One – Masterpiece

Joke:  An art thief once stole some very expensive paintings from the Louvre in Paris. He took two Van Goghs, a couple Monets, a DeGas, and some other paintings.J

Everything went perfectly, except he was captured sitting in his van with the paintings only 2 blocks from the museum, his van had run out of fuel!

When asked by the police how he could plan such a successful robbery and then be foiled by such a simple error, he replied…

“I had no Monet to buy DeGas to make the Van Gogh!”

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And that is what I want to talk about with you today.  No not stealing paintings from the Louvre, but what was stolen which was the masterpieces.

Today we are starting a new series I will call One.

Week 1 – Masterpiece

 Let me start with this huge detail.  You were created in the image of God, you are a masterpiece made for a purpose.

Repeat this after me. . .I am a masterpiece.  Say it like you mean it.   Now say it like you know it.

And there is only one of you.   There is nobody like you.  What that means is you have a reason to be and a purpose to fulfill.

We’re going to explore today what that looks like for us, as believers, to live as one.  But before we do that, I need to talk about something related but totally different and that is independence.

We are taught from an early age to be self-sufficient.  We are told to fend for ourselves because that’s a sign of strength. Those who can’t go it alone are often times viewed as weak or at the very least “less capable” than those who can.

I recall a conversation at our dinner table once, not sure how it came up, why it came up, or who brought it up.  But the whole family was sitting around the table at dinner.   That’s much better than running around the table don’t you think?  Anyway someone asked if mom were to die what I get remarried.  And before I could even respond John blurts out of course dad would he couldn’t take care of himself.

Now I must admit I’m spoiled.   No doubt about it, Joy takes good care of me, but I must say that as long as there are restaurants I can eat.  So there you have it.

All joking aside I think many of us value independence and individualism above almost everything else.

But, we weren’t created to live that way. It may feel counter-intuitive, but the truth is, we are created and called to live in community.

Let me make it a bit more personal. . .

You were created and called to live in community.

In the book of Genesis, God creates man. . .and then God says,

Genesis 2:18 (NIV): The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

“It’s not good for man to be alone.”

And it wasn’t just because he might get lonely or need a buddy.  But rather because God wired us to do life together. He created us and called us to do life in community.

The problem is, many of us don’t want to do that.   I don’t think it’s because we are anti-community. . .it’s more because. . .

• We don’t understand it.
• We have been trained to do life independently.
• We don’t know what we’re missing.

We don’t want to do life in community because we don’t know how to do life in community.

And as a result, most of us are far too focused on being individuals.

Now listen God created each of us unique and as I mentioned there is only one you.  So, understand I’m not suggesting be like everyone else.  God made you to be you, so be you.   He didn’t create cookie cutter creatures.

But it’s more to the point that individualism has been more like I’m an island.  And that is just not how God designed it to be.

And that type of individualism is robbing us of the joy, strength, and hope so many are desperate for.

And the only way to break the habit of doing life alone, the only way to experience the life we were truly meant to live, is to learn how to live in and be surrounded by others in community.

And that’s what this series is all about. For the next couple of  weeks we are going to explore what it looks like to live life in community. . .not just as a group of different individuals, but we’re going to learn what it looks like to live as one.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV): 10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (TPT): 10 I urge you, my brothers and sisters, for the sake of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree to live in unity with one another and put to rest any division that attempts to tear you apart. Be restored as one united body living in perfect harmony. Form a consistent choreography among yourselves, having a common perspective with shared values.

You need to understand that this is far more important than most of us realize. Not just because doing life alone leaves us lacking, but because we are each wonderfully and uniquely created to be a part of a community and through that community to transform our world.

John 17:23 (NIV): 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

This means we must learn to do life together. We must learn to do life with others, and listen I know that life with others can be difficult and messy.

But when we learn to do life as a united community, there is nothing that can stop us.

So, if we are going to learn to live in community. . .do life in community. . .transform the world as a community, we need to understand a couple of things about ourselves. And that’s what I want us to explore today.

Let’s begin by looking at Ephesians 2 verse 10. . .

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Have you ever discovered one of the reasons we tend to struggle to connect with others is not them, but sometimes us?

I know that’s not always popular or easy to shallow

And I’m not saying this is always the case and truth is it takes some honest thinking. . .

• But when you have had 8 jobs in 8 years and all of them end because you have all the excuses why you can’t get there or do what they ask, you really need to ask yourself what’s the common denominator?
• When you’ve been married 5 times and none of them worked out as you expected, you really need to ask yourself what’s the common denominator?
• When you have left 6 different churches because something happened and you got offended, you really need to ask yourself what’s the common denominator?

I’m not saying there aren’t times others have left us out to dry or have rejected us.  I’m also not saying we have never been the victim of others’ hurtful actions. I am well aware of that fact.

But, if we’re honest, there have been times, when we don’t do well in community, simply because of us.

And I think the reason is because we don’t understand who we are, we also don’t understand who others are. And if we are going to learn to live in community, we need to learn, no we must learn, who and what we are and what all that means for how we live our lives.

So. . .What am I?  What are you?  How does this impact my life?

Let me give you the answer.   I’ve already mentioned it a few times any ideas?

You are a masterpiece.

And how does knowing that impact my life?  Or maybe the better question is how should that impact my life?

When you live like a masterpiece it transforms the world around you.

And that’s the point: you are a masterpiece.   So act like it. That’s the one thing I want you to get today. You are a masterpiece, act like it.

Let’s look at our text once more. . .

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Once more from The Passion Translation. . .

Ephesians 2:10 (TPT): 10 We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!

The word handiwork or workmanship can also be translated as masterpiece.

We were created by God, for God, in the image of God.

So, how do I act like a masterpiece?

1. Live up to your purpose.

 As God’s masterpiece you were created on purpose for a purpose.

Simply put. . .You have a job to do.

Because you are God’s masterpiece, created for good works which He prepared in advance for you to do, you have a job to do.

And one of the greatest ways you can honor God. . .one of the greatest ways you live up to your purpose, is to do the job you were created to do.

You may be a masterpiece, but if you aren’t living out your purpose. . .if you aren’t doing the job you were created to do, then you aren’t living up to your full potential.

Let me explain that this way. . .

• A vintage car is a masterpiece – and I don’t think any of you would ever use it to haul the traveling soccer team around. . .that’s why they have that wonderful invention that we call mini vans.
• If you had a vintage guitar, that my friends is what is called a masterpiece – and you don’t let your 7-year-old bang on it and take it to show and tell.

Just to put that into perspective, on the TV series Pawn stars Mary Ford you was Les Paul’s ex-wife that guitar that she played was a 1961 Gibson and fetched $90,000.

• If you had the original Mona Lisa, you wouldn’t use it to cover a hole in the wall in your back bathroom or to paper the bottom of your bird cage.

If it’s a masterpiece – you use it according to its value.

And since you are a masterpiece, you need to live up to your purpose. . .you need to be used for what you were created to be used for.

That’s why Jesus came and died because God recognizes that we are His masterpieces – He made us – and He doesn’t want us to be devalued.

So, What’s your job? What were you created for?

Do you know?  Do you even care?  Would you like to know?

Well then I’m going to tell you.

Your job – what you were created for – is ultimately to represent Jesus. That means

• How you treat others
• How you have conversations
• How you manage your time, money, and relationships
• How you take care of yourself

All of it matters.

So if you’re going to be a masterpiece, If you’re going to live up to your purpose, you need to ask yourself, “How am I representing Jesus?”

Don’t ever for a moment think what you’re doing doesn’t matter. Never think that.  That is a lie from the pits of hell.

And when you represent Jesus wherever you are – you are living a life of enormous value and purpose. You are doing your job even if the situation you find yourself in seems incredibly boring or mundane.

Your job is to reflect Jesus back to our world?   So you need to ask yourself, what am I reflecting?

And the second way you act like a masterpiece is:

2. Recognize the value of others

Just like you were created in God’s image so are they, they may not believe that, that may not know that or understand that but you as God’s masterpiece; need to realize that everyone you interact with was also made in His image as well.

And if everyone else is also a masterpiece then you’ve got to ask yourself. . .How am I treating others?

Stop and think about that for just a minute.

We, at least I do, love the idea that I am called God’s masterpiece.  I love how we are made in the image of God. But, if it’s true, and it is, then understand that everyone else is also made in the image of God.

And doing life in community only works when we realize we are made in God’s image and then recognize everyone else is as well.

That’s why Paul wrote these words to one of the Jesus communities in the first century.

Philippians 2:3–4 (NIV): Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Once again from The Passion Translation. . .

Philippians 2:3–4(TPT): Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. 4 Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests.

• Do nothing out of selfish ambition that means we don’t manipulate things to get our way.
• Do nothing out of vain conceit

Selfish ambition and vanity are the status quo for most of our culture.

But for those who follow Jesus, Paul says, “No.” That’s not how a masterpiece treats another masterpiece.

Instead we must learn to value others above ourselves. This is what Jesus did. This is how Jesus lived and let’s be honest it impacted humanity.

And when we live like this, we reflect Jesus back to our world.

In fact, Paul follows up with this. . .

Philippians 2:5–7 (NIV): In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

The way a masterpiece treats another masterpiece is by making yourself a humble servant, just like Christ.

And do you know the best way to do that?  Just go back to your purpose. . .Go back to the job you’ve been given. . .

Reflect Jesus back to your world by loving them, serving them, honoring them. That young mom to your kids how are you loving and honoring them

• That husband to your wife how are you serving, loving, and honoring her?
• That wife to your husband how are you serving, loving, and honoring him?
• At your job how are you serving them?
• Online with your Facebook account how are you reflecting Jesus to them?

You were created by God and you are a masterpiece.

Everyone you come into contact with was created by God. . .which makes them masterpieces as well.

So, if we are going to be one, if we are going to get community right, then we have to recognize that we are all masterpieces and we need to act like it.

So what’s the takeaway?  What do I do with all of this anyway?

Here’s 3 things, steps  if you will, to takeaway with you today:

Step 1: Pray for God to help you realize you are a masterpiece. Ask Him to reveal it to you. Ask Him to show you your value in His eyes. Ask him to help you see yourself the way He sees you.

Step 2: Ask Him to help you see others the way He sees them. Ask Him to show you how you can serve and love those other masterpieces you come into contact with every day.

Step 3: Start serving, start loving, start honoring. Don’t wait for the perfect time. Don’t wait until you feel like it.  In the words of Nike. . .Just do it.

If we are going to find unity and be one, then it’s important to recognize ourselves and others as the masterpieces God created us to be.

Prayer