?
Or are you purging yourself?

For better understanding about the process of becoming a vessel of honor, let us
compare the process a potter goes through in making a vessel of clay. The process
begins with the potter mixing clay with water to form a lump. In the same vein,
the Holy Spirit (water) mixes with our lives to form a lump. It is after that we
are born again that we become pliable in God’s hand. “And I will give them one
heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take a stony heart out
of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:”(Ez11: 19) Then, you will be
ready to be molded into a shape suited to the potter (God). This lump is then
centered on the wheel, which will be spurned. The Lord also, (after we become
pliable in His hand), makes our lives to be centered upon His will. We become
hungry and thirsty after righteousness, willing more to do His will more than to
do ours.
As the wheel rotates, the potter applies pressure on the inside and outside of the
lump of clay in other to form his desired shape. He knows by experience how much
pressure to apply that the object formed does not crack. The pressure applied
forms the vessel. The Lord also applies pressures upon our lives in order to mould
us into the vessel he desires. If in the process of molding, the pressure applied
forms a shape not desired, the potter redirects his pressure so as to get what he
wants. God will not allow us to go through more than we can bear. “There hath no
temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will
not allow you to be tempted above ye are able; but will with the temptation make a
way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it”(1Corith10: 13). The pressures of
life cause us to continually be formed into the image of the likeness of God.
The potter continually adds water to the lump as the vessel is being formed, so
that it does not dry up and break when pressure is applied. Likewise, the Lord
keeps adding refreshing to our lives, so we don’t dry up and become discouraged
and gives up. It is our continual fellowship with the Holy Spirit that causes us
to be pliable in the mighty hand of God. “But we all, with open face beholding as
in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to
glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord”(11Corith3: 18). The pressure applied and
the water ultimately creates a beautiful vessel. Then, the vessel goes through a
process called currying in which beautiful designs are inscribed on the vessels
made to add worth to them. And then they are left to dry up; again the vessel is
put back into the fire to harden, so that the shape and the designs become set.
The Lord after He has molded us takes us through our own currying too. It is at
this stage that our life starts to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit
Notice, even after currying, the vessels are thrown back into the fire. In the
same vein, our lives even after being conformed to the image of God, we still
experience challenges of life. The Lord permits that we be tempted again “…. the
trying of your faith worketh patience” (James1:3).Your closeness to Jesus does not
preclude you from life challenges. This is the time when you show to situations
and the devil that circumstances cannot change your believe. It is the time to
show that your heart is fixated on God and nothing can change your mind about your
trust in God however bad.
 While the vessel is in the fire again and a crack is noticed on it, the potter
brings it out, then powder and blood are mixed and applied to sooth and cover the
cracks. It is then placed back into the fire. How many times the vessel goes back
into the fire is determined by how many times it cracks. For the potter is only
interested in a perfect vessel fit for use. When we are in diverse temptations and
rather than count it all joy we start to complain, grumble, gossip, backbite,
curse, dwell in pity party, in short, sin, then we cause a crack in our
perfection. The blood of Jesus is used in covering the cracks to make up the edge.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1John1: 9). This does not stop the trials,
for we must go through these trials until patience has its true way in us. How
soon we overcome the trials depends on when we give patience her chance to
strengthen our faith.

Afterwards, the vessel is cooled and ready to be displayed by the potter for
buyers. The potter will only display a vessel he considers worthy and perfect in
his sight before he shows it off. In short, he only displays what he is proud of
and thinks will be appreciated. It is also worthy of note that, the beauty of the
vessel ultimately gives glory to the potter. Hence, he is very meticulous so as to
produce a perfect vessel.
It is also worthy of note, that the potter does not display all his wares. There
are some he keeps in his inner chamber far from the glaring eyes of the customers.
Most of the time, these special collections are only shown to customers who are
not satisfied with the wares displayed, and are demanding for more. These vessels
may be kept also for special rich and influential customers who are willing to pay
more. These are usually the vessels that the potter took extra time to make. In
our lives also, as vessels of honor, after the fire experience, and we have let go
of the little foxes in our lives, then we start showing forth the praises of God;
that is when our zeal and knowledge of God becomes evident for all to see. Here,
our beauty and strength (character and charisma) are evident and our fame begins
to go abroad. We become a light on the hill that cannot be hid any more. That is
what every one of us desires of the Lord. We all want to manifest in the power and
the glory of God, we desire to be instruments in the hand of God, and we want to
be vessel of honor. But as has been observed, it is a process and not an end in
itself, and we must be willing to go through these various experiences before we
can become a vessel of honor unto God.
It is possible also, that after going through these processes, nobody sees you,
there is no acknowledgement on the part of all about that which you believe you
possess and you begin to wonder if you had done something wrong or God is bias. Or
you just accept it as your lot. But, you just may be part of the selected few that
God has reserved for a purpose. If it looks like you are kept in the dark and you
are wondering why, be rest assured that God has not forgotten you. You are His
treasured possession prepared for a special time “To every thing there is a
season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”(Ecc3:1). You have not been
ignored, you shall surely shine, and your time will surely come. For no potter
makes a vessel that will not be seen, because your appreciation by all is to his
pleasure, furthermore, the more expensive the vessel, the richer the potter. He
had saved you for a better time, for a glorious manifestation that will cause a
stirs to the glory of His name. For the potter knows that you cannot be ignored
because you are already a vessel of honor meet for His use, but only He knows
where you fit and when to have you displayed.
Whatever stage you might be, do not stop go ahead for what is waiting ahead of you
is great so you cannot afford to stop now. Every born again believer is a
potential vessel in the hand of God. But to becoming the vessel of honor meet for
His use is a lot of work, and to become one of His vessels, you must be ready to
work the work and it all starts by your willingness to purge yourself of these
things (the little foxes that spoils the vine).
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