The Rewards Of A Worthy Walk Series

“A Walk That is Worthy”

Part 9

The Rewards of a Worthy Walk

Text: Eph 3:14-19

Intro:

This morning I would like to bring you a message entitled “The Perks of a worthy walk. It is another in our Ephesians series…” A walk that is Worthy. Last week we looked at “Our response to God’s Grace” Paul said that we was a servant of the Gospel. What does that mean… I think it means that he was responding to what the Gospel message had provided for him, namely of the Grace of God.

I said that our response should be 5 fold.

1) Service

2) Evangelism

3) Fellowship

4) Instruction

5) Worship

No matter what nature our response takes on, the question we must ask ourselves is…”Is our response Proportional to the Gift we have received?”This morning as we follow along in our text I would like to examine what is opened up to us as we do respond to the Grace of God.

Our text lays out 3 different areas of blessing that Paul prays for concerning the Ephesian Christians.

These were Pauls desires concerning the church.

I would like to put just a little different twist on these this morning and submit to you that these are God’s desires for us as well.

Illus:

Ole and Sven are bungee-jumping one day. Ole says to Sven, "You know,we could make a lot of money running our own bungee-jumping service in Mexico. They don’t have it there." Ole thinks this is a great idea, so they pool their money and buy everything they’ll need: a tower, an elastic cord, insurance, etc. They travel to Mexico and begin to set up on the square. As they are constructing the tower, a crowd begins to assemble. Slowly, more and more people gather to watch them at work. When they had finished, there was such a crowd they thought it would be a good idea to give a demonstration. Sven jumps. He bounces at the end of the cord, but when he comes back up, Ole notices that he has a few cuts and scratches.

Unfortunately, Ole isn’t able to catch him and he falls again, bounces and comes back up again. This time, he is bruised and bleeding. Again Ole misses him. Sven falls again and bounces back up. This time he comes back pretty messed up. He’s got a couple of broken bones and is almost unconscious. Luckily, Ole finally catches him this time and says, "What happened? Was the cord too long?" Barely able to speak, Sven gasps, "No, the bungee cord was fine. It was the crowd. What the heck is a pinata?"

Sometimes we get a little beat up in this world, as we strive to live a walk that is worthy.

For those who respond to the Grace of God our text says 3 things will take place.

1) Strengthen you with power v16

Eph 3:16

a) The Supply

Out of His Glorious Riches. This is a supply that will never run out. His strength comes from the same place His grace comes from. You see salvation is not just a one time experience…it is a daily need for us.

Everyday we are in need of His salvation in one way or another, and this salvation comes by way of His strength at work in our lives.

b) The Delivery

We know that his Supply of Strength is endless. But how does he bring this about in our lives. Our text says that he “Strengthens you with Power through His

Spirit”

Illus

I read of a young man who worked for a bank and one day was called upon to deliver $25,000 in quarters in his bosses 49 Ford pickup to Bank of America in downtown San Bernardino. He said, “We hopped in the truck. I’m in my T-shirt and blue jeans. We drove up to the front of the Bank of America, parked the truck, and Larry said, "Hang on, I’ll go in and get the dolly, and we’ll haul this stuff in." I’m whistling, standing against this truck for twenty minutes. I don’t have a gun. I thought, If anybody notices what is in this common looking pickup truck, I’m a dead duck! …People did not see the treasure they were walking by! … they didn’t see it for the commonness of the delivery system.”

Our scripture says that he will strengthen you through His Spirit. This is how he delivers the goods to us.

But how many times we miss his strengthening because of how simple the delivery system is. Many times we feel we have to do do do. Christ says, “All those who are weary and heavy laden come and I will give you rest”

We will find rest, not in doing, but in relationship with Christ.