Live worthy of your calling

Eph. 4:1-16

Live worthy of your calling

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men." 9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love."

Introduction
     In our present condition, we are without a pastor, we are looking to a new future, and wanting to know the direction the Lord has for us. It is a time when the future of this church is at stake. You are looking toward God to guide you and provide for you those things that need to be known and achieved.
     Within this church, I am sure, there are differences of opinion on what direction we are to go. Some may say find a pastor, still others may say first get more people to join, and yet others might say reach out to the community and forget everything else.
     Unity and maturity are extremely important in this church right now. We need both to survive and thrive.
     One thing that is undeniably common between you all is that you want to do the will of the Lord. Then, in regards to growth, maturity, and building the church, you want to discover and accomplish the will of God.

First of all, God wants you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Read verses 1-3). But what does that mean, "to live a life worthy of the calling you have received"?

There are many examples around us of what it means to live in a manner worthy of a calling.

A policeman, when he works, is supposed to be an example of the Law. He lives worthy of his profession. He doesn't steal and he doesn't cheat.. He defends and upholds the Law.
A doctor also is supposed to live worthy of his profession. He heals the sick. He cares for those who are ill and seeks to make them well.
A farmer tills the soil and produces food for thousands. He is called to this task and is gifted to accomplish it.

As a Christian, there are marks of what it means to live a life worthy of the calling.

In this section they are throughout. Look with me at verses 1-3

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness , with patience , showing forbearance (endure with) to one another in love , 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace .
Seven fruit are listed here. Humility, not just a little, but "completely" (NIV), with "all humility" (NASB).
gentleness, patience, loving one another, making every effort to keep in the unity of the Spirit.

to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit: you need humility, gentleness, etc.
Do not show favoritism. Try to extend yourself beyond your normal friendships and comfort zone.

Alright, so God wants you to live in a manner worthy of being called a Christian. But why? Why does God want you to be humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another, loving, united, and peaceful?

First of all it is because God has called you all into unity . (Read verses 4-5: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
The reason that it says, " one faith, one Lord, one Baptism ," is because it is into one church that you are all baptized; that is, it is into one faith : the Christian faith. Calvinists and Arminians alike, male and female, young and old, immature and mature, black, white, and brown.. One faith as a whole, and one faith in the particulars, one faith in the decisions that a church must make – for the purpose of glorifying God and being united in love.
Take for example a Military Unit.

It has one leader, it works as a unit, it moves in one direction, it receives its orders and obeys them. All those in it work well together because they have been trained to do so. Therefore they are able to accomplish a great deal.

God wants you to be united because (v. 6) there is " one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." THE CROSS!

You have been bought and you are united to Christ.

The same God indwells each of you. The same holy Spirit. If differences of opinion arise, it is not because God is telling us different things, it is because we are not listening.
Now is the time to listen more intently to His will.

God wants you to be united, of one mind, of one body, of one Spirit, one faith, and of one Lord.

But God simply doesn't require unity without providing the means to achieve it.

That is why He gave gifts

(v. 11) "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,"
Apostle = delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders,
Prophet = one who, moved by the Spirit of God, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration,
Evangelist = a bringer of good tidings, an evangelist 2) the name given to the NT heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles. They lead people to Christ.
Pastor =1) a herdsman, esp. a shepherd; one who cares for his flock.

The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep; to defend the sheep from attackers; to heal the wounded and sick sheep; to find and save lost or trapped sheep; to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust.
During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact.

Teacher = in the NT is a person who teaches concerning the things of God, and the duties of man; They are those who in the Christian assemblies undertake the work of teaching, with the special assistance of the Holy Spirit.
Note: In the Greek the construction of the last two, pastor and teacher, implies that they are shared by the same person. The Pastor/Teacher is the gifting of for one man.

These officers were given to the church by Jesus for a specific purpose.

To prepare you (v.12)...for service.

What kind of service? Spiritual service: prayer, helping, admonishing, teaching, forgiving, loving, and being an example of Christ in this world.
Or as is mentioned here in this text, humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love (verses 2-3). So, whom do you serve? You serve one another "So that the body of Christ might be built up" (v. 12). It is Satan who tears down. It is God who builds up.

It is Satan who divides. It is God who unites.

This unity that Paul is speaking of is for a reason: Maturity

Again we have an issue of "reason"; that is, the reason we are equipped and gifted in this church is (verses 12-13) so that "that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

In our case, it is continually being built up. ( the whole measure of the fullness of Grace that is given to us in Jesus because of the cross .) ^

Mature personally in those areas mentioned above: humility, gentleness, bearing with one another, etc. so that you can...
Mature corporately: The personal maturity leads to corporate maturity.
Maturity is contrasted with this and it isn't simply a maturity that means that we are to be set in our doctrinal ways, but it is a maturity of love. Our doctrine should lead us to a mature love, to caring for others.
That is the result of maturity...speaking the truth in love.

Conclusion

This is a time in the life of this church where the individual members all need an extra measure of maturity, of grace, of gentleness, patience, and forgiveness.
Each of you needs to keep your eyes on the one Lord.
Each of you needs to keep you eyes on the one faith.
Each of you needs to seek unity, being knit together in a close group.

Each of you needs to be doing your part.

Reaching Up - Seek God in prayer, study, and reading his word.
Reaching In - Look to one another and find needs. People in this church are needy and need love and support. Visitors need to be welcomed and encouraged.
Reaching Out - The community at large awaits the demonstration of your love and commitment to Christ.

This is what it means to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. There is a unity and maturity that is supposed to be possessed.

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