Series: Experiencing the Riches of Christ
WALKING WORTHY IN THE RICHES OF CHRIST
Ephesians 4:1 6
Nothing is more miserable than trying to be something that you are not, and nothing more empty than not living up to our potential.
"Worthy" to have worth or value
Have you ever bought something and when you got it home it produced in such a way that it was worth more than you paid. Or, just the opposite you brought something home and found it to be worth less than you paid? As Christians we must ask ourselves, "Did God get what He paid for when examining our lives?"
Remember He purchased us with the life of his own Son, and then gave us all heavenly blessings.
I. WALKING WORTHY IN OUR CALLING (4:1)
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
(2 Peter 1:10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
A. We are Called to Salvation,
therefore there must be Honor in our Walk
B. We are Called to Sanctification,
therefore there must be Distinction in our Walk
(1 Peter 1:15 16) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
C. We are Called to Service,
therefore there must be Faithfulness in our Walk
II. WALKING WORTHY IN OUR ATTITUDE (4:2)
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
A. We are to Walk with an Attitude of Humility
"Lowliness" (tapeinofrosunee: the having a humble opinion of oneself; a deep sense of one’s (moral) littleness; modesty, humility, lowliness of mind;
Acts 20:19 humble minded, i. e. having a modest opinion of oneself: 1 Peter 3:8
(from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon,. (c) 2000 by Biblesoft)
(Phil 2:5 9) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Humility, Rick Warren reminds us, is "not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less."
B. We are to Walk with an Attitude of Meekness
"Meekness" (prautees: gentleness, humility)
from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft)
Strength under God’s Control
(Matt 11:28 29) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.
(1 Peter 2:21 24) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Television tells us when our rights are trampled on to
CALL 1-800-CALL-GARY, or Morgan and Morgan
C. We are to Walk with an Attitude of Compassion/Patience
"Forbearing" (anechoo: to hold oneself erect and firm Matt 17:17
(from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft)
Compassion is mercy in action
Steve Bond, "A Transformed Life Brings Unity", Eph. 4:1-6, Sermon Central
Next, we=re instructed to be patient. Patience means having a long fuse with other people even when they mess up. Two men were riding a tandem bicycle when they came to a very steep hill. It took a great deal of struggle for the men to finally get to the top. When they got there the man in the front turned to the guy in the back and said, Man, that sure was a hard climb!¨ The fellow in the back replied, Yes, and if I hadn=t kept the brakes on all the way up I=m sure we would=ve rolled back down the hill.
III. WALKING WORTHY IN OUR UNITY (4:4-6)
A. We Are to Be Determined to Walk in Unity (3)
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
"Endeavoring" (spoudazo: PrActPtc: to use speed, i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest: KJV do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.
(Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
(Phil 1:27) Only let your conversation be as it becometh/worthy (axios) the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
B. We Are to Model God in our Unity (4-6)
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
