FROM START TO FINISH
PHILIPPIANS 1:6
1. THE CRAFTSMAN
INTRODUCTION:
It’s a New Year. You want this year to be different. You want this year to be better. But more than just having good stuff happen to you, you want to be a better person. Perhaps, if you are like me, you look back on last year and mixed in with all of the happy times and good memories, you see some old flaws and hang-ups and resolve that this year is going to be better. This year, YOU are going to be better.
We want to consider what it is that God is doing in our lives… from start to finish. From January to December. From Birth to Death. From Conception to eternity. What are we doing with our lives and what is God doing in our lives?
Have you ever gone to a big hotel or hospital or something where there are major renovations in process? Construction workers in hardhats and dusty clothes going in and out… areas sealed off with plastic…. Signs up… Please bear with us as we make some improvements or renovations.
I sometimes feel like I need a sign up that says… Pardon the mess. Work in Progress.
Today, I want to start by considering The Craftsman. This is the first thing I see in our scripture text. Philippians 1:6 (NIV) 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.
Let’s consider our confidence in our Craftsman.
Have you ever taken your car to a mechanic, and then you weren’t sure if you could trust them or if they were just milking you for all of the money they could get out of you?
When you choose a contractor for a major project, you need to know that they have the skill, experiences and integrity to get the job done right.
I sometimes think of God as a Great Craftsman. Jeremiah and Isaiah both referred to him as a Potter who is molding and shaping lives and events. Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
I. SKILL
Skill is the ability to do something well. Knowledge, experience and expertise are all involved in skill.
We could talk forever of the skill of God… Because he is infinite in power and wisdom.
Luke 1:37) For nothing will be impossible with God."
Psalms 135:5-7 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6) Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 7) He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
HE SPECIALIZES IN WORKING IN HUMAN HEARTS AND LIVES…
Hebrews 7:25-27 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27) Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
Revelation 19:6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
II. EXPERIENCE
He’s undertaken a few big projects before. I think He can handle my life.
Genesis 1:1 After all… He created this world.
Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.
Isaiah 40:25-28 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. 27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
1 Timothy 1:12-17 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
III. CREATIVITY
Francis Chan describes the creativity of God at length in his book, Crazy Love:
"Why would God create more than 350,000,000,000 galaxies (and this is a conservative estimate) that generations of people never saw or even knew existed? Do you think maybe it was to make us say, "Wow, God is unfathomably big"? Or perhaps God wanted us to see these pictures so that our response would be, "Who do I think I am?"
"Did you know that a caterpillar has 228 separate and distinct muscles in its head? That’s quite a few, for a bug.
"The average elm tree has 6 million leaves on it.
And your own heart generates enough pressure as it pumps blood throughout your body that it could squirt blood up to thirty feet. (I’ve never tried this and I don’t recommend it).
Have you ever thought about how diverse and creative God is? He didn’t have to make hundreds of different kinds of bananas, but He did. He didn’t have to put 3000 different species of trees within one square mile in the Amazon jungle, but He did. God didn’t have to create so many kinds of laughter. Think about the different sounds of your friends’ laughs—wheezes, snorts, silent, loud, obnoxious."
And what is so amazing about our God is that He, the Master Craftsman, is so creative that He can use the bad stuff and make it beautiful.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
IV. INTEGRITY
Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Right materials… Best processes…
Duct Tape and Baler Twine are not His favorite tools.
Good work if He is going to put His seal on it…
Eph. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
V. PLANS
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
CONCLUSION:
If only we could catch a glimpse of the Divine Craftsman. We need to understand that we can trust Him.
He is Skillful… He has the ability to do Good Work in our lives.
He is Experienced… You are not His first project---like a kid puttering at his Dad’s workbench.
He is Creative… He can make something beautiful of your life.
He has Integrity… His workmanship is impeccable. As proof of his authentic work, He gives His very own seal—the Holy Spirit.
He has an amazing Plan for your life.
You can have full confidence in this Craftsman. You don’t have to afraid to put your life in His hands.
