Title: AN UNKNOWN VESSEL FIT FOR THE MASTER’S USE

Text: Matthew 9:1 And HE ENTERED INTO A SHIP, and passed over, and came into his own city.

1 Corinthians 4:4 | 2 Corinthians 6:9a | 1 Corinthians 1:27 | 1 Corinthians 15:58

INTRODUCTION:

As we see in the last verse of Matthew 8, the Lord Jesus Christ was asked to leave Gadara, so He crossed the Sea of Galilee and returned to Capernaum. There is no record that He ever returned to Gadara (Matthew 9:1). Matthew is the only writer who noted that Jesus returned to “his own city.” Although He had no place to lay His head during His earthly ministry (Matthew 8:20), Capernaum, likely the home of Peter, became the headquarters of His ministry.

Our key verse states, “And He entered into a ship, and passed over…” Jesus had a destination, people to reach, and a message to deliver. He needed a vessel to facilitate this mission. Simultaneously, someone had to row the ship, and someone had to be willing to do so. The Bible does not mention this person’s name. Often, when I visit a shipyard where boats are docked, I notice that their names are written on their sides. In this case, we don’t know the name. He was an Unknown Vessel — but without him, the ministry on the other side would not have come to pass.

As you recall, I authored a book titled “Serving Behind the Lines.” It’s clear that Scripture often emphasizes anonymous individuals whose readiness serves as a channel for miraculous ministry. Just as Jesus depended on a physical boat and its silent rower to reach souls across the water, God today depends on human vessels to carry His presence into dark, remote, or challenging areas.

Today, the Master is still looking for vessels. You may be unknown to men, but you can be greatly used by God.

I. THE AVAILABILITY AND USE OF THE VESSEL

A vessel’s primary purpose is to carry out something.

A. The DEFINITION of a Vessel

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a vessel as in a watercraft is, “A ship or large boat used for navigating on water.” In anatomy it is a biological tube or duct (like an artery or vein) that contains and carries body fluids through the body. We can also speak of a vessel as a container, a hollow utensil (such as a cup, bowl, or jar) that is used for holding liquids or other items.

Meaning, when we talk about a vessel, it exists to carry something to where it needs to go.

• The Transport Vessel (Ship): A ship carries vital cargo across turbulent waters to reach distant shores.
• The Life-Giving Vessel (Vein/Artery): An artery quietly circulates life-giving blood to unseen parts of the body. Without these hidden pathways, the body perishes.
• The Container Vessel: A container must be clean, open, and empty of itself so it can be filled with liquid and poured out for others.

Likewise, as ambassadors for Christ, we are like vessels, bringing Christ wherever He leads to accomplish His mission, reaching the world and the regions beyond. That’s why we have missionaries, many of whom may be unknown yet fulfilling their mission. They may be unknown and unrecognized, but they play a very significant role.

B. The DEDICATION of a Vessel

As I mentioned, the purpose of the vessel was to bring Christ where He needed to go. Also, we have to understand “vessel rower”: a man was available to row the boat. We do not know who he was, but without him, the vessel would be of no use.

This doesn’t mean this man has nothing to do in his life. I believe he is similar to me before, when I was working as an engineer, busy fulfilling my family’s needs. Yet, this rower was willing to row across the lake to the other side. It required great strength and effort to keep rowing for several hours to reach the other side. He brought Jesus to the place where He could minister, meet people’s needs, and be known.

Allow me to remind you, my beloved brethren and friend, that service demands the cost of personal labor. Rowers do not sit back and enjoy a leisurely ride; they strain at the oars, push through fatigue, and endure blistering hands. The anonymous rower’s investment of time and muscle directly helped the Lord’s healing power on the opposite shore.

The question is not, “Can God use me?” The question is, “Am I available?”

II. THE ATTITUDE AND UNIQUENESS OF THE VESSEL

1 Corinthians 4:4 – Unknown “…BUT he that judgeth me is the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 6:9a  “As unknown, and yet well known…”

A. The Attribute of UNSEEN Service

This message is meant to encourage everyone. You might be unnoticed or overlooked by others, but if you let the Lord use you as a vessel, you can reach places and people who are in urgent need of Him.

Investing time in this work will require sacrifice; it will take your effort, energy, and dedication. You might even need to travel overseas, crossing the island where people are eagerly awaiting the message that Jesus saves!

Though you remain unknown, you do the necessary work to bring Jesus to where people need Him. Laboring for God rarely aligns with personal convenience; it demands stepping out of comfort zones—crossing literal seas, islands, or cultural barriers. You are going to a place where you do not know the language, culture, or people. Yet God’s power will enable you to become what He wants you to be.

Picture the brethren arranging chairs before the service at AGBC every Sunday morning, intercessors praying late into the night on Wednesdays, or AV ministry technicians operating sound equipment behind the scenes. Others keep the premises clean, with some remaining after everyone leaves to ensure the worship space stays tidy and usable. Although the world rarely notices these acts, their service quietly brings Christ into the room.

B. The Assignment of an UNKNOWN Vessel

Let me tell you this and give you a proper understanding of it as it relates to mission work. It is not limited to a pastor, a pastor’s wife, a missionary, or a missionary’s wife—it means YOU. An unknown vessel can bring glad tidings to people who do not have Christ in their hearts.

“Even if it feels like a thankless, unsought, or unloved task with no popularity, remember: ‘Unknown, BUT…’ Paul said God is my judge. He is loved, appreciated, and sought after. He is known by the Lord, and you are great in the sight of the Lord.”

We often default to assuming ministry belongs solely to titled leaders—pastors, evangelists, or full-time missionaries. Yet God frequently uses workplace believers, neighbors, and quiet helpers to deliver His message to hardened hearts. Earthly recognition is temporal, but heaven keeps accurate records.

Your name may not be on the program, but it is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

III. THE ABILITY AND USEFULNESS OF THE VESSEL

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise

A. The SELECTION of the Small and Weak

God sometimes seeks those who are unknown and humble to serve in His ministries. Having talent, eloquence, and articulation is valuable, but if you are proud and unavailable, you would be ineffective. Often God works through the plain and unimpressive to achieve the mighty and awesome.

From a human perspective, people most often choose the strongest, wealthiest, and most qualified. Divine selection works in reverse: God deliberately chooses small, fragile vessels so that the ultimate glory belongs entirely to the Treasure within them, not the container.

B. The SAMPLES of Small Vessels

1. Gideon (Judges 7): Used only 300 men to achieve victory. As noted earlier, human perception suggests that we need greater strength or numbers to achieve victory. God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 to just 300, ensuring Israel did not rely on their own military might. Small forces can prevail when guided by God’s power.
2. Elijah & The Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17): Worked through a handful of meal in a barrel and a little oil in a cruse. According to custom, a widow should receive help, yet God turned the situation so that the prophet received help from her. Her tiny portion sustained a household throughout a severe famine
3. Elisha & The Prophet’s Widow (2 Kings 4): Multiplied a single pot of oil until there were no more vessels to fill. The impoverished widow only had one jar of oil, but as she collected empty borrowed vessels, God’s provision matched her ability to fill them.
4. A Young Lad (John 6): Offered five barley loaves and two small fishes, which fed thousands. A boy’s meager lunch was laughably insufficient for a crowd, yet when placed in Jesus’ hands, it multiplied to feed the entire assembly with baskets left over.

From all the examples we have, we realized that God wants us to surrender even the small things in our hands so He can do great and mighty things. We need to empty our hands as well so the Lord can fill them with great blessings. Let me say this. Let us learn as one preacher once said, “A closed fist cannot receive,” while an open fist is ready to receive, and the same is true in the Lord’s ministry.

You may be unknown to the world or even to those around you. But God knows you personally, knows your worth, and how He can best use you. The question is – are you available for the Master’s use?

CONCLUSION:

Jesus is still saying “pass over” to the other side. There are people who need Him. You may feel small. You may feel unknown. But in the Master’s hand, you are useful.

1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

• Be AVAILABLE for the Master’s Use.
• Keep the right ATTITUDE in serving our Master.
• Let God prove your ABILITY.

Remember: An unknown vessel, yielded to the Master, can change the destiny of a whole shoreline.