Title: Walk Worthy of your calling

Text: Eph 4:1-3

Date: 1-15-2006.am


Eph 4:1-3

1 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.

NASB


How are Christians to live their lives? While in prison, Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, requested the Ephesian Christians and Christians today to walk worthy of their calling.


I. THE NATURE OF THE REQUEST:


He “entreats” the Ephesians.

a. entreat parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh'-o); means to beg to plead. The word is also translated urge or exhort. In the KJV it’s beseech. You entreat someone when you truly want them to do something.


b. Paul uses this word a number of times in his letters:

    1. He urdged the Romans to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God. (Ro.12:1)

    2. He exhorted the Corinthians to be followers (or imitators) of him. (1Co.4:16)

    3. He entreated the Corinthians to be reconciled to God. (2Co.5:20)

    4. He urged them (the Corinthians) to not treat God’s grace lightly. (2Co.6:1)


In all of these instances there is an earnest and urgent appeal. These things are of extreme importance.


II. THE REQUEST

To walk worthy of your calling.

a. What is your calling?

It is God calling you to repent, to turn from of your sin and turn towards Him. It is His invitation to accept His offer of salvation by grace through faith.



The word church is a form of the word calling. It means called OUT. The Church therefore, is made up of those who have been called out, and responded to that calling to come out of the world out of sin and into sanctification or holiness.


B. It is also the call to live according to Christ’s principles and ideals

”Walk” refers to conduct or lifestyle. The Christian is to have a lifestyle that is consistent: not changing day by day and in accordance with God’s Word.


The Bible teaches:

    1. Not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind...but w/the knowledge of Christ. Eph.4:17

    2. We are to walk after, or be followers of God. Eph.5:1

    3. Christians are to walk in fear of the Lord. Acts 9:31


a. By being completely humble and gentle towards others in our actions.


b. By being patient with one another. Patience springs from our love towards each other, which allows us to endure one another. Love is forgiving. It overlooks.


c. By making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through peace. Not just unity of our fellowship and not uniformity. We are to constantly strive, to keep the unity of the Spirit or truth, together. We do this through the peace of Christ, which bonds us together.


d We are to use the gifts we have been given for God’s glory and the edification of the body of Christ?


Moses didn’t think he had a gift, but God used what he had. Ex 4:2 What’s that in your hand? He rescued a nation. In Max Lucado’s newest book Cure for the Common Life the 13th chapter is called Trust Little Deeds.


Gail Halvorsen Berlin airlift

Bohn Fawkes B-17 piolt “This is all we can do for now”


Moses had a staff, David had a sling, Samson had a jawbone, Rahab had a string, Mary had some ointment, Aaron had a rod, Dorcas had a needle all were used by God.


We don’t all have the same gifts, but each has a gift and it is important. There are no insignificant or useless gifts within the body of Christ. What ever you have use it and God will bless it as you walk in a manner worthy of your calling following the footsteps of Jesus.