EPHESIANS 4:1-6
THE WORTHY WALK
When our children were growing up, their conduct was important to Dottie and I. We wanted them to obey our instructions, behave well in school, and be model Christian children in the church.
Some of you have employees under your direction. You want these employees to display good conduct in the way they treat other employees and customers. You want them to practice good conduct in the way they perform their duties. You want them to show good conduct even when they are not at work.
Bad conduct on the part of these folks could easily, reflect back on the company and boss for whom they work.
Many of you are employees. The conduct of those in authority over you is important to you. When a boss shows good conduct, he will treat you fairly. He will listen to your requests. He will respect your rights, and not ask you to do anything illegal of immoral. We generally like it when our bosses show good conduct.
In the Bible, there is another word used to describe conduct.
The word used is "walk". A person's "walk" is a way of describing their behavior.
In the Book of Ephesians the word "walk" is used six times.
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 4:17 - This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Ephesians 5:2 - 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.
Ephesians 5:8 - For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Ephesians 5:15 - See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
The sixth time the word "walk" is found in Ephesians is found in our text for this morning.
Ephesians 4:1 - I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Our conduct or our walk is to be a walk worthy of the vocation, or the calling to which we have been called. Basically, Paul is telling us that we are Christians, and we should act like it!
Let's look at the worthy walk which we should walk this morning.
Based on Ephesians 4:1-3 we will consider:
THE REQUEST FOR A WORTHY WALK Vs. 1
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A WORTHY WALK Vss. 2-3
THE REASON FOR A WORTHY WALK Vss. 4-6
THE REQUEST FOR A WORTHY WALK Vs. 1
The first word in this verse is the word "Therefore."
Generally speaking, when we see a "therefore" or a "wherefore" in the Scriptures, we look to see "What it's there for!"
It is very possible that this "therefore" could refer back to the first 3 chapters, which are basically doctrinal in nature. Now Paul is moving from the doctrinal to the practical.
He's going to address some issues in practical Christian living in the last three chapters of Ephesians. But all Biblical practical Christian living is based on sound doctrine. Paul is basing his practical teaching on his doctrinal teaching.
Another possibility is that Paul says "therefore" based on the what he just said in Ephesians 2:21-22 - In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
According to these verses, you and I are the habitation of God!
The Holy Spirit indwells us, and we are part of his holy temple, along with all other believers.
No wonder, Paul is going to encourage us to walk a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called!
Notice the title that Paul gives himself here in Vs. 1, "the prisoner of the Lord."
Paul was a prisoner in Rome at the time he wrote this epistle. The title would challenge the Ephesians to remember that Paul was already setting the example of walking worthy because he was a prisoner for the sake of Christ.
"BESEECH" - This, of course is not a command, but such a strong request, that if it wasn't for the grace and love of God, it would be a command.
Lehman Strauss said, "These beseechings were not human commands, but divine compulsions." Lehman Strauss, Galatians and Ephesians (Neptune, New Jersey, Loizeaux Brothers, 1957) p. 167
Paul urges us in this verse to walk worthy of the vocation to which you are called.
We are asked to walk worthy of a vocation.
Here, a vocation means a calling. So, really we are being asked to walk worthy of the calling to which we have been called.
What is our calling like?
We were invited before salvation to trust Christ as our Savior.
When we believed upon Him for salvation by faith we became the children of God!
John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
You and I are called as the children of God!
And a calling to be a child of God is a high calling.
We didn't earn it. We are sinners.
Jesus died for our sins, securing forgiveness.
All we did was say "yes" to Jesus' invitation to salvation.
Revelation 22:16-17 - I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Perhaps you have not accepted the call of God to forgiveness and eternal life, you can this morning. If you already have you are called with a "high calling".
As Lehman Strauss has said, OUR CALLING IS HIGH.
Philippians 3:14 - I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Not only is our calling high, but OUR CALLING IS HOLY.
2 Timothy 1:9 - Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Not only is our calling high and holy, but also OUR CALLING IS HEAVENLY.
Hebrews 3:1 -Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Strauss, p. 168
Just think! - Whatever you do, you are the child of God!
Wherever you go, you are the child of God!
Whatever you think, you are the child of God!
Whatever you say, you are the child of God!
Paul is beseeching us, begging us to walk worthy of that high calling as a child of God.
The word "worthy" has to do with weight.
Do you remember the old fashioned balance scales?
On one side was the proper weight.
On the other side was the product, say sugar.
If the store owner was weighing sugar, he would put a 5-pound weight on one side. On the other side, he would put in sugar until there was perfect balance on each side of the scale.
The idea in this verse is that my "walk", my conduct should weigh as much as my calling. My conduct should reflect the fact that I am a child of God.
My position, my standing in Christ is CHILD OF GOD.
My practice, my conduct in life is to be as CHILD OF GOD.
My walk should match my talk.
No one should be able to look at the way you act as a Christian and be able to honestly say, "IF THAT'S A CHRISTIAN, I WANT NO PART OF IT!"
In all we think, say, and do, we should "weigh in" as the children of God. We should walk worthy of the vocation, the calling to which we have been called.
THE REQUEST FOR A WORTHY WALK Vs. 1
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE WORTHY WALK Vss. 2-3
Read Vss. 2-3 - Paul tells us that we should behave in a certain way in our worthy walk. Here are the requirements of this walk.
1. LOWLINESS
Another word for lowliness is humility.
What is humility?
Humility is realizing that others are more important than you.
Humility is realizing that the world does not revolve around you.
Humility is being willing to let others receive more attention than you do.
Humility is letting others have their way, even if you think your way is better.
The greatest example of humility is our Savior.
Philippians 2:5-8 - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
We think that we are so important.
We think that what we have to say is so important.
But remember, Jesus Christ truly was important, and humbled himself to the cross.
"A young stranger to the Alps was making his first climb, accompanied by two stalwart guides. It was a steep, hazardous ascent. But he felt secure with one guide ahead and one following.
For hours they climbed. And now, breathless, they reached for those rocks protruding through the snow above them-the summit.
The guide ahead wished to let the stranger have the first glorious view of heaven and earth, and moved aside to let him go first. Forgetting the gales that would blow across those summit rocks, the young man leaped to his feet. But the chief guide dragged him down. "On your knees, sir!" he shouted. You are never safe here except on your knees!"
The safest way to progress through life is humbly.
"On your knees, if you will."
And think when you are always "on your knees", if you should fall, you never fall a great distance!
The first requirement for a worthy walk is lowliness or humility.
The second requirement for a worthy walk is,
2. MEEKNESS, OR GENTLENESS
Harold Hoehner - "This is the opposite of self assertion, rudeness, and harshness. It suggests having one's emotions under control. But it does not suggest weakness."
I consider gentleness, the equivalent of "speaking the truth in love." It's not so much what we say, as how we say it.
Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
For example, it is one thing to say, "Don't slam the door!", and quite another to say, "Close the door gently."
"Meekness is not weakness!"
Moses was called the meekest man in all the earth, but he was a forceful, powerful, dynamic leader.
Our Lord Jesus was "meek and lowly in heart", but he certainly had righteous anger the day he kicked the money changers out of the temple.
Perhaps we should think of meekness as "power under control".
The requirements of the worthy walk include lowliness and meekness.
3. LONGSUFFERING
To be LONGSUFFERING is "endure with unruffled temper."
Another word we could use for longsuffering is "patience".
Are you able to go through a trial without blowing your cool?
Can you take it on the chin and not hit the ceiling?
James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
John F. Newton - "Be patient enough to live one day at atime as Jesus taught us, letting yesterday go, and leaveing tomorrow til it arrives."
The next requirement of the worthy walk is somewhat similar to
longsuffering or patience. It is
4. FORBEARANCE
While patience deals with all situations, I feel that forbearance deals with people. the word means to hold up, bear with, endure.
Say, have you ever noticed that we want everyone to be perfect?
Every Sunday School teacher should be perfect.
Every deacon should be perfect.
Every trustee should be perfect.
Every pastor should be perfect.
Every person sitting next to you this evening should be perfect.
We want everyone to be perfect, that is, everyone but ourselves!
When it comes to ourselves, we want people to accept the fact that we aren't perfect!
How do we forbear each other? By accepting and forgiving the faults and short coming of our friends and family.
The forbearance that the Lord wants us to practice is to be done in the love of Christ.
Let me ask you this:
Can your friend fail you and still be your friend?
He can if you forbear in love.
Can your husband or wife fail you and still be accepted by you?
She can, if you forbear in love.
Can your child fail you and still find loving forgiveness?
He or she can, if you forbear in love.
Can your Christian sister or brother fail you and find support instead of criticism and rejection?
He or she can if you forbear in love.
There is one more requirement for a worthy walk.
5. UNITY
Vs. 3 - As I strive to walk worthy of the Lord, what should my goal be?
My goal, my plan, my object should be to endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.
Now, by unity, I do not mean uniformity.
Not everyone will act the way you do.
Nor will they always think the way you do.
Nor will they have the same plans as you do.
But unity is agreeableness.
Amos 3:3 - Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
3 ways to have unity:
1. You both naturally agree on a matter.
2. You don't agree, but after talking it out, you come to agreement.
3. You don't agree, but in love, and because it is a matter in which opinions are allowed, you agree to disagree and it does not affect your fellowship. You disagree agreeably.
Comedian Emo Philips used to tell this story:
In conversation with a person I had recently met, I asked, "Are you Protestant or Catholic?"
My new acquaintance replied, "Protestant."
I said, "Me too! What denomination?"
He answered, "Baptist."
"Me too!", I shouted!
"What branch, Northern or Southern"
"Northern" came the reply
We continued to go back and forth. (Finding agreement on everything.)
"Me too!"
Finally I asked, "Northern conservative fundamentalist Baptist, great Lakes Region, Council of 1879 or Northern conservative fundamentalist Baptist, great Lakes Region, Council of 1912?
He replied, "Northern conservative fundamentalist Baptist, Great Lakes Region, Council of 1912."
I said, "Die heretic!"
We say, "how silly"?
But I wonder if sometimes we are not just as narrow-minded towards others? This destroys our unity!"
How can we endeavor to maintain unity?
Be willing to talk.
Be willing to listen
Be willing to go to a brother or sister when you've offended him or her and to apologize.
Be willing to go to a brother when you've been offended and try to make it right.
THE REQUEST FOR A WORTHY WALK
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A WORTHY WALK
(lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, unity)
THE REASON FOR A WORTHY WALK Vss. 4-6
Everything else in the faith is one!
We in our behavior should be one as well!
ONE BODY - The body being the body of Christ.
When one part of your body fights the rest of your body, that is sickness. When there is fighting in the body of Christ, the church, there is sickness!
ONE SPIRIT - The Holy Spirit is working in the life of each one of us, not just inside of you.
ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING - The Return Of christ for the believer.
ONE LORD - Jesus is Lord to every believer.
ONE FAITH - One body of truth.
ONE BAPTISM - The Holy Spirit was already mentioned. I believe this refers to believers baptism.
ONE GOD AND FATHER OF US ALL.
We have all these things in common, therefore there should a unified walk worthy of the calling to which we have been called!
THE REQUEST FOR A WORTHY WALK
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A WORTHY WALK
(lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, unity)
THE REASON FOR A WORTHY WALK Vss. 4-6