Vessel of Honor

Vessel of Honor.

If and when you go to a friend’s house and you ask for a glass of water, and that friend presents you with clean water in a dirty glass, would you think that that friend is honoring you? The answer is No! I am not saying that a vessel that was once dirty and broken cannot be clean and repair, and once again become a vessel of Honor. What I am addressing are those vessels that are continually being used as a vessel of honor, even though they have being compromised.

Isaiah 52:11 “Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of YAHVEH”

Acts 9:¹⁴ “And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” ¹⁵ But YAHVEH said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Yisrael. ¹⁶“For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” ¹⁷And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, YAHVEH Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Saul of all people was a chosen vessel to carry the testimony of the Messiyah to the gentile, a vessel of honor for the Son of YAHVEH.

Ester 1:⁶ “There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble. ⁷And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king. ⁸ In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure.”

These vessels were laid out on a royal table decorated with white for righteousness, blue for heavenly character, purple for royalty, silver for redemption, gold for the glory of YAHVEH. There were vessels of different size depending on the appetite of the invited guest. Available in abundance was the King’s royal wine. . No expense was spared in the preparations for the feast. There were even couches upon which people would sit, they had arrived at the wedding feast.  The people drank from various kinds of vessels, which were made of gold, and royal wine in abundance. This would imply that the wine was taken from the king’s personal supply and was of an excellent nature.

(1) The drinking was according to the law; none of the invited guests felt it necessary to drink. They drank according to the custom, to drink in great abundance. (2) The people were not forced to drink this way; but rather, everyone drank in an abundant manner. That they should do according to every man’s pleasure. The concept revealed in these verses is that this was a drunken party. People drank to their hearts’ content, and there was no limitation put upon their desires for the king’s spirit. The infilling of the Holy Spirit does depend on our ability to hold our spiritual liquor, or the size of our cups; we are allowed to go back to the spiritual bar as often as we can. The picture depicted here is that we are not to be drunk with wine, but be drunk in the Holy Spirit.

II Kings 4:⁶ Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. “

The anointing to do ministry will cease when the required amount of believers come to full maturity, until then the vessels of Honor still have a ministry to accomplished. I close this chapter with this Scripture.

 I Peter 4:¹⁰ “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards “Vessel” manifold grace of YAHVEH. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of YAHVEH. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which YAHVEH supplies, that in all things YAHVEH may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Isaiah 66:²⁰ “Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to YAHVEH out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says YAHVEH, “as the children of Yisrael bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of YAHVEH. ²¹“And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,” says YAHVEH. The Mighty Hand of YAHVEH shall bring people from all nations by any means necessary, as an offering to YAH’S Holy Mountain. Those whom the ministry brings as sacrifice must be a clean vessel into the church. Adonai Himself says that He will take some as priests and Levites. 

Jeremiah 22:²⁸ “Is this man Coniah a despised, broken idol— A vessel in which is no pleasure? Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, and cast into a land, which they do not know?  3:13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water. Here we are shown an example of ministry in action, a vessel in whom the Master has no pleasure, why are they cast out, let’s read the following scripture.

Jeremiah 25:³⁴ “Wail, shepherds, and cry! Roll about in the ashes, You leaders of the flock! For the days of your slaughter and your dispersions are fulfilled; You shall fall like a precious vessel. ³⁵ And the shepherds will have no way to flee, Nor the leaders of the flock to escape.

³⁶ A voice of the cry of the shepherds, And a wailing of the leaders to the flock will be heard. For YAHVEH has plundered their pasture, ³⁷ and the peaceful dwellings are cut down Because of the fierce anger of YAHVEH.

Jeremiah 32:¹⁴ ‘Thus says YAHVEH of hosts, the YAHVEH of Yisrael: “Take these deeds, both this purchase deed which is sealed and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may last many days.” ¹⁵ For thus says YAHVEH of hosts, the YAHVEH of Yisrael: “Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.”

Adonai said to Jeremiah, I will give you vessel according to mine heart, that will be used to feed the people with knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Jeremiah felt a burning desire, so that he could not stay still. Adonai again warned Ezekiel to be careful not to be a vessel that did not feed the sheep, but instead feed themselves.

Malachi was a vessel where the law of truth was in him, who eventually turns many to the YAHVEH of Yisrael. His vessel contains knowledge and wisdom because they seek and keep the law. In the Book of Matthew Yahushua warned the vessels that they shouldn’t used their powers, for selfish purposes, but to be like Yahushua, they were to travel in poverty, depending on the willingness of those to whom they ministered, to meet their basic needs.

Yahushua contrasts the world’s greatness with kingdom greatness. Power and authority represent the world’s way. The ruler is over others, He demands that others served him; they use coercive power to force compliance. This type of vessel magnifies themselves at the expense of other. Further on in Matthew, Yahushua again warned the vessels to avoid hierarchy in their community, if they function as equal, honoring only Yahushua rather than human. Not because we serve in the king’s court, the pride of the Pharisee will destroy us. Vessels are objects for serving not masters, vessel serve with other vessel until all are feed, whether we are made of gold, silver or ceramic.

Hosea 8:⁷ “They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; it shall never produce meal. If it should produce, Aliens would swallow it up. ⁸ Yisrael is swallowed up; Now they are among the Gentiles Like a vessel in which is no pleasure.

In 12^th chapter of Luke we see a series of teaching of Yahushua to His vessels of honor to commit themselves fully to Him, this will not always led to peace, but surely bring suffering. How important it is in this critical time for the vessel to read the sign right and make sure our commitment is to Yahushua. In the 24^th chapter of Luke we see again Yahushua promised His chosen vessels, that He would send the promise of the Father on them, but they were to remain in Jerusalem, until the Passover.

The third chapter of John illustrates that the vessels of honor cannot contain anything unless it comes from heaven. Therefore the bread and the wine contained in the vessel must be what the vessel should use to feed the people. Continuing on in the same theme, chapter four shows that some vessels will be the vessels of sowing while others still will be vessels of gathering, but all will receive in the reward. In chapter thirteen Yahushua made it clear to His vessels that He is both teacher and Lord, yet He humbled Himself to give us an example of the attitude we need to adopt towards each other. Our only competition should be to see who could better serve others.

In the Book of Acts chapter one we see an illustration of the Rauch HaKodes (Holy Spirit). It is encouraging realizing the Holy Spirit is with us and that it is He who works when we share the Word of Truth with others. Peter, a vessel of honor, boldly asserts that the miracle he had performed was done in the Name and Power of Yahushua the Messiyah. In the sixth chapter Peter gave an example of the basic qualification that is require for one to be chosen as a vessel, being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Romans chapter two shows that the vessels of honor have YAH’S Law and they should be proud of their superiority, but they in fact are breaking the Law, for their covenant with Adonai is not to be written on stone, but on the inward heart, this is indeed the renewed covenant, if you love Me, keep My Commandments. It is the Holy Spirit that sets a person’s heart and soul apart unto YAHVEH.

Romans 9:²⁰ “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against YAHVEH? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? ²² What if YAHVEH, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 

²³ and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared before hand for glory, ²⁴ even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? ”

Judas was obviously a vessel of dishonor, however Yahushua gave him every chance in the world to reform himself. Up to the very last moment Yahushua called Judas friend. Any unclean vessel has the right to be cleaned by the water and covered by the blood that flows from the side of our Messiyah.

In II Corinthians chapter two we see that the Altars of Burnt Offering sent out a sweet aroma, so the chosen vessels of honor should creates a unique fragrance of the knowledge of YAHVEH among mankind. The odor attracts some and repels others. One’s response to the Word of YAHVEH makes all the difference between life and death.

 Thessalonians 4:² “for you know what commandments we gave you through YAHVEH Jesus. ³  For this is the will of YAHVEH, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, ⁵ not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know YAHVEH; ⁶ that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because YAHVEH is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.”

 The Redeemed life is one of open-ended growth. There is always more for us to attain to. What a joy this is, life for us remains challenging, the vista of our future features brighten the way to the new visions lying over the top of the hill.

I Timothy, chapter six say, while we leave every material thing behind us, the vessel should take along a far greater treasure. They should take a personality that has begun to experience Adonai’s transforming work, a mind more attuned to the heavenly kingdom, a heart that beats closer to Adonai’s own, a will that has made choice after choice that glorifies Adonai. What we take with us as we leave this world is a treasure house, what we leave behind is nothing.

In II Timothy chapter one, we are reminded that, that this is not any ordinary spiritual gift, but a special equipping for ministry which was apparently given at Timothy’s ordinations. We are therefore responsible to use the gifts Adonai provides. Let’s remember that with the gifts Adonai gives us courage. When we step out boldly we’ll find that the Holy Spirit will supplies the power, the fruit of the Spirit.

II Timothy 2:¹⁹ “Nevertheless the solid foundation of YAHVEH stands, having this seal: “YAHVEH knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” ²⁰ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Mitzvot ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”

The image of the Holy Spirit I am trying to portrait here is of a seal with two side. On one side it reads YAHVEH knows those who are His. It is only YAHVEH that will chooses by looking into the individual heart and recognize true faith in The Messiyah. On the flip side the seal also reads, “Everyone who confess the name of YAHVEH must turn away from wickedness.” We can’t see into another person’s heart, however we should be able to see the commitment to holiness that results when Yahushua really has taken up residence in one’s life.

Just this past week I talked with a young man who has a broken home and a broken life. Is YAHVEH through with him? Is He through with us when we make a failure of our lives? Oh, no. Adonai is not through with us, that is, if the clay will yield to Him. All that is necessary is the clay yielding to the Potter’s hand. He paid the price for the field; it’s a field of blood. You may look back on your life and say, “Oh, what failure! I don’t think YAHVEH could use me.” My friend, He is working with those broken pieces today, and He’ll work with you if you’ll let Him. He has already paid the price for your redemption. You can’t make anything out of yourself for Him, and I can’t either, but He can take us and put us on the wheel of circumstance and shape us into a vessel of honor. We are the clay; He is the Potter.

What is the potter’s field? The potter’s field is planet Earth; it was property belonging to the potter. When He had clay on his wheel of life, attempting to make a pot, or a vessel, but sometimes it didn’t yield to his fingers or it wouldn’t bend where he wanted, or apiece would come off, He would take it off the wheel and throw it into the field. If the clay wasn’t the right texture to be molded, it was discarded as useless.

In Jeremiah’s prophecy, Adonai likens Himself to the potter. Adonai puts the clay, mankind, on the potter’s wheel and attempts to fashion it into the vessel He has in mind. But the clay has to yield to The Mighty Hand of YAHVEH. The clay that won’t yield to Him is thrown out into the potter’s field. He can’t use it.

It is interesting that the price of Yahushua was thirty pieces of silver, and the priests took the coins, they were very pious about not using the price of blood for religious purposes—and bought the potter’s field as a burial place for the poor.

My friend, this Yahushua the Messiyah has been working in the potter’s field through The Mighty Hand of YAHVEH, for a long, long time. He purchased it. But He didn’t purchase it for thirty pieces of silver. He paid the full price, far more than any amount of silver or gold, His own precious blood. He paid the price so that He might buy this old world in which you and I live, a world filled with the broken lives of mankind, broken physically, broken spiritually, broken mentally, and broken morally. The Great Potter, Yahushua the Messiyah, takes the clay with His Mighty Hand, and puts it on the wheel of circumstance, and shapes it into a vessel of honor. We are the clay. He is the Potter. Even in these days of His rejection, He is working in the potter’s field with His Mighty Hand the Five-Fold Ministry.