Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. As we gather here today, we are surrounded by the familiar comfort of our church family, and the welcoming embrace of our Heavenly Father. We are united in our purpose, called together to seek understanding, to find encouragement, and to experience the transformative power of God's Word.

Our focus today is on the book of Ephesians, specifically Ephesians 2:1-10. These treasured verses remind us of our divine design, our heavenly craftsmanship, and the purposeful intent with which we were created. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, paints a vivid picture of our spiritual journey.

Allow me to read these verses to you: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Handcrafted with Purpose

We find ourselves amid a divine narrative, intricately woven by the hands of our Creator. Each of us, unique and distinct, is fashioned with a divine purpose. This purpose is not an afterthought, not a mere addition to our existence, but rather, it is the very essence of our being. When we consider the craftsmanship of God, we realize we are individually fashioned, and lovingly shaped by the hands of the Divine Craftsman. Each curve, each contour, and each unique characteristic has been thoughtfully and purposefully placed.

This brings us to our first consideration. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reminds us that we are God's workmanship. This divine craftsmanship extends to our spiritual being as well. We are shaped and molded, not by the whims of chance, but by the intentional design of our Creator. Our spiritual formation is a divine process, a sacred shaping that prepares us for our purpose in this world.

Secondly, consider the divine intentionality in our creation. We are not random products of a chaotic universe, but rather, we are the intentional creations of a purposeful God. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works. These good works are not random acts of kindness or sporadic deeds of charity. They are the very purpose for which we were created. This purpose is a joyous calling, a divine invitation to participate in God's redemptive work in the world.

Next, is the divine preparation that precedes our calling. Paul tells us that these good works were prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. This divine preparation is not a hasty afterthought, but a careful and deliberate process. Before we were even born, our Creator was already at work, preparing the path for us to walk, shaping the opportunities for us to serve, and equipping us with the skills and abilities we would need. This divine preparation is a testament to God's foreknowledge and His meticulous attention to detail.

Our final consideration is the divine promise that accompanies our calling. Paul assures us that by grace we have been saved through faith. This salvation is not a reward for our good works, but rather, it is the foundation upon which our good works are built. Salvation is a gift, a divine provision that empowers us to live out our purpose. It includes the assurance of God's presence with us, His power working in us, and His promise to complete the good work He has begun in us.

Harnessing the Divine Design

We now consider God’s design ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO