17. Trust the Process

Random Question

What are you hilariously bad at?

Prayer

Lesson

Intro

People cleaning up well in movies…

That’s not too far off what happens in our lives when we are transformed by God’s Word… We approach God’s Word, and it exposes us just like a mirror.

What do we see? (Imperfections, stains, dirt, etc. In other words, we see our sin, our idols, and our stumbling blocks)

God’s Word exposes how messed up we are. But God’s Word takes us from that point and brings us to repentance; this is the place where we surrender ourselves to the Lord, and turn away from our sinful choices. Then the Spirit does its work of transformation in our lives, making us more like Christ.

Let me ask you this though, do we change as quickly as movie characters do from one scene to another? (No, we do not! We are slow learners in need of God’s daily grace. This is a lifelong pursuit of Christ likeness, and God’s Word will guide us there)

We’re wrapping up our study tonight, and I want us all to be encouraged. We talked about all sorts of new concepts, new words, new ideas. All of that can be overwhelming. So I want to encourage you guys tonight that God doesn’t expect you to learn these things ASAP, He works in our lives in a gradual way, so we should be in it for the long haul.

We are God’s Workmanship

Can you think of one thing about yourself that never changes? (Personhood, our core person)

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Let’s pick this verse a part for a second…

Who does this verse say we are? (God’s workmanship)

Where were we made? (Created in Christ Jesus)

Why did He do this? (for good works)

When did He do that? (Beforehand, eternity past)

Let’s look at each component together…

1. Workmanship

Are any of you crafty? Good with your hands? Like to build things?

What is something you have built or are working on now?

These things are your “workmanship.” The idea that “workmanship” gives us in Ephesians 2:10 is of a master craftsman, carefully shaping their work to become what they envisioned.

Does this happen by mistake? (Absolutely not!)

Thinking in these terms, how does the term “Workmanship” translate to God’s work in our lives? (He is carefully crafting us to be exactly who He intends us to be. We are His masterpieces!)

God is shaping us to become like Christ…

What tool does He use to make this happen? (His Word!)

2. Good Works

Why did God make us His workmanship? (For good works)

When I just speak the phrase “good works,” do you think positively or negatively of that? (Negatively)

Why? What comes to mind? (Work based salvation)

Are all works bad? Why not? (God gave us salvation SO THAT we would produce good works)

You wanna know something incredible? God chose you to be saved because you are useful in His plan. Each and every one of you are useful in God’s eyes!

Does God ever create anything pointless? (Everything that God has created has a purpose, even mosquitoes!!)

Mosquitoes

- Food source for other wildlife

- Pollinators

- regulate animal populations (Force Caribou to keep moving, which means they spread and move to different areas)

Everything has a purpose!

God has specific good works that He has called you to do. There are some things that you only you are gifted and called to do.

Tool illustration

- Use a hammer for nails? (YES)

- Use a hammer for a spatula? (NO!)

Not every tool is made for every job.

So, as a believer, should I be hard on myself if I am not in charge of the construction projects? (No, I have not been particularly gifted in that area, so I don’t do it)

All that to say, you don’t need to compare yourself with others!! It’s okay to be you! God intended you to be the way you are.

Am I any less valuable because Jonathan plays better hockey than me? (NO!)

Am I less valuable because I can’t play the violin like Elizabeth can? (No!)

Am I less valuable because Joab is better at basketball then I am? (No!)

God has gifted each of you in your own ways, so embrace that.

3. Beforehand

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

When were we prepared? (Beforehand)

Before what? (Before the foundations of the world were built, God chose us)

What does that say about the way God sees us? (He loves us so much that He chose us individually before all of creation)

Imagine this. If I compare myself to others and am discouraged, “Why am I not like them? I wish I would’ve been different.”

What am I saying about God’s choice in making me? (It was a mistake. The God who created all things, who chose us in eternity past is wrong)

Does anyone have a problem with that conclusion? (Yes, but we say that every time we compare ourselves with others)

It’s okay that we are not like them, it’s actually a good thing!

We are all different parts of the same body. What if we were all just eyeballs… Will the body function?

No! You need hands, you need a heart, you need ears, toes, fingers, etc.

So embrace who God has made you to be. Don’t say you are useless. Figure out the ways God has gifted you, and serve Him with those gifts. You don’t need to be anyone but yourself!

4. Walk

Our last part of verse 10 says that we were prepared beforehand that we should “walk in them.”

What does it mean to “Walk”? (Speaks of our conduct)

This is the way that we live, our daily life.

How do I handle myself at school? At camp? At work? With friends? At home?

That’s what we mean when we say the term “Your walk with God.” It’s the life that you live with God.

God wants our walk (or our Christian lives) to be fruitful ones. Ones that we fulfil God’s will as we do good works in the areas that He has gifted us.

Be Who You Are

Old Vs. New

2 Corinthians 5:17 gives us some insight in what change is actually like in our lives.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Based off this verse, would you say that our transformation is total or partial? (Total, we are made new creatures in Christ, God made us a new person in Him)

Does this mean that the person you were is totally gone? (Yes and no)

Our old man (dead in trespasses and sins, lover of the world) is dead and gone. But our core is still there.

Some things don’t change…

- Cheerios to miniwheats

- Coffee to tea

- Introvert to extrovert

Some things don’t change, we don’t cease to exist.

But the question is, “What changes then?” Look at our verse

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

What things pass away? (Old things, things we did, believed, thought before we were saved)

What would be some examples of old things?

What did God make the old things into? (All things are become new, we have new desires, goals, beliefs)

Chart from the book

God Transforms

The Church

1. “It’s all about me!”

When we apply God’s Word, we’ve got to be careful that we aren’t always making it about us individually.

In a rush praying for a green light, and then you remember Phil. 4:19…

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Am I saying that God won’t supply our needs? (No, but before we take verses out of their context, we should know what they really mean so that we can apply them properly)

Paul was thanking the Philippians for their generous gift while he was in prison… They gave to Paul despite the fact they were poor. In case they wondered about their future, Paul was ensuring them that God will provide for their needs.

So, is the Bible written for us? (Yes!)

But does that mean I should apply every promise to my every situation? (Depends on the context and intention of the writer)

The World

Let’s Get Started!

We need to keep the things we learned, and commit to that lifelong change that we’ve studied together earlier tonight. Here’s how you can do that.

1. Begin a Personal Bible Study Program

“In twenty years, what will you wish you had done today?

Do it now.”

Establish Priorities

How badly do we want to be in the Word? It will show in our priorities. Let’s make reading God’s Word our priority today.

Set a Schedule

Helps us stick with our commitments on the long term

Conclusion

I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this study with you guys. You’ve all interacted well. I hope that you can take what we’ve learned in this series and use it as you grow in your walk with God and understand His Word better.

I don’t want any of us to expect perfection in our devotional life. There are days that we don’t read as we ought, there are times that we won’t do as we hoped. But let’s commit to be in God’s Word as much as we can.

I want to finish off our series reading Psalm 1:1-3 with you,

Psalm 1:1–3 NKJV

1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.