A Chosen Vessel

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: A Chosen Vessel
Date: Saturday November 12, 2011
Chapters: Acts 9-10
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-12

Hello My Friend,

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness...Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 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. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” - II Timothy 2:15,16,19-26.

Believe it or not, those who are not saved are held captive to Satan, they go about their days unknown to the fact that every step they take is at his will. Likewise, those who are saved are free from Satan, but many too go about their days unknown to the fact that every step they take is at His will, even the ungodly things. Every single thing we do in life has an impact on us in some way, it is up to us to decide how we handle the snares and strifes of the world without living in Satan's will. If you are saved, you are a chosen vessel, a body in which God dwells. Let's face it, we all have something in our lives that is a hindrance between us and God, something that is keeping us from reaching our full potential with God, it's time to study to shew thyself approved unto God to receive those blessings as we learn to avoid and eliminate the things that keep us still in bondage to Satan.

Saul grew up a devout Jew, so, when people began preaching Jesus he gladly accepted the task of persecuting these blasphemers. Little did Saul know that he would soon be the one being persecuted for preaching Jesus. As he was on his way to Damascus to capture people preaching Jesus for them to be tried in Jerusalem something miraculous happened, Jesus showed up.

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” - Acts 9:3-9.

The unsaved are blind to Jesus, they have no idea that Jesus is even near them, it usually takes a tragic situation before they search for the existence of God or seek His help. The phrase “kick against the pricks” means that Saul was resisting the authority of God. Every time he taunted and allowed one of Jesus' disciples to be killed he was persecuting or crucifying Jesus all over again. Every person that persecutes a follower of Christ is resisting to the authority of God and crucifies Jesus all over again. You cannot believe in God and not believe in Jesus Christ, doing so always goes against His authority and blinds them to the truth, at least until they open their hearts to the truth. “Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” - John 12:44-48.

When Saul arrived in Damascus, he was to be met by a man named Ananias, Ananias was a devout Christian, he heard about Saul's reputation and was quite nervous about helping this ruthless hater of anyone preaching Jesus. However, he did as Jesus commanded, he met up with Saul, preached the Gospel to him, and Saul was saved, baptized, and immediately began preaching the Gospel as well.

“Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” - Acts 9:13-20.

Saul, who we know as Paul, became one of the most successful evangelists of all time, Jesus chose one of the most ruthless people to be a witness of the Gospel. Why? To prove that everyone, even the most ruthless Jesus hater, can be saved and used as a vessel of honor. Paul never stopped preaching the Gospel to the lost and became a witness to all nations that even a murderer can be saved, turn his life around, and used of God as a testimony. While we are quick to count people out and cast them into hell, God never counts anyone out, He does not want to see anyone in hell. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” - II Peter 3:9.

Paul also faced a lot of persecution, probably more than anyone we know from the Bible besides Jesus, yes, he was forgiven, yes, he got saved, but he still had to deal with the repercussions of his past life. It wasn't a punishment from God, it was Satan trying to discourage him to quit, but Paul never gave up. Jesus was always with him and helped him endure every bit of it, he knew what Jesus had saved him from and no matter what he faced in life it did not compare to what he would have faced if he continued the life he was living. Paul asked Jesus to remove the thorn from his side, the hindrance that kept him from reaching his full potential with God. Guess what? He did not remove the thorn. “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” - II Corinthians 12:8-10.

Those thorns in our sides are not really hindrances, they are actually used by God to bring us closer to Him, in the weakness of our flesh we only become strong through the power of Christ, His grace gives us peace, comfort, and the ability to reach our full potential with God. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus...I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me...But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:7,13,19. Praise God!

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
It is comforting and eye opening to realize that the thing that I thought was hindering my relationship with You is actually used to bring me closer to You. While You are not removing the thorn in my side I know I can endure all things through Christ, who lives inside of me and is my strength. Lord, I am Your vessel, do to me as You feel necessary to make me a vessel of honor. Let me not be overwhelmed or overpowered by my infirmities, instead let me embrace them by the grace of Christ, who is sufficient enough to strengthen me though I am weak. I love You Lord, and pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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