Tool Time-handout
Tool Time
Scripture – Ephesians 2:1-10
“We are God=s “workmanship”
q You are a project. Philippians 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. [4] In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy [5] because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, [6] being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Ø He’s never finished with us
q There is design involved.
Ø EPH 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will
q Your purpose is not passive but pragmatic. We are not museum pieces.
q You have “God” stamped all over you. The worth of a tool is defined by the hands that it is placed in. It’s a matter of workmanship and ownership. What craftsman displays or owns his mistakes? The clever carpenter is skilled in hiding his mistakes. He knows how to cover them up. God displays us proudly and declares that we are his workmanship. He has created us as we are with wonderful plans in mind. The other issue is ownership. We take care of the things that belong to us. As a matter of fact we take better care of the things that we own than the things that other people own.
“...created in Christ Jesus to do good works...” The tool gains value in the hands and eyes of a skilled workman.
q What may be “junk” to you and I may be a necessary tool in the hands of the skilled craftsman.
q One of the greatest tragedies in the world is for people to fail to find and function in their God ordained purpose. Unless an instrument is employed in the task for which it was designed it is worthless.
q One of the reasons that many churches and individual Christians are ineffective is that they are desperately trying to show the world their faith without works. Doesn’t work.
What is the role that the church should be playing in society today?
“...which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
The more specific tasks require a more obscure tool. Often multi-talented people are unconsciously valued over the single talented people. There are those single talented people whose design is so special because of the task for which they are created. Any old tool will not do in certain situations.
q God has prepared us to do a specific work or to fulfill a specific role.
q God has prepared a special task that we are to engage and complete.
q As an “instrument” in God’s hands your worth is also defined by the task that needs doing. (Rom. 6:13)
There are many reasons why God would not want you. But don't worry. You're in good company.
q Moses stuttered.
q David's armor didn't fit.
q John Mark was rejected by Paul.
q Hosea's wife was a prostitute.
q Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
q Jacob was a liar.
q David had an affair.
q Solomon was too rich.
q Abraham was too old.
q David was too young.
q Timothy had ulcers.
q Peter was afraid of death.
q Lazarus was dead.
q John was self-righteous.
q Jesus was too poor.
q Naomi was a widow.
q Paul was a murderer. So was Moses.
q Jonah ran from God.
q Miriam was a gossip.
q Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
q Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
q Elijah was burned out.
q John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
q Martha was a worry-wart.
q Mary was lazy.
q Samson had long hair.
q Noah got drunk.
q Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
q So did Peter, Paul - well, lots of folks did.
But God doesn't require a job interview.
He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses, because He's more our Dad than our Boss.
He doesn't look at financial gain or loss.
He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need.
As much as we try, God's gifts are free.
We could do wonderful things for wonderful people and still not be. . . Wonderful.
Satan says, "You're not worthy."
Jesus says, "So what? I AM."
Satan looks back and sees our mistakes.
God looks back and sees the cross.
He doesn't calculate what you did in '78. It's not even on the record.
Sure. There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't want us.
But if we are magically in love with Him,
if we hunger for Him more than our next breath,
He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, or what we look like.
Step out of your limitations into the illimitable nature of who God is.
- Author Unknown
