Called for a Noble Purpose

Called for a Noble Purpose

Story of being in a classroom and noticing a poster situated at the front of the class just off to the side reading

“With great power comes great responsibility”- signed Superman.

But we know that it is the bible, which existed way before Superman’s time which says, “To whom much is given, much is required.”

written to inspire the students to strive for greatness and to maximize their potential; but it was also noting that greatness doesn’t come easy. As a matter of fact, greatness only comes to those who stay the course and who endure to the end.

Conclusion: two different kinds of people- those who conform to the norm (easier route; it’s what accepted and it’s the road most people travel) but then there’s the few that choose not to conform to the norm (choose to take the more difficult road less traveled.)

First text Paul is writing to Timothy, his mentee

Young pastor who is still learning; he’s schooling him on how to effectively lead

warning him against false teachers and false teaching.

Paul says, don’t get caught up in all that chatter

Rather, set yourself apart in such a way that God can continue the great work that He has begun in me- position yourself to do great things for God.

Paul uses this analogy to illustrate this: it looks at two kinds vessels: one that is made of gold and silver and ones that are made out of wood and clay.

2 Timothy 2:20–21 NKJV

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. 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.

Growing up I remember there were some dishes that were only allowed to come out on special occasions; twice a year (Christmas and Thanksgiving), but the others could be used at any given time.

Growing up I remember there were some dishes that were only allowed to come out on special occasions; twice a year (Christmas and Thanksgiving), but the others could be used at any given time.

The former is for honourable/noble use and the latter is for ignoble (menial) use.

The bowls of wood and clay would typically be used for ordinary meals, cooking preparations and garbage disposal

The bible () says, we have been saved, and called with a holy calling.

The purposes/plans of God for us is distinctly and uniquely designed with DNA (personal composition in mind)

calling is not ordinary- it is a holy calling: it is pure, sacred, consecrated unto God

The scripture says, gold and silver vessels are used for honour- they are therefore purified from anything dishounorable

Now, I every believer has an innate desire to please God and to be used by Him. However, not every believer is willing to make the sacrifices, stay the course and endure to the end as one that is tried, tested and true.

Not every believer is willing to go through the process of purification and sanctification that would position us as special, set a part and useful to the Master.

There must be a separation from contamination or corrupting influences in our lives

fasting: not waiting on Pastor, but you set aside time for yourself to fast because you recognize that your heart is willing, but the flesh is weak

prayer- making prayer a priority

Pastor Duff on mental health issues in the church

People are complaining and saying the church has lost its power

How many of us prioritize prayer in our lives

Not the 5-10 minute quickie but learning to sit at the feet of Jesus, allowing Him to get our minds right

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (pulls Himself away from the noise, immersed Himself in His Father’s presence- He needed to get His head right

Prayer still matters and stillness is essential

There must be a cleansing from the idols in our lives

anything that we’ve attributed value to that we wrestle with when it comes to God- is an idol

strongholds and we allow them to take up residence in our lives to distract us from the purposes and plans of God

The bible says in

Matthew 7:13–14 NRSV

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13–14 The Message

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.

If you want to live a extraordinary life, be a vessel for noble purposes and do damage for the Kingdom of God, I want you to know tonight, it is a vigorous journey and it will require your total attention.

Daniel

Daniel 3:1–30 NIV

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “May the king live forever! Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.” Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

It’s going to be a rigorous journey…”nothing good ever comes easy”

GOLD PURIFIED

Do you know how gold is purified?

Everybody wants to come out on the other side, but nobody ever wants to go through the fire

Everybody wants to come out on the other side, but nobody ever wants to go through the fire

Everybody wants to come out on the other side, but nobody ever wants to go through the fire

The three Hebrew boys had no idea what was ahead of the them.

The three Hebrew boys had no idea what was ahead of the them.

Background...

After the King confronted the Shadrack, Meshack and Abendego concerning their stance against bowing, He asks/challenges them by asking

“And who is the God who can rescue you from my power?

To Sarah (Abraham’s wife) the angel of the Lord asked this very question: “Is there anything to difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son ().”

Jeremiah exclaimed: “Ah Lord God! Behold You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by Your outstretched arm! There is nothing too difficult for you ()”

God answers this rhetorical question in , “but He said, The things that are impossible with man are possible with God!”

Shadrack, Meshack and Abendego conjured up all the confidence in themselves while facing their opposer

“We have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and He will deliver us from your hand...”

“Though He slay me- yet will I trust ()”

They were living by faith!

Ppl who live by faith command the mountains to move and they move

ppl who live by faith refuse to give up, refuse to be intimidated by the enemy ...

Ppl who live by faith aren’t confident in their flesh- but are confident in the God of Angel Armies, The Defender of the Weak...

They stand firm in their conviction of faith

“But if not, let it be know to you, O King that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up ()”

The Three Hebrew Boys did not bow, they took a stance (proactive stance) of obedience

a) Obedience is the key that unlocks all the blessings God has for us

b) Obedience is the only appropriate response to hearing God

If we aren’t hearing from God, then we will never understand the purpose to our struggle ()

Acts 9:15–16 NIV

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Hearing from God begins with our commtitment to humble obedience ()

John 10:27 NIV

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

The pressures of life often way us down so much so that if we don’t have a strategy in place- we will fail, submitting ourselves to the most convenient option (not always the best option)

Psalm 25:14 NIV

The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

“The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear (revere) Him; and He reveals His covenant to them (reveals to them its deep inner meaning AMP)”

what it is to be in a covenantal relationship with a being/God who is Sovereign (He does whatever He want, however He wants, wherever He wants and whenever He wants)

Rules don’t apply!- God wants to reveal to us the deep inner meanings of what it is to be in relationship with the Him who exists and operates outside of rules and constructs

If we revere God, then we will obey Him. The more we obey Him, the easier it will be to recognize His voice and know His will.

Time

We must posture to obey

We must have a purposeful intention to obey- not just when it’s convenient (our timing) but immediately because delayed obedience is still disobedience

“let me think about it, let me pray about it, let me talk to my spouse and friends first…” Or we just flat out ignore the request

delayed obedience: we have allowed doubt to creep in

Do not give the enemy a foothold in your life!

His mission is to move us away from righteousness/right living and to persuade you to disobedience (b/c it will leave you exposed to the enemy’s advances)

Remember

Armour of God

breastplate of righteousness

a defense mechanism from a full on frontal attack from the enemy

Intead of pursuing the virtues that come with living right, it is the enemy’s job to sway us away from right living to wrong living

If he can’t get you to outright disobey, he will try convincing you to delay

Don’t give the devil a foothold in your life- before you know the request, choose to obey.

To receive the blessings that comes from being used for noble purposes, you must know, there will be a cost.

He (God) said (to Abraham) “Take you son, your only son whom you love and go to Mount Moriah...”

God promised Abraham a great nation, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky

Yet here He was asking Abraham (loving father) to sacrifice his one and only son (God is appealing to his heart- checking for any idols)

Sometimes God asks us to give up the very things we hold so near and deal to our hearts (people, relationships, dreams/aspirations)

If we want to be used for noble purposes, we have to come to the understanding and the acceptance that it will cost

I don’t care how much time or money you invested into it or how valuable it is to you

If we want to be used for noble purposes, we have to come to the understanding and the acceptance that it will cost

If we want to be used for noble purposes, we have to come to the understanding and the acceptance that it will cost

(story)

Shadrack, Meshack and Abendego weren’t just giving up their son, their families or even time- they were literally giving up their life!

“Many are called but few are chosen”()

Few are willing to travel that road

Purpose

When we talk

When we talk about purpose, we automatically think we’ve got to bring something grand to the table (a big idea or crazy gift/talent)

But we can be used for noble purposes simply by having a heart of obedience

Esther: orphan girl who ended up as Queen in a palace (God gave her influence because she could be trusted). She had a heart of obedience. God used her to save the Jews from being completely annihilated.

Disciples: () They sold everything they had, gave up heir families, livelihood (everything) to follow Christ. And we know that they went on to preach, prove and establish the gospel all over the world

Decide ahead of time (be proactive) in your stance of obedience- no matter what the cost

Walk out your obedience…immediately

Read

They went in bound but when the Son of God showed up- they became loose

God always shows up right on time

If we would just stick it out and stay the course

Right when life becomes unbearable, God will show up!

They chose not to bow despite the cost, and we learn, by that simple act of obedience- God used them to bring salvation to a King, who in turn influenced an entire nation.

You are never forgotten- when we choose to obey, God will promote you from being a vessel of clay (ordinary) to a vessel of Gold (used for noble purposes because we can be trusted.

Choose to obey!