Question: What’s your life like? How are you doing this morning?
· I KNOW THAT’S a loaded question, because immediately we start to look at our circumstances.
(Rich/poor - Buying/renting house – employed/unemployed)
· Then we compare ourselves to others and measure that up.
· Then finally we’ll come back with our answer…
· “I’m doing OK”… “could be better”… “hanging in there!”
YET… you are the greatest people in the world. What an honor it is to walk alongside of you, to be your pastor, to love you, to serve you, to guide and feed you the eternal Word of God.
· You are a great group of God’s handiwork…
· Every Sunday/Thursday the Spiritual Word of God penetrates your lives and hearts… AND THEN…
· TO see you change, to see you grow, to see you mature…
NOW: That’s not just my opinion, it’s biblical truth…
· Paul’s taken 3 chapters to lay out these essential truths…
· We’re blessed… chosen… predestined… adopted… accepted…
· Redeemed… forgiven… filled with the Holy Spirit…
And so before us this morning is a deeper question…
· Does our BEHAVIOR match our BELIEFS?
· Does our WALK match our WORDS?
· There’s the word walk again in v1… it describes, if you recall, a manner of life, a custom of living, a lifestyle…
· There are a lot of words that we could use to describe motion.
· Run, jog, leap, swim, crawl… But Paul uses walk.
· Walk paints a picture or progress & purpose.
· That in this relationship with Jesus, we are going somewhere…
NOW Back in Eph. 2:2 it was a different situation…
· In the world, apart from Jesus Christ there was no purpose, no goal, no progress…
· We meandered & wandered from this darkness to that…
· Whichever the winds of this world blew… we went that way.
· But now… in Him we walk in righteousness and holiness.
· SO… Where are we going? How are we living?
· Do our lives truly reflect His glory & majesty?
Col. 1.27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
As Christians, we have been called by God to live a life, a life that demonstrates His great love for man…
· It’s not what we look like but how we live…
· It’s not matter of presentation but of perspective…
· It’s not an issue of appearances but of attitudes…
I. (4:1) RIGHT PERSPECTIVE
1. (1) A prisoner of the Lord.
a. His words ring with authority because he’s living them out!
b. He was in jail because he surrendered to Jesus Christ.
c. He SOLD OUT his life to do what Jesus laid before him.
NOTE: If he had never fully yielded to Jesus, he could have probably avoided jail, persecution, and suffering.
APP: That’s important to me because I don’t want to hear somebody tell me what to do or how to do it if they aren’t living it themselves!
I, like many of you, don’t like the dentist. It’s not high on my list of things I like to do. BUT when I do go to the dentist, I’m careful.
I’m not too comfortable with a dentist that tells me I have bad breath when his breath could wipe out an army… UH DOC, want a stick of gum… please? Take a hint, umm, I mean a mint.
I’m not too excited when a dentist is lecturing me on dental hygiene and he’s missing 3 teeth and the rest, well let’s say, are on their way out!
· Why? Because I want to follow someone that does what they say… practices what they preach.
· Double standards, compromises, contradictions…
· They are all stumbling blocks and barriers to authenticity.
NOTE: Paul has lived in Jesus to the point of imprisonment…
· He’s not living in a mansion somewhere, driving a Mercedes Benz Chariot, wearing designer robes and sandals…
· He’s not just telling us, he’s living it out
· And that is what earns him the right to call us to action.
2. (1) I beseech you…
a. I beseech you, I beg you, I exhort you… walk worthy!
b. That word ‘beseech’ is the Greek word “parakaleo”
c. And it means to ‘call near to comfort and counsel’.
d. It’s the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit.
e. As He comes into our lives to counsel & guide us…
So Paul begs us to have a WALK that is WORTHY of our calling…
APP: I find this often stumbles and frustrates believers.
· SO often we try to WALK apart from the calling… His work.
· Trying to LIVE right without first BEING right.
· Sermons are heard, seminars are attended, books are read.
· How to have a happy home, how to raise godly kids…
· Without really grasping ALL THAT God has done for you & me.
· That we are so very loved. That we are His precious people.
· How we have been given every spiritual blessing to walk humbly with our God!
HERE’S THE DANGER… It can be easy to believe that we are the INITIATORS with God and He responds to us…
· If I just pray enough, give enough, do enough, THEN God will bless me… so I’m trying to walk worthy… going for it.
· BUT in reality that doesn’t work.
· It leads to frustration & disappointment!
· WHY? Because we can NEVER DO ENOUGH.
· Yet when we see all that God has done for us… oh the joy of knowing the Lord is my strength…
· And I serve… and I give… and I love… in His strength.
Neh. 8.10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
So with the Right Perspective… How do we walk? 5 things…
II. (4:2-3) RIGHT POSITION
1. (2) With all lowliness and meekness.
a. A live lived in the grace of God… leads to lowliness.
NOW: The word ‘lowliness’ literally means to be brought low…
· It’s the opposite of asserting yourself.
· There are some people that simply aren’t happy unless they are the center of attention, where their ideas are preeminent, where their voice is heard, where they are on center-stage.
· BUT the way of the cross is humility and self-sacrifice.
· Let’s turn to Philippians 2.2ff
I read about a young seminary student in Scotland. He was highly gifted and a leading student in the school. Because of his reputation and excellent grades, a local church invited him to teach there one Sunday morning. Since he was a rising star in that denomination he enter the pulpit with great pride and expectations. When he stood before the congregation to preach, he was confused. He was overtaken with fear and stage fright. He couldn’t say a word. He began to cry and weep and ran out of the church humiliated.
An sweet, dear, elderly saint, followed him out the door and caught up to him. She shared these insightful words with him, “Young man, if you had only walked into the pulpit as you came down, you would have walked down as you went up.”
With ALL lowliness… and meekness.
NOW meekness is a term used to describe power under control.
· It’s used to measure your self in relation to God.
· It you were to take the word meek and divide it half ME-EK
John 3.30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.
Jesus represented the best example of this in all Scripture.
Matthew 11.28-29 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
NOTE: SO someone who is not lowly and meek… is full of PRIDE.
· A prideful person tries to control everything. Pride makes me feel like I know it all, that I’m smarter than everyone, that I’m wiser than everyone… Of course my way is the right way.
· Yet Humility… lowliness… meekness…
· Is being occupied with your own life and not meddling or destroying the lives of others. Allowing God to work.
1 Peter 5.5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
In LOWLINESS… in MEEKNESS…
· V2 – bearing with one another in love…
· Literally a ‘patient endurance’… longsuffering. Fruit of Spirit.
· Uh-oh… we don’t like this one very much. Suffer? Long?
· Are you kidding? You suffer Ed… I like my comfort!
· Here in the US, we demand immediate gratification… suffer?
But the Bible says that obedience is better than sacrifice…
· That God would rather have you obedience than your money, your sacrifice, or even your worship.
Heb. 5.8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
APP: When you and I are walking in the Spirit, controlled by the Spirit, led by the Spirit… we will be long in suffering.
· When someone cuts us off on I-25… we let it go.
· When an unkind word is shot our way… we turn the other cheek.
· When we are wronged, hurt, and wounded… we don’t retaliate.
· All the power… all the rights… all the ability… held under control.
APP: You see when you’re feeling the pain… and if you want best that God has for you… you will endure suffering and pain.
· He won’t let up pressure until you’ve learned the lesson.
· You say, “I want to be a godly man.” Well, get rid of that girl.
· But I can’t. NO get her out. It’s too hard. Break up.
· You say, “I want to be a good employee”
· Stop cheating on your timecard. But we need the money. Stop
NOTE: When God deals with me on issues, I feel miserable.
· Stop Lord! Oh Please stop…
· But I hear that gentle whisper… “I love you and you need to grow.” Isn’t there any other way? NO!
Matt. 26.39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
2. (2) Bearing with one another in love.
a. There it is… the church: you-me bearing with one another
b. In love… in agape, in unconditional love for one another.
APP: Oh how we have to guard our hearts here!
· That’s my chair! Where are all the donuts? That kid has 2!
· Oh she’s dressed this way! I had to park down the street!
· Ouch… those words hurt me. That rumor is false!
NOTE: You see the world is a tough place, a rough hangout.
· BUT in the church it can be different… we need to be patient with one another in the very love Jesus is patient toward us!
Right Perspective… Right Position…
III. (4:3-6) RIGHT PURPOSE
1. (3) Endeavoring to keep the unity!
c. Walk from the right perspective… in all of God’s blessings.
d. Walk with the right position… in all lowliness and humility…
e. ALWAYS TRYING TO LIVE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Romans 12.18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Then he says to endeavor or literally, ‘exert yourself, diligently try’ to keep the unity.
· Work at loving one another in unity and peace!
· Not fighting… not competing… but complementing one another.
A.W. TOZER - It is too bad that anything so obvious should need to be said at this late date, but from all appearances, we Christians have about forgotten the lesson so carefully taught by Paul: God’s servants are not to be competitors, but co-workers.
APP: If I’m going to work… I want to work at thinking the best of you… speaking the best to you… saying the best about you.
· We’re brothers and sisters… The church can be different!
Unity is already here in Jesus…
V4 - One Body – A FAMILY of Believers where Jesus is our head.
· The oneness of the church is essential for the work of the gospel on the earth today!
V4 - One Spirit – the Greek word for Spirit is ‘pneuma’ which can be translated breath as well as spirit. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit that breathes life into our fellowship… into our purpose.
V4 - One Hope in our calling – This is the great power in our unity. We are all moving toward one goal, to see Jesus face to face.
Titus 2.11-13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
V5 - One Lord – Jesus is our ‘kurios’, our Lord. He is our master, our leader, our King. He is who we follow.
· It’s not the Roman Emperor, it’s not the President of the US, it’s not the pastor… Our One Lord is Jesus Christ and He alone.
· He is the potter and we are the clay.
Don’t we always get into trouble when we become lord of our life?
· When we jump in and begin to call the shots.
· Oh Jesus, that area is mine. I’ll keep it here all to myself.
· You can have everything else… But that won’t work!
· It’s been said Jesus is either ‘Lord of all OR not Lord at all!’
V5 - One Faith – Faith is the entrance to the kingdom. Our belief and unyielding trust keeps us, guides us, strengthens us.
· There is nothing to add to faith for us to be saved.
Ephesians 2.8-9 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.
V5 - One Baptism – Water baptism is a public confession of faith. It doesn’t need to be repeated from church to church or year to year.
· One of the first acts of obedience is to go under the water in full surrender to Jesus Christ!
V6 - One God and Father – There is ONE God.
He is the father of all. This is so powerful.
· The greatest thing about God is not that he is a king, not that he is a judge, but that He is a father… who loves you dearly.
Gal. 4.6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
He is above all – His sovereignty, or absolute power, is ongoing.
· God did not create the world and leave it to run itself.
· God is still actively involved in the affairs of man… you & me.
Finally, He is in all – Not only is God all-powerful, He’s also omnipresent. He is everywhere…
CLOSE: So Paul begs us, pleads with us, exhorts us…
· Have a walk worthy of our calling!
· Lowliness… Meekness… Longsuffering… Bearing with one another.
· Because of His grace… His great love… His life flowing thru us.
· Let’s walk that way… Let’s make progress
· Let our behavior match our beliefs…
· Let our actions match attitudes, our decisions our doctrines…
· It will revolutionize your life… revitalize your Christian experience… and rekindle in you a passion for Jesus Christ!
