Stand as God’s Masterpiece (Ephesians 4:11-15) 9/5/2021
The Field of Answers of 1st 2nd 3rd RUTC:
Stand as God’s Masterpiece (Ephesians 4:11-15) 9/5/2021
No matter how difficult the world is and whatever problems come, there is a separate way for the people of God. Thus, there are different answers and blessings. All we need to do is correctly know the three powers of God and enjoy them (America College Retreat Message).
- What are the three powers of God?
First, it is infinite power. Second, it is the transcendental power. Third, it is an unprecedented power.
From the beginning of God’s creation of man, He created us to enjoy these powers.
1) Infinite power is the power that was revealed in Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:7, and Hebrews 4:12. Establish these within me (3 settings).
① Genesis 1:27 says that we were created in God’s image. It means that humans were created as spiritual beings who possess this eternal and infinite power from the very beginning. This is in man’s nature (Ecclesiastes 3:11). The world calls this infinite potential.
② Genesis 2:7 says that God breathed life into man, and he became a living being.
God gave a “soul” to humans, and it is with that soul, humans, and God can have deep communication. Then, humans experience the spiritual world where they can enjoy what God gives by His grace (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). If humans cannot enjoy this, they fall into incompetence, powerlessness, desires of the flesh, and when it goes to an extreme, even demon possession.
③ Hebrews 4:12 says that the word of God has the power to save soul, spirit, joints, and marrow.
When we hold onto the accurate word, works that save me, people, and the world will take place (John 14:12-14).
2) What is the power of transcendence? Believers must enjoy the three powers of transcendence through the mystery of prayer (3 transcendence).
Unbelievers are doing transcending works in the name of science. However, we go beyond them and are at a different level.
① It is the blessing of the throne. What do God and Christ do on the throne?
They rule over the world and all creation, but especially, they oversee everything that believers do and work in them. This takes place when we truly hold onto God’s word and pray. He moves angels to fulfill the word and answer prayers (Psalms 103:19-21, Isaiah 62:6, Revelations 8:3-4).
② It is the power that transcends time and space. If I settle on the far side of the sea, He is there with me and guides me (Psalms 139:7-10).
③ It is the power of light that saves the 237 nations. Although darkness covers the entire world, we will save all peoples and nations with the power of this light.
3) What is unprecedented power? God surely has to raise us as witnesses.
① The seven remnants and all of God’s people in the Bible enjoyed this unprecedented power.
② Why do these problems only come to me? Are you going through something that no one else is experiencing? It is an opportunity to enjoy this unprecedented power. God will make all problems and pain into new works when you hold onto this covenant (Isaiah 43:18-19).
③ Believe and enjoy this blessing when serving the Lord’s church. Faith and people filled with the Holy Spirit are important for this reason (Acts 6:5).
- What is the conclusive blessing that comes then? Our everything becomes God’s masterpiece.
1) Our very life was God’s greatest masterpiece from the beginning.
God said, “it is good” after He created the world, and said, “it is very good,” after He created man (Genesis 1:31).
① There are probably people who think, “then why is my life like this?” It’s not the parents, the world, or anyone’s fault.
The first human Adam was deceived by the Devil and corrupted, and thence, all life is being deceived by Satan continually(John 8:44. John 10:10).
② God sent Christ to us to restore us as our natural state as blessed beings.
He crushed all sin, curses, fate, and power of Satan on the cross and said it is all finished (John 19:30). Now He has made us His children and allowed us to call Him Father and enjoy eternal things (Romans 8:15-17). He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:12), helps us with the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18), and tells us to enjoy the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
2) We must remake the fundamentals of our life. That is called establishing your setting.
① What must we set our settings for? It is for verses 11-12 (reason).
This makes believers whole (saves me first), do works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up (saves the Lord’s church). Positions are appointed to each individual for this reason.
② How must we set our settings? It is the first half of verse 13. Believing in Christ and how deeply we know Christ (method).
Edit my life with His standards in the word. My life has been changed through Christ’s life. Discover what God desires in prayer and re-draft (plan) my life. I am someone whom God will use. Redesign my life with evangelism that will save others like me and the world. I am someone who will change the world.
③ To what extent should we set our settings? It is verses 13-15 (goal).
To where Christ’s image is revealed in us (verse 13), to where we no longer are deceived by the temptations of the world, Satan, and people (verse 14), and to where we can do things in truth with the love of God (verse 15).
3) Hold onto this covenant and challenge yourself so that everything you do (studies, skills, business) becomes God’s masterpiece.
① Make enjoying God into a masterpiece.
This is why we write in our prayer journals or personal journals. Half of Psalms is a masterpiece that records David’s confession of faith.
② Make the incidents and everything you face in the field into a masterpiece.
A deacon became a children specialist worker after she had recorded an event of saving a child in the field and published it into a book. You can do this while nurturing your child, which could become an even more important masterpiece for parents taking care of disabled children.
③ Make all the works you do in the department you serve into God’s masterpiece.
Therefore, record everything and train to make and record important historical documents after every significant event.
Conclusion – Our life was God’s greatest masterpiece when God created us. Now, our life is becoming God’s masterpiece in Christ. May you enjoy God’s three powers (infinite power, transcendental power, unprecedented power), and your everything become God’s masterpiece.