Useful

A New Year

The day does offer promise A chance for something new

Time for new directionTo make a change or two

This burst of inspiration Does come but once a year

A time for something different And hopes that change is near

How will you use this moment What will you choose to change

What aspect of your story Are you poised to rearrange

In truth it's just illusion It's not about the day

It's how you view the future

And challenge in your way

6 Characteristics of a useful servant of Jesus Christ.

Challenge: Strive to be a useful servant

1. Genuine (19-20)

2 Timothy 2:19–20 NASB95

19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” 20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.

Seal:

The Lord Knows - An Elect church from God’s viewpoint

Abstain from wickedness - A Righteous church from man’s viewpoint

Keep far from unrighteousness. back up your profession of faith with real action.

2. Clean (21)

2 Timothy 2:21 NASB95

21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

cleanses himself from these things - remove or keep away from the vessels of dishonor.

Biblical separation.

He will be an honorable vessel (my favorite pan)

He will be useful to the Master

He will be prepared or eager for every good work.

3. Pure (22)

2 Timothy 2:22 NASB95

22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

A. Flee

- continually run away from

B. Chase

Righteousness

faithfulness

love - agape (not brotherly love, not sexual love,

peace

4. Peaceable (23)

2 Timothy 2:23 NASB95

23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.

Proverbs 15:18 NASB95

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But the slow to anger calms a dispute.

Proverbs 17:14 NASB95

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

Proverbs 20:3 NASB95

3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.

Mark 11:27–32 NASB95

27 They came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, 28 and began saying to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” 29 And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 “Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me.” 31 They began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 32 “But shall we say, ‘From men’?”—they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet.

5. Patient (24)

2 Timothy 2:24 NASB95

24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,

A. Negative Patience

B. Positive Patience

Kind

Skilled at Teaching

Patient

This is a teaching sandwich. On either side of the skill of teaching is kindness and patience.

Kindness does have its limits though

Titus 3:10–11 NASB95

10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

6. Gentle (25-26)

2 Timothy 2:25–26 NASB95

25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

A. Gentile Correction

B. Gentile Hope

Trusting God to do His work in an erring brother or sister.

Leading to Repentance

Leading to Knowledge

Leading to Sensibleness

Leading to Freedom