Memory Verse: "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some for honour and some for dishonour." (2 Timothy 2:20.)

Let us have a closer look at 2Timothy 2 :20-26.

See vs 22-25.. 2

What blessings go with being ‘vessels unto honour’? See vs 1 and 26.

1. What can defile or dirty it? See I John 2: 15-17.

2. Ephesians 5: 3-20 deals quite extensively with our subject. Le us look at the passage to find out the sort of standards God expects us to live up to.

• What do vs 3 and 5 tell us about immorality, impurity and greed? Can we carry such baggage with us into the kingdom of Christ and of God?
• What does v. 4 tell us about the things we say? See also Matthew 12: 34(b).
• What do vs 6-7, 11-12 have to say about our maintaining a close relationship with those who indulge in these things?
• Vs. 8-10, 13-17 tell us quite a bit about the way we are to live. Why do we have to bother finding out what pleases God?

• Let us look closely at vs 18-20, and remember that Paul is still talking of everyday living by the believer.

What follows when we are filled with the Holy Spirit? See vs 19-20 & Col. 3:15-16.

In the matter of our cleansing from sin and its defilement, God has played His part by sending the Lord Jesus to shed His blood as the payment for our sins.

• We need to be washed by that shed blood of the Lord Jesus.

• Instead of playing with sin, we must reject and refuse all forms and sources of defilement – both those that will defile us physically and those that will do harm to our spiritual lives. See Prov. 1:10.
• We are to draw near to God and ask Him to help us in this battle. James 4: 7-8.

As we repent of our ways and turn from our sins, we have His promise that He will make us as white as snow. Isa. 1:18.

"My son, if sinners entice you (to defile or lead you astray), do not give in to them."