A Vessel for Honor in the Large House of God

1 Timothy 3 :1-16, 2 Timothy 2 :14-21



First and Second Timothy, from where today’s scripture readings are from, and the Book of Titus are written by
Apostle Paul in order to teach “how to believe and conduct in the house of God”. “I write so that you will know how
one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support
of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15).

The Lord gave us different ministries; “some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and
some as pastors and teachers” (Eph 4:11), in order to preach the gospel of redemption effectively. These
ministries are “servants of a new covenant” and “the ministry of the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:6-8), and the ministry of life and glory. Yesterday’s newly appointed 21 elders and 138 elderesses are the servants of a new covenant
and the ministry of the Spirit. I pray that you receive the grace of God through today’s sermon, “A vessel for honor in the large house of God,” preached especially for the honorable people who were assigned the duties of the church,
the body of Christ.


1. A church of God is a large house.

The house of God represents the entire Christian body who look up to God as Father. God wishes to call to the saints who are His sons, possess them, rule over them and be with them (Immanuel, Eph 2:21-22). The house of God is neither a small house nor a middle-sized house, but an extremely large house (2 Tim 2:20). No matter how small a church might be, God sees it as bigger than any other skyscraper in the world, because it is a house that saves a dying soul and it is where God the Father dwells.

Jesus said to His parents who thought they lost their 12-year-old son during Passover, “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?(Luke 2:49)” God told Solomon who built the house of God, “My name and my eyes will be there perpetually” (1 Kings 8:16, 8:29, 9:3). There are people who are pastors, elders, eldresses and deacons who do not know that a church is larger than any skyscraper, extravagant palace, or president’s residence, and they do not even care about the house of God. These people must repent. Jesus was faithful as a Son in the large house of God and Moses was faithful as a servant (Heb 3:2-6).

1) It is a large house because its master is great.
God is great (Tit 2:13, Psalm 95:3). All things (the universe and all tangible and intangible things within the universe) are subjected to Him. He runs the sun, the moon, the stars, the wind and the four seasons. Although we work during the day, we sleep during the night like a log. However, God does not sleep even during the night because of us who bear the image of Him (Psalm 121:4). If God sleeps, everything will stop working. God is vast and great (Psalm 135:5). He fills the heavens and earth and He is omnipresent. There is no place where He does not exist. But those who have no faith make God smaller to fit the size of their faith. Psalm 96:4 says, “For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised (Psalm 96:4)”. How wholeheartedly people sing in front of a king or a president! So do not sing effortlessly when praising to God who is much greater. He tells us to praise His great and awesome name (Psalm 99:3).

A saint who does not praise is like a saint in a coffin. God is enthroned upon the praises (Psalm 22:3); therefore God is not there where there is no praise. Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned while preaching the gospel. Their bodies swelled and bled, but they gave thanks and praised instead of quarrelling and complaining. Surprisingly, not one prisoner provoked a quarrel but listened to the praise instead. Suddenly there came an earthquake and all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. A miracle happened when the jailer tried to kill himself in fear of punishment. Paul and Silas evangelized to and baptized the jailer and his entire household. How truly great is God!

In the eyes of man, a church seems to be made of materials such as wood, metal and rock. But if you look at its meaning, a church is the body of Jesus, who is also the head of the church (Eph 1:22-23, Col 1:18). God imputed all our sins to Jesus. His hands and feet were nailed on Golgotha, His side pierced with a spear and blood and water from Him poured out to save us. Have we ever shed tears of gratitude for this grace of redemption? For the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23, Rev 20:12-14), if He had not saved us we are all doomed to die. Therefore a church purchased with His own blood is not a miserable gathering of people waiting for death in lamentation. It is where even a dead body springs up. If you lay all your sighs, concerns and worries before Jesus, all will be blown away like clouds carried away by the wind. How pathetic is it not to thank God, understand the word of truth, or attend church gatherings and group services and dislike learning the Bible even after being led to this blessed church!

2) A church is a large house because its activities are global and even universal.
A church transcends all tribes, tongues and people (Rev 7:9). It is global and universal to the point that the angels of heaven envy and admire that we believe in Jesus and that our sins are forgiven. If you have idled your time away until now, now is the time for you to make God, the Lord of all, happy at least once, and whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31-33). How much longer can we live? How much is left in our life? Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s (Rom 14:7-8). The world only deals with the living. No matter how much you have loved someone, if that person dies, you bury him because the dead body will decay. But our God embraces us all, saying, “Whether alive or dead, you are mine.” Take just a moment to think of His love.

3) A church is a large house, because it regards the soul as more precious than the whole world.
A church is an organization that takes charge of a soul more preciously than the whole world. Therefore, it is an organization of life (Matt 16:26). How urgent does it feel when trying to save a person who is dying? We must deliver the word like a postman. If not, we will also die, because we are entrusted with the oracles of God (Rom 3:2). Even at work, if we do not accomplish the assignments, we get fired. Those who are entrusted with the Word, do you truly realize its preciousness and worth? We cannot handle the Word if we do not realize its worth. Are you sure you are not regarding the Word’s value as less than a few coins in your pocket? The Word of God is above your parents, teachers and friends.


2. In a large house, there are many vessels.

In any house, you can tell the size of the household by looking at how many vessels it holds. We exist in various forms to be used for special purposes by the master of the large house. Each one of us has our own talent, spiritual gift and mission. There are some gold vessels that are too dirty for the master to lay his hands on, but then there are dull looking earthenware that the master will always use.

1) A clean vessel used by the master
God considers those who cleanse themselves to be precious. “If anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared from a pure heart (2 Tim 2:21).” When Jesus came, only 12 disciples were chosen among many Israelites. Among them, Judas Iscariot was highly regarded that he became an accountant in charge of the money box (John 12:6). However, he was a gold vessel that became dirty. On the other hand, Saul who used to kill those who believe in Jesus, became a chosen instrument for the Gentiles after being called, and was renamed Paul (Acts 9:15).

How can we cleanse ourselves? We can cleanse ourselves by repenting for our (Acts 2:38). We can become clean by believing in the Word (John 15:3, Acts 15:9), and obeying to the truth by repeating “Amen” (1 Pet 1:22). We can cleanse ourselves by evangelizing. The church needs someone who buds many new souls by evangelizing just as the vine bears new fruits. God calls such person “a vessel for honor” (John 15:2, James 5:20). There was no godly offspring and no one who understood the word in the times of Noah. So the world was judged with the flood. It will be the same in the last days. Without sanctification no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14). We must be sanctified. Please study the Bible diligently.

2) A vessel of dishonor, disregarded by the master (2 Tim 2:20)
Such a vessel refers to someone who cannot accurately handle the Word of truth. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). The word “to accurately handle” in Greek means, “to cut accurately”. When cutting a cake, you need to cut accurately and equally to avoid quarrels. It could be compared to a farmer accurately furrowing the ground.

Second Timothy, which records about a vessel for honor and a vessel for dishonor, speaks of Hymenaeus, Philtus and Alexander. These are people who did not believe well and shook others’ belief through their words. They stirred up the people to believe that the resurrection of Jesus was made up. Being unable to bear it, God spoke through Paul that they are like “spreading gangrene,” a disease that could make a living body rot within two days. These are people who would scatter ashes and pour cold water on the saints who try to get blessed, spreading false rumors and making the church rot. They challenged other saints by asking them, “How can you believe the story of living eternally without dying?” And then they would pretend as if they had done nothing wrong. The lives of these people are worthless. A vessel for dishonor cannot discern the Word. He does not know the Bible well nor can he teach the Bible. If a pastor, an elder or a deacon is rebuked by a saint for not knowing the Bible well, he is a vessel for dishonor.

Even one who thinks he is complete but is not is a contemptibly used vessel. This type of person proudly says “The church cannot be without me,” or “What good is going to come from having those kinds of people?” while mocking and disdaining others. “Pride goes before destruction” (Prov 16:18). Only those who are humble can receive God’s grace, for He rejects the proud. The one who thinks he is complete, but is not, is the most pitiful person. Also, what God finds most despicable is one who does not believe while acting like he does. It would be better for that person to not believe. However, this type of person acts as though he believes when he can not, all the while domineering over the church. God says this kind of person has a foul stench.

Having a church life for many years but never reading the Bible once through; not being able to clutch one’s Bible confidently when coming to church, but seeming to hide a small pocket Bible; when asked where he is going, does not say that he is going to church, but rather attending to some business ? this all is truly strange. The church is the place where one receives the Word, the Holy Spirit, and God’s love without cost, and life is astir...so why does one act this you’re your soul must be be alive for everything else to go well. No matter how good something of this world is, it will disappear, rust, rot and leave a stench. God’s kingdom is a place that is always fragrant, a place where a person who is 100 years old has a face of an infant (Isa 65:20).

Beloved saints! Are you fine with being a vessel that just remains in place, never to be used by your owner, year round? A vessel can only be a vessel when it is used. How great is the vessel for which the owner has an affinity and constantly reaches for it with his right hand? We must prepare ourselves to always be used. We must be able to confess, “I have washed my vessel. It is clean.” A vessel that is fully ready and prepared for every good work (2 Tim 2:21) has no reason and gives no excuse when the master calls. The vessel gives answer of “Yes!” and takes action. It is the same with a soldier who has no reason. This is because we are the ones called to be equipped for every good work (Tit 2:14, Eph 2:10, 2 Tim 3:17, Tit 1:16, Tit 3:8,14). How then can we be ready to do every good work?

Firstly, we prepare for good works with prayer.

Secondly, we prepare through repentance of sins. If we repent, then God’s hand cannot but reach out.

Thirdly, when we are faithful in the tasks accorded to us, God’s friendship will be over our tents (Job 29:4).

Fourthly, only by persevering refinement and affliction can one be prepared. My hope is that you will endure refinement, affliction, and agony for the work of the Lord’s. Do not grumble or complain. Moses spent 40 years in the king’s palace and another 40 years in the Wilderness of Midian. Though Moses received refining for 80 years, God effectively used what was gained through his refining throughout the 40-year wilderness journey. Moreover, Job received twofold blessing after being refined. Likewise, Joseph, after having endured unspeakable suffering, became prime minister who saved the people during the seven years of great famine.

Fifthly, we prepare through service. Saints must have the duty of service and thanksgiving. This is having “a reputation for good works” (1 Tim 5:10). We all must be pillars of the church (Gal 2:9). A towering pillar acts as a lighthouse for those who lose direction, for those who stray, for the dejected and for the impoverished. The foundation of a pillar must be secure (1 Tim 3:15-16). If the foundation is secure, the pillar will not collapse even if a flood were to come.

I must offer up my life to save the church. The church is God’s body and a world of glory, so what happens when I am reviled on behalf of the church? Our church now has 167 elders and 1,156 eldresses. If these people make themselves clean to take on their charged tasks, then this world would collapse. The city of sin would come toppling down. After the Israelites had circled the city of Jericho for six days, they then circled the city seven times on the seventh day. When they shouted, the impregnable city came crashing down.

We have this kind of mission. We are called to destroying the city of sin, to awaken the sleeping souls and to lead them to God. We must recognize anew and reconfirm that this is a duty that everyone in our church has received. With the year passing by until today, if we have not evangelized even one soul, then that is truly shameful and humiliating. My hope is that you will evangelize to your unbelieving parents and siblings by putting in strenuous effort.

Pyungkang Cheil Church is a fellowship of life that shouts out God’s Word clearly, uprightly, and equally. It is a large house. It is the pillar and foundation of truth. The church is a place that delivers life to mankind. Thus, many vessels are needed in our church. A vessel for soy sauce, kimchi, shrimp paste, seaweed, clam stew ? whatever kind of vessel it may be is fine. Even a vessel with a missing piece is fine. Do not underestimate yourself. Do not say, “I do not have anything,” “I am not educated,” or “I am not good looking.” If you repent of your sins, and make yourself clean, then please believe that God will lift you up with His right hand and use you.

A true church is not the creation of man but God’s biggest, best, most valuable, divine creation on the earth. God is the owner of the church. Beyond what we deserve, we have been called to this house and took on duties. Even if the world mobilizes to kill us, if God declares, “That person must live! I need that person! That person is precious!” believe that He acknowledges us with, “You are mine” (Isa 43:1). How thankful we are to be God’s, to be His partner. What He seeks is faithfulness. (4:2) The first Chinese character, choong (忠), for the Korean word “faithfulness” (choong-sung), is a combination of characters “middle” (中) and “mind/heart” (心). The second Chinese character, sung (誠), is a combination of the characters “word” (言) and “achieve”(成). Thus, we must believe in the Word in faith and live accordingly to fulfill it. We must not flee from being constantly moved and from giving thanks praise. Please believe that today, like the enlightening Word, troubles and ill health in our households, agony, and darkness will flee, and that God’s eternally unceasing, amazing sun will shine on your families, workplaces, businesses, the church, and furthermore, on our nation and people.

Sermon by Founding Pastor, Rev. Abraham Park, on December 17, 2006, 2nd service