Unleashing the Inner Superhero

My son is The Hulk.  He is also Captain America, Wolverine, Spiderman, and Thor.  One Halloween we joked about taking different aspects of each character and dressing him up as all the Avenger Superheroes tied up in one outfit. The shield of Captain America, the muscles of The Hulk, The webs of Spiderman, claws from Wolverine, and last but not least Thor’s hammer…if he could pick it up.

As I watch him play I can’t help but remember the days that I did the same thing.  Hours and hours of make believe that compressed an entire day’s worth of play into what seemed like minutes. 

In a lot of ways I still think that I want to be The Hulk.  I can’t help but think that there’s something about Captain America that pulls at my heart and causes me to think, “I could be a superhero like that.”  Then reality sets in and I begin to realize that no matter what I believe, no matter what my ideals or values are I could never be a superhero, but God can make me one. God can make us all superheroes.

The beauty of what God reveals through scripture establishes that he gives us the ability to serve as the conduit that expresses, shares, extends, and demonstrates many of His super powers. If we want to be a superhero we must first believe through Christ it’s possible. Then we shift our values and ideals to align with what the Word of God reveals. Ephesians is a great book that logically walks us through what that looks like by defining who we are and unleashing the superhero within. Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1

I AM MEANINGFUL – Ephesians 1:1-2

God is who made us, sustains us, and gives us purpose.  We are meaningful because He gives us meaning.

I AM BLESSED – Ephesians 1:3

God blesses us by relating us to Christ.  Our blessings may not always manifest themselves this side of Heaven but we are simply blessed because we have eternal life through Christ.

I AM CHOSEN – Ephesians 1:4-6

God chose us in Christ.  Our status is not determined by who we are but determined by who Christ is.

I AM REDEEMED – Ephesians 1:7-8

God chose to lavish His grace upon us through Christ.  In Christ we are made hole, perfected, renewed, bought.  Not because we are worth anything, but because Christ’s worth is immeasurable.

I AM A MYSTERY BEARER - Ephesians 1:8-10

The mystery of God’s purpose in creation is revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It has now been passed on to each believer to reveal that mystery to a lost world.

God’s mysteries were revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, passed on to each believer to reveal that mystery to the lost.

I AM GOD’S GLORY – Ephesians 1:11-12

The life found in Christ bears the image of Christ through the soul’s peace, mind’s thoughts, and the life’s actions.  This is a demonstration of God’s Glory.

I AM SEALED - Ephesians 1:13-14

The Holy Spirit serves as the seal that accompanies the believer through life’s journey.  This seal protects, defends, and gives distinction.

I AM A COMPLETE REPRESENTATION OF CHRIST - Ephesians 1:22

Christ alive in my family, my friends, and me is a more complete representation of Christ because the community of believers, the Church, is the body of Christ. This is not just theoretical.  We are literally the supernatural manifestation of the body of Christ - the visible, tangible, concrete representation of Christ.

THE SUPERHERO UNLEASHED

That is the makings of a true superhero.  Not someone that leaps tall buildings in a single bound, but overcomes sin and death through the power of Christ.  Not some God like being from another planet, but someone that loves the unlovable.  Not some spider looking wall crawler, but someone that prays, cares, forgives, and cherishes others.

PRAYER – Ephesians 1:15-21

It is vital to pray for wisdom, revelation, and knowledge when faced with such a impactful truth. Without prayer we are unprepared to listen to God’s direction, receive what He is promising, and blind to the enemy’s attacks.

Transformational Questions

What does God Want?

What Part of Your Heart is God Trying to Capture?