We Are His Workmanship

 

“For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.” Ephesians 2:10 ESV

What an incredible statement, “For we are his workmanship,” it harkens back to Romans 1:4-6 “Jesus Christ our Lord through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” This statement brings into question what is His workmanship pertaining to His grace and apostleship in our lives? Many have said we are to be more like Christ in our attitudes and responses to others, that is a true statement, but that isn’t where it ends, that is only where it begins.

Do you want to experience the beauty and glory of Christ in your life? There is more to Jesus Christ than just having a changed attitude and living a holy life. Imagine the powers of heaven coming into play when we manifest Christ in our lives. According to Jesus in the gospels, whoever believes in Him will do the works that He did, and even greater works because He is going to the Father (John 14:12 ESV). I am referring to these greater works that come from having a relationship with Jesus and His body of believers, not works that demonstrate how great we are or what we have achieved, but more of Christ is doing through us in our obedience to Him.

The truth is, we don't need to say anything new or come up with new ideas, we are Christ’s workmanship. The scripture itself tells us that we have been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God had already prepared for us to do beforehand, that 'beforehand' is before the earth was created. Our job is to align ourselves with what God has already designed us to do. 

So, what has God created for us to do? Our ultimate purpose as His sons and daughters is to rule and reign on the earth with Christ as co-heirs with Him, restore the earthly order back to where it was created to be. “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?” Romans 8:22-24 ESV

I have often heard it said that God can do the impossible, that is “impossible” from the world’s standards, but possible in Christ because he controls all things and everything is held together by Him. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-17 ESV

As we manifest Christ through and with other believers, we become conduits for His miraculous power and energies through the Holy Spirit. The early Church was said to have walked in healings, miracles, and prophecy, which was only a glimpse of the greater powers to come. Christ was only beginning to reveal through the early church that His body would restore the paradise that was lost in Eden, bringing order to the chaos that has plagued the world since the fall of man.

As much as I would love to claim that there are many powers that are labeled as technologies in our day and age are in fact God’s kingdom power that have been hijacked, I must be careful because the American government monitors and suppresses this kind of speech because of two reasons, one because it may harm the economy or monetary system, and secondly because the government takes any power what it deems to be 'technology' for itself first before ever considering allowing any of the public to utilize kingdom power.

For example, supernatural healing has been well documented and proven to be effective for many who have received it. The government/medical establishment has not supported any attempt to recognize spiritual healing as being a legitimate form of medicine or healing. Even though Jesus eluded to  Himself as a physician. “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16-17 ESV

Throughout history, we have seen spiritual manifestations where supernatural events became viable in the natural world. Moses, Elijah, and Elisha are three examples of this occurring. But imagine if someone like Elijah appeared in the United States today and performed the same miracles he performed in ancient days. Unfortunately, he would be silenced or killed by the government, preventing his message from empowering the masses. 

This is a missed opportunity because if Christ and His church were to become empowered and stand in kingdom power, they would not be allowed to speak, they would be rounded up and imprisoned. It would be like the Pharaoh and the Hebrew slaves in Egypt, where it would become a test of the God of heaven against the gods of Egypt. In our case, it would be the God of heaven against the gods of America, which is money and technology (also known as the god Hermes or Mercury). So, we must ask ourselves, do we want to be ruled by technology or by Christ? I believe the answer is clear.

Stephen Barnett