Called Out
Ephesians 4:1-10
August 6, 2006
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Called by God
God has specifically called you
His child
His vessel
To His service
2 Thessalonians 1:11
2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NLT)
And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds.
Called by God
God has specifically called you
His child
His vessel
To His service
2 Thessalonians 1:11
Walking worthy
Your actions reflect upon God
Others are walking
Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)
Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Everyone has Faults
Patience and gentleness
Shown to us by God
Others deserve the same from us
Accept others in spite of their faults
Allow for their quirks
Motivated by love
Ephesians 4:3 (NLT)
Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace.
United in Spirit
The Holy Spirit binds us together
Unity is the result of His work
Peace is the chord that binds us together
Forgiveness and mercy
Refusal to fault find
Unconditional love
Ephesians 4:4 (NLT)
We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future.
The Same Holy Spirit
The same Holy Spirit indwells all believers
No favoritism
No partisanship
All believers share the same destiny
To become more Christ-like
To spend eternity in His presence
Ephesians 4:5-6 (NLT)
There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all.
Just One
One Lord
No one can serve two masters
One Faith
There are not many paths to salvation
One Baptism
A shared testimony
One God
Not one of many
Lives in you and works through you
Ephesians 4:7-8 (NLT)
However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ. [8] That is why the Scriptures say,
"When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people."
The Gift of Grace
Jesus perfect sacrifice
Paid the price for our sins
Pardoned us from the penalty of sin
Made us heirs of God’s kingdom
Made available to everyone
We are unified through grace
Ephesians 4:9-10 (NLT)
Notice that it says "he ascended." This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live. [10] The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe.
He’s Been There
Jesus descended from the splendor of heaven
Took on flesh
Dealt with the fallen condition of man
Subjected Himself to torture and death
Jesus has ascended
Taking his rightful place as ruler of all
Key Points
You’ve been called
Others are watching
Our faith unites us
Jesus sacrificed himself to make your calling possible
**Powerpoint available on request
