1. Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhD Family Worship Center
The
Powerful
Tool
of a Painful Past
Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer PhD
Family Worship Center

2. Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

3. Part One: The S.H.A.P.E. You’re In

4. Your S.H.A.P.E.
Another version translates vs. 10 as… “For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)

5. Masterpiece
It’s from the Greek word ποίημα (poiema) from which we get our English word “poem.”
The word is used to describe a “work of art,” as in a uniquely woven fabric design.
You are an artistic Poem of God.
God wants to take your life and refashion into His masterpiece design for you.

6. Masterpiece
“Instead of trying to reshape yourself to be like someone else, you should celebrate the shape God has given you.” Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven® Church

7. Masterpiece
“Da Vinci painted one Mona Lisa, Beethoven created one Fifth Symphony, and God made one version of you. You’re it! You’re the only you there is. And if we don’t get you, we don’t get you. You’re the only shot we have at you. You can do something no one else can do in a fashion no one else can do it. You are more than a coincidence of chromosomes and heredity, more than just an assemblage of somebody else’s lineage. You are uniquely made.”  S.H.A.P.E.: Finding & Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life Zondervan, Erik Rees.

8. Your S.H.A.P.E.
Spiritual Gifts - A set of special abilities that God has give to you to share his love and serve others.
Heart - The special passions God has given you so that you can glorify him on earth.
Abilities - The set of talents that God gave you when you were born, which he also wants you to use to make an impact for him.

9. Your S.H.A.P.E.
Personality - The special way God wired you to navigate life and fulfill your unique Kingdom Purpose.
Experiences - Those parts of your past, both positive and painful, which God intends to use in great ways.

10. Part Two: Recycling Your Painful Past

11. Recycling Your Painful Past
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

12. Recycling Your Painful Past
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
God can use every experience in your life for good, even the sad, painful and difficult ones.

13. Recycling Your Painful Past
Your painful past can be your most powerful tools.
Your Painful Past gives you the ability to truly understand and identify with others who are hurting.
Your Painful Past gives you an open door to speak into some people’s lives that others will never be able to.

14. Recycling Your Painful Past
“The scars of your Painful Past PROVE you are stronger than what tried to destroy you. They prove you are a survivor. They are beautiful tattoos of victory.” PM
Your Painful Past has the power to propel you into greater things ahead.
Your painful past has the power to lead others to victory too.

15. Recycling Your Painful Past
Your rejection in your painful past can become someone else’s inclusion.
Your painful past brokenness can be someone else’s reason to have hope to go on.
Your painful past mistake can be someone else’s power for prevention.
Your painful past can be the light someone needs to find their way to Jesus.

16. Recycling Your Painful Past
Stop hating and hiding your hurting. That only stops healing and leads to repeating.
Instead, surrender everything to Jesus and ask Him to use every tool in your life to His glory.