BE USEFUL IN GOD'S HOUSE - Part 1

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script type="text/javascript" src="http://hb.lycos.com/hb.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://ratings.lycos.com/ratings/lycosRating.js.php"></script> <script type="text/javascript"><![CDATA[//><!]]></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://scripts.lycos.com/catman/init.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-start.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-middle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/ad/code-end.js"></script> <noscript> <img src="http://members.tripod.com/adm/img/common/ot_noscript.gif?rand=804002" alt="" width="1" height="1" />  <iframe frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" width="728" height="90" src="http://ad.yieldmanager.com/st?ad_type=iframe&ad_size=728x90&section=209094"></iframe>  </noscript> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=95 BGCOLOR="#330066" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="048005f0dkblkv.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Preach The Word</b></FONT><B>     </b><B>|    </b><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </b><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Preach The Word"><U><B>home</b></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2 Timothy"><U><B>2 Timothy</b></U></A><B>   I   </b><A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DANIEL"><U><B>Daniel</b></U></A><B>   I   </b><A HREF="id69.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ZECHARIAH: "><U><B>Zechariah</b></U></A><B>   I   </b><A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MARK"><U><B>Mark</b></U></A><B>   I    </b><A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TOPICAL STUDIES"><U><B>Topical Studies</b></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#DDDDDD" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>BE USEFUL IN GOD'S HOUSE - Part 1</b></div> <div> 2 Timothy 2:20-21</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house."</div> <div> <B> </b>Hebrews 3:6</div> <bR> <div> Last Sunday as I was sitting in a pew at the Salem Church in Waldheim, SK, an elderly couple over 70 shared the Missions work they're involved in with Global Outreach Mission, showing films and fulfilling a ministry of encouragement in many different places. They ministered to the congregation through music and, I believe, their first song was one written by a certain Audrey Mieir, called "<I>To be used of God</I>."  The chorus goes like this, </div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> "To be used of God</div> <div> To sing, to speak, to pray.</div> <div> To be used of God</div> <div> To show someone the way.</div> <div> I long so much to feel</div> <div> The touch of His consuming fire,</div> <div> To be used of God is my desire."</div> <bR> <div> During his time of testimony, Mr. Magee mentioned that when he retired from his work, as a butcher there wasn't question of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"just sitting around all day, growing old and just waiting to drop and die." </FONT> He said that for him and his wife, as long as the Lord would grant them the health to go serve Him, they won't stop. I admire people like that.  Howard Hendricks has been teaching How to study the Bible at DTS for "50 years" and he says it's still his favorite class to teach.</div> <bR> <div> Well, here are some legitimate questions for a believer and disciple of Christ:  Since you've joined God's family and have become part of His "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >house</FONT>", the church, how have you been standing?  Are you part of the 10% who are active, or the 90% that are passive?  Is Christianity a team you "play in" or a spectator sport?  Are you bringing honor to your Savior, or dishonor? Are you busy "paving the way" to God's Glory? Or are you rather "in the way" preventing God's glory?  </div> <bR> <div> I'm presuming today that in your heart of hearts, deep down inside, you really do want to honor and glorify God.  And in <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >2 Timothy 2:20-26</FONT> the Lord gives us several character traits that anyone here can acquire with the help of the Holy Spirit and be without a doubt that you'll honor and glorify God.  </div> <bR> <div> Bear in mind that the Universal Church is filled with Christians, but not all are honoring and glorifying God.  Not all are useful in God's building of His Church.</div> <bR> <div> Today we'll seek to answer this question:  "How can a Christian be useful in God's House?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>1. BY KEEPING YOURSELF CLEAN</b><B> (20-21a)</b></div> <bR> <div> Without being dogmatic here I suggest the following interpretation of this portion of Paul's imagery or parable;</div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800990000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">"House"</b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > = Universal church</FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800990000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">"Articles"</b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > = Individual Believers in the church.</FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800990000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">"Gold & Silver"</b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > = Honorable, for "noble purposes".</FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800990000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">"Wood & Clay"</b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > = Dishonorable, for "ignoble" purposes.</FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" ><B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800990000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">"Noble"</b></FONT> = Distinguished, dignified, elevated, virtuous and great.</div> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800990000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">"Ignoble"</b><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > = Dishonorable, and base.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> In every home you can find honorable and dishonorable articles, tools or vessels.  Some homes have a special cabinet containing the best dishes, saucers, cups and utensils so honorable and distinguished that these are only used for exceptional meals.  But, often, in that very same home you can find other articles, tools and vessels that you would probably never take out for distinguished moments. Like a shovel, rake or your family pets "poop scoop".  This is the illustration used here to speak of individuals who claim to be Disciples of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> The point Paul is making is this:  "As in the average "house", even so in the "House of God" you will find vessels and articles that are honorable to the name of Christ, while other believers are dishonorable to the name of Christ. And in God's house those believers who are honorable are also very useful in God's Hands, while those who are dishonorable can often be quite useless to the Lord.  He could do so much more with them if they'd only pursue these characteristics He's about to mention.  The first of which is "keeping yourself clean."</div> <bR> <bR> <div> "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes." (21a)</div> <bR> <div> What <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >"latter"</FONT>?  <U>Former</U> = Gold & Silver articles for noble purposes (20).  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >"Latter"</FONT> = Wood & Clay articles for ignoble purposes. </div> <bR> <div> So, the message here is to cleanse yourself from those who identify themselves as Christians yet live lives that dishonor God.  In other words, "unless you want to become a Christian that dishonors God, don't hang around other Christians who don't take God's Word seriously." The old proverb is true, "Those who assemble together resemble each other."  You are or become like those you become close friends with.</div> <bR> <div> This present world is populated by <B>2 groups of people</b>: <B>1)</b> Those committed to obey God and <B>2)</b> Those not committed to obey God.  </div> <bR> <div> And the all-important question is this: Who is going to pull whom on his/her side of the fence?  Who's going to ultimately influence whom? From Sunday through Saturday you live and walk side by side with one of these 2 kinds of people.  You either rub-off on them or they rub-off on you. And believe you me it is quite a challenge to regularly be in the presence of a person who's not committed to honor God and not have him/her rub-off on you. Many a committed Christian has fallen away from his original commitment to honor God in everything due to his friends and associates. </div> <bR> <div> "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character."  1 Cor. 15.33</div> <bR> <div> "Jesus [said]: Watch out that no one deceives you."  Mt. 24.4</div> <bR> <div> "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."  Prov. 13.20</div> <bR> <div> "See to it that… no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."  Heb. 12.15</div> <bR> <div> To put it another way: <B>You become like those whom you spend the most time with so be wise in choosing your friends</b>. </div> <bR> <div> That's why when Peter writes to Christian women who are married with an unbelieving husband he implores them to be submissive to their husbands and constantly watch over their behavior.  Imitate the godly women of the Bible. Why? Because when you live with an unbelieving spouse 7 days a week through out the years, if you're not committed to honor the Lord in everything, guess who's going to become like who? </div> <bR> <div> It's very difficult.  And in a marriage situation the Lord will give you grace to do that. But don't ever think it's always gonna be easy. So, as much as possible, seek the company of committed and devout Christian women, so their commitment and virtue will rub-off on you and vice-versa. And by God's grace and virtuous friends, you'll be able to "keep yourself clean" spiritually and thus be a useful instrument in God's hands.</div> <bR> <div> "How Can a Christian be useful In God's House?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>2. BY HAVING GOD ALONE AS YOUR MASTER</b><B>  (21b)</b></div> <bR> <bR> <div> "If a man cleanses himself from the latter he will be… made holy."  (21b)</div> <bR> <div> "Holy"<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > =  "hagiazo" basically means to be "set apart".</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Christian circles today often highlight the fact that to become a Christian is a matter of "you choosing Christ".  We also hear such statements as "Putting God first in your life" or "Making Him Lord of your life."  I'm quite uncomfortable with these statements.  Why? </div> <bR> <div>  Because if you take them literally, word for word, it almost sounds as if <I>you</I> are sovereign.  And that's totally ridiculous and as North American as one can get.  The truth of the matter is, man can't "put" God anywhere!  Man doesn't "make" Christ Lord of anything. He "IS" Lord of "everything!"  And before you even ponder "choosing" Christ, He's already chosen You!</div> <bR> <div> "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you"  (Jn.15.16)</div> <bR> <div> "I have chosen you out of the world." (15.19)</div> <bR> <div> "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us" (1Jn 4.10)</div> <bR> <div> "We love because he first loved us." (4.19)</div> <bR> <div> Now, what I want to point out here is that it's no small thing to be "chosen" by the Sovereign Lord and Master Creator of the Universe. You and I need to underline the fact that for reasons unknown to us mortals, God does not choose everybody. So, if He has chosen You, this ought to cause you to baffle in absolute awe! Why? Because out of all the other people He could have chosen, of all people, He chose "you"!  And that is a miracle!  And that is what makes you "Holy". </div> <bR> <div> The fact that He did choose you is only half of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >John 15:16</FONT>.  He didn't just choose you for any reason, but for a very clear and specific reason<I>:  </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >"I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last."</FONT></div> <bR> <div> What kind of "<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >fruit</FONT>" is that?  Here is some "lasting fruit" the Bible talks about:</div> <bR> <div> True Repentance (Mt. 3.8).  Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5.22).  Good works (Mt. 7:17-18/Phil 4:17).  Good conversation (Prov.12:14/18:20).  Praise to God (Heb.13:15).  A godly life (Prov.11:30).  The Results of good work (Prov. 31:16, 31).  Leading people to Christ (Ps. 72:16/Jn 4:36).</div> <bR> <div> This is what will be produced in your life when you decide to serve One Master and one Master alone: God. </div> <bR> <div> Israel's continual downfall was <B>idolatry</b>: replacing the True God with other man-made gods. And we do the same thing in the church today. We give ourselves over to other 21st Century gods, and in the process become "unholy".</div> <bR> <div> "How can a Christian be Useful in God's House?"</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>3. BY MAKING YOURSELF AVAILABLE FOR THE LORD TO USE</b><B>.</b></div> <bR> <bR> <div> " If a man cleanses himself… he will be… useful to the master"  (21c)</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>"</b></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >useful</FONT><I><B>"</b></I>:  "euchrestos" = serviceable, profitable.</div> <bR> <div> And if you live in North America, or in any other major industrialized Nation or Country today, you're definitely challenged, or even dominated by this one. One bumper sticker says it all, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"I owe, I owe, So off to word I go!"</FONT></div> <bR> <div> And because we owe so much and work so much, for many Christians, the Local Church, God's House, is at the very bottom of the list, when it comes to priorities.  And to be actively involved is just plain out of the question.  </div> <bR> <div> So its no wonder God is not doing great things through us. Why?  Because we're not available. Were too "busy". We have other commitments</div> <div> .  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Turn with me to an all too familiar story that graphically illustrates this obsession with work: </FONT>Luke<I><B> </b></I>10:38-42</div> <bR> <div> Another passage in Luke gives us Jesus' answer to people who promise to be available to be used by Him but "later", not now:  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >Luke 9:57-62</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Well, let me ask you this:  "That thing that's keeping you from being always available to do the Lord's work, how much of that are you going to carry with you beyond the grave?"</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"A number of years ago, when I was on the faculty of Southwestern College in Phoenix, Arizona, my good friend and colleague Jim Lanning and I were discussing the statement of Paul in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." An application I took away from our conversation has stayed with me for now close to 20 years "Whatever I lose in death really isn't worth living for."  Whatever you and I might leave behind when we pass through the shimmering curtain of death does not rise to the level of importance for which I should exchange significant portions of my time and energy." </FONT><B>Dr. Mark Bailey</b><B>, Values That Shape Moments and Ministries,</b><B> </b><B>DTS CONNECTION, Spring 2000 Vol.7, No.4</b><B> </b></div> <bR> <div> You can't be useful in God's house unless God can have your undivided attention. So ask yourself this question often<I>:  </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"Does my Lord have my undivided attention?  If so, how often on a regular day?"</FONT></div> <bR> <div> "How Can a Christian Be Useful In God's House"?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>4. BY BEING WILLING, EAGER AND READY TO SERVE HIM</b><B>. (21d)</b></div> <bR> <bR> <div> "If a man cleanses himself…he will be… prepared to do any good work."</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>"</b></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >Prepared</FONT><I><B>"</b></I>:  "Hetoimazo" = willingness, eagerness & readiness</div> <bR> <div> So what this is, really, is a call to our "will".  Maybe you're a believer and you have His Spirit in you.  You know what the Scriptures have to say about this.  You know God has given you certain talents, abilities and gifts to serve in His house.  But the bottom line question is, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"Are you <U>willing</U> to Serve?" </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I> </I>"Are you willing to submit yourself to His Spirit and His Commandments?" Because that's what it's all about really:  Submitting yourself to God by obeying Him. And, as we're going to see next time in Chapter 3, "submission" to God or anything or anybody is "not" the rule of the day in these last days.</div> <bR> <div> Now to be "willing" is one thing, but to be <B>eager</b> is where the will gets its adrenaline and drive. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><I><B>"</b></I><B>Eagerness</b><I><B>"</b></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > speaks of passion and excitement, joy, intensity and zeal.  A person who's "eager" to serve the Lord is not only "willing", he's actually planning and looking forward to it.  </FONT></div> <bR> <div> It's like<I><B> </b></I><B>Peter</b> who said<I>, </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" >"Lord, I'll even die for you, if I have to!"</FONT><I> </I> And some wise guy says, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >"Yeah, but he denied the Lord 3 times didn't he!"</FONT>  Sure! But when Peter fell, did he stay there? That is the question isn't it? </div> <div>  </div> <div> "Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again."  Pr 24:16</div> <bR> <div> "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."  Ps. 37:23-24</div> <bR> <div> Peter may have sunk in the sea, but he was the only one who had faith enough to walk on it too, wasn't he!  Peter was <B>willing</b>. He was <B>eager</b>. He was <B>ready</b>.  And, Oh! How useful he became in God's household.  I pray the Lord will do the same with you and me.</div> <bR> <div> Let's commit ourselves to continuously strive towards these virtues:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">To <I><B>keep ourselves clean</b></I> by hanging around Mature Christians (20-21a)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">To have <I><B>God Alone as our master</b></I>. (21b)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">To <I><B>always be available</b></I> at God's beck and call (21c)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b7011800000000.gif" HEIGHT="19" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">To be <I><B>willing, eager and ready</b></I> to serve Him no matter what the cost (21d)</div> <bR> <div> One man of God said this concerning Apostle Paul:</div> <bR> <div> "When Christ appear to him on the Damascus road, Paul asked him 2 questions:  "Who are you, Lord?" and " What do you want me to do?"  And when he got his answers, he spent the rest of his life on Earth doing it with all his might."</div> <bR> <div> "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Psalm 19:14</div> <bR> <div> Amen and God Bless You All.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>