Walk Worthy of the Call

INTRO:

We are moving toward Pauls revelation concerning the “5 fold” ministry of the Church: Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,”

Last week we looked at the announcement of Paul as a “Prisoner of the Lord” in Verse 1.

The word “prisoner” is the greek word “desmios”!

It is defined as a prisoner for the Lord; one who is bound!

Which means one who is in chains or in prison.

Paul was stating that he was a prisoner (in prison) because of the Lord and FOR the Lord. (Ref. Ephesians 3:1 “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—”) He was one with Christ! (Unified)

In the NT, there are no clear references to imprisonment imposed as a legal penalty.

This is in keeping with Roman policies, which did not view the purpose of imprisonment as reform or punishment; imprisonment was simply a means of holding on to those awaiting judgment.

Prisoners were held prior to trial; once a verdict was rendered, they might be executed, beaten, or sent into exile, but they would not normally be sentenced to more time in captivity.

Paul is saying his debt has been paid and he is now bound (imprison) to the Lord. (Unified with Christ)

This is who he is! This is who he belongs to!

There is no doubt about it, Paul accumulated a debt that couldn’t be paid.

Christ came and paid that debt and Paul owes everything to Christ NOW!

A prisoner of the Lord ..... A Prisoner for the Lord ….. or A Prisoner in the Lord.

BODY:

This morning lets move on to what Paul had to say to the churches of this region where the Ephesian church was located.

Ephesians 4:1–7 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

Paul doesn’t mince words, Ephesians 4:1 “I …… urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,”

Looking at the word “urge” we get a sense of what Paul is trying to do.

“Urge” - “Parakaleo” To admonish, exhort; Paul is exhorting (strongly encouraging) them to a deeper Christian walk.

The walk you have been called to (Repentance) ……. go deeper!

How do you go deeper? Paul will give them some hints to the answer to this question further along.

What I found interesting is the tenses used for the word “Urge”

Its a verb and its in the present (Progressive/continual), active (subject performs the action), and Indicative (fact/reality). (Not an Imperative! - Command)

parakaleo (παρακαλέω, 3870), literally implies “to call to one’s side,” hence, “to call to one’s aid.”

It is used for every kind of calling to a person which is meant to produce a particular effect, hence, with various meanings, such as “comfort, exhort, desire, call for,” in addition to its significance “to beseech,” which has a stronger force than aiteo (ask).

In general Paul tends to use the language of exhortation (Strongly encourage) rather than of command.

His purpose is to instruct and build up his readers rather than to demand blind obedience (2 Corinthians 10:8 “For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed.”).

Paul doesn’t want to use his Authority as much as using his persuasion.

Look at it this way …..

Commanding someone to do something isn’t always the most affective.

You might get things done because “You said so.”

But what if you didn’t have to command someone to do something because they have been persuaded to do it and in turn they do it on their own without being asked?

God doesn’t want us to love him because we are commanded to do so but because we desire (we have been persuaded) to do so.

He doesn’t want us to obey his commandment because He says so but because we have been persuaded to do so.

Paul understood that for people to have skin in the game they need to be persuaded not commanded.

(Side note) Commandments have their place and are vital to the growth of a believer.

But here, Paul chooses to “Strongly encourage” the churches!

So what is Paul strongly encouraging the churches in this region to do?

He is strongly encouraging them to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which (they) you have been called.”

I think in our Bible Study last Wednesday night we expounded on this idea of the word “Walk.”

To walk, a semitic use of the verb in the sense of ‘to pursue a way of life,’ ‘to live,’ ‘to conduct oneself.’

So when Paul uses this word, the reader understands that Paul is strongly encouraging them to pursue ….. a way of life, a way to live, a way to conduct themselves …… in a certain way.

Walk “refers to behavior that is publicly visible and demonstrates the honor of community members.”

Christian belief comes before Christian living.

The conduct of a person reveals what they believe.

The mindset must be changed before one’s conduct can follow suit.

So Paul states, I strongly encourage (Urge) you to walk (a certain way of life, to live, to conduct yourself) ….

“in a manner worthy” -

The word “Worthy” is (Axios) means; in a manner that does honor.

Honor to what? The CALLING!

(The calling) “klesis” is used of one whom God declares worthy of the calling which he has commanded to be given him, and therefore fit to obtain the blessings promised in the call,

2 Thessalonians 1:11 (ESV) 11To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power An ‘invitation to share in special privilege’, call, of divine activity

The call comes from the “hound of heaven” depicted in Francis Thompson’s famous poem—the One who has “called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet 2:9).

What is this “calling?” Salvation!

Paul is strongly encouraging these churches to walk (live out, live according to) in a manner worthy of the call (Salvation)

The word axiōs does not suggest that they were presently living in disgraceful ways.

But neither does it imply that they could ever deserve all God had done for them.

They could never repay God for the privilege of being a part of the being-saved community—“God’s holy people” (1:1), the body of Christ (1:23), the “one new humanity” (2:15).

Christian ethics cannot be reduced to a list of rules. “An admonition of this kind is more far-reaching than a list of detailed rules; it affects areas of life for which it might be difficult to frame rules” (Bruce 1984, 334). Typically, Paul urged Christians to ethical behavior that reflected accurately who they were and whose they were:

• In Rom 16:2—hospitality offered in “a way worthy of the saints [God’s people]”

• In Philippians 1:27 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,” —“conduct … worthy of the gospel of Christ”

(see Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”)

• In Col 1:10—to “(walk) live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way”

• In 1 Thess 2:12—a lifestyle “worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory”

As a result of Salvation we have been adopted into God’s family and been made citizens of heaven.

In light of this incredible new reality we must live lives appropriate to our new calling.

CONCLUSION:

Lets read this verse again in light of what we know now ……

Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,”

I Paul, a prisoner one who is a bondservant (bound with Christ) side by side to, with and for the Lord (Jesus), urge you (Strongly encourage) (not command you because Its the desire of the Lord to have you willingly submit to His ways and not just do it because you have been commanded to), to walk (to pursue a way of life,’ ‘to live,’ ‘to conduct oneself) in a manner worthy (that Honors) the calling to which you have been called (of one whom God declares worthy of the calling which he has commanded to be given you, and therefore fit to obtain the blessings promised in the call).

AMEN?

Paul lays out some nouns (2-6) to help remind them …… walk in (Humility, gentleness, patience, love, unity, and Peace)

This is all to be wrapped up in Christ, (One body, one Spirit, one hope, One Lord, one faith, one baptism ONE GOD.)

This is what UNITY looks like: with the body of believers as exemplified in Christ himself.

This reminder is not so much a reminder because the church was forgetting (that could have something to do with it) but a strong encouragement of what God has done for us and who we are.

Also helping people who were not of the faith seeing Christ manifested in front of them.

For the believer:

…… We know God has redeemed us, He has made a way for us to the Father, He has restored us to our rightful position (Son’s and Daughters of the most high God).

For unbelievers:

…… He is offering you eternity with Him, He extending Grace to you this morning, He is and has been (urging) you to a walk with Him.

A Walk that entails (Forgiveness, Peace, Love, freedom from the snares and lies of the enemy).

As Paul was urging the church in His days, the Spirit of God is urging His Church Today.

I would add that the Spirit has been wooing those who have not accepted Christ, to turn from the path you have been walking and WALK in CHRIST.