Walk Worthy
Griffith Baptist Church – 9/7/08
A.M. Service
Text: Ephesians 4:1-6
Key verse: Ephesians 4:1 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
The Introduction
Verse 1 gives a very direct expectation, to walk worthy.
What is it to walk worthy?
Surely it is not strangely lost on us that we are walking in this life as pilgrims?
Psalms 1:1 - Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly . . .
1 Thessalonians 2:12 – That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Colossians 1:10 - That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
To walk worthy is to walk in such a way that, should Christ at any time and come and judge us, that we would not be ashamed.
Do you walk worthy?
Could you, at this very moment, honestly say that you are ready to meet the master and give an account?
My greatest thought is my accountability to God. - Daniel Webster
I remember when I worked for Sports World as the bookkeeper and Human Resource Manager, that Sam, my boss, would take off for a week at a time to go raise money and make contacts. I knew, when he came back, that he wanted me to give an account of our income and everything else pertaining to my job that he, as president, needed to know. Sometimes, he would surprise me and call me out of the blue and want a report and I had to have it in front of me at all times. I had to walk worthy of the trust he put in me and be ready at a moments notice.
What does God require of us as it pertains to His church?
Transition Statement: First, to walk worthy means to develop a character that reflects the Savior
Body
1. Walking Worthy Means Developing A Character That Reflects The Savior – 2
A. Sometimes we’re like the comic strip character, Charlie Brown, who said, “There’s no problem so big that I can’t run from it.”
i. We should never run from good character just because it’s sometimes difficult
ii. We should be drawn toward the imitation of Christ.
B. The Qualities of Christ are meant here to be imitated within the life of every believer and transferred and effected in the body of Christ, the local church.
i. There is no doubt that Jesus Christ possessed these qualities
ii. Humility (lowliness) – Matthew 11:29 – Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Phil. 2:5-8)
iii. Gentle (meekness) – Matthew 11:29 - Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
a. Meekness is not weakness (power under control)
b. Example: anger (should not control us neither should it continue on)
c. Jesus was meek but cleared the temple
iv. Patience (longsuffering) – 2 Peter 3:15 - And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
v. Endurance (forbearance) - Hebrews 12:2-3 - 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
vi. Love – John 15:12 - This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 3:16)
C. These are the inner building blocks of the maturing believer
i. They aid the body of Christ
ii. They keep us from having an ego that is self-serving
iii. They help us see and exercise our true place in the body of Christ
Transition Statement: Second, if we are going to be found walking worthy, it means doing what is best for Him and His church and not for self.
2. Walking Worthy Means Doing What Is Best For The Church and Not For Self – 3
A. Endeavor = diligence
i. The unity of the church is a very important issue to Jesus Christ
ii. The Holy Spirit is the fulcrum upon which this unity rests
iii. Peace is the glue that holds it all together
B. Romans 14:17-19 – 17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
i. Our life is about serving Christ
ii. It is how we earn reward with God and the approval of men
iii. Peace is to be pursued in order to achieve and maintain unity
C. James 3:17-18 – 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
i. Godly peacableness is identified by its wisdom
ii. It should be our main concern within the body of Christ
D. We are a community of believers that looks out for the best interest of the whole, not what the whole can do for us - Romans 14:7-8 – 7For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
i. Read Philippians 3:7-16
ii. We have a higher calling
iii. When we struggle with each other we are not fulfilling this command and we are defeating the very purpose Christ has placed us here for.
E. Eph 4:4; Jhn 13:34; Jhn 17:21-23; 1Cr 1:10; 1Cr 12:12,13; 2Cr 13:11; Col 3:13-15; 1Th 5:13; Hbr 12:14
Transition Statement: Third, and last, means demonstrating unity within the church
3. Walking Worthy Means Demonstrating Unity Within The Church – 4-6
A. A farmer noticed a highway department truck pulling over on to the shoulder of the road. A man got out and dug a hole, then got back into the truck. Then the other occupant got out, filled up the hole and got back in the truck. Every fifty yards this amazing process was repeated. ’What are you doing?’ the farmer asked. The driver replied, ’We’re on a highway beautification project, and the guy who plants the trees is home sick today.’ What’s the bottom line? No Unity, no Productivity! God blesses those who work together in unity.
i. It takes all of us.
ii. When one does not participate, it is about as useless as what the men are doing in the illustration.
B. Jesus prayed for unity in His church as is imitated by His unity with the Father - John 17:20-23 – 20Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
i. This is the perfect example of how His church ought to behave.
ii. As Christ was unified with the Father, we ought to be unified with Christ and each other.
C. There are seven foundational unities that are non-negotiable:
i. One Body – His church, all His children represented by the local, New Testament church
ii. One Spirit – The Holy Spirit who indwells and guides us
iii. One Hope – Eternal glorification in heaven
iv. One Lord – Jesus Christ
v. One Faith – The glorious gospel of Jesus Christ given through His Word
vi. One Baptism – we are baptized once, not for salvation, but for identification with the faith
that has been received.
vii. One God – the Father who inhabits all of creation (omnipresence)
D. When we struggle and fight with each other, nothing will get accomplished that is significant
i. Christ wants us to demonstrate that unity within the body is of primary importance
ii. This is not to say that we must not deal with the hard issues that come up
iii. This is not to say that we will agree on every little detail
iv. It does mean that in the end, when all is said and done, we will still be determined to love one another and be at peace with one another.
What do we need to do to walk worthy in Christ:
1. Have the humility of our Savior
2. Do what is best for God and others first, and,
3. Determine to be a unifying presence within the church
Conclusion:
How would you be found if Christ were to call you today?
Do you endeavor to have the character of Jesus Christ?
Do you give yourself to God and others as He requires?
Are you a unifier or a divider in His church?
