Vessels of Honour

 

Vessels of Honour

Who among us hasn’t stumbled through life making mistakes? Some seem to navigate more gracefully than others—but I’m not one of them. My story bears the marks of divorce, failure, and wandering through seasons of compromise and confusion—all while claiming the banner of Christianity. It’s not a proud confession, but it’s the truth.

Yet through all the failure, there was never a denial of the truth. I changed, I fell, I wrestled—but God never changes. I’ve always believed that. Even when repentance didn’t immediately follow, I would still confess Jesus as Lord, because deep down, I knew He was my only truth. And when pressed, I confirmed that truth again and again—through confession.

So, what then for those like me? Those whose lives have been scarred by disappointment and wrong turns. I’ve long believed the answer lies in the only manual that never changes—the Word of God. The Bible remains our first and final authority, the only source that can turn brokenness into purpose.

The alternative is grim. We could choose despair—sit in the ashes of regret, declare ourselves victims, and live as though our failures define us. Woe is me; I’m done. But that’s not the end of the story. The only true end is to reject the Spirit completely—to commit the unpardonable sin, the depths of which I do not claim to understand. Yet I do know this: if there’s still even a flicker of hunger within you to call out to God, to ask for forgiveness and to honour His name—then hope remains.

This truth has stirred something in me. It’s caused me to ask: Where do I now fit into God’s plan?

We often forget that both light and darkness play their part in revealing God’s glory. In every household, there are different kinds of vessels—some for noble use, others for ordinary or even dirty work. Paul spoke of this when he said that if we cleanse ourselves from what is dishonourable, we can become vessels fit for honour. A bucket used for mopping might not be displayed in the living room, yet it has its purpose. Likewise, a costly piece of art is set high for all to see—but both have their place in the Master’s house.

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So, flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels (2 Timothy 2;21-23)

Even in Scripture, we see those who faltered. Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal—trading the eternal for the temporary. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus with a kiss—his will was his own, but someone had to be appointed to fulfill prophecy and play that part in God’s plan. Peter, too, denied the Lord three times, yet his story didn’t end there. He wept bitterly, repented, and was restored—a vessel reshaped by grace.

We can’t change our pasts—regret reminds us of that—but we can choose what comes next. God calls us to let go of what lies behind and press forward toward the high calling in Christ Jesus.

Whatever consequences we face because of past choices are temporary. They will pass.
But eternity—that’s forever.

Signing out
Tyrone

Application

 

APPLICATION: WALKING OUT THE WORD

We have faith, and we have commitment from individuals who genuinely believe. We have the Word of God right before us.
Yet one great question remains — how do we apply the voice of God in our lives?

We are tempted by our flesh. We know our hearts lean toward self-indulgence.
We understand that salvation is a gift — not something we can earn or buy.
Still, we are called to diligently apply ourselves to the Word.

Our minds can be a battlefield. Mine often races like a steam train — thoughts pulling in every direction — making it hard to stay focused.
So let me pause and share a personal testimony, because I have made mistakes in this area.

From the very beginning of my walk with Christ, God blessed me — or rather, gifted me — with an unshakable conviction about the authority of Scripture.
Since the day I was saved, I have never doubted that God’s Word is the final authority — no exceptions.

When it comes to the roles of men and women in the church, or marriage as between a man and a woman, my position is not based on personal opinion — it is based on the voice of God as revealed in His Word.

When God rescued me, it was radical. My life turned completely around — a full 180.
For years, our entertainment room and bar area became our “church home,” where 50 to 60 people gathered four times a week.
We modelled ourselves after the early church in Acts, and honestly, those were some of the happiest days of my life.

I loved our breaking of bread meetings, where the focus was entirely on the Lord Jesus and His finished work on the cross.
But as time went on, I realised my infancy stage was over. I had to start walking the walk.

And that is where the testing began. Temptation had become fiercer, and choices now needed to be made. Would I live out what I believed?

Sadly, I made many poor choices. Reconciling the Word with my life became difficult.
One thing was clear: the Word was inviolable. It was my gift, my foundation.

Yet like so many today, I tried to twist it to fit my own desires. I made grace a license.
I could not understand why I still faced certain temptations. I would ask myself, “If saved, why do I still struggle with lust? Why, if sin no longer has power over me, do I still wrestle with it?”

It felt like a contradiction. And no one could give me an answer that satisfied my soul.
Those unresolved doubts festered, and before long, I found myself spiralling — like a dog returning to its vomit.

Unless we learn to correctly apply the Word amid the noise — the static of modern life and the competing voices around us — we risk twisting God’s truth to our own harm.
We see this clearly in areas like same-sex relationships, where some churches accept what God’s Word clearly forbids.

The truth does not change.
There are no exceptions outside the finished work of the Cross.
To embrace the Cross while ignoring its instruction is to miss the point entirely.

The Bible remains the ultimate authority in all matters.
If you are seeking assurance, take hold of it — but do so in full obedience.
Living in open defiance of God’s voice will bar us from heaven.

“The gate is narrow, and few there be that find it.”
“Not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom, but only he who does the will of My Father.”

So how do we know the Father’s will?
We open the instruction manual — the Bible.

When our lives do not line up with the Word, we must do what Jacob did — wrestle with God and say,
“I will not let You go until You bless me.”
We must examine ourselves through the lens of Scripture.

For years, I struggled with applying the Word properly.
But thank God for His grace — for He who began a good work in us will complete it.

If we refuse to confront our sins, whatever they may be, we invite judgment.
Balance is vital in salvation.
Our hearts are deceitful and always searching for excuses.

True freedom only comes when we apply God’s principles — when we pass the tests He allows — and this is a daily process.
We often focus on the big battles, but real transformation happens when application to the voice of God becomes a lifestyle.

Scripture on Application

James 1:22–25 (NIV)
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—
not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
The clearest call to application — hearing God’s Word must lead to doing.

Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV)
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.”
Understanding is the bridge between knowledge and application — knowing how to live what you know.

Philippians 4:9 (ESV)
“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things,
and the God of peace will be with you.”
Faith is lived through practice — application produces peace.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NIV)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Scripture isn’t meant just to be read — it’s meant to shape our conduct and character.

Matthew 7:24–25 (NIV)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall,
because it had its foundation on the rock.”
True discipleship means hearing and building life upon Jesus’ words.

John 13:17 (NIV)
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
Knowledge brings responsibility — blessing follows obedient application.

Final Thought

APPLICATION IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN KNOWING AND BECOMING.
Faith without obedience remains theory — but faith applied becomes transformation.

Signing out

Tyrone

Dead Works and Living Proof

 

Dead Works and Living Proof

Intro:

We all know salvation can’t be earned — it’s a gift from God. But once we’ve received it, what does it look like in our lives?
This post explores the difference between dead works that try to earn God’s favour and living works that prove our faith through obedience.

When we speak of dead works, the meaning is simple enough: you cannot earn or buy your salvation.
The Word makes it clear — salvation is a gift, undeserved and unearned, received through faith in Christ alone.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” — Ephesians 2:8–9

No amount of ritual, religion, or personal effort can purchase what Christ already paid for with His blood.
To rely on works for salvation is to engage in dead works — things that may look holy but lack the breath of the Spirit.

Yet Scripture balances this truth with another:
Real faith produces real fruit.
We are not saved by works, but the evidence of salvation is seen in what we do.

“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” — James 2:17

Think of Abraham.
When he lifted his hand to offer Isaac, that act didn’t earn his righteousness — it proved it.

“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” — James 2:22

Abraham’s obedience was not an attempt to impress God; it was the outflow of a trust so complete that it acted.
That’s living proof.

And Peter — after denying Christ — was not cast away but lovingly challenged:

“Do you love Me more than these?” — John 21:15

Each time Peter answered, Jesus responded with a command: “Feed My sheep.”
Love for Christ is proven not by words but by obedience.
Faith without action is lifeless confession.

There was a moment recently when I had to admit — I have been found wanting.
I saw that parts of my walk had grown comfortable, even complacent. My intentions were good, but my actions didn’t always match my confession.
It was a sobering reminder that God still weighs the heart, and that faith must continually be proved in obedience, humility, and love.

Yet even that realization is grace.
Because when God exposes where we fall short, He’s not condemning us — He’s inviting us to grow deeper, to move from dead effort to living obedience.

We are not striving to earn God’s acceptance — we already have it through Jesus.
But we prove our love and faith by our obedience, service, and endurance.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10

Dead works try to reach God through effort.
Living works flow from God through grace.

So yes — salvation is the gift.
But the proof of that salvation is a life that reflects the Giver.

Faith is the root.
Obedience is the fruit.

Let us not serve to be seen,
but let our lives prove that we know Him, love Him, and trust Him —
just as Abraham did, and as Peter learned to do.

SHOW ME YOUR FAITH WITHOUT YOUR WORKS, AND I WILL SHOW YOU MY FAITH BY MY WORKS.

— James 2:18

In His grace,

Signing off

Tyrone 

The Test of Faith

 

Journaling and Faith — The Test of Belief

Why do people journal? To clear their thoughts and stay aware of life’s realities, right?

So why do I blog? It begins with my reality in light of Christ’s sacrifice — the very act that allows me to cry, “Abba, Father.” The same holds true for every born-again believer.

The cares of this life are too many to number. They constantly fight for our attention, trying to pull us away from what truly matters: God’s will for our lives and the call to pass the test along the way. Every great man or woman of God faced tests that defied human reasoning.

Abraham was told to leave everything and go to a place he didn’t know. Later, he was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Sarah was promised a child long after her natural ability had ended. She laughed at first, but when we look closer — she believed.
Samson, Gideon, Barak, Rahab the harlot, Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons — all faced their tests.
But the greatest of all was our Lord Jesus, who laid down His life in faith, trusting His Father. When the weight of it all pressed down, He cried out:

“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” — “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Haven’t we all, in some way, felt forsaken?
I understand that actions have consequences — every action has a reaction. Science teaches this: what goes up must come down. Unless, of course, it’s a balloon filled with helium, which defies gravity.
Faith is like that — it rises above the natural. But how can we understand its power unless we’re tested in it? Faith is not blind; it has reference points — the Word of God. NEVER FORGET THIS.

The Tests of Faith

Tests come in many forms.
Maybe we’re in a room where Christ is mentioned — do we speak up or stay silent?
Maybe we’re jobless again — do we panic, or do we apply the truth of Scripture?
It’s easier said than done. When pressure mounts, the test is real. Whether we landed there through our own mistakes or by God’s design, having said that, we know that God is Sovereign; the goal remains the same — pass the test.

To qualify in anything, we must pass the exam. Faith is no different.

So, what’s our yardstick to measure our commitment to God and our walk of faith?
The Bible — and everything written in it.
Not half-baked prophecies that can’t be backed by Scripture. “I have a word for you” has become a popular phrase, but Scripture is the final authority on all things.
This must be our foundation. Only then can we wrestle with deeper truths.

I’ve always admired Charles Spurgeon’s approach to Scripture — he placed the Word above all, even the greats of old. “I am a Calvinist, and a lover of that grand man’s memory and doctrine; but I believe nothing merely because Calvin taught it, but because I have found his teaching in the Word of God.” — C. H. Spurgeon. (Often cited from Sermon #2584 / published collections.) We can all get things wrong, but the fewer errors we make, the more we honour Scripture’s rightful place.

An Example: The Nephilim

Before the Flood, the Bible records a mysterious group called the Nephilim.
Some struggle to believe they existed, but we believe because God’s Word says so. Even if we don’t fully understand, we still believe.

Genesis 6:1–4

“When men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose... There were Nephilim in those days—and also afterwards—when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men of old, men of renown.”

Numbers 13:33

“We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

These are the only two biblical references to the Nephilim.

Meaning:
In Hebrew, Nephilim (נְפִלִים) comes from naphal (נָפַל) — “to fall.” It literally means fallen ones.
My conclusion: fallen angels — though the text itself never directly says so. The “sons of God” in Genesis likely refer to angelic beings, which explains the centuries-long debate among scholars.

What we know for sure:

1.    They existed before the Flood — and perhaps after.

2.   They were linked to “sons of God” and “daughters of men.”

3.   They were mighty men of renown.
Everything beyond that is interpretation.

The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament, 3rd century BCE) translates Nephilim as gigantes — “giants,” though in Greek this also meant “earth-born.”
The Book of Enoch, a non-canonical text, teaches that these were the offspring of fallen angels and human women. (I reached this conclusion without Enoch’s help.)
Historical texts can add context, but they do not supersede Scripture.

There is no archaeological evidence for giant beings or angel–human hybrids.
Factually, we can say only this:

• Nephilim = “fallen ones.”
• Mentioned in Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33 only.
• Described as mighty men of old, men of renown.
• Identity uncertain — either divine–human offspring or powerful ancient rulers.
• No physical evidence exists.

The key point? We believe Scripture first — even when understanding lags. This guards us from deception. The Bible warns that in the last days, some will depart from the faith, following deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

This is your warning: hold to Scripture as the final authority.

The Real Test

Now, back to faith.
We will be tested — we must be tested — or we’ll never know the depth of our faith.

Let me be personal. I am once again jobless. The worry of tomorrow tries to consume me, yet I know I am commanded not to worry.
So I searched the Word:

Matthew 6:34 — “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

The context? Material provision.
The test? Whether I’ll trust God to provide as He promised — or take matters into my own hands.

People often mean well when offering advice, but this is my test, my moment of faith.
And how will I fare? Only Time will tell...

 

Signing off,

Tyrone

When God Speaks - Believe

When God Speaks — Believe

Let’s take a moment to compare the attributes of our God with ourselves. The difference is vast — a chasm as wide as the Grand Canyon. Yet even so, it is good to ask, as Moses did, that God would give us a glimpse of His glory. When the Lord placed Moses in the cleft of the rock and covered him with His hand, He allowed him to see just His back — a reminder that God’s mercy both reveals and protects. We, too, need that mercy to see our hearts as He sees them.

Be merciful, my glorious heavenly Father, for You alone have the power to grant our requests.

There are moments when God breaks through our noise — an epiphany, when a phrase burns in your mind like spoken words: “When God says something, just believe.” Don’t doubt. Don’t question. If God has decided it, it will come to pass.

We doubt so often and then try to justify it with weak reasoning. But when God speaks, it happens. Now imagine that word mixed with faith — the impact would change everything.

God is not bound by time as we are. Time is tied to the carnal mind, and to be carnally minded is to be at enmity with God. Faith and carnality live in two separate worlds. The faith I speak of is not childlike trust — like a child who knows his father will catch him — but the faith of a mustard seed: the faith that believes against all odds, that clings to the unseen until it becomes reality.

Now, faith and character — do they interlock? Our character is often self-centred, ruled by selfishness, tangled in complexity that destroys the simplicity of life. “Be content with what you have” seems to elude most of us. But there is one thing in our favour: we are sinners by nature. We didn’t choose this; we inherited it. Adam and Eve disobeyed. They didn’t trust God. Eve listened to the serpent — the same one who was cast out of heaven for not listening to God.

The lesson is simple: the Word of God is the voice of God in text. He has spoken — and still speaks — through its pages. The Holy Spirit helps us understand and leads us into all truth. God has also given us a conscience, finely tuned to align with His Word. But if we keep ignoring it, our conscience grows dull — seared and deaf to His whisper.

So how will we know what God is saying if we aren’t listening? How intentional are we with our ears?
Read — read — and read again. Then ask God for understanding.

When it comes to the application, I am not sure if this side of heaven we will ever work out the formula to apply to our lives. Everyone seems to have an answer — but do they really?

For I am persuaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God when our hearts are sincere. Yes, we will make mistakes, but God remains faithful even when we are not. He cannot deny Himself. He is unchanging — the great I AM who sent Moses to deliver His people.

We are the created; He is the Creator. He holds final authority over all things.

Do you truly believe this?

The “universe” has nothing to do with your eternal outcome — it is merely another created thing, fully subject to God’s command. Yet so many today speak of “the universe” as if it were divine. Romans 1 warned us of this very deception, and its end is destruction.

Let us therefore return to the truth: when God speaks, believe.

 

Signing out

 

Tyrone

Shaken to the Core

Shaken to the Core

The Lord declares: “I will shake the heavens and the earth.” Why? To strip away what cannot stand, so that the treasures of the nations may come in. God’s shaking is never random—it is always purposeful, aimed at purifying His people.

And we need it.

Sin silences us. Hypocrisy silences us. Both bind us in shame and keep us in bondage—whether it’s open sins everyone sees, hidden sins only we know about, or the mask we wear to appear “fine” while inside we struggle. The result is the same: our voices grow quiet, our freedom is stolen, and our spiritual growth is stunted.

Ask yourself: Am I being honest with myself? Am I hiding behind hypocrisy, pretending all is well while sin controls me?

This is why we must be brutally honest with ourselves. No excuses. No “hall passes.” Scripture warns: “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Even one small compromise, one hidden sin, or one hypocritical act spreads through an entire life. Every time we excuse it, we reveal a hard truth: we are still babes in Christ.

Paul knew this struggle intimately. In Romans 7 he confesses:

“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”

He describes the battle we all face—the tension between the will to serve God and the law of sin at work within us. Ask yourself: Do I struggle with this tension? Do I act righteous on the outside while secretly giving in to sin?

Paul finally cries: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

That cry is exactly where honesty meets freedom. Hypocrisy keeps us silent; honesty breaks the chains. It is the moment we stop pretending and start allowing the Spirit of God to work. Romans 8 answers: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life has set you free.”

And always remember: God sees our hearts. It is a beautiful thing when God allows us to see our own hearts—our weaknesses, our hidden sins, our excuses—because that is the first step toward true freedom. He desires truth in the inward being.

Peter adds a sobering reminder: “For the time is coming when judgment will begin with God’s household.” (1 Peter 4:17) We cannot ignore the shaking in our own lives while thinking the Church at large is untouched. Judgment begins at home—within our own hearts, homes, and lives.

Yet, as long as we cling to childish excuses or hypocrisy, we prove ourselves spiritually immature babes in Christ. Paul says plainly in 1 Corinthians 3:2–3: “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh.”

Ask yourself: Am I still feeding on spiritual milk? Am I clinging to childish ways or hypocritical masks that silence me?

Babes cling to excuses. Babes hide sins. Babes are silenced by guilt, shame, and hypocrisy. But maturity—the life of a fully grown believer—demands we put off childish things. Ask yourself: What childish habits, hypocrisies, or excuses do I need to put away today? How will I lean fully on the Spirit for help?

We are soldiers being trained and prepared for battle. The enemy is real, and in the near future, we will face the greatest battle many of us will encounter—the rise and revealing of the Antichrist. The Church will be tested like never before. Now is the time to strip away weakness, hypocrisy, and excuses, and stand ready in truth, faith, and maturity.

God’s shaking has begun. It is not for destruction—it is for purification. It is not for ruin—it is for redemption. It is an invitation to leave behind the excuses, compromises, and hypocrisy that keep us bound—and step into the full freedom and power of life in Christ.

Ask yourself: Will I continue clinging to hypocrisy and childish ways, or will I embrace the Spirit’s power to set me free and walk in maturity?

God sees your heart. It is a beautiful gift when He allows us to see it for ourselves—so that we may be honest, humble, and fully prepared for the battles ahead. Judgment begins in the household of God, and now is the time to stand ready.

 

Signing off

 

Tyrone