THAT WE MAY BE WILLING VESSELS

MONTHLY PRAYER AND FASTING BULLETIN FOR MAY, 2025

TEXT:  ROMANS 12:1 – 3

BIBLE READING: GENESIS 1

Hello sisters, welcome to another time of seeking the Lord in unity of faith. We bless the Lord for all He has done for us, month after month and how in HIS graceful pleasure, He keeps bringing us His word to meet all our spiritual needs in each season. 

Happy June in advance sisters and I also hope we’re all gearing up for Juicy July. Personally speaking, I have been a partaker of God’s mercies and miracles in Juicy July and I want to tell us that it is not too early to start preparing our hearts and bodies for the mighty outpouring God has in store for us in that season. Please come expectant and if you’ve been a BUD member and have participated in previous Juicy July programs, ensure you prepare your hearts for a “new thing”. Please don’t get complacent with what God is doing and don’t come as other times, but come with faith believing to receive. May God bless and fill our hearts with his deep understanding, AMEN!!!

Now to the topic today, THAT WE MAY BE WILLING VESSELS. 

May we take a moment to cry out to the Lord and say:

Jesus, use me (Insert your name). Please don’t refuse me. Surely there’s work that I can do. Please Lord, crush my will, crush self in me, break everything in me that would make me not useful. Thank you Jesus! Amen!

Let’s take the first two parts of one of my favourite songs. Sing the words and recite them with all your heart. Don’t simply recite the lyrics and enjoy the melody but take this song as a deep commitment and request to be used by the one who bought you with his blood.

JESUS USE ME

Jesus use me.

Oh Lord, please don’t refuse me,

For surely there’s a work that I can do.

Even though it’s humble,

Lord help my will to crumble.

Though the cost be great, I’ll work for you.

Dear Lord, I’ll be a witness,

If you will help my weakness,

I know that I’m not worthy Lord of you,

By eyes of faith I see you, on the cross of Calvary,

Dear Lord, I cry, let me thy servant be.

Romans 12:1-2 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

sister, just to introduce us into what we will take a look at today, your body is not yours and you were not created by God to simply go to university and become a medical doctor/accountant/engineer/teacher and all professions the world seemingly see as purpose. 

NO! He has made each one of us to be a vessel He can entrust a divine plan and purpose. That’s what we will focus on today. You were made to  be His vessel!

A vessel is a person who has a particular quality or who is used for a particular purpose (Cambridge dictionary). A vessel is created for a purpose and is graced with particular qualities that makes it unique in order to serve the essence of its creation. Two vessels are not usually created for exactly the same purposes. The maker of a vessel knows in his mind what he intends to make as a vessel, what material is best suited, and how best such a vessel will serve. 

Same as the Lord. Paul’s second writing to Timothy in chapter 2 verse 20 starts this way:

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. (CSB)

The Vessel Maker here makes vessels of gold, silver, wood and clay. Each of these can serve either of two purposes- honourable functions or dishonourable functions. The vessel cannot outsmart the Maker. It can only serve within the capacity of its make and the essence of its make. Verse 19 previously highlighted that ‘Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are His’. 

Picture this, if a vessel was made like a fork for eating, it cannot function as a spoon when it is time to drink a soup. The One who has made us for Himself has made each of us with a specific function in His mind. However, some are trying to become vessels within the capacity the Vessel Maker didn’t make them. We create for ourselves use that the maker has not made us for- a knife trying to perform the function of a cutlass in a field. 

The simple truth is we think we are wise and can outsmart the Maker. 

By walking outside of the frame of function for which we were made, we begin to exhibit traits of righteousness that have no correlation with that of our Maker. It looks like it, in fact very similar but on closer inspection, it is all cream calling itself white, gray calling itself black, or even a cat calling itself a lion. It is simply living the life of the Pharisee, a life of outward righteousness with nothing good inwardly to reckon with!!!

The crux of such disillusionment can be traced to what is described 2 Timothy 3: 4b-5 (BSB), ‘…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power’.  In other words, these vessels have found themselves in a place of seeking their own will, honour, desires, passions instead of sticking to serving the purpose of the Vessel Maker, His will. 

Here’s what the bible has to say about outward righteousness without inward cleansing. Matthew 23: 25 – 28 NIV: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

It’s easy to look at these verses and condemn the Pharisees and talk about their deceptive nature. But if you look inwards, we could be exactly this! Grew in church, know  Bible verses and can recite them off hand, know how to cover your bodies modestly, go to church early, sing in the choir or serve in other units, and people look at you as role models for their children. So the question to ask is ‘Am I a dirty vessel inside, dishonourable? Am I practicing externally Christianity and teaching Holiness but filled with all sorts of uncleanness?

What are those things that make vessels unclean?

 First, it is a matter straying off the path and essence of design. Let’s check out Psalm 119:9-10 (AMP):

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts].

With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You];

Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].

When a vessel strays off the right path, it has made itself impure hence, it is for dishonourable use. It does not matter the type of material it has been made with. Read the text above again and replace the young man with a vessel. It should read as ‘how can a vessel keep his way pure, and stay in use?’. When the heart strays away, it is expected that such a vessel will no longer align with the Maker’s vision for its creation and according to that verse, it is either as a result of ignorance or of willful disobedience. 

Ignorance can make a vessel lose its clarity of existence as Eve was. Her ignorance of the wiles of the serpent made her susceptible to its deception and she lost all of the Maker’s glory that was her covering. No wonder the prophet Hosea recorded God saying His people perished because they were ignorant (Hosea 4:6). As God’s vessel, if you are ignorant of the devices of the enemy and its goal to steal, kill, and destroy, a lion seeking whom to devour, perishing by ignorance is inevitable. 

Anyone who is aware of all the wiles and lies of the enemy as a vessel but willfully disobeys the Vessel Maker’s blueprint for its existence will equally find itself stray off course. A vessel can willfully sin through:

• Words: Psalm 59:12- For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips…they utter curses and lies (CSB).
• Thoughts: Matthew 15: 18-20-  But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and those things defile the person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements. These are the things that defile the person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the person. (NASB)
• Deeds: James 4:17- Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin (BSB).
• Motives: 1 Corinthians 4:5- Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts (BSB).
• Attitudes: Proverbs 6:16-19- These six things the LORD hates; Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him: A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that creates wicked plans, Feet that run swiftly to evil, A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers (AMP).

The straying off course from the original blueprint God has in mind for our lives and our service to Him as vessels, will only lead to only lead a life of emptiness and futility. It will be living life in circles with nothing significant to consider honourable or worth the living. The enemy only ends up achieving the feeling of hopelessness even when God is apparently close by. 

Our lives as vessels must show that we met with God from within! 

The aim of becoming holy as God and living righteously is very necessary but it becomes a reality when it flows from within to without. It is first a changing and a reconstruction of the mind through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit uses the life of God’s Word and the sincerity of prayers to draw us deeper into God’s fiery furnace that refines us through and through, time after time till all the dross in our lives are cleansed. He walks us through the path of absolute surrender and humility which is the first criteria for receiving grace from God.

The Holy Spirit prunes us, breaks us, molds us and continues the same process till Holiness is formed in our unconscious living and righteousness is witnessed in our intentional living. He forges us as a weapon and molds us into vessels with the most appropriate materials of circumstances and life experiences that will keep God’s imprint on us and our feet rooted in His path carved for us. He starts all these first from within. 

You can’t be under the authority of the Holy Spirit and your dressing does not dignify Christ. Neither can you still speak words that are not seasoned with grace as someone who has received grace. He makes sure to settle all these and more from within, first. You can’t be walking with Jesus and such matters are still unsettled with perfect convictions in you. It will only mean you have not been allowing the Holy Spirit lead you into righteous living and a lifestyle of holiness.  

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean!! Let’s take this song. It will be very helpful if you sing the words like you mean them. These are not just melodies for the heart to learn the lyrics as I said previously but these are words of plea to the Lord. 

LET IT SHOW THAT I MET WITH YOU 

Give me substance,

Give me proofs,

Give me presence,

Give me you,

Give me substance,

Give me proofs,

Give me presence,

Let it show that I met with you,

Let it show that I met with you,

Let it show that I met with you,

Let it show that I met with you.

Give me substance,

Give me proofs,

Give me presence /evidence/fire,

Give me you (2x)

Give me substance,

Give me proofs,

Give me presence,

Let it show that I met with you,

Let it show that I met with you,

Let it show that I met with you,

Let it show that I met with you,

Repeat: Let it show that I met with you,

Lord, may it be known that I met with you,

May it be heard that I met with Jesus,

May it felt that I met with you,

And let it count that I met with you.

Bridge:

All I need is one encounter,

Look upon me with your mercy, Lord (Repeat),

Repeat: Let it show that I met with you,

Let it show that I met with you,

Let it show that I met with Jesus,

Let it show that I met with you,

May it be known that I met with you,

Let it show that I met with you,

May it show that I met with you,

May it be heard that I met with Jesus,

Let it show that I met with you.

It will show that I met with you x3 (Repeat)

Let it show that I met with you x3 (Repeat)

Becoming a Honourable Vessel

Let’s read this passage again, 2 Timothy 2: 20, 21 AMP: 

Now in a large house there are not only vessels and objects of gold and silver, but also vessels and objects of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honorable (noble, good) use and some for dishonorable (ignoble, common). Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable—disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

What is the way to becoming an honourable vessel? Purging!!! 

Your heart must be thoroughly purged of all uncleanliness and you be made new, constantly! 

In Jeremiah 18: 1 – 6 NLT: The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 

“Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Then the Lord gave me this message: “O Israel (INSERT YOUR NAME HERE), can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.

There are so many points here and I would like to highlight some, before we pray together and I trust the Lord to open our eyes of understanding. The first is the potter’s shop. The potter’s shop is where he makes vessels for use. It is a place of construction, the quarry, making each vessel with an intentional purpose. When someone comes to make a vessel of gold, he gives his specifications for example, I want it in this shape and size and with this design because of this and that and the potter commences work!

It is very important to note that no vessel is made without a purpose in the potter’s house. He doesn’t just sit down and make a gold/silver/bronze vessel for nothing, even if he makes one for himself, it would be just for his glory and admiration/pleasure, and that is not worthless! Any form of indentation that makes it displeasing to the eyes, ugly, deformed, the process has to be started again because if left like that, it becomes practically useless. The potter will have none of his handiwork become useless!

Therefore, the question of identity comes up. Your true identity in Christ is that YOU ARE A VESSEL CREATED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE, ONLY THE POTTER KNOWS! This is why no matter how many books/sermons/classes you go to learn about purpose, you will never know it’s true meaning because the Bible says in Hebrews 10:7 (NLT/NKJV): Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures / Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’  

The answer lies here, the true purpose is in the scriptures, it is written in volumes in the Word of God! The Bible says we belong to one body and every member has a purpose. You are a dear member sister, with a unique purpose, clear, unclouded,, as written of you in the Scriptures.

Whatever God had in mind concerning you when He made you might look insignificant to the world and by its standards. However, to God, it is a huge deal. It could be as simple as Mary’s who let out her womb to birth the Saviour. The Saviour made it a huge deal right? But it is the same deal in God’s eyes when a woman lets God use her womb and nurturing traits to bring Children who will serve Him into this world. Nurturing children is a great assignment in God’s sight because they are His heritage! Succeeding in this assignment surely has a great reward! Not to undermine Mary’s calling but to highlight her footsteps as a path we should all follow, submitting our will to the Father’s will. This is a direct contrast to the pathway Eve laid and many still trail it!

Yours may be to disciple young girls in the way of the Lord, showing them the biblical way to love the Lord and become godly women who pattern their lives according to Biblical principles.  Yours may be to rise to a prominent position and use your voice for the Lord.

Yours may be just to wait and intercede with fasting and prayer for the church, quietly Or be like Priscilla who followed her husband and became missionaries who spread the gospel. It could be like Lydia or Dorcas, Eunice or Lois, Joana or Julianna, with many more Biblical women who led seemingly quiet lives but we see and understand today that they led lives that honoured God because they were right where they should be, doing what He wanted of them. 

Anna and Simeon in the bible had different purposes from all the prophets who prophesied about the coming of the Lord. One consistently prayed for the day of the Messiah’s coming, prompting God to let it be in His lifetime and God made it so. The other had lived in the Temple and just at the coming of the Messiah as a babe into the Temple, we see why God had kept her there all the while- to proclaim Him and the redemption He brought with Him. 

They are both different. Yours may be very visible, yours may be really quiet and unnoticed. But what really matters is that you fulfil the purpose for which your vessel was made.

Luke 1: 25 – 29 KJV:

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying – “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people.

36 – 28 NIV: 

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

The next part, found the potter working at his wheel. The Lord is that Potter, He’s constantly shaping lives according to His divine purpose for their creation. There’s no moment the Lord isn’t at His wheel, working, shaping and making His vessels and ridding them of imperfections that would hinder His will for them or obstruct them from serving Him as He intended.

The last part, but the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. This is how the making of any beautiful vessel you see today is. There is a lot of crushing that takes place in the making process for no vessel can be made without the crushing and trimming and moulding and brushing.

All these are vital components of every vessel and you know, if you would be a vessel unto honour, the Lord will have to do all these to you and more. He is never in a hurry to release a vessel from His hands until He is certain He has made it exactly as He pictured it. 

There’s an extended version of issue expressed in this song by Joshua Selman.

God is raising mighty men in this place,

God is raising people of power in this place,

God is raising signs and wonders in this place,

He won’t stop, he won’t stop till you look just like him,

He won’t stop, he won’t stop till your life looks like him,

He won’t stop, he won’t stop till you look just like him.

You may cry, but he won’t stop till you look just like him,

You may be weak, but he won’t stop till you look just like him,

Please don’t stop (2x) till my life looks like you (2x)

So dear sister, the Lord our divine Potter seeks to make you into the instrument of His purpose. But first you need to be made, broken and mended, trimmed and tried in fire to become the glorious lady the Lord desires you to be. The starting point is knowing the Lord, if you haven’t tasted His glorious Calvary, you can say this short prayer:

Lord Jesus, Thank you for bringing your word to me today. I realize today that there’s a purpose for which I’ve been created and I need to be translated to your divine nature to actualize this purpose, so I ask that you rid me of sin (confess them) and I repent from them genuinely. Thank you Lord, Amen!!

Welcome to the family of the Lord, Sis!  You can reach out to the family admins if you made this decision and let’s get you started on the right path in Christ.  I’m overjoyed to see you’ve joined the joyous believers henceforth it shall be from glory to glory, Amen! 

Now dear sister, I would like to implore us to cry out to the Lord to please make us into instruments of His will. It would be great, in fact, no greater joy than knowing that you’re living for the Lord and helping to expand his kingdom in the way He chooses you to. 

And so to conclude, can we all in unity cry out to the Lord –

 

“O BUD FAMILY (INSERT YOUR NAME HERE), can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. So Lord please make me into a vessel unto honour just as the description is in your scriptures. 

Let’s pray.

• Worship God for being God, true to His word, true to His promises.
• Bless the Lord for always being intentional about you. Thank Him because He is always seeking ways to draw you closer to Himself, never leaving you or forsaking you.
• Appreciate Him for the grace He has bestowed on you to come across the truth of His word even today, exposing you to what is in God’s mind concerning you.
• Commit all you’ve learnt today into the hands of the Lord. Thank the Lord for His timely word He brought to you today.
• Thank the Lord for all previous bulletins and praise Him for the BUD family, He’s always using to bless you continually in different ways for an all round growth.
• Ask the Lord for mercy concerning your failings and shortcomings. Ask Him to forgive you and wash you clean with the precious blood of Jesus.
• Ask Him for strength to pray and pray through. Ask Him for grace to walk in the victory Christ has prepared for you after this prayer time. 
• Humble yourself before the Lord. Ask Him to rid you of all pride in your heart as you tarry in His presence this day in prayers.

9. Take this song and sing it with a praying heart,  crying out with all your heart to the Lord.

Have Thine Own Way Lord- by Jim Reeves

Have Thine own way Lord

Have Thine own way

Thou art the potter I am the clay

Mold me and make me after Thy will

While I am waiting, yield and still.

Have Thine own way Lord

Have Thine own way

Search me and try me Master today

Whiter than snow Lord wash me just now

As in Thy presence humbly I bow

Have Thine own way Lord

Have Thine own way

Hold over my being absolute sway

Filled with Thy spirit till all can see

Christ only always living in me

Please sister, focus on the Lord. Believe He is on His majestic throne and you are before Him, pouring your heart to Him.

10. Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that You’re the Divine Potter and You have a glorious purpose for me, Your clay. Please do as You will with me (3X). Have your way in me, Lord. 
11. Lord Jesus, please break and make me. Trim all the excesses, cut off all the ugly parts, brush off every dirt of self, sin and pride and make me into your glorious vessel (3X).
12. In any way I might have rejected Your plans for my life, forgive me today. I repent of my waywardness. Please have mercy upon me and revisit what You have written concerning me. Lead me through the path You have paved for me, Lord, in Jesus name. 
13. I receive grace today to say yes to all of Your plans for my life. My self, flesh, and sin no longer stand in my way of submitting to You in Jesus name. 
14. Lord, I desire to be a vessel unto honour, please use me for your honourable purpose. Please rid me of all that would hinder this divine purpose for my life.
15. Lord, henceforth I live and walk as a honourable vessel in your hands. Please let my life show that I am indeed a vessel you have made. 
16. Daily, I walk in Your will. Moment by moment, I do Your will, O God. 
17. I refuse to stray off course. I refuse to resist Your dealing in my life. I submit to all of Your good thoughts and plans for me in Jesus name.
18. Father, please take me to the place where I have no will that is separate from Your will, no plans separate from Your plans, no thoughts separate from Your thoughts, no way separate from Your way in Jesus name. 
19. Father, please don’t give up on me. Anytime I tend to stray away from You and what You will for me, as You discipline a child that You love, please love me that much to discipline me. Don’t let me go away from You, O Lord!
20. Lord, please help me walk daily in victory over the flesh and sin. Please help me walk in the faith of the divine nature which I now live in and which sin has no power over.
21. Lord, please help me never to lose sight of my calling.
22. Use me, dear God, for Your glory alone!
23. Take this one really seriously. Lord Jesus, please I will not die without having fulfilled my purpose. I will not die without yielding fully to Your calling upon me. All other purposes given by the world that would hinder your divine purpose, please begin to expose them and help me focus on your reason for my existence (Cry out as many times as the Lord leads you and pray it as He imparts it in your heart too).

24. Begin to thank the Lord for all he has done and will do in our lives.

Thank you Jesus! Amen!

Thank you dear sister for following to this point. As we walk in faith of our newness of life and consciousness of our divine purpose as His vessels, may the Lord daily work in us and help us be instruments of his peace. See you in the evening by 7pm for our Bible study and a joyful June in advance to you! 

May God bless you indeed sis!