Walk the Walk
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Walk The Walk
Walk The Walk
eph 4.
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Walk The Walk Series
Scripture:
Scripture:
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 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.
INTRODUCTION:
Denomination: Assembly Of God
Summary: Our Father God wants to hold our hands to help us walk worthy of His calling in our lives.
And when we fall down Father God is always there to pick us back up to step out in faith and obedience.
LIVING IN CHRIST – Walk the Walk
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be
completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep
the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were
called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of
all, who is over all and through all and in all.
INTRODUCTION:
Opening Illustration: Babies learn to walk holding onto things to help them keep their balance, but more
than any other thing they hold onto their parent’s hands.
As they gain confidence they let go and begin to venture out on their own. Sooner than later lease first steps come to a sudden stop as the baby looses its balance and falls down. But quickly the hands of a loving parent swoop down and pick their baby back up on their feet to send them once again stepping out with growing assurance and poise.
to venture out on their own. Sooner than later lease first steps come to a sudden stop as the baby
looses its balance and falls down. But quickly the hands of a loving parent swoop down and pick their
baby back up on their feet to send them once again stepping out with growing assurance and poise.
Our Father God wants to hold our hands to help us walk worthy of His calling in our lives. And when we
fall down Father God is always there to pick us back up to step out in faith and obedience.
I. WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING (vs. 1)
I. WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING (vs. 1)
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
NIV
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
1. The Christian life is a daily walk with the Lord.
a) The New King James gives a more literal translation of what Paul has written: “I, therefore, the
prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.” As believers we are not just to walk—we are to walk worthy.
we are not just to walk—we are to walk worthy.
b) Two things before we look at what it means to walk worthy:
Chapter 4 begins the second half of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians what some refer to as the “ethics”
Chapter 4 begins the second half of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians what some refer to as the “ethics”
section or application.
Chapters 1-3 are considered to be Paul’s theology and chapters 4-6 is Paul’s
application of how to live out the doctrine he has taught
• A more literal or word for word translation of the Greek will help us to understand Paul’s emphasis
• A more literal or word for word translation of the Greek will help us to understand Paul’s emphasis
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• A more literal or word for word translation of the Greek will help us to understand Paul’s emphasis
here at the beginning of chapter 4 that continues through out the balance of the letter.
Literally Paul says, “I urge therefore you, I the prisoner in the Lord, worthily walk the calling which you have been called.”
says, “I urge therefore you, I the prisoner in the Lord, worthily walk the calling which you have been
called.”
Notice Paul begins with URGENCY.
I beseech you! Paul implores us to not miss the importance of what follows.
follows.
Notice too that Paul includes the word THEREFORE, translated loosely in the NIV as then.
Paul connects everything that follows with what has proceeded it.
connects everything that follows with what has proceeded it.
In other words there is no division between the theology of chapters 1-3 and the application of chapters 4-6. Instead the two are intertwined and connected to each other. You can’t have one without the other.
between the theology of chapters 1-3 and the application of chapters 4-6. Instead the two are
Our theology effects our actions.
intertwined and connected to each other. You can’t have one without the other.
2. If we are going to talk the talk, we must also walk the walk.
a) Our theology—to talk the talk, must impact how we live our lives—to walk the walk.
Paul emphasizes that we walk worthily. “WORTHILY” is an adverb which in the Greek pictures the two sides of a scale being brought into balance. A weight has been placed on one side of the scale, and if you are to walk worthily then you must bring up the other beam of the scale up to an equilibrium. In other words, the
that we walk worthily. “WORTHILY” is an adverb which in the Greek pictures the two sides of a scale
being brought into balance. A weight has been placed on one side of the scale, and if you are to walk
worthily then you must bring up the other beam of the scale up to an equilibrium. In other words, the
life or daily practice of a Christian should “weigh as much as” or “be equivalent” to his or her profession
of faith.
b) Are you today waking worthily of the calling you have received as a believer in Jesus Christ, or is
your life out of balance?
Are we walking in obedience to Christ or have we strayed off the path to which God has called us.
God has called us. Step by step we will either walk in obedience or disobedience to God’s calling and
Step by step we will either walk in obedience or disobedience to God’s calling and purpose for our lives.
purpose for our lives.
c) Paul’s imagery of the Christian life as our walk is significant. Look with me at how the Message Bible translates and brings meaning to what Paul says:
translates and brings meaning to what Paul says:
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I
In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I
want you to get out there and walk — better yet, run! — on the road God called you to travel. I don't
want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that
goes nowhere.
that God has marked out for us and given us directions to walk on. We are not to chart our own path—
we are not to just sit still. Get up and walk. Think with me for a moment about the differences between
living and walking:
LIVING
• Living can be passive; you can just sit and do nothing yet live.
• Living can be motionless; you can go through life and yet not go anywhere.
• Living can be pointless; you can go through life with no sense of purpose or goal.
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• Walking must be active; you must get up and take action.
• Walking is progressive; with each step you are moving out of one place and into another.
• Walking has direction; you are looking forward to where you are going. We are not just taking a walk
in the park—we’re going somewhere.
c) Let’s not just sit around on our hands doing nothing—GET UP AND WALK. And let’s not just wander
aimlessly through life—WALK WORTHILY ON THE ROAD GOD HAS CALLED US TO TRAVEL.
3. For Paul WALK is the primary imperative of the Christian life.
a) Again the NIV translates “walk” as “live a life.” Paul carries this theme to be careful how we walk
throughout the balance of his letter (the way we walk is a theme that is also found in many of Paul’s
other letters as well).
• Walk worthy of the calling you have received (4:1)
• Walk no longer as the Gentiles walk in the futility of their thinking (4:17)
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
• Walk in love just as Christ has loved us. (5:2)
• Walk in love just as Christ has loved us. (5:2)
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
• Walk as children of light. (5:8)
• Walk as children of light. (5:8)
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
• Walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise. (5:15)
• Walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise. (5:15)
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
b) We are to walk worthily and make no retreat. Is it any wonder then that Paul concludes Ephesians
b) We are to walk worthily and make no retreat. Is it any wonder then that Paul concludes Ephesians
saying,
day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything, to stand”
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(, NIV).
c) God has called you and me to walk worthily—to balance the scales between our doctrine (talking the
c) God has called you and me to walk worthily—to balance the scales between our doctrine (talking the
talk) and the way we live (walking the walk).
It’s one thing for us to know that we are to get up and walk. It’s another thing to know how to walk.
walk. It’s another thing to know how to walk.
II. The Steps of our WALK. (vs. 2, 3)
II. The Steps of our WALK. (vs. 2, 3)
NIV
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
1. Three steps of GOD’S GRACE. Humility, gentleness and patience is evidence of God’s grace enabling
us to walk worthily. As we’ll see in just a moment these are not the only steps of God’s grace for us to
follow, but if we learn to take these steps—if we live our life with humility, gentleness and patience then
the other steps will be easy for us to take.
a) The first step: BE HUMBLE- lowliness
• By human standards Humility or lowliness is not a virtue to be sought after. Yet Jesus modeled
humility in the way He lived His life. He taugh
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
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b) The second step: BE GENTLE - meekness
5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with
humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Another way to translate this is BE MEEK. Unfortunately we think meekness is weakness, but it’s not. Meekness or gentleness is strength under control. Humility recognizes the source of strength is God so we have nothing to prove. Gentleness is our God-given strength under control. (Illustration: the breaking of a horse.)
• Humility is recognizing where your strength comes from. You have no need to build up yourself. Your
strength is found in God. God lifts you up!
b) The second step: BE GENTLE. Another way to translate this is BE MEEK. Unfortunately we think
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.
meekness is weakness, but it’s not. Meekness or gentleness is strength under control. Humility
recognizes the source of strength is God so we have nothing to prove. Gentleness is our God-given
• When we continually keep trying to prove ourselves (and our strength), and when our strength is not
strength under control. (Illustration: the breaking of a horse.)
NIV
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest
for your souls.
• When we continually keep trying to prove ourselves (and our strength), and when our strength is not
controlled let’s face it we come weary (even when we try to not show how tired we really are).
Yet when we come to Jesus and learn from him how to be gentle and humble he gives us rest.
we come to Jesus and learn from him how to be gentle and humble he gives us rest.
c) The third step: BE PATIENT. - longsuffering
• Why is it that none of us want to admit our need for patience? The fruit of the Spirit is patience—love
is patient, but how often do we say, “Don’t pray for patience because yours is sure to be tested.”
And yet here Paul lists patience as the third essential step to learning to walk worthily of the calling we have received.
yet here Paul lists patience as the third essential step to learning to walk worthily of the calling we have
received.
9 He who has an ear, let him hear. 10 If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone
is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and
faithfulness on the part of the saints.
• Perhaps we could paraphrase John’s words like this: “Pay attention now ‘cuz this is important. Life is
not fair.” (Perhaps for some of us we could stop right there “Life is not fair!”) “Those who will face
hardship will wake up to difficulties and problems everyday. Those who will face the ultimate test will
face unimaginable stress. This requires patience with a steadfast heart that will daily trust in God.”
2. With every step we take let love be evident. Make every step with love.
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
a) The Greek makes it clear that Paul’s focus is that we walk worthily by living a life of love. A word for
word translation of what Paul is saying might go something like this:
“With all humility and gentleness, and with patience, love one another with love
and with patience, love one another with love
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b) In Colossians Paul’s companion letter to Ephesians, Paul further lists not just the three steps of
humility gentleness and patience, but he adds compassion, kindness and forgiveness.
But with each of these Paul further emphasizes that love is what makes each step genuine. This is how we walk worthily of our calling, or as he says here it is how we are properly dressed!
these Paul further emphasizes that love is what makes each step genuine. This is how we walk worthily
of our calling, or as he says here it is how we are properly dressed!
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
col 2.12-14
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances
III. We WALK together in Unity. (vs. 4-6)
III. We WALK together in Unity. (vs. 4-6)
you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put
on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 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.
III. We WALK together in unity. (vs. 4-6)
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and
one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one
1. We have a common faith lived within COMMUNITY.
baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
1. We have a common faith lived within COMMUNITY.
a) Our faith is shared with one another. We emphasize having a personal faith, but we share a common
faith. Our faith is not separate or diverse.
b) Paul emphasizes unity—ONE body, ONE Spirit, ONE hope, ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism and
ONE God and Father of all.
2. Unity is not something we create.
a) It is the UNITY OF THE SPIRIT.
b) Unity is a reality in which we walk/live and are therefore called to maintain.—We make EVERY
CONCLUSION:
Application: Will we take our Father’s hand to walk the WALK?
1. If you are taking one step forward and two steps back, then be honest with yourself and admit that
you are prone to disobedience because you are walking backward. What step does God want you to take
so you can begin to move forward in obedience? Humility? Gentleness? Patience? Love? Unity? The
journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step. Be willing to step out with the first step of obedience
that God is calling you to take.
2. Walking the walk calls us to maintain the unity of the Spirit. Take time this week to be reconciled to
someone you’ve held a grudge against; ask him or her to forgive you and pray together for God to give
you a fresh st