SERIES: EPHESIANS: THE CALL AND CONDUCT OF THE CHURCH, WEEK 27

TITLE: THE WORTHY WALK

TEXT: EPHESIANS 4:1-3

INTRODUCTION: (1) IN OUR STUDY OF EPHESIANS TODAY, WE COME TO AN IMPORTANT DIVIDING POINT IN THIS LETTER.

* AS YOU HAVE HEARD FREQUENTLY, CHAPTERS 1-3 DEAL WITH DOCTRINE, CHAPTERS 4-6 DEAL WITH DUTY.

** CHAPTERS 1-3 DEAL WITH OUR WEALTH IN CHRIST, CHAPTERS 4-6 DEAL WITH OUR WALK IN CHRIST.

*** NOW THIS IS A COMMON THEME IN PAUL’S INSPIRED WRITINGS, FOR ONLY IN DOCTRINE AND SEEING OUR WEALTH IN CHRIST CAN ONE SEE THE SWEET REASONABLENESS OF THE EXHORTATIONS, AND OBTAIN THE NECESSARY POWER TO OBEY THEM.

**** SO IN BRIEF, IN EPHESIANS, GOD SAYS IN CHAPTERS 1-3, “I HAVE MADE YOU A SAINT.”

(2) IN CHAPTERS 4-6 HE SAYS, “NOW, LIVE A SAINTLY LIFE.” WALK, LIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR WEALTH.

* AND BEGINNING IN CHAPTER 4:1 PAUL ADMONISHES CHRISTIANS TO WALK THE WORTHY WALK.

** AND THE WORD WORTHY MEANS TO HAVE WORTH OR VALUE, BUT IT IS MORE THAN THAT. IT MEANS TO HAVE A WORTH EQUAL TO ONE’S POSITION.

*** FOR EXAMPLE, A WORTHY OPPONENT IN SPORTS IS ONE WHOSE GIFTS EQUAL ONE’S OWN, A SUITABLE OPPONENT.

**** A WORKMAN “WORTHY OF HIS HIRE” IS ONE WHOSE SERVICE MERITS THE WAGES HE RECEIVES.

(3) IN HIS COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS, D. MARTIN LLOYD JONES DESCRIBES THIS AS “A SCALE IN WHICH THE WEIGHT ON ONE SIDE ALWAYS EQUALS THE WEIGHT ON THE OTHER.”

* IN THIS CASE IN EPHESIANS 4, THE WEIGHT OF PRACTICE EQUALING THE WEIGHT OF DOCTRINE.

** IN FACT, THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED WORTHY IS AX-EE-OCE WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN.

*** IT LIT. MEANS SUITABLY OR WORTHILY.

**** AND THIS WORD HAS THE ROOT IDEA OF WEIGHT. IN FACT, IT IS THE WORD FROM WHICH WE DERIVE OUR ENGLISH WORD AXIOM WHICH MEANS TO BE OF EQUAL WEIGHT.

(4) IN AN EQUATION THE AXIOM INDICATES DOING SOMETHING TO EACH SIDE OF THE EQUATION SO IT REMAINS TRUE.

* AND IN ESSENCE PAUL IS SAYING WE SHOULD TRY TO LIVE LIVES EQUAL TO THE GREAT BLESSINGS DESCRIBED IN CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 3.

** WE ARE TO BE LIKE THE MAN WHO SAID, “CHRIST HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR ME, THE REST OF MY LIFE IS A P.S. TO HIS GREAT WORK!”

*** WE MUST LIVE OUT WHAT WE KNOW. WE MUST BE BALANCED THAT WAY.

**** AND LIKEWISE IN EPHESIANS 4:1 PAUL IS BESEECHING AND EXHORTING BELIEVERS TO GIVE EQUAL WEIGHT IN THEIR LIVES TO DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE.

(5) WE MUST NOT PUT ALL THE WEIGHT ON DOCTRINE AND NONE ON PRACTICE; NOR ALL THE WEIGHT ON PRACTICE AND JUST A LITTLE, IF ANY AT ALL, ON DOCTRINE.

* TO DO SO PRODUCES IMBALANCE AND LOPSIDEDNESS. SO WE MUST TAKE GREAT PAINS TO SEE THAT THE SCALES ARE PERFECTLY BALANCED.

** BUT THIS IS A HARD BALANCE, THIS WORTHY WALK. MANY CHRISTIANS SWING FROM ONE END OF THE SCALE TO ANOTHER.

*** LET ME ILLUSTRATE. THERE ARE SOME CHRISTIANS WHO ARE PRIMARILY INTELLECTUAL IN NATURE. THEY LOVE BOOKS, ENJOY STUDY AND DELIGHT IN THE EXPOSITION OF THE BIBLE’S GREAT DOCTRINES.

**** NOW, THIS IS A GOOD THING.

(6) IT IS PROPER TO LOVE DOCTRINE AND REJOICE IN WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US IN CHRIST.

* BUT THE INTELLECTUAL BELIEVER FACES A GREAT DANGER AND OFTEN HAS A GREAT WEAKNESS AS A RESULT OF FAILING TO OVERCOME THE DANGER.

** THEY LOVE DOCTRINE SO MUCH THAT THEY STOP WITH DOCTRINE.

*** THEY READ THE FIRST 3 CHAPTERS OF EPHESIANS AND DELIGHT IN THEM; BUT WHEN THEY COME TO CHAPTER 4 THEY SAY, “OH THE REST IS JUST APPLICATION. I KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT.”

**** THEN THEY SKIP AHEAD TO THE NEXT DOCTRINAL SECTION AND NEGLECT WHAT THEY PERHAPS NEED MOST, ASSIMILATION, APPLICATION, SUBMISSION, OBEDIENCE, BEING A DOER OF THE WORD, JAMES 1:22 (READ IT).

(7) YET HERE’S THE OTHER EXTREME. SOME CHRISTIANS ARE PRIMARILY ORIENTED TO EXPERIENCE AND EMOTION.

* THEY THRIVE UNDER THE TEACHING FOUND IN THE 2’D HALF OF EPHESIANS. THIS IS “WHERE IT’S AT” FOR THEM.

** THEY FIND THE DOCTRINAL SECTION DRY AND IMPRACTICAL.

*** AND HERE’S MY POINT. EACH OF THESE VIEWS IS ERRONEOUS.

**** DOCTRINE WITHOUT PRACTICE LEADS TO BITTER ORTHODOXY AND PRIDE; IT GIVES CORRECTNESS OF THOUGHT WITHOUT THE PRACTICAL VITALITY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST.

(8) YET ON THE OTHER HAND, PRACTICE WITHOUT DOCTRINE LEADS TO ABERRATIONS; IT GIVES INTENSITY OF FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS, BUT ITS FEELINGS ARE APT TO GO OFF IN ANY (AND OFTEN A WRONG) DIRECTION. (AN UNBIBLICAL PRAGMATIC DIRECTION).

* SO WHAT WE NEED IS BOTH, AS PAUL’S LETTERS AND ALL OF SCRIPTURE TEACH US.

** WE CAN NEVER ATTACH TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE, FOR IT IS OUT OF THE DOCTRINES OF GOD, MAN AND SALVATION THAT THE DIRECTION AND FORCE FOR THE LIVING OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE SPRING.

*** AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN NEVER ATTACH TOO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO PRACTICE, FOR IT IS THE RESULT OF DOCTRINE AND PROOF OF ITS DIVINE NATURE.

**** AND THOSE THOUGHTS LEAD US TO THE WORTHY, WELL BALANCED WALK THAT WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE IN EPHESIANS 4:1.

(4) A LIFE THAT TAKES OUR WEALTH AND USES IT AS AN IMPETUS TO AFFECT OUR LIVES. DOCTRINE THEN LEADS TO DUTY.

* AND PAUL WILL CALL US TODAY TO WALK WORTHY OF OUR CALLING IN CHRIST IN V. 1.

** AND THEN HE’LL GIVE US 5 SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS IN VV. 2&3 OF THE WORTHY WALK.

*** IN LIGHT OF THAT, I’VE TITLED OUR STUDY TODAY OF EPHESIANS 4:1-3, THE WORTHY WALK. AND UNDER THAT TITLE WE’LL LOOK AT JUST TWO MAIN POINTS AND THEN SOME SUB POINTS.

**** BUT THE TWO MAIN POINTS ARE NO. 1 THE CALL, V. 1; AND NO. 2 THE CHARACTERISTICS, IN VV. 2&3.

(10) AND WITH THAT INTRODUCTION AND OUTLINE IN MIND, LOOK AT V. 1 WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE CALL. LOOK AT EPHESIANS 4:1 PLEASE.

I. THE CALL, (READ V. 1)

A. NOW FIRST OF ALL THE WORD THEREFORE IN THE NAS, KJV AND NKJV, MARKS THE TRANSITION FROM POSITIONAL TO PRACTICAL TRUTH, FROM CREED TO CONDUCT, FROM THE INDICATIVE TO THE IMPERATIVE, FROM WEALTH TO WALK.

* SO THE WORD THEREFORE INDICATES THAT PAUL IS BASING HIS EXHORTATIONS TO DUTY, TO ACTIONS ON THE DOCTRINES TAUGHT IN THE FIRST 3 CHAPTERS.

** AND THIS IS REPETITIOUS, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR.

*** THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS NOT BASED ON IGNORANCE BUT KNOWLEDGE, AND THE BETTER WE UNDERSTAND BIBLE DOCTRINE, THE EASIER IT IS TO OBEY BIBLE DUTIES.

**** WHEN PEOPLE SAY, “DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT DOCTRINE, JUST LET ME LIVE MY CHRISTIAN LIFE,” THEY ARE REVEALING THEIR IGNORANCE OF THE WAY THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER.

1. AND OTHER STATEMENTS LIKE, “IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU BELIEVE, JUST AS LONG AS YOU LIVE RIGHT,” IS A SIMILAR CONFESSION OF IGNORANCE.

* FOR IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU BELIEVE, BECAUSE WHAT YOU BELIEVE DETERMINES HOW YOU BEHAVE.

** SO THE WORD THEREFORE HERE IN V. 1 CONNECTS US TO THE TRUTHS THAT WILL TRANSFORM, THE DOCTRINES OF CHAPTERS 1-3.

*** AND BECAUSE OF THOSE TRUTHS, PAUL THE PRISONER OF THE LORD BESEECHES, URGES, ENTREATS AND ADMONISHES THE BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS TO WALK THE WORTHY WALK.

**** AND IT APPEARS TO ME THAT PAUL BRINGS UP HIS IMPRISONMENT AT THIS TIME AGAIN, NOT TO GET SYMPATHY OR PITY, BUT SIMPLY AS A MEANS TO REMIND THESE BELIEVERS THAT WALKING THE WORTHY WALK CAN BE COSTLY.

2. PAUL WAS NOT ASKING THESE DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THERE TO WALK IN A WAY IN WHICH HE HAD NOT HIMSELF WALKED OR PAY A PRICE THAT HE HIMSELF WAS NOT WILLING TO PAY.

* SO PAUL IS USING HIS OWN EXAMPLE AND THE DOCTRINES OF CHAPTERS 1-3 TO MOTIVATE AND CHALLENGE THESE BELIEVERS TO WALK THE WORTHY WALK.

** AND WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE WORD WORTHY IN OUR INTRODUCTION TODAY, SO LET ME TALK ABOUT THE WORD WALK BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR CALLING.

*** THE WORD WALK IS USED METAPHORICALLY 6 TIMES IN EPHESIANS 4&5 TO TALK ABOUT OUR CONDUCT, OUR MANNER OF LIFE, THE WAY WE LIVE, HOW WE CONDUCT OUR LIVES, DAY TO DAY LIVING.

**** IN EPHESIANS 4:17 IT IS USED TWICE TO ADMONISH US NOT TO WALK AS THE GENTILES, MEANING PAGANS OR UNSAVED PEOPLE WALK OR LIVE.

3. IN EPHESIANS 5:2 WE ARE TOLD TO WALK IN LOVE JUST AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED US. (READ IT).

* IN EPHESIANS 5:8 WE ARE TOLD TO WALK OR LIVE AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT (READ IT).

** AND THEN IN EPHESIANS 5:15 WE ARE TOLD TO WALK OR LIVE WISELY (READ IT).

*** SO THIS WORD WALK IS USED TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE THEN SHOULD LIVE. AND GOING BACK TO EPHESIANS 4:1 WE ARE TOLD TO WALK THE WORTHY WALK, THE BALANCED LIFE.

**** TO LIVE A LIFE THAT CORRESPONDS TO OUR HIGH POSITION AS A CHILD OF GOD AND FELLOW HEIR WITH JESUS CHRIST IN OUR DAILY LIVES. (BALANCING THAT OUT IN OUR LIVES.)

4. AND WHEN WE WALK THE WORTHY WALK OUR PRACTICAL LIVES MATCH UP WITH OUR SPIRITUAL POSITION.

* AND IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH MOTIVATION UP TO THIS POINT TO LIVE OUT THIS BALANCED BIBLICAL LIFE, PAUL ADDS AT THE END OF V. 1 “WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING WITH WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED.”

** AND THIS CALLING REFERS TO THE INNER CALL OF GOD TO SALVATION, WHAT IS CALLED THE EFFECTUAL CALL, THE SOVEREIGN SAVING CALLING OF GOD.

*** AND PAUL IS REMINDING THE EPHESIANS OF THE PRIOR ACTION OF GOD IN SOVEREIGNLY SAVING THEM WHICH IS BROUGHT OUT CLEARLY IN EPHESIANS 1&2.

**** IN OTHER WORDS, GOD’S CALL WHICH ENABLED THEM TO BELIEVE WHEN THEY WERE DEAD IN THEIR TRESPASSES AND SINS, WHICH OPENED THEIR EYES, WHICH RESURRECTED THEM FROM THE DEAD, IS A MOTIVATION TO WALK THE WORTHY WALK.

5. GOD’S GRACIOUS CALL TO SALVATION NOT ONLY BESTOWS GREAT PRIVILEGES ON THEM, IT ALSO CARRIES WITH IT SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITIES.

* GOD ELECTED THEM AND PREDESTINED THEM IN SALVATION TO LIVE OUT THE WORTHY WALK.

** BELIEVERS ARE EXPECTED TO RESPOND TO WHAT GOD DID SOVEREIGNLY IN SAVING THEM BY CONDUCT THAT IS BEFITTING TO THEIR CALL.

*** THEIR CONDUCT SHOULD CONFORM TO THEIR CALL. GOD’S SOVEREIGN WORK SHOULD LEAD TO SERVICE, A WORTHY WALK.

**** AND PAUL WILL GET SPECIFIC IN VV. 2&3 AND WILL TALK ABOUT 5 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORTHY WALK.

6. HE WILL GIVE 5 ATTITUDES ON WHICH WALKING WORTHILY IN THE LORD’S CALL ARE PREDICATED.

* SO LOOK DOWN TO V. 2 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL START TO LOOK AT OUR 2’D MAIN POINT TODAY, THE CHARACTERISTICS. (THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORTHY WALK).

II. THE CHARACTERISTICS, (READ V. 2)

A. NOW ON YOUR OUTLINE YOU’LL SEE 5 SUB POINTS, 5 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORTHY WALK. AND THE FIRST ONE IS HUMILITY.

* AND PAUL STARTS OFF WITH THIS CHARACTERISTIC BECAUSE HUMILITY IS THE MOST FOUNDATIONAL CHRISTIAN VIRTUE.

** IN FACT, HUMILITY HAS BEEN CALLED THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD ESSENTIAL OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

*** AND IT’S THAT ELUSIVE QUALITY THAT WHEN WE THINK WE HAVE IT, WE’VE LOST IT.

**** HUMILITY IS A VIRTUE TO BE HIGHLY SOUGHT BUT NEVER CLAIMED, BECAUSE ONCE CLAIMED IT IS FORFEITED.

1. SO WE NEVER WANT TO SAY, “I’M PROUD OF MY HUMILITY,” FOR THAT STATEMENT COMMUNICATES WE DON’T HAVE IT AND DON’T UNDERSTAND IT.

* AND THERE ARE TWO WORDS TO ME THAT DEFINE HUMILITY AND THEY ARE “PROPER PERSPECTIVE.”

** FOR HUMILITY ALLOWS US TO SEE OURSELVES AS WE ARE, BECAUSE IT SHOWS US BEFORE GOD AS HE IS.

*** AND JUST AS PRIDE IS NORMALLY BEHIND EVERY CONFLICT WE HAVE WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND MANY PROBLEMS OF FELLOWSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE LORD.

**** SO HUMILITY IS BEHIND MOST HARMONIOUS HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS, EVERY SPIRITUAL SUCCESS, AND EVERY MOMENT OF JOYOUS FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD.

2. AND IF YOU THINK I’M EXAGGERATING WHEN I TALK ABOUT PRIDE BEING MOST OF OUR CONFLICTS WE HAVE WITH OTHER PEOPLE, LET ME REMIND YOU OF PROVERBS 13:10 WHERE IT SAYS: (READ IT).

* AND BELOVED, HUMILITY OR LOWLINESS AS IS TRANSLATED IN THE KJV AND NKJV IS AN OIL THAT HELPS WITH FRICTION, IT IS A LUBRICANT THAT HELPS US IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS WE HAVE CONFLICT WITH.

** AND IN THE PAST, I’VE GIVEN YOU A LIST OF SCRIPTURES ON THIS SUBJECT, BUT LET ME REMIND YOU OF JUST ONE, JAMES 4:6 SAYS: (READ IT).

*** SO HUMILITY IS A KEY IN LIVING THE WORTHY LIFE AND IS CHARACTERISTIC NO. 1.

**** CHARACTERISTIC NO. 2 IS GENTLENESS OR MEEKNESS IF YOU HAVE A KJV.

3. AND HUMILITY ALWAYS PRODUCES GENTLENESS OR MEEKNESS. IN FACT, MEEKNESS IS ONE OF THE SUREST SIGNS OF TRUE HUMILITY.

* FOR YOU CANNOT POSSESS MEEKNESS WITHOUT HUMILITY AND YOU CANNOT POSSESS MEEKNESS WITH PRIDE.

** AND BECAUSE PRIDE AND HUMILITY ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, SO ARE PRIDE AND MEEKNESS OR GENTLENESS.

*** AND GENTLENESS OR MEEKNESS IS ONE OF THE BEATITUDES IN MATTHEW 5:5 (READ IT).

**** AND THEN JESUS USED THIS CHARACTERISTIC TO DESCRIBE HIMSELF IN MATTHEW 11:28&29 (READ THEM). AND JESUS WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD SAY THAT AND NOT LOSE HIS MEEKNESS.

4. AND BEYOND THAT GENTLENESS IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN GALATIANS 5:22 (READ IT).

* NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THE MEANING OF THE WORD GENTLENESS OR MEEKNESS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WEAKNESS, TIMIDITY, INDIFFERENCE OR COWARDICE.

** FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WORD WAS USED OF WILD ANIMALS THAT WERE TAMED, ESPECIALLY OF HORSES THAT WERE BROKEN OR TRAINED.

*** SUCH AN ANIMAL STILL HAS STRENGTH AND SPIRIT, BUT IT’S WILL IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF ITS MASTER.

**** ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION WOULD BE OF A TRAINED LION, IT IS STILL POWERFUL, BUT HIS POWER IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF HIS TRAINING.

5. WELL, LIKEWISE, MEEKNESS IS POWER UNDER CONTROL, IT IS POWER UNDER THE CONTROL OF CHRIST, OUR MASTER. AND THAT’S THE 2’D CHARACTERISTIC OF THE WORTHY WALK.

* NOW THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC IS PATIENCE OR LONGSUFFERING IF YOU HAVE A KJV OR NKJV.

** AND PATIENCE IS THE CHARACTER QUALITY THAT MANY OF US PRAY FOR, BUT WE TACK ON TO THE END OF OUR PRAYERS, LORD GIVE IT TO ME NOW.

*** AND PATIENCE IS ALMOST UN-AMERICAN, WE DON’T WANT TO WAIT ON ANYTHING, NOR DO WE THINK WE SHOULD WAIT ON ANYTHING.

**** INSTANT, FAST, RIGHT NOW, STAT, HURRY UP AND GET GOING YOU IDIOT (SPEAKING OF DRIVING TERMINOLOGY) ARE A PART OF OUR AMERICAN VOCABULARY.

6. BUT PATIENCE LIT. MEANS LONG-TEMPERED, IT MEANS PERSEVERANCE, ENDURANCE, SLOWNESS IN AVENGING WRONGS.

* AND ONE OF THE WAYS WE LEARN PATIENCE OR LONGSUFFERING IS THROUGH SUFFERING, THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, READ ROMANS 5:3&4 AND JAMES 1:2-4.

** NOW KEEP THAT IN MIND THE NEXT TIME YOU PRAY FOR PATIENCE, BUT REALIZE GOD’S GOOD PURPOSE IN SUFFERING AND TRIALS AND THINGS NOT GOING OUR WAY, WE GROW IN PATIENCE.

*** AND LET ME REMIND YOU THAT PATIENCE LIKE GENTLENESS IS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN GALATIANS 5:22&23 AND IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF A PERSON WHO WALKS THE WORTHY WALK.

**** NOW MOVING ON, WE COME TO CHARACTERISTIC NO. 4 WHICH IS FORBEARING LOVE OR SHOWING FORBEARANCE TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE, OR BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE, AT THE END OF V. 2.

7. AND BELOVED FORBEARING LOVE OR MUTUAL FORBEARANCE IS THE PRACTICAL EXPRESSION OF PATIENCE.

* AND AS BELIEVERS BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER’S WEAKNESSES AND FAILURES IN THE MIDST OF TENSIONS AND CONFLICTS, THEY SHOW A LIFESTYLE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR DIVINE CALLING GOING BACK TO V. 1.

** AND GET THIS, THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR CAN SPRING ONLY FROM LOVE, AND SPECIFICALLY GOD’S LOVE, FOR THE WORD LOVE HERE IN V. 2 IS THE GREEK WORD AGAPE, SPEAKING OF GOD’S LOVE.

*** AND FORBEARING LOVE CAN ONLY BE AGAPE LOVE, BECAUSE ONLY AGAPE LOVE GIVES CONTINUOUSLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY.

**** IT OVERCOMES EVIL WITH GOOD. IT LOVES THE UNLOVABLE. IT THROWS A BLANKET OVER THE SINS OF OTHERS, NOT TO JUSTIFY OR EXCUSE OR NOT DEAL WITH THEM, BUT TO KEEP THE SINS FROM BECOMING ANY MORE THAN NECESSARY, READ I PETER 4:7&8 AND PROVERBS 10:12.

8. AND FORBEARING LOVE IS AN ACTION THAT COMES AS A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AGAIN, READ GALATIANS 5:22.

* AND IN THE LOCAL CHURCH, THOSE WHO PICK, CRITICIZE AND HAVE A CRITICAL SPIRIT AND ARE IMPATIENT WHEN PEOPLE DON’T RESPOND TO THEIR REQUESTS IMMEDIATELY KNOW NOTHING OF FORBEARING LOVE, AND MANY TIMES SOW DISCORD AMONG THE BRETHREN AND CAUSE DISUNITY.

** WHICH LEADS US TO OUR 5TH AND FINAL CHARACTERISTIC WHICH IS FOUND IN V. 3. LOOK AT V. 3 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 3. NOW THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE AND FORBEARING LOVE IS “BEING DILIGENT TO PRESERVE THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE.”

* AND THE VERB BEING DILIGENT, TRANSLATED ENDEAVORING IN THE KJV AND NKJV AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT IN THE NIV IS A PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE IN THE GREEK.

** MEANING WE MUST CONSTANTLY BE ENDEAVORING TO MAINTAIN THIS UNITY. WE MUST MAKE HASTE, BE EAGER, AND THAT CONSTANTLY, TO PRESERVE THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT WHICH RESULTS IN PEACE.

*** FOR YOU SEE THE BOND THAT PRESERVES UNITY IS PEACE. AND IT IS A UNITY THAT GOD’S SPIRIT HAS CREATED.

**** AND OUR JOB AS BELIEVERS IN A LOCAL CHURCH, OR LOCAL CHURCHES, THE CONTEXT IN WHICH PAUL IS WRITING, IS TO PRESERVE OR MAINTAIN, TO KEEP THE UNITY ALREADY CREATED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

1. AND CONTEXTUALLY IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, JEW AND GENTILE ARE NOW ONE IN CHRIST, AND ALL OF US IN CHRIST HAVE ACCESS TO GOD IN ONE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER ACCORDING TO EPHESIANS 2:18.

* AND IT’S INTERESTING THAT THE WORD UNITY LIT. MEANS UNANIMITY, AGREEMENT. AND IT IS THE UNITY AMONG CHRISTIANS THAT IS THE PRODUCT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

** WE CANNOT CREATE IT, WE MUST MAINTAIN IT BY DILIGENTLY LIVING CHARACTERISTICS 1-4 THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT BEING MOTIVATED TO DO THAT BY OUR CALLING AND THE TRUTHS OF CHAPTERS 1-3.

*** BELOVED WE ARE NOT TO MAKE UNITY BUT TO KEEP ON GUARD WHAT GOD MADE IN CREATING THE ONE NEW MAN IN EPHESIANS 2:15&16.

**** AND WE ARE TO KEEP THIS UNITY THROUGH THE BOND WHICH CONSISTS OF PEACE. PEACE IS A RESULT IN THE CHURCH WHEN WE WALK THE WORTHY WALK, PEACE WILL BE EVIDENT.

2. AND IT IS NOT EVIDENT WHEN PEOPLE IN PRIDE HAVE THEIR OWN AGENDA, WHEN THERE IS STRUGGLE FOR POWER, WHEN THERE IS NO SUBMISSION AND GENTLENESS WITH A LONGSUFFERING ATTITUDE, WHERE WE BEAR UP WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE.

* AND WE ARE TO WORK HARD AT MAINTAINING UNITY IN THE CHURCH. FOR A CHURCH THAT IS UNIFIED SHOWS ONENESS AND THE LOVE OF CHRIST BEFORE A DIVIDED WILL.

AND AS I WRAP UP THIS TEXT, (1) IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, READ JOHN 13:34&35.

* AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT IS THE OUTWORKING OF WHAT JESUS PRAYED FOR IN JOHN 17:20-23 WHERE IT SAYS:

JOHN 17:20 – “I DO NOT ASK ON BEHALF OF THESE ALONE, BUT FOR THOSE ALSO WHO BELIEVE IN ME THROUGH THEIR WORD;”

V. 21 – “THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE; EVEN AS YOU, FATHER, ARE IN ME AND I IN YOU, THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE IN US, SO THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU SENT ME.”

V. 22 – “THE GLORY WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN ME I HAVE GIVEN TO THEM, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, JUST AS WE ARE ONE;”

V. 23 – “I IN THEM AND YOU IN ME, THAT THEY MAY BE PERFECTED IN UNITY, SO THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT YOU SENT ME, AND LOVED THEM, EVEN AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME.”

*** BELOVED, IN LIGHT OF WHAT JESUS PRAYED, IN LIGHT OF A UNIFIED TESTIMONY OF LOVE THAT SHOWS THE WORLD WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS.

**** IN LIGHT OF THAT, AND THE TRUTHS WE’VE STUDIED TODAY, I RECALL MYSELF AND I CALL YOU TO ENDEAVOR, TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT, TO BE DILIGENT, TO WORK HARD AT MAINTAINING THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BOND WHICH CONSISTS OF PEACE.

(2) MAY WE WALK THE WORTHY WALK. SO I ASK IN APPLICATION: HOW’S YOUR WALK? IS IT BALANCED? IS IT A WORTHY WALK?

* DOES HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE AND FORBEARING LOVE MARK YOUR LIFE AS A PATTERN?

** IF NOT, CONFESS YOUR SIN AND FORSAKE IT AND YIELD TO THE SPIRIT, NOT THE FLESH.

*** FOR THE WORTHY WALK IS A SUPERNATURAL WALK AND IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN BY WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.

**** AND WALKING IN THE SPIRIT PRODUCES THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, LOVE, GENTLENESS, PATIENCE, ETC. AND THE RESULT WILL BE MAINTAINING UNITY THROUGH THE SPIRIT.

- I CLOSE WITH GALATIANS 5:16 WHERE IT SAYS: (READ IT).