Ephesians 4 7-16 Each one designed Discovering Personal Ministry Vision
Handcrafted
Uniquely designed for ministry by Christ
Ephesians 2:10 4:7-16
Take a handcrafted something. Clearly talent involved. Purpose involved.
Of the 52 Fabergé eggs, made for the Russian czars between 1885-1917
9.6 million dollars 2002 – 1913 winter egg
The exterior of the egg is studded with 1,660 diamonds, and made from quartz, platinum, and orthoclase. The miniature surprise basket is studded with 1,378 diamonds and is made from platinum and gold, while the flowers are made of white quartz and the leaves are made of demantoid. The flowers lie in gold moss.
KY Flintlock $22,000
Ludwig Borovnik Double Rifle .375 H&H. Mag. Sidelock Ejector $37,500
I. Handcrafted: A marvelously design
A. Crafted by His handiwork
(NKJV) Ephesians 2 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
1. “we are what He has created”
2. As in the creation – complex / God imprinted
3. Made anew in Christ (using original parts)
B. Crafted with purpose – ministry
1. Purposed for ministry
2. Others the opposite side of salvation
C. Crafted with a preplan
1. Knew all along
2. Sovereignly shaped before the task
II. Handcrafted: Each one graced
(NKJV) Ephesians 4 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. … 11 And He Himself gave some to be …
A. “Graced”
1. More than simplistic spiritual gift (four passages, different lists, not inclusive)
2. Emphasis each time on idea of being ‘graced’
a) Sovereign / Unearned / Spiritually shaped and empowered
3. Holistic being – can’t separate parts – each part impacts all
4. Special empowerment in showing mercy, influenced by your personality, experiences, passions, values (all of these also sovereignly shaped - (uniquely ‘graced)
B. Each one ‘graced’
1. Emphasis each time on how each one has received special ‘grace’
C. “Graced” by Christ Himself
1. Emphasis on the source of the ‘grace’ (means of the Spirit – Directed by the Father, given through Christ)
2. Just as Christ has shaped you
III. Handcrafted: Intended for ministry
(NKJV) Ephesians 4 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
A. To equip
B. For the work of ministry
C. To build up the body
IV. Handcrafted: To transform the body
A. Producing maturity
(NKJV) Ephesians 4 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
1. In the experience of Christ (truth and experience)
2. Maturity in life
3. Likeness of Christ
B. Growing in truth
(NKJV) Ephesians 4 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
1. Doctrine important
2. Gain mature insight
3. Prevent being sidelined
C. Infusing all with love
(NKJV) Ephesians 4 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
1. Truth important
2. Communicated
3. Spoken in love
4. Intent for growth
V. Handcrafted: Interdependent on one another
A. Each person Interconnected
(NKJV) Ephesians 4 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.