WALK IN WORTHINESS
Text: Ephesians 4:1 – 16
Introduction:
· Nothing destroys Christian work like an inconsistent life.
· Skeptical German poet Heinrich Heine told a group professing to be Christians, “You show me your redeemed life and I might be inclined to believe in your redeemer.”
· If we want to be successful as a Christian worker we must live holy, separated lives
· Paul is saying, “Conduct yourselves in a way that is befitting a Christian worker.” (v. 1)
The way that you conduct yourself as a Christian worker should produce seven qualities:
A. Humility (v. 2)
· Lowliness: word not found in Greek or Roman vocabulary; evidently coined by Christians or maybe Paul himself to describe the sense of unworthiness; not pride or self-exaltation
· Meekness: mild-spirited and self-controlled; not cowardice or fear; self-suppression for the purpose of serving others
· Longsuffering: opposite of short tempered; able to endure without retaliation; turn the other cheek
· Forbearing: putting up with one another in spite of faults
· Do all of this because we love one another
B. Unity (vv. 3 – 6)
· “Oneness”
· We are members of the same body
· We are called by the same Spirit
· We all have the same promise
· We all serve the same God
· We are all saved the same way
· We all have the same testimony
· We all owe our existence and salvation to the same God
· Anyone who claims otherwise is not a Christian
· We’re all in this together
· Some say, "I don’t want to have to go to church, read Bible, pray, pay tithes"; neither does the world
C. Utility (vv. 7 – 12)
· “Usefulness”
· Paul shifts from unity of true believers to uniqueness of believers
· Gifts: special abilities God gives us to use for his service
· Each Christian has at least one gift
· No one has all the gifts
· Not all have the same gifts
· Equipping gifts:
o Apostle: chosen by Christ, 3 responsibilities:
1. lay foundation of church
2. receive, declare, and write God’s Word
3. confirm Word through signs, wonders, and miracles
o None today; Ephesus commended in Revelation 2 for trying false apostles
o Prophet: spoke direct revelation from God in absence of written Word
o None today: done away with when Word was written down (1 Cor. 13)
o Evangelists: traveling proclaimers of Gospel to unbelievers
o Pastors/Teachers: given to local congregation to shepherd flock by teaching, by example, by service
o Help individuals to grow, to be able to serve God in their ministries, build up and encourage
D. Maturity (v. 13)
· Knowing Christ in a personal, meaningful way results from humility, unity, utility
· Not growing?
o Wrong attitude about self and others
o Not unified with rest of body
o Refusing to work in God’s kingdom
· Maturity means different things at different levels
· Piano Practice – I had to master one piece at a time, then move on to the next one
· Our goal is to be like Christ
E. Stability (v. 14)
· Maturity produces stability; ability to discern and withstand false teaching
· Check commentaries and speakers for virgin birth, deity of Christ, salvation by grace through faith, inerrancy of Scripture
· Must know scriptures yourself
· Must be able to sense leadership of Spirit
F. Honesty (v. 15)
· Speaking the truth: truth of Gospel, but also truth of our lives as a result of the Gospel
· Humility, unity, utility, maturity, stability enable us to be honest in our testimony for the Lord
· Damaged influence caused by “Christians” who say one thing and do another, especially judgmental
· Live a consistent, holy life before others will enable us to declare the truth of the Gospel with the truth of our lives
· The motivation of our work is love, not bigger numbers, more money in offering, popularity or praise of others
G. Community (v. 16)
· Humility, unity, utility, maturity, stability, honesty leads to a community of believers that can be effective in their Christian service
· God knows who to put where
· Everyone does his or her part
· We all benefit
· John MacArthur: “Godly, Biblical church growth results from every member of the body fully using his spiritual gift, in submission to the Holy Spirit and in cooperation with other believers.”
Conclusion:
· Are you conducting yourself in a way befitting a Christian worker?
