Walking Worthy of the Calling
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· 15 views10/24/2021, Morning Worship
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Good morning and welcome back!
This morning we are going to looking at a passage from Ephesians 4, verses 1-7.
And we are going to be talking about the subject of being “Worthy of our calling.”
For the last several weeks we have been talking about our calling and many of the different aspects of it, but one thing we haven’t talked much about is worth.
What is our calling worth to us?
And, are we worthy of what we have been called into?
And I think the second of those two hangs us up a bit sometimes.
We think that because of our status as sinners, saved by the grace of God that we are not “worthy” of the the things of God.
Well, that’s not true.
When we are forgiven, we are changed and we are also adopted as children of God.
And because of that status, God has made us worthy of everything God bestows on us.
Now, are we “deserving.”
No, but that is where God’s grade comes into play.
It is because of God’s grace that we are made worthy.
So, yes, we are worthy of our calling.
We just have to choose to accept it.
So, this morning we are going to take a little dive into one of Paul’s teachings about worth.
And as Paul does in many of his writings, the first three chapters of Ephesians is dedicated to explaining and giving the doctrinal statement and then, where we are this morning is the practical application.
This entire passage dealing with the practical application of the gospel begins here in chapter 4 and goes all the way through chapter 6.
This is where the message becomes REAL and RELEVANT to the people at Ephesus and to us.
We also have to remember the context that Paul is dealing with.
He has group of believers, some who were of the Jewish faith, and some who were Gentiles.
And prior to Christ, these two groups didn't mix very well and if we read on below our focus for this morning, we can see that Paul is trying to help them understand the need for unity in the body of Christ.
The goal is really to show us that as a larger body of believers (Baptist, Methodist, Nazarene, Pentecostal, etc...) we all had to realize that we are members of ONE BODY and ONE FAITH and despite our differences we have to be UNIFIED as the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST.
However, before we can get to that place where we are unified as one big body of believers, we have to be a unified body within each of our own congregations.
That unity only comes when we, as the NIV puts verse 1 here, we live a life worthy of the calling we have received!
And that is what I want to talk about this morning, Walking Worthy of our Calling!
So, Ephesians 4, starting in verse 1, Paul writes . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Walking Worthy
Walking Worthy
Pretty straightforward and really pretty simple when you think about it.
Again, in verse 1, Paul starts out . . .
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
What’s interesting here is how Paul describes himself.
He says as a "prisoner of the Lord," we are to live this life worthy of our calling.
That's a strange thing for someone to say.
To be called a "prisoner" of anyone.
Because to be a prisoner would mean that the one who are imprisoned to holds you captive.
But, what Paul is saying here is that if we are to have any chance of being what Christ desires for us to be, we must be HIS prisoner.
In other words, OUR HEART MUST BE held captive by Christ.
We cannot be divided in our loyalty, in our dedication, in our desires.
We have to be completely devoted to Christ.
No half in and half out kind of stuff.
Why though?
Well, Jesus teaches us in Luke 6 that . . .
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
Whatever is in our heart is what will come out of our mouths.
You've heard the old saying, "garbage in, garbage out."
If we fill ourselves full of the garbage of the world, then all that will come out of us will be trash.
Now that’s pretty much where we stop—with verse 45.
We don't read verse 46 very much though, probably because Jesus admonishes them there when he says Why call ye me, Lord, Lord (or Master-one who has rule over you) and do not the things which I say?
In other words, how can you call me your master and Lord and not do what I ask you to do?
Basically, Jesus is saying you are a liar when all you do is give Him lip service, with no action to back up your words.
James teaches us . .
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
And . . .
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
And finally . . .
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
That's what Paul is saying in Ephesians, BACK UP WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
Don't just say you are a Christian.
Don't just say you love Jesus.
Back it up with your actions.
Put forth some fruit every now and then!
That's why Paul is saying I beseech you (or I'm begging you), not for Paul's sake but for our own sake.
It's for our own Spiritual Growth and Health that we must walk worthy of of our calling.
Do We Know Our Calling
Do We Know Our Calling
But, do we even know what we are called to be and do?
Do we know what ministry God has called us into?
Simple answer is“Ministry."
And you might be saying, "God's not called me to be a minister," I'm not called to be a preacher."
That's not what I'm talking about here.
We have transformed the word "minister" into that locked in definition that the "minister" means the "preacher" or the "pastor."
The word "minister" is used in the Bible but it doesn't mean "pastor."
Look at what the Bible has to say. First all the way back in Exodus . . .
And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
Notice here, Moses is getting ready to go up on the mountain to be with God, and God tells Moses to take Joshua with him.
Notice that it calls Joshua Moses' "minister."
Now look at it in the NIV . . .
Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.
Now, was Joshua Moses' pastor?
No, in fact the word used here is "shaw-rath" which means "servant," or "attendant."
Let's go a little further . . .
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
There it is the word “minister” again.
And, we are all familiar with these verses and the words of Christ.
We preached about this last week when momma and her boys came to Jesus wanting to be the greatest in His Kingdom.
His response is the greatest will be the "minister".
The new testament word is "deeakonos" and means the same thing as in the Old Testament, "servant."
In fact Jesus even says, And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.
Let’s look at the same passage in the NIV . . .
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
So, we’ve established that “minister” is not translated as “pastor.”
But, I've still not answered the question have I.
Where in the Bible does it say that I am to be a minister or I am to be a servant?
Glad you asked!
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
And . . .
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
And . . .
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
If you are a blood bought, born again, child of God, follower of Jesus Christ, then you are HIS DISCIPLE and as HIS DISCIPLE, YOU ARE NOW A MINISTER, a SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST.
And as a servant of Jesus Christ, then you now are BOUND by his commands.
Your duty is now to fulfill that which He has called us to do and to be!
What Does Jesus Say
What Does Jesus Say
So, what are Jesus’ commands?
Another excellent question!
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
And also . . .
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
And . . .
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
so, to sum it all up . . .
Command One: Love God with all our heart, mind, and soul.
Command Two: Love everyone else like we love ourselves.
Command Three: Take the Gospel to the World.
Command Four: Care for the sheep.
This is what it means to be a minister, a servant, and DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST.
It has to stop being about US and start being about HIM.
Last passage . . .
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
It is a DAILY WALK.
A DAILY DECISION.
It is the denial of self and flesh and following JESUS everywhere.
Being HIS PRISONER.
Altar/Challenge
Altar/Challenge
And we end where we started with a question, Are we walking worthy of the calling that Christ has placed on us?
Maybe you don't have a calling because you have never accepted Christ as your Savior.
There is no better time than now to do that.
Salvation is a free gift.
The gift of God.
You can do nothing for the Kingdom of God until you accept Christ as Lord and Savior, as Master.
In fact, despite what "popular religion" says today, YOU CANNOT GO TO HEAVEN, CANNOT INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE without accepting Jesus Christ.
Jesus also taught us that . . .
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is the only way.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP.
However, maybe you are sitting there and you are a Christian.
You have accepted Christ IN YOUR HEART.
He is your Savior, but you've never made Him your LORD.
You've never submitted your will, laid down your will and fully submitted to Him.
We call this ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION.
That moment when you realize that He is everything and you decide that you will serve Him completely, allow Him full reign of your life, regardless.
Do you desire to be everything Christ wants you to be?
Do you desire to have the power and the ability to serve Him completely?
This is that second work of grace, when you can give yourself completely to Christ and you begin a life guided by the Holy Spirit and not by the flesh.
If you've never done this, you can today.
You can come and seek the completeness of Christ.
Maybe, you're saying, "I've been saved," "I've been sanctified" but I don't know what God has called me to do.
Have you ever asked Him?
Better yet, have you been still long enough to hear His answer?
You can receive that answer today, IF you will be obedient.
IF you will be still and hear God.
Finally, the rest of us We've been saved, We've been sanctified, We've been called, We know the call.
Are we walking worthy in that calling?
Are we fulfilling the call of God in our lives?
Are we doing what God has told us to do?
If not, then we are out of the will of God.
There's no other way to put it.
If we are not, we are on that slippery slope to a backslidden life.
I'm not saying that you are backslidden, but I am saying you are dangerously close.
Because to know what to do and not to do it is sin.
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
It is time to be obedient to God, obedient to the Holy Spirit.
Let’s pray . . .