Spirit-filled Moves of God (i.e. Good Works)

By Pastor Matt Black

22 October 2006
Lord's Day morning and evening
Ephesians 2:10

Open your Bible to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  Let’s stand together and read Ephesians chapter 2 and verses 1 through 10.  What we are going to see this morning in our text is that salvation is of the Lord from beginning to end.  The title of this morning’s message is “Spirit-filled Moves of God”.

[Stand and read Ephesians 2:1-10]

Ephesians 2:1-10, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Outline:

I. The Characterization of good works: What are they?

II. The Location of good works: Where are they?

III. The Manifestation of good works: What do they look like?

IV. The Application of good works: How do I get them?

Introduction:  Verse 7 of our text says that your life from the moment you are saved your life should show the incomprehensible riches of God’s particular favor to you.  Your life should be a manifestation that God’s power is upon you.  That’s what verse 10 is actually saying. This is one of the major themes of the Bible.  God reveals Himself to man so that He might transform man.  The evidence of the transformation is what we are talking about. 

I. The Characterization of good works: What are they?

What is a good work?  Good works are what we think of for religious people that want to earn their way to heaven.  We Gospel preaching people have a hard time getting our hands around good works.  We rightly stand against good works with all our might when it comes to earning salvation.  Works are not the price of salvation; they are the proof of it.  They are the fruit of salvation, the holiness of it, the manifestation of God’s presence in your life. 

But let’s further define it.  What is a good work?  I want to give a universal definition so that we can all recognize what a genuine, bona fide good work is so that we can distinguish it from what we will call bad works.

A. Definition.  A good work is a Spirit-filled move of God through the life of a believer.  A good work in other places in the Bible is called being Spirit-filled.

1. Scriptural Evidence

a. Spirit Filled.

Galatians 5:16, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

A bad work then would be any work done by any man that is not a Spirit filled move of God.  The Bible defines this as a sin.  These works are always prideful, selfish, and destructive, but they do not always seem that way at first. 

b. Move of God. 

Hebrews 13:21, “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Philippians 2:12-13, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

2. Scriptural Admontions

a. Positive.

Our text says in Ephesians 2:10, that “…we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

In Titus 2:14, we read that Christ, “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

Philippians 2:12-13, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…”

Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

b. Negative.

There are many things that may look like good works that are rotten and that God despises.

Strictness is not good works. Strictness without the Spirit-filled movement of God in your life is vain, empty, worship.  Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Flowery, spiritual words are not good works.

Isaiah 29:13, “…this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me”.

Matthew 23:27, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

B. Clarification.

Good works are accomplished by God and do not add anything to our salvation.  There is no good work that man can do independently of God.  If a work is independent of God it is rotten, no matter how strict it is and no matter how good of a work it seems to man.  It is rejected by God. 

II. The Location of good works: Where are they?

A. In Trial: Moses and the Red Sea.  Where can we find a Spirit filled move of God?  When you are in an excruciating trial!  Have you ever felt you were being chased beyond your capacity with life’s trials?  These people had their back against the hard rock of an immovable mountain. 

B. In Tribulation: Joseph in Slavery and in Prison.  Another location—slavery.  Joseph being treated as cheap merchandise.  Or Joseph in a stinky prison.  God can send you a mighty move of the Spirit in a stinky prison.  Especially in a stinky prison! 

Paul and Silas were thrown into a Philippian jail.  Look at Acts 16:19-31, “they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20  And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.     25 ¶  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

A mighty move of the Spirit of God in your heart will only come when you drink in tribulation for the glory of God.  They were already doing God’s will, but they wanted more.  Be careful when you ask for more!  God will give it to you! Do you want more?!   Can you pray with David?   In Psalm 63:1 David was in the wilderness of Judah, and he prayed, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is”.

C. In Tragedy: Job and the loss of all things.  Turn to Job 1:13-22, “And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 14  And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15  And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 19  And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.  20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Could you worship God if He took that which is most precious to you away? That’s the good work that God wants to do in and through you!  A Spirit-filled move of God!

D. In Triumph: Moses, Joseph, Job, all served God in trial, tribulation and tragedy, and then God entrusted them to serve Him in triumph.  Look at Philippians 4:11-13, “…I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Has God given you poverty and hard times and trials?  Be careful not to get bitter.  Say “I can do all things”!  Worship God with what God has given you!

Has God given you success and prosperity?  Be careful that you are not self-sufficient.  Put your pride down.  It’s all from God.  It’s His.  “I know how to abound!”

III. The Manifestation of good works: What do they look like? 

A. They are birthed in Creation of new spiritual life (regeneration).

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

God uses us despite ourselves.  There is nothing in us that is usable, except that which God makes usable through His grace.  And God can use anybody!  The way God uses us depends on how God Himself wants to use us.  It has nothing to do with the natural ability of human beings.  Think of the apostles:

v You think of scrawny little John—he was the youngest of them all.  He was just a very young man when he became one of the apostles. 

v Think of Matthew the tax collector

v What about brawny thick-headed Peter the fisherman. 

These were ordinary men.  God decided to take these men and by grace they yielded to Him, and changed the entire course of world history. 

Why did these men change history?  The answer is that these men did not changed history.  God changed history.  He intruded into their lives, and used them!  They were God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

B. They are sustained through Conviction. 

1. Conviction Stated.  Good works are birthed in conviction.  So in good works, there is that burning of the Spirit of God through the Word of God, we call that conviction.  Jeremiah said the Word is like a burning fire in my bones…  Conviction drives us into good works.  The Spirit speaks expressly to our hearts, and we cannot sustain under the conviction—we have to give in!  That’s the life of the Christian!  Jeremiah experienced that conviction!  Conviction is what in other places the Bible calls “zeal”. 

2. Conviction’s Source: the Word of God.  Jeremiah was tired of being God’s prophet.  So he decided he wouldn’t speak for God anymore.  But conviction of the Holy Spirit got the best of him.  Look at Jeremiah 20:9, “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”

One source of conviction: Spirit of God through the Word of God. 

Three main distribution points of the Word:

v Private (personal, indivicual)

v Family

v Corporate

This conviction itself is sustained through your exposure to the preaching of the Word of God.  You can and ought to seek God on your own, in private, and with your family.  That’s what Deuteronomy 6 (family) and Psalm 1:2 (personal) teach.

But there is a third aspect of exposure to the Word of God.  And that is corporately with the Body of Christ.  Paul said in Colossians 1:28 that the apostolic ministry was to “preach” Jesus Christ “warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus”.  Yes we need our personal and family devotions, but we also need to come together corporately (corporately means “as a body) for the public preaching of the Word. 

Let me say a few words about conviction in corporate worship. We many times come into worship like we would to a baseball game or some form of worldly entertainment.  This is the fault of the modern church to merchandize God’s saints and to sell them the world packaged in Gospel wrapping.  We are sold the church and the preaching as forms of entertainment, and preachers joke and jest, and so we think it is for our distraction. 

C. Sustained through Corporate worship— If you are a Christian, you are to join a church. You are to become, not a consumer, but a provider there.  You are not a consumer.  We, as in the leadership, are not here in that sense to tailor the church to meet the needs of the consumer.  We don’t do that. 

1. What does the Consumer Christian look like?

· In the extreme—a church for consumer Christians would base its services on whatever every one wants—Willow Creek mentality—whatever we can offer to the consumer.  We market the church.  We as a church have recognized that this is not a reflection of true Biblical Christianity.  This is an unbiblical and unhealthy way for church growth.

· A consumer Christian goes to church for what’s in it for him.  I pray that none of us would be that kind of Christian. 

2. What we want in our church are Provider Christians

a. One way is how we commit ourselves to attend regularly.

§ What if everyone were to have the church hoppers attendance pattern?

§ Would the church close down because half the time, it wouldn’t even be here?

§ Would 2 out of 3 meetings vanish immediately? 

§ I mean what would happen if that were to be the case? 

§ So we stress regular attendance.

b. What about being here punctually? 

v I realize I may be preaching to the choir, but do you slip in the morning service, ten minutes late, because “Oh well, you got up late”? 

v Isn’t it good that a lot of other people don’t do that?

v Isn’t it good that you can actually come and something is provided for you?

v That’s because there are brothers and sisters that consider themselves providers who come early in order to get things ready, and to try to make it a welcoming place.

c. We need to see ourselves as providers, not just consumers. 

v As providers, we understand that we are committing ourselves to each other. 

v One incredibly practical way we do this is by encouraging members to pray through the church directory for our brothers and sisters.

d. I believe too often, church attendees fool themselves about the fellowship they claim to have with God because they have nothing to do with other Christians.

v Obviously church membership never saved anybody, but I do think that as fallen people, we can deceive ourselves. 

v The main thing in scripture that God has set up for us to deal with self deception, is the local church. 

v The church is kind of like an assurance of salvation co-op. It is being in a community of people where we get to know them and we allow them to get to know us.  That’s how we see whether or not we are living out this Christianity we profess with our lips.

e. What are some other aspects of our congregational worship?

v Congregational singing—joking and jesting are not appropriate. 

v Preaching is not for our distraction, but for surgery on the soul.  This church is a spiritual hospital.  We ought to listen attentively, take notes when we can. 

v Prayer time is not a time to be moving around!  It is not a time to zip up your Bible, get your coat on, and get ready to leave.  Wait until the service is over to do those things.  How rude it would be to stare off into space looking for your coat in the highlight of the service!  When prayer begins there ought to be a sacred silence except for the one who is praying.  There ought to be a holy reverence and hush over the congregation.  Someone is addressing God!

D. Good works continue through the Consumation!  We call this doctrine the perseverance of the saints.  Good works are not compartmentalized.  I want you to see this.  We are His “workmanship”.  We are “created” in Christ Jesus.  So this is not just some one time act.  Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”.  God’s going to continue the work in you!  How do we see this?

1. Maturity.  God’s working on us.  Our text is all about growth.  We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.  That means God’s masterpiece is not done.  We are not yet formed into the image of Christ.  Good works are an integral part of strengthening us and forming us that we might come to maturity. 

2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

      Ephesians 4:11-13 points to one of the purposes of good works.  God’s ultimate purpose is to mature you and to use you to build up your brothers and sisters in Christ.  The result is that after our lives are poured out together in this day after day and year after year, we will look back and see a transformed group of people—a group that reflects the beauty of Jesus Christ.  Let’s read Ephesians 4:11-13, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”

Good works will bring us “unto a perfect [mature, full grown] man”, a well developed believer, one that actually attains “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”.  Good works (Spirit filled move of God) is the way to bring you to this maturity.

2. Obedience.  John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  Every moment is an opportunity to express your love to Christ.  Obey.  Our problem is not a lack of knowledge in the area of God’s will.  We know God’s will, but we so rarely obey with whole heart and soul.  Obedience is actually the path to maturity.  Look at Hebrews 5:14, “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

3. Faithfulness.  Do you want to know what builds a church?  Faithfulness.  Day in and day out doing what God calls you to do.  If you are constantly looking for the new and spectacular, you are missing the boat.  You must be faithful!  Faithfulness is what God requires!  God has something to say His children on that Last Day.  It is not that they were in on every spectacular event of redemptive history.  It was that they were faithful!  Are you committed to be faithful?  Listen to the words of the Lord in Matthew 25:21, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” 

4. Thankfulness.  Remember Paul and Silas?  Singing at midnight in a stinky jail!  Remember Job?  Fell down and Worshipped God.  Remember Joseph?  Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good”. 

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Ephesians 5:18, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Or as Paul aptly summarizes the fruit of being filled with the Spirit, the fruit of every good work in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

IV. The Application of Good Works. 

Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

A. Applied Sovereignly through God.  “…good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them…”

Psalm 37:23, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-5, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. ..4  Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5  And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”

When you are saved, God gifts you for His body.  He sovereignly gives you gifts to use for Him!  I can tell you I never had the insight and ability to speak until God saved me.  Many a time I have clammed up and melted down before a crowd.  God sovereignly changed that.  I am standing before you not because this is something I’ve always wanted to do.  Nobody in their right mind would want to speak for God day in and day out.  It’s too great a responsibility.  Genuine Gospel preachers preach because they must!  And it is the same way with every gift of the Spirit.  You use your gift because you must.

God gives these works to you.  God’s ordained them for you.  He’s sovereignly mapped out your life with all your problems and all your prosperities. But He’s not going to do the works for you.  He works in and through you, but He will not override you.  You say, how can I be filled with the Spirit?  How can I be a vessel used of God?  How can I perform the good work of God in this universe?  Good question.  I’m glad you asked!

B. Good works are applied through the Submission of man.   You must yield.  You must bow before Christ and submit to His will.

1. First, you must present yourself as a Living Sacrifice.  Look at Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

2. Secondly, you must present yourself for Service.

Ephesians 4:11-13, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”

Conclusion:  While we are seated in the heavenlies, we are to walk here on earth in a such a way that is unmistakably God-filled.  Men should see these good works—these God possessed efforts, and see that God is the source of them.  Tonight we are going to look at two other points—the Manifestation and Application of good works.

Closing Hymn:        70 Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart (AM)

328 Only Trust Him (PM)