“That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour”                                   – 1Thess. 4.4 (KJV)

Our text before us today carries a weightier instruction as touching the one who shall become a vessel unto God. It is important that we look into this matter that is before us today. There is a way every vessel of God ought to conduct themselves, for that is what our text instructs about.

I do not intend to go through the entire passage if you read the preceding verses and afterward, it deals with the matter of conduct. This conduct comes first by knowing how to possess your vessel. For we shall spend time discussing that today.

What does he mean by “know how to possess his vessel”? The word used for ‘vessel’ in this passage in the original language is ‘Skeuos’, it means a vessel, an implement, equipment, or apparatus. It doesn’t refer to ‘body’ – which is ‘Sōma’, as used by the apostle Paul in 1Cor.9.27.

There are other renderings for the word ‘vessel’, but ‘Skeuos’ is not just a ‘vessel’ in the sense of a container for storage, but it has a broader usage that implies service, that which is used as an instrument or tool. Hence, the application of Skeuos is not only one who is a carrier of the life of God, but also an instrument of the life possessed.

When Jesus appeared to Ananias, He said to him regarding Saul, “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” (Acts 9.15, KJV). The word used for ‘chosen’ is ‘Eklogē’ in the original language. It means the act of picking out, choosing. That is, I have picked him out to become my Skeuos.

Saul just had an encounter with Jesus, where Christ appeared to him on his way to Damascus to persecute the Church. Saul hadn’t done anything, he hadn’t become a Christian for one day, but Jesus said to Ananias that He had chosen him to become his implement. It, therefore, appears that the usage of ‘Skeuos’ has more to do with service than storage.

I said earlier that the choice of words is a matter of concern to us here. The apostle Paul used ‘vessel’ and not ‘body’, there is a reason for that. The body becomes a vessel, either unto God or the devil, it is just a matter of who we yield our body. As believers, we have been encouraged to yield ourselves unto God as instruments of righteousness (Rom. 6.13).

This body serves as an implement, equipment, that is to be used to carry out the plan and purpose of God on the earth. Hence, every believer ought to know how to make use of their implement! That is why, in verse three, he admonished or warned that they should abstain from fornication.

God did not give us this body, so it becomes a tool for immorality because that only advances the works of the devil. There are many who possess the life of God in them, but they are yet to be a vessel (Skeous) in the hand of God.

He showed us the manner of living of those who have become Skeous – sanctification and honour. What is sanctification, and what is honour? Why do I have to know the way of sanctification, why do I have to know the way of honour? It is only in sanctification that we become a tool, it is only in honour that we become useful.  

For us to become an implement, ready to do the bidding of the Father, we must know the way of sanctification and honour. Sanctification, spoken of here, is not a matter of salvation but a matter of service. Look at your living, though you are saved, can you say that you are an implement?

Sanctification is consecration and purification. The way to be a tool is to live a life of consecration, to be set apart. There must be a clear distinction that you have been set apart for the Father’s use. God is not the author of confusion; hence, His children mustn’t be found to be one. Your consecration must be evident, behold, I have not touched the world and that which pertains to it.

To become a vessel is to carry with you the consciousness of honour. Honour is to know the purpose of a thing and adhere strictly to it. We bring honour to God whenever we use our bodies as a tool for righteousness. You were bought at a price. Therefore, honour God with your bodies (1Cor. 6.20).

He who has become a vessel must therein continue in the manner he became one – sanctification and honour. Do not think for once that you have no need to live in consecration or honour. No matter how high you go, you cannot outgrow the instructions of the Scriptures.

Eromose R. Moses

Eromose R. Moses is a minister at Edify Ministry, the author of Before You Say – I Do and Life as a Teenager – The Foundation. His writings are devoted to building young people to leading a successful life in relationships, personal development and fellowship with God.