Ephesians 4:1-3<\/p>\n
Preached Wednesday September 12, 2012<\/p>\n
Introduction:<\/p>\n
We have all heard the testimony of great people, experts in their field, who experienced an epiphany and realized, \u201cI was born for this\u201d. \u201cThis is what I was created to do\u201d. In our Passage this evening, the Apostle Paul makes a big shift in his letter to the Ephesians. Wuest explains it this way:<\/p>\n
\u201cGod says in chapters 1-3, \u2018I have made you a saint.\u2019 In chapters 4-6 He says, \u2018Now live a saintly life\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our passage tonight follows Paul\u2019s passionate prayer that the saints at Ephesus would personally grasp the great love that God has for them. Now based on what we have already discovered is the saint\u2019s position and calling in the Heavenly Zone, the Apostle begs believers to walk in a way that would harmonize with that calling. Tonight, my friend, after learning of God\u2019s great love that drew us to Himself, it is time that we walk the call.<\/p>\n
I.\tWalk with the right motivation.<\/p>\n
Ephesians 4:1 (AV)
\n1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,<\/p>\n
A.\tWorthy \u2013 axios = \u201cequal weight \u2013 one\u2019s calling and conduct should be in balance.<\/p>\n
Philippians 1:27 (AV)
\n27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh 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;<\/p>\n
B.\t Called into fellowship.<\/p>\n
1 Corinthians 1:9 (AV)
\n9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/p>\n
II.\tWalk with the right attitude
\nEphesians 4:2 (AV)
\n2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;<\/p>\n
A.\tLowliness \u2013 Humility
\n1.\t Pride promotes disunity.
\nJohn 3:30 (AV)
\n30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
\nRomans 12:3 (AV)
\n3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
\n2.\tThe making of our self small is pride in the disguise of humility \u2013 the esteeming of ourselves as small is the beginning of humility.
\nB.\tMeekness \u2013 the opposite of self assertion, rudeness and harshness. One\u2019s emotions are under control, but he is not weak.
\nMatthew 11:29 (AV)
\n29 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.
\nMatthew 21:12\u201313 (AV)
\n12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.<\/p>\n
C.\tLongsuffering \u2013 patience \u2013 does not give up in the face of human conflict.
\n2 Timothy 4:2 (AV)
\n2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.<\/p>\n
III.\t Walk with the right action.
\nEphesians 4:3 (AV)
\n3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
\nA.\tEndeavoring = take care, make haste to do one\u2019s best.
\nB.\tKeep= guard with watchful care.
\nC.\tUnity =unanimity\u2013 agreement.
\n1.\tWe cannot make unity through ignoring doctrinal differences in an ecumenical compromise.
\n2.\tWe preserve those things that unite us into the same body.
\n3.\tSatan is the accuser, the divider.
\n4.\tAs we resist pride and embrace humility, our common bond is reinforced and division is defeated.
\nConclusion:
\nAs born again people, we have an incredible calling. God reached out to us before the foundation of the world, loved us, drew us and planned that we would be conformed into His image. Every born again believer shares that background. We have all been brought from death unto life. Now that we understand our calling, we should walk in a way that harmonizes with it. We have nothing to brag about, so if our walk harmonizes with our call, we will be humble, not prideful. We are all sinners saved by grace, made to be saints. God has called us to the same Savior, by the same grace, and to the same Body of Christ. Satan would seek to set us against each other and destroy the unity that God has created. We will walk the call when we guard the unity to which we have already been called. Next week we will discover the seven fold cord of unity that binds us to each other.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ephesians 4:1-3 Preached Wednesday September 12, 2012 Introduction: We have all heard the testimony of great people, experts in their field, who experienced an epiphany and realized, \u201cI was born for this\u201d. \u201cThis is what I was created to do\u201d. In our Passage this evening, the Apostle Paul makes a big shift in his letter … Continue reading Walk the Call<\/span>