A few weeks ago I was invited to speak at St George's, which forms part of the Parish of Hornchurch. In line with our Life Group studies (Cell churches) the talks every Sunday are currently follow the Paul's letter to the Ephesians. The theme of the study is God's masterpiece.
I wondered whether the talk I gave would help others in the way it helped me as God spoke to me in the preparation of it. My prayer is that it will bless you.
Readings: Ephesians 1:1-14 Luke 24: 36b-48
“God’s Masterpiece” - Life Groups
In the Gospel reading we see and hear Jesus in that upper room with scared disciples, waiting probably, to be identified as Jesus of Nazareth’s groupies, waiting to be mocked at least and punished by death at worst. Then, Jesus steps in and says ‘ Calm down guys, all will be well, I’m still with you” - or as the authorised translation says “Peace be with you”!!
To these terrified individuals he says: I am what it says in the scriptures:
“Repentance and forgiveness will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem (here!!)” . Then he added: “You are witnesses of these things - be clothed with power from on high”.
Just over 50 years later, Paul was to go and spend two years in Ephesus, and then about 5 years after that, he wrote them this letter from his prison in Rome. He was writing to those who were the result of the disciples following Jesus’ command and taking the whole message on board and growing the Church, Christ’s body, through faithfulness and obedience to that command given to the 11 and the women in that upper room and then beyond.
This is what Paul said to the Ephesians: “Having believed you were marked with Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession - to the praise of His glory.”
In other words, Paul is confirming to the Ephesians that the Holy Spirit was poured into them until they were taken themselves into Glory, and until the whole world of God’s people are redeemed - they had to wait for us and proceeding generations.
So full of the Holy Spirit was he (Paul) that a church grew up. This wasn’t a church with 2000 years of history and lots of stories to tell of God’s saving power, of His grace in people’s lives, of whole nations being transformed by following God’s way, of great Spirit filled leaders, they were first generation Christians who were so convinced by Paul’s teaching about Christ, the Son of God that they had become firm believers who could not help but spread the news to their neighbours, friends and families.
They too, had caught the vision, filled with the Holy Spirit they were attractive, vivacious, full of divine life. So much so, that their church had grown -each one had become God’s Masterpiece.Paul refered to them as ‘...the SAINTS in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus’.
Why isn’t this our experience today?
Let’s not kid ourselves; the reason for the church of the first century growing wasn’t because “they had nothing better to do” . There were plenty of distractions - not unlike our own. Sure, they didn’t have tv, but they had shows, sport, orgies, busy lives, earning a living - just like us!
NEW THOUGHT
The study of Ephesians in Life Groups is called, “God’s Masterpiece”
Let’s think of an Art Gallery for a moment. Which works of art would you immediatelt think of?- most famous works ranging from ‘Mona Lisa’ to ‘The Scream’.
Why are they well known?
Because they are on show.
Displayed for the world to see!
The masterpiece is an example of the artist’s best work.
Antiques Road Show - talk of objects like ornaments or artwork, put away in the attic/ cupboard where no one has been admiring them or even seeing them. Suddenly, the owners learn they have value and they’re insured and put on display, bragged about - or else as in the other types of shows - put up for auction so that ‘someone else can enjoy them”!
Can we dare ask ourselves, “What kind of Christian am I?” We are God’s masterpiece!!!
Do we allow yourselves to be ‘put on show’ -or do we hide yourselves away - at least where our faith comes into it. Or do we live our lives so that others are drawn to Christ through us?
We are ‘God’s Masterpiece’ with the Holy Spirit living in us and through us, attracting people to Christ.
When paintings are uncared for - even if they are hanging up - they are still the work of the master painter. But they often need to be lovingly restored - the grime of decades needs to be cleaned off them so that their colours can glow, the faces can look like people again or the fruit in the ‘still life’ can shine again, look succulent, juicy, so that you feel you could put your hand in the picture and pluck them from the bowl, smell their perfume as the artist intended.
Let’s face it: some of us may need the tender cleaning cloth and spirit of God to clean away the cares, the stains of life, the tears (or have I written tears ??) of hurt and damage, or simply the marks of aging; of fatigue, of cynicism and disappointment.
Do we worry about the dropping off of church attendance? Do we ask why? Do we blame it on changes in society?
Blaming it for being too commercial, too self-centred?
But let’s look at ourselves for a moment - for after all - WE are the Church!
Is our attendance in church this morning the ‘respectable thing to do’ , ‘the way we were brought up’ ...........or is it the pinnacle of our week? !!!!
Is this where we come to reflect on and celebrate what Jesus did for us - for ME - to worship him . To hear Him say - ‘Peace’ (Calm down - it’s all ok), to say to Him, ‘Thank you, you give me reason to live. You are the oil in my engine, the breath in my lungs, the blood in my veins, the Spirit in my Soul?’
If not, then we need to ask Him to restore our Christian life to be the clean attractive, shiny Masterpiece He wants it to be.
Are we stuck in the attic? Do we accept ourselves put on a wall in a quiet place - a downstairs loo or somewhere like that!!!
If we want our church communities to grow, then we ourselves need to be so reflecting the beauty of Christ, allowing his image to glow out from our frame, allowing the work of art we are to be on full display, and then , brothers and sisters, we will see our churches grow.
Let us no longer be afraid of being open about our faith because of embarassing people (or yourselves). Yes, you may well be a private person, but keep your spiritual antannae up to sense and listen to when people are in that right place. With Christ shining through us, we are the most attractive, magnetic people around - allowing the beauty of Christ to shine through us.
The great thing is: it is His name that is signed in the corner of our lives, let it be seen.
Eternity can’t wait!
[We have a Dynamic God - Powerful God. Dynamo = power ]
Recent Comments