WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.360 Ephesians chapter 2 and mainly verse 10 is what we're focusing on together this evening. 00:00:06.259 --> 00:00:09.040 Ephesians 2 and at verse 10. 00:00:10.419 --> 00:00:14.660 For we are as workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, 00:00:15.179 --> 00:00:19.480 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:30.539 On Friday evening we heard Ramborda Campbell preaching on Ephesians chapter 1 00:00:30.539 --> 00:00:35.100 and he asked a question as he began his sermon that evening. 00:00:35.260 --> 00:00:37.019 He asked a question, how are you? 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:45.400 And he was looking at the theme of how we are blessed in all the blessings that we have in Christ Jesus. 00:00:45.579 --> 00:00:48.439 How are you? We are blessed. 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:55.259 This evening as we go into chapter 2 I want to pick up on another question that we can look at together this evening. 00:00:55.879 --> 00:01:00.939 We've seen how are you? I want to think this evening of who are you? 00:01:01.619 --> 00:01:03.199 Who are you? 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:08.539 There's a TV series on the number of series of it. 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:11.560 I think there's over 20 series of it. 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:14.340 That's called Who Do You Think You Are? 00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:21.700 And in the programme there's mainly celebrities who trace back their family history. 00:01:22.340 --> 00:01:25.060 They ask that question, who do you think you are? 00:01:25.140 --> 00:01:26.579 Who do you think you belong to? 00:01:27.100 --> 00:01:29.420 What's your background? Where do you come from? 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:35.040 And it's fascinating to see how their different lives can go back in different directions. 00:01:35.240 --> 00:01:38.079 And very often directions they know nothing about. 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:40.980 They find out things that they never knew. 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:49.640 It can be a real joy for some to find out something joyous experienced in their past, in their family. 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:57.020 But for others it can be quite a devastating blow at times as they hear of maybe tragedies or difficulties in their family's history. 00:01:57.719 --> 00:02:01.080 And it's always full of emotion. 00:02:01.240 --> 00:02:03.640 There's always emotion involved in it. 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:06.579 You cannot but be caught up in the emotion. 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:12.460 And perhaps there's times in your own experience that you've looked into your own family background. 00:02:12.919 --> 00:02:16.379 Or you've heard stories about your family, the history behind it. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.420 And you've been moved by things that you find out. 00:02:19.860 --> 00:02:22.719 Things that you maybe never knew growing up and now you find out. 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:27.580 And it can be times of joy or it can be times of sadness. 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:32.660 But behind it all is this question, who am I? 00:02:33.940 --> 00:02:37.700 Where have I come from and for what purpose? 00:02:38.840 --> 00:02:44.860 But when we think of that in terms of the Bible, it's a question we have to ask ourselves as well. 00:02:45.860 --> 00:02:53.080 The more we learn about Jesus, the more we experience his love towards us, his grace towards us, 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:56.800 it does make us ask that question, who am I? 00:02:57.580 --> 00:02:58.500 Who am I? 00:02:58.900 --> 00:03:02.500 Psalm 8, as we sang together, echoes that question. 00:03:03.060 --> 00:03:06.480 As the psalmist looks at the wonder of all creation, 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:13.480 the heavens declaring all the glory of God and the fingers traced across it all of God. 00:03:13.640 --> 00:03:16.200 And the psalmist asks, you know, what is man? 00:03:16.340 --> 00:03:23.560 Who am I in the midst of all of this that you should remember me, that you should care for me? 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:31.740 But we are told in that psalm that he has honoured his people with glory and with love. 00:03:33.140 --> 00:03:35.659 We are his workmanship. 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:39.219 That's what we see in verse 10 here. 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:43.140 We're given this powerful reminder that we belong to God. 00:03:43.219 --> 00:03:44.920 We are precious to God. 00:03:45.379 --> 00:03:46.319 Who am I? 00:03:46.319 --> 00:03:48.579 We have this answer in verse 10. 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:52.900 We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:57.060 which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:03.079 And it's this I want to consider together, this verse, and three things from this verse. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:05.419 As we think of that question, who am I? 00:04:06.019 --> 00:04:09.199 I want to see that we are his workmanship. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:14.399 Just taking the text as it is, we are his workmanship. 00:04:15.259 --> 00:04:21.360 We are made for good works, created in Christ Jesus for good works. 00:04:21.819 --> 00:04:28.199 And we are to walk in his ways, the ways that he has prepared for us. 00:04:28.259 --> 00:04:32.980 So just these three things as we think of this question, who are you? 00:04:32.980 --> 00:04:37.180 Well, first we see we are his workmanship. 00:04:38.180 --> 00:04:39.180 We are his workmanship. 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:46.879 See, the more we see of Jesus, the more we see of the work that Jesus has done for us, 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:52.460 the more we see, as we did over the weekend, the love of God towards us that gave his Son, 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:56.580 who came into this world to die for his people, 00:04:57.000 --> 00:05:00.480 to give his life, as it says, as a ransom for many. 00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:06.740 What he has done for us, it all points towards his grace. 00:05:07.840 --> 00:05:14.520 And in chapter 2, these verses 1 to 10, it's all about grace through faith 00:05:14.520 --> 00:05:18.720 and what the grace of God has done for us. 00:05:18.780 --> 00:05:23.439 Because you see in verse 1 to 4 that grace reached out to us. 00:05:24.700 --> 00:05:28.819 You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you once walked. 00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:33.459 You were dead, but grace reached out. 00:05:35.060 --> 00:05:41.319 You see that powerful verse in verse 4, the grace that loved us. 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:47.379 But God being rich and mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:51.079 the grace of his love towards us. 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:56.259 You see in verse 5, the grace that made us alive. 00:05:57.039 --> 00:06:03.319 Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. 00:06:03.479 --> 00:06:06.099 By grace, you have been saved. 00:06:06.100 --> 00:06:11.580 And then you see that grace in verse 6 and 7 gives us a future. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:16.879 It's raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:25.180 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. 00:06:25.180 --> 00:06:27.420 It gives us a future. 00:06:28.420 --> 00:06:31.639 And it's grace that has secured our salvation. 00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:36.540 By grace, in verse 8, you have been saved through faith. 00:06:37.340 --> 00:06:39.280 The grace that saves. 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:45.699 And then when you come into verse 10, it closes off this little section 00:06:45.699 --> 00:06:51.939 by reminding us that grace gives us meaning and purpose. 00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:55.620 We are brought from death to life. 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:58.459 We are brought from that darkness into light. 00:06:58.620 --> 00:07:00.219 And it's with a purpose. 00:07:01.300 --> 00:07:03.759 That we belong to God. 00:07:05.060 --> 00:07:09.860 And it almost begins just by looking at our origins, if you like. 00:07:09.939 --> 00:07:10.539 Our beginning. 00:07:11.719 --> 00:07:14.379 We are his workmanship. 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:17.879 It takes us right back to the beginning of the Bible. 00:07:18.019 --> 00:07:25.839 It takes us back to Genesis chapter 1, where we are told in verse 27 that God created man in his own image. 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:27.719 In the image of God, he created him. 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:30.300 Male and female, he created them. 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:37.040 That in all of creation, in all the glory of creation, that we were made in his image. 00:07:37.139 --> 00:07:39.500 That we are his workmanship. 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:44.360 It wasn't just Adam and Eve that were his workmanship. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:48.019 We are all made in the image of God. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:50.600 So it takes us right back. 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:52.879 We are his workmanship. 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:56.019 We are made in God's image. 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:57.959 All of us. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.899 All that we see around us, we are all his workmanship. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:04.939 Created in the image of God. 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:15.540 And so as Paul is writing to the Ephesians here, saying you are his workmanship, he is saying God is still working in you. 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:19.399 Because we know we're not perfect. 00:08:20.199 --> 00:08:23.100 We know that we are a sinful people. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:26.439 And yet God is still working. 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:28.519 Workmanship. 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:32.039 It's his ongoing process in us. 00:08:33.299 --> 00:08:38.299 He speaks of here a workmanship that almost has a new beginning. 00:08:39.799 --> 00:08:41.819 Like we see when we go back to verse 1. 00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:45.199 You were dead in your trespasses and sins. 00:08:45.319 --> 00:08:45.860 Verse 4. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:54.500 God being rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, he made us alive together with Christ. 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:57.919 So you're brought from one place to another. 00:08:58.100 --> 00:08:59.620 There's a new beginning. 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:03.059 And this is all by grace. 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:06.139 We are his workmanship. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:13.440 And what workmanship means, another word that can be used in translating workmanship, is masterpiece. 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:16.840 You are his masterpiece. 00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:22.139 Now, is that how you see yourself today? 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:25.800 As a masterpiece of God? 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:30.920 Paul, if you think of himself, how did he look on himself? 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:34.379 Did he see himself as a masterpiece of God? 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:39.379 God's workmanship, who God had worked powerfully in to bring from darkness to light. 00:09:39.780 --> 00:09:41.000 How did he see himself? 00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:44.019 Like many of us see ourselves. 00:09:44.019 --> 00:09:46.319 He said in Romans chapter 7, 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.939 O wretched man that I am. 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:51.639 That's how he looked on himself. 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:53.779 Wretched man that I am. 00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:56.120 But he didn't stop there. 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:56.699 He went on to say, 00:09:56.840 --> 00:10:01.500 Who will deliver me from this body of death, this body of darkness that we're seeing here? 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:05.600 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 00:10:06.460 --> 00:10:07.679 There is deliverance. 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:11.220 There is being brought from death to life. 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:17.019 Being brought from wretch, being a wretch, to being God's masterpiece. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:25.580 As John Newton, in that famous hymn, Amazing Grace, it was grace that saved a wretch like me. 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:30.080 And I'm sure many of us, all of us even, can think of that for ourselves. 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:33.840 We see ourselves, the wretched one that we are. 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:40.460 But when we see who we are in Christ, we are blessed, as Mordor reminded us. 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:42.940 And we are his workmanship. 00:10:43.860 --> 00:10:45.340 It's ongoing. 00:10:47.300 --> 00:10:52.040 Michelangelo, very famous for all his artistic talent. 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:56.940 He was once working on a large piece of rock. 00:10:57.420 --> 00:10:59.220 It didn't look like anything. 00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:03.779 It was just edges and chips and blemishes all over. 00:11:04.820 --> 00:11:09.080 And yet here he was, starting to chip away at this rock. 00:11:10.060 --> 00:11:14.420 And one person had said, passing by, he asked a question. 00:11:15.180 --> 00:11:18.160 As he was chipping away at this rock, he was asking, 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:19.680 What are you doing? 00:11:20.800 --> 00:11:22.019 What on earth are you doing? 00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:27.720 Because the task just seemed so enormous that nothing could be done with this huge rock. 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:32.059 And yet Michelangelo replied, I am liberating an angel from this stone. 00:11:33.139 --> 00:11:38.840 And sure enough, in the hands of a master craftsman like Michelangelo, 00:11:39.319 --> 00:11:43.159 this rock that looked beyond anything was turned into a masterpiece. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:48.240 And that's what God is doing with us. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:53.759 We are, as described in the Old Testament, the potter and the clay. 00:11:54.539 --> 00:12:00.639 We are just this lump of clay that he is working in to create a masterpiece. 00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:05.080 We are in the hands of a great sculptor. 00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:10.740 And we know sometimes what it's like just to be pressed by the hands of God. 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:15.279 There's so many ways that he gets rid of the blemishes and the faults within us. 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:17.860 He chips away and sometimes it's hard. 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:21.179 But yet we are his workmanship. 00:12:22.199 --> 00:12:24.699 We are in his hands. 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:27.959 That is who we are. 00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:31.199 We are his workmanship. 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:33.319 Just go back to Psalm 8. 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:40.000 Remember as a young boy, over on the west side where you actually see the sky so clearly, 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:47.240 looking up to the stars on a winter's night and just being amazed at it, 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:51.120 amazed at the clarity of the stars and of the moon was out, 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:54.139 just seeing the wonder of it at a very young age. 00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:56.240 It spoke so powerfully. 00:12:57.059 --> 00:13:00.080 There's got to be something behind that. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:02.679 That's not just by chance. 00:13:03.460 --> 00:13:06.940 There is a creator behind all of that. 00:13:06.940 --> 00:13:09.520 And that's what the psalmist is saying there. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:11.540 He's seeing all of this and he's asking, 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:14.840 who am I in the midst of this? 00:13:16.020 --> 00:13:18.300 We are his workmanship. 00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:20.780 We are his creation. 00:13:20.940 --> 00:13:23.300 Even the wonder of all that we see in the skies, 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:27.260 we are his masterpiece too. 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:34.740 We are being made more and more into his image as we go on, 00:13:34.740 --> 00:13:38.279 as he's making us imperfect as we are, 00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:43.360 to one day to be perfect in glory with him. 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:46.440 So if you are saved, 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:48.500 if you know the Lord, 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:52.419 you are a testimony to the world. 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:56.360 Just like any artist would put their work on display 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:59.299 to show it to the watching world, 00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:01.779 to show what can be created, 00:14:02.439 --> 00:14:05.059 well, God puts us on display. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:08.359 He uses us, imperfect as we are, 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:11.759 to be on display before others. 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:14.719 We are his workmanship. 00:14:15.439 --> 00:14:17.939 And that leads us into the second thing. 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:20.299 We are his workmanship and we have a purpose 00:14:20.839 --> 00:14:25.299 created in Christ Jesus for good works. 00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:29.799 Going back to the programme, 00:14:29.979 --> 00:14:31.240 Who Do You Think You Are? 00:14:32.579 --> 00:14:34.459 And even if you look in your own life perhaps, 00:14:34.539 --> 00:14:37.740 and you look back down through generations of your own family, 00:14:37.819 --> 00:14:41.099 you often find that people go into a career 00:14:41.099 --> 00:14:43.039 maybe thinking there's nothing behind it 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:45.859 and actually find out that there's a history in the family 00:14:45.859 --> 00:14:47.819 of working in that line. 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:49.919 It may be teaching, 00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:52.299 it may be seafarers, 00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:54.859 it may be doctors or farmers or whatever it is, 00:14:54.959 --> 00:14:55.299 fishermen, 00:14:55.699 --> 00:14:56.799 all of these things, 00:14:56.839 --> 00:14:58.659 and you think it's just something you've chosen. 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:01.679 But sometimes you look back and you find out 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:03.719 it's almost something that's been in the family. 00:15:04.319 --> 00:15:06.839 It's come down through generations. 00:15:08.439 --> 00:15:12.219 Well, what Paul tells the Ephesians Christians here is 00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:15.039 that as they find their meaning, 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:17.659 their purpose in Christ, 00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:21.860 they find too a path that leads them back 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:23.779 to something that has been in generations, 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:27.679 that we were made with a purpose. 00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:31.419 Man's chief end is to glorify God 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:33.199 and to enjoy him forever. 00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.740 It's been lost almost. 00:15:35.839 --> 00:15:37.659 We don't see it in our life 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:40.679 until that point we are taken from death to life 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:41.899 by the grace of God 00:15:41.899 --> 00:15:44.819 and then we begin to realise we have purpose. 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:47.080 We have a purpose. 00:15:47.280 --> 00:15:48.820 We are God's workmanship. 00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.780 We are his workmanship. 00:15:50.280 --> 00:15:52.140 But we were created in Christ Jesus 00:15:52.140 --> 00:15:54.080 for good works. 00:15:55.260 --> 00:15:58.400 He gives us a life to live. 00:15:59.580 --> 00:16:01.140 That's what verse 10 reminds us. 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:03.360 Now verse 9 reminds us 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:06.120 that our works are not what saves us. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:08.480 Not a result of works 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:10.280 so that no one may boast. 00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:11.920 It's not we do the works 00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:13.840 so we can boast in our salvation. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.800 No. 00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:18.860 But it's a product of our salvation. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:23.540 We are made for this purpose, 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:25.379 created in Christ Jesus 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:28.120 for good works. 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:31.899 And when you look at this word works, 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.600 it's linked to employment 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:35.740 as we would say today. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.639 What is our work? 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.720 What is our employment? 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:39.940 Who am I in that? 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:42.820 We can say we've all got maybe different careers 00:16:42.820 --> 00:16:45.480 and different works that we're involved in. 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:50.320 But yet here is our greatest work of all 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:52.140 for the good works 00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:55.480 that we are created in Christ Jesus for. 00:16:55.480 --> 00:17:00.259 We have our identity in him. 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:01.560 We have our purpose in him. 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:03.460 We are blessed in him 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:06.120 for this purpose of who we are. 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:10.039 Again, Paul writing to the church in Corinth 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:11.579 in 1 Corinthians 10 00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:13.980 reminds us that whatever we are doing, 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:16.180 we are to do it for the glory of God. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.240 Whether you eat or drink, 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.039 whatever you do, 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:21.120 do all to the glory of God. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.379 And so whatever work, 00:17:23.459 --> 00:17:25.779 whatever way we spend our time, 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:26.879 that's what it's referring to, 00:17:26.959 --> 00:17:29.000 how we spend our time, 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:32.019 what we are doing with ourselves, 00:17:32.639 --> 00:17:35.599 we are to be involved in good works. 00:17:36.939 --> 00:17:38.739 And that doesn't just mean 00:17:38.739 --> 00:17:40.639 setting a time aside 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:42.579 to do the good works that we see, 00:17:42.699 --> 00:17:44.439 maybe of helping or visiting. 00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:47.279 It's everything that we do. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:51.440 When you think of putting our time 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:55.019 into compartments, if you like, 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:59.559 how much time do you spend in church? 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:04.839 You might spend two or three hours a week 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:09.399 gathered together as church in this way. 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.720 But how much time do you spend 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.480 actively working in other ways? 00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:18.519 You could be in your work, 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:20.259 working a 35-hour week, 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.380 but then you're doing other things 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:23.640 outside of that as well, 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:26.180 involved in sports or activities, 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.039 involved in clubs, 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.940 involved in family, 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:32.579 involved in so many different things. 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:34.779 You can be 80, 90 hours a week 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:37.279 just going about your daily business, 00:18:37.400 --> 00:18:38.860 and that is your work. 00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:41.000 Whatever you are doing, 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:43.940 you are to do for the glory of God. 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.000 God. 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:48.400 Paul reminds us of that so often 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:49.840 through his letters, 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:53.779 that we see ourselves as we are in Christ, 00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:56.299 and then there's a practical outworking, 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.940 as we heard over the weekend. 00:18:58.100 --> 00:19:00.180 Ephesians is almost split in two, 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:03.460 learning what is behind our faith, 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:05.600 and then applying our faith 00:19:05.600 --> 00:19:07.360 to our day-to-day lives. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:11.099 We are to be bearing fruit 00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:12.500 in every good work, 00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:14.539 as Paul says to the Colossians. 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.519 Whatever we do, 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:19.159 we do for the glory of God. 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:22.179 Martin Luther understood what this meant 00:19:22.179 --> 00:19:22.779 when he said, 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:24.799 the maid who sweeps her kitchen 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:26.179 is doing the will of God 00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:28.819 just as much as the monk who prays. 00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:31.079 Not because she may sing 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:33.639 a Christian hymn as she sweeps, 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:36.720 but because God loves clean floors. 00:19:37.840 --> 00:19:39.060 The Christian shoemaker 00:19:39.060 --> 00:19:40.540 does his Christian duty, 00:19:40.540 --> 00:19:42.100 not by putting little crosses 00:19:42.100 --> 00:19:43.259 on the shoes, 00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:45.880 but by making good shoes. 00:19:47.280 --> 00:19:48.960 Because God is interested 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:50.640 in good craftsmanship. 00:19:50.780 --> 00:19:53.220 He's interested in our giving our best 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:56.100 in everything that we do. 00:19:57.380 --> 00:19:58.540 And so apply that 00:19:58.540 --> 00:20:01.660 to your life on a day-to-day basis. 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:03.660 Your good works 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:06.040 is not just being in church. 00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:08.259 Your good works 00:20:08.259 --> 00:20:10.860 is not just having your quiet time at home 00:20:10.860 --> 00:20:12.840 where you read God's word and pray. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:14.300 Your good works 00:20:14.300 --> 00:20:16.120 is how you behave among others, 00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.820 in the workplace, 00:20:18.040 --> 00:20:18.720 in the school, 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:20.560 away from here, 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.519 everywhere we go, 00:20:21.620 --> 00:20:22.400 whatever we do, 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:25.540 it's all part of our good works. 00:20:27.040 --> 00:20:28.360 Who I am is seen 00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:29.800 in what I do 00:20:29.800 --> 00:20:31.140 and how I do it. 00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:33.820 Who are we? 00:20:34.320 --> 00:20:35.880 We are his workmanship 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:38.560 and we are created in Christ Jesus 00:20:38.560 --> 00:20:41.720 for good works. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:44.560 When we belong to him, 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:46.220 we honour him 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:48.540 in all that we do. 00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:50.920 And the third thing that we see 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:52.160 from this verse 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:53.640 is these last words, 00:20:54.320 --> 00:20:56.900 which God has prepared beforehand 00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:59.980 that you should walk in them. 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:04.560 God has prepared beforehand 00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:07.420 that we should walk in them. 00:21:08.100 --> 00:21:09.720 There's two aspects 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:11.500 to this last part as well. 00:21:12.560 --> 00:21:13.759 We think first of all 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.460 of the walking in them. 00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.420 It's the last bit 00:21:16.420 --> 00:21:17.860 we were thinking of at first here. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.820 Walking in them. 00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:22.720 Walking in them means direction. 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:25.480 It means it's our aim, 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:26.559 it's our goal 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.640 to keep going 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:29.000 in this way. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.039 Last Wednesday, 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:32.759 we had Colin McLeod 00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:33.860 preaching to us 00:21:33.860 --> 00:21:34.839 on Psalm 86 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:37.100 and one of the vowsers there says, 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.579 teach me, Lord, your way. 00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:40.380 And again, 00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.759 it's a recurring theme 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.059 that you find 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.900 throughout Scripture. 00:21:44.100 --> 00:21:44.980 Teach me, Lord, 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.299 your way. 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.539 And here we have it again. 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:51.299 Walking in the way, 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.000 if you like, 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:55.059 the way of good works. 00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:57.279 It's almost like 00:21:57.279 --> 00:21:58.599 we make sure 00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:59.460 that the Lord 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:01.379 has a hold of us. 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.500 That we're not trying 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.759 to go our own way 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.559 and just give time to Him 00:22:06.559 --> 00:22:07.759 for a short while 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:09.559 and then do our own thing. 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.539 That's not what it's about. 00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:13.339 It's about walking with Him 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:14.879 day by day. 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.919 It's not a switch 00:22:17.919 --> 00:22:19.680 we turn on and off. 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.839 It's not saying, 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:22.119 well, I'll give six months 00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:22.700 to the Lord 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.940 and then I'll take time off 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.659 for myself. 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:26.839 It's not the kind of job 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.680 where you go away 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:29.460 and do two weeks on 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.460 and then you come home 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.460 for two weeks off. 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.500 That's not what being 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:34.619 a Christian is about at all. 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:36.440 It's about living 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:38.039 God's way 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:39.579 day by day. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:42.200 He's working in us 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.539 because we are His workmanship. 00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:46.000 He is giving us good works 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.019 that we should do them 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.220 for His glory 00:22:48.220 --> 00:22:50.519 and we are to walk 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.559 in them. 00:22:52.380 --> 00:22:53.619 We are to keep going 00:22:53.619 --> 00:22:54.500 in them. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:55.819 And again, 00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:56.519 you think of how 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:57.460 God's people, 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.019 how are we to walk? 00:22:59.299 --> 00:23:00.539 The scriptures show us 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.720 again and again 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.539 we are to walk 00:23:02.539 --> 00:23:03.099 in obedience 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:04.039 to Him. 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.279 We are to walk 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:06.660 in faithfulness. 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:07.839 We are to walk 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.480 in love. 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.640 We are to walk 00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:10.339 in holiness. 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.420 It goes on. 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.500 The list goes on. 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.559 But we are to walk 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:16.079 in these ways. 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:19.519 And so we are walking 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:21.279 with God. 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.900 But that reminds us 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:25.619 that we have a companion. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.619 We're not walking 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.559 alone. 00:23:29.339 --> 00:23:30.240 He is walking 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.099 with us. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:32.779 We are still 00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:34.299 His workmanship. 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:36.180 He doesn't leave us. 00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:38.099 He is with us. 00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.819 And so there is 00:23:39.819 --> 00:23:40.559 this reminder 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.459 again we are not 00:23:42.459 --> 00:23:43.339 perfect. 00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:45.079 Immediately we are 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:45.519 saved. 00:23:45.619 --> 00:23:46.359 We are not this 00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:47.299 perfect person. 00:23:47.419 --> 00:23:47.959 We don't need 00:23:47.959 --> 00:23:49.000 the Lord now. 00:23:49.659 --> 00:23:50.899 We are changed. 00:23:51.659 --> 00:23:52.659 But we are being 00:23:52.659 --> 00:23:53.459 changed 00:23:53.459 --> 00:23:55.159 all the time 00:23:55.159 --> 00:23:56.439 as we go on. 00:23:58.439 --> 00:23:59.279 There was a little 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:00.319 boy in Sunday 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:00.679 school 00:24:00.679 --> 00:24:01.879 misbehaving 00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:03.639 and his teacher 00:24:03.639 --> 00:24:04.119 was getting 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:04.699 much 00:24:04.699 --> 00:24:05.839 more and more 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:07.139 frustrated with him 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:08.320 to the point 00:24:08.320 --> 00:24:08.920 where she got 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:10.500 to speak to him 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:10.660 and say 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.720 why do you act 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.440 like that? 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:13.900 Do you not know 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.720 who made you? 00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:16.920 And the little boy 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:18.400 replied quite quickly 00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:19.100 yes I know 00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:20.500 God made me 00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:22.700 but he hasn't 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:24.000 finished with me yet. 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:27.300 It's a smart reply. 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.100 We could all 00:24:28.100 --> 00:24:29.360 say that word 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:29.880 as well. 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.180 It's not an excuse 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:33.120 but we're not 00:24:33.120 --> 00:24:34.360 finished yet. 00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:37.220 There's truth 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.180 in that 00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:38.740 and that we are 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:40.240 still a work 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.940 in progress. 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:43.519 But we have 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.320 good authority 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:45.420 in God's word 00:24:45.420 --> 00:24:46.900 that where 00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:47.880 he has began 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:49.039 a work 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.880 he will bring 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:52.000 it to completion. 00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:53.960 We are walking 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:55.600 in these works 00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.900 but we are not 00:24:56.900 --> 00:24:57.720 walking alone. 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.160 We are walking 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:00.180 with him. 00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.920 But then you see 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:03.360 too 00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:04.580 that it's 00:25:04.580 --> 00:25:05.200 the works 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.820 which God 00:25:05.820 --> 00:25:06.900 prepared 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.980 beforehand. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.360 Prepared 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:12.080 beforehand. 00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:13.460 And this 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.240 reminds us 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.900 that God 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:15.860 has always 00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:16.779 had a plan 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.080 for your life. 00:25:19.340 --> 00:25:20.140 Who are we? 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.560 We are his 00:25:21.560 --> 00:25:22.220 workmanship. 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.100 We are created 00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:24.980 in Christ Jesus 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.840 for good works. 00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:26.660 We are to walk 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.200 in them. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.220 But God 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.380 has a plan 00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:31.519 in it all 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.279 prepared 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:33.680 beforehand. 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:34.560 And again 00:25:34.560 --> 00:25:35.160 that's a theme 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.680 you see 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.740 throughout the 00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.140 scriptures 00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:38.200 over and over. 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:39.620 You read 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.279 we saw it in 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:42.279 Psalm 139 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:43.680 even as God 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.540 was forming 00:25:44.540 --> 00:25:45.360 us in the womb 00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:46.180 he had ordained 00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:46.820 the days 00:25:46.820 --> 00:25:47.800 that were before us 00:25:47.800 --> 00:25:48.279 they were written 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:48.960 in his book. 00:25:49.100 --> 00:25:49.800 It was all 00:25:49.800 --> 00:25:51.279 there his plan 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.920 and his purpose. 00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:54.620 You think of 00:25:54.619 --> 00:25:55.659 the prophet 00:25:55.659 --> 00:25:56.259 Jeremiah 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.839 in the Old 00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:57.399 Testament 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.759 he was asking 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:00.479 who am I? 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.659 Well in 00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:03.459 verse 5 00:26:03.459 --> 00:26:04.279 of chapter 1 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:05.079 the Lord 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:05.479 is saying 00:26:05.479 --> 00:26:06.599 before I formed 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:07.219 you in the womb 00:26:07.219 --> 00:26:08.379 I knew you. 00:26:08.679 --> 00:26:09.559 Even before 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:10.199 you were in the womb 00:26:10.199 --> 00:26:11.219 I knew you. 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.459 Before you were 00:26:12.459 --> 00:26:12.899 born 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:14.259 I consecrated you 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:15.119 I set you 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:15.619 apart 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:16.919 I appointed 00:26:16.919 --> 00:26:17.759 you a prophet 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.979 to the nations. 00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:20.239 God had a plan 00:26:20.239 --> 00:26:21.359 and a purpose 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:22.139 for Jeremiah 00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:24.039 from the very 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:24.919 beginning. 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:28.039 And if Jeremiah 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.559 was asked 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.139 who am I 00:26:29.139 --> 00:26:29.779 he could answer 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.839 I have been 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.779 created 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:33.059 by God 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:34.240 and created 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:35.519 with a purpose. 00:26:36.919 --> 00:26:37.599 And the same 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.199 is true 00:26:38.199 --> 00:26:39.439 for you and me. 00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:41.279 We are created 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.019 for the works 00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:42.959 that God 00:26:42.959 --> 00:26:43.719 prepared 00:26:43.719 --> 00:26:44.579 beforehand 00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:46.179 that he has 00:26:46.179 --> 00:26:46.939 a plan 00:26:46.939 --> 00:26:48.439 and a purpose 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.500 for us. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.200 Psalm 37 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.220 verse 23 00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.320 the steps 00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:53.900 of a man 00:26:53.900 --> 00:26:54.600 are established 00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:56.019 by the Lord 00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:57.640 when he delights 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.640 in his way. 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.799 There's a plan 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:02.559 and a purpose. 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.840 And so we are 00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.799 to give ourselves 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.620 over 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:07.100 to the Lord. 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:08.940 Proverbs 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.860 the book of wisdom 00:27:09.860 --> 00:27:11.320 the heart of man 00:27:11.320 --> 00:27:12.539 plans his way 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.900 but the Lord 00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:15.080 establishes 00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:15.759 his steps. 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:17.299 The Lord 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:18.160 has a plan 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:19.740 and a purpose. 00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.180 And so our duty 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:24.640 is to glorify him 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:26.759 and to enjoy him 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.840 in looking 00:27:27.840 --> 00:27:28.800 to him 00:27:28.800 --> 00:27:30.580 as his workmanship 00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:31.680 created in Christ 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:33.000 Jesus for good works 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:34.300 for the works 00:27:34.300 --> 00:27:34.779 that God 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.420 prepared 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.960 beforehand 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.400 to walk 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.460 in them. 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.320 Martin Luther 00:27:41.320 --> 00:27:42.700 he said 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.980 faith is a living 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:44.920 busy 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.660 active 00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.960 powerful thing. 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.819 it is impossible 00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.700 for it not 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.840 to do us good 00:27:50.840 --> 00:27:51.620 continually. 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.759 It never asks 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.920 whether good works 00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.819 are to be done 00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:58.140 but has done them 00:27:58.140 --> 00:27:59.880 before there is time 00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:01.480 to ask the question 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:03.559 and it is always 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:05.059 doing them. 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:07.779 we don't sit 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.619 here tonight 00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:10.119 asking 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:10.879 I wonder 00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:13.039 if there is a good work 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:14.019 for God 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:15.559 for me 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.119 to do 00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:17.319 for God. 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:19.859 God has prepared 00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.700 them beforehand 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.279 we 00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.799 are to walk 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:24.619 in them. 00:28:25.679 --> 00:28:26.659 His word reveals 00:28:26.659 --> 00:28:27.119 to us 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:27.960 again and again 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.839 how 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:30.359 we are to live. 00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:31.719 so we don't 00:28:31.719 --> 00:28:32.459 just sit back 00:28:32.459 --> 00:28:32.979 and say 00:28:32.979 --> 00:28:34.019 Lord 00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:35.299 what will you 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:36.119 have me to do? 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:37.779 Listen 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.839 to him 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:40.679 love him 00:28:40.679 --> 00:28:41.839 with all your heart 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:43.299 serve him 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:45.059 with all your heart 00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:46.399 love 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:47.639 the Lord 00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.879 with all your heart 00:28:48.879 --> 00:28:50.259 and love your 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.599 neighbour 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:52.159 as yourself. 00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:53.079 There are so many 00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.659 things 00:28:53.659 --> 00:28:54.539 that we could 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:55.179 apply 00:28:55.179 --> 00:28:56.219 to this 00:28:56.219 --> 00:28:57.579 the works 00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.039 that God 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.659 has prepared 00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.320 beforehand 00:28:59.320 --> 00:29:00.480 that we are 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:01.279 to walk in 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.340 they are all 00:29:02.340 --> 00:29:03.120 before us 00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:04.120 and by faith 00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:05.380 we don't ask 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:05.940 whether there are 00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.580 good works 00:29:06.580 --> 00:29:07.220 to be done 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:08.880 we do them. 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:11.279 We do them 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.860 before there is 00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.360 time 00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:13.880 to ask the question 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:14.400 and we are 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.000 always 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.440 doing them. 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.380 So who do you 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:18.759 think 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.960 you are? 00:29:21.800 --> 00:29:22.900 How are you? 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:24.820 You are blessed. 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:27.019 Who are you? 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:29.220 You are God's 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.299 workmanship 00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.259 you are God's 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.940 masterpiece 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:34.000 created in 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.799 Christ Jesus 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:35.559 brought from 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.519 death to 00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.359 life by his 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:37.819 grace 00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:39.379 for good 00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:39.980 works 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:41.619 that God 00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.339 has planned 00:29:42.339 --> 00:29:43.240 and had a 00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.139 purpose for 00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:45.359 beforehand 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:46.680 from the very 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.379 beginning of 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:47.859 time 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:49.180 that you 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:49.960 should walk 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:51.359 in them. 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:53.220 That is who 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:53.759 we are. 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.460 The song of 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.279 Solomon says 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:57.440 I am my 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.240 beloved's 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.059 and my 00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.480 beloved 00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.799 is mine 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:02.539 and when we 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.500 know the 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:03.819 Lord 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.740 we know we 00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.180 are loved 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.860 by him 00:30:05.860 --> 00:30:06.960 and we 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.779 look to him 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:08.819 as his 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.519 workmanship 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:11.059 created for 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:11.920 good works 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:13.140 prepared 00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:13.860 beforehand 00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:15.200 and we 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:15.700 seek 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.840 to walk 00:30:16.840 --> 00:30:17.779 in them. 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:18.840 May God 00:30:18.840 --> 00:30:19.220 bless 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.319 his word 00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:20.920 to us. 00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:23.820 We're 00:30:23.820 --> 00:30:24.440 going to 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.539 conclude by 00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.279 singing to 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:26.600 God's 00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:26.620 prayer.