Life Ministries

“Live worthy”
Ephesians - 4:1-6

    After giving us doctrine, and praying that we would be able to truly grasp it, he now exhorts us to live it! Paul wants to be sure that we know how to back up our beliefs with behavior. He simply says; “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received”. That calling is a “relative” term; if you have been called to be a Sunday school teacher, then live a life worthy of that which you teach. If a Pastor, then live worthy of that which you preach. If a lay Christian, then live a life worthy of your call!  (The Word says we are called to do good works; we are called to fellowship; we are called to service with our talents and gifts; we are called out of darkness into the light; we are called according to His purpose – eternal, general, and personal or specific.) Though the call may be different, the life or lifestyle is the same!

    Paul does not write this while living in a mansion on the hill, driving a Mercedes, wearing silk pajamas… He does not exhort us out of his knowledge…but, out of his experience and practice. In other words, Christianity is not a “do as I say” belief…it is a “do as I do” belief.  In fact, Paul even says this in 1^st. Cor. 11:1 - “follow my example, as I follow Christ”… You better be pretty confident of your example to say that!
Two things I want to point out;
1. The word “worthy” means “having the same weight or value” … If we place great value on the things he has taught us from chapters 1-3 then we ought to place that same weight or value on our lifestyle…
2.  Notice that Paul tells us to “walk” worthy…Not to “run” as to go too fast, so as to stumble or wear ourselves out… And, not to “crawl” - as to go too slow and not grow and mature, so as to become a bad example…But, to “walk” - which gives the vision of going “forward” with progress and purpose…to attain a goal. 
O.K…. So, in light of all this, he urges us to live a life or a lifestyle that includes;
Being humble and gentle. Which is the opposite of - “proud and harsh”…a “know-it-all, who handles people in a “rough” manner. Maybe we need to think of this “box” we call the church, as having the word “fragile” written all over it!  Romans 12:3 says “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought”…(“conceited”)  “Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you.”  We could probably talk for hours on this one thing...because this is where it all must start. Also - and this goes along with the first one - “be patient, bearing with one another.” You know, I think our impatience all started with “Jiffy Pop”!  Ever since Jiffy Pop, life has been going at a pace as never before. I can hardly remember what life was like before my computer, my cell phone, and a microwave! In our impatience, we expect people to change things over-night that took decades to develop. By the way, “Jiffy pop” is also a red-neck fire alarm!
    Then he says; “Make every effort to (keep) the unity of the Spirit.” Notice the word “keep”…What does that mean? (If we are to “keep” it, it already exists)…We are not told to bring it into existence or try to create it, we are to keep it, or maintain it. However, in order to do this, it will require a diligent “effort” on our part!
    This unity is “of the Spirit”, which means it is not natural or human made…it is supernatural, produced, created, and powered by the Holy Spirit. Here is a truth you can put in the front of your Bible;   “Any church that denies the supernatural power and character of God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit - ceases to be the church and becomes simply a religious organization or society; bound together by natural ties and traditions; that is “powerless” beyond themselves.”
Paul then goes on to tell us what this “unity” involves; it is a unity of seven elements;
1.     There is “one body” - Paul, in the 12^th chapter of Corinthians goes into greater detail about the body, but notice that Paul did not say one “organization”. The essence of a body is that it consists of thousands of cells with one mutually shared life, and it is the sharing of life that makes it different from an organization. A body is produced by the extension of one original cell growing until it becomes a fully matured body that shares that original life. Now, the “one body” that Paul speaks of is that which is “connected” to the supernatural life, character, and power of Christ. (ie, the “vine and the branches.)
2.     There is “one Spirit”. The one great eternal, invisible, power behind the church - the body.  The strength of a church never comes from numbers! (repeat that to yourself)…It never has.  The prophet Zechariah was once confronted with a great mountain that God said would become a plain. When Zechariah wondered how this could be? God said; “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord”. And, this Spirit of God is the same no matter where the church - the body of Christ exists. This is why the church is not dependent upon many or few, but on the one Spirit. 
3.     There is “one hope”.  This is expressed hundreds of times throughout the Bible; it is the “hope of glory”; the hope of the raptured, resurrected church; the hope of heaven; the hope of eternity. While there may be differences in viewpoint here, it’s the same expectation.
4.     There is “one Lord”. Phil 2:9 - “Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed upon him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord”… Acts 4:12 - “There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved”… Jesus said “No one comes to the Father except by me.”
5.     There is “one faith” in God and God alone. “Those that come to God must first believe that He exists.” One faith, that begins with Gen. 1:1… And ends with Rev. 22:21…. Faith in “a god” is not faith at all! I have heard many a person say they have faith that there is “a” god…That won’t cut it!
6.     There is “one baptism.”  Here, there seems to be much disunity. However, the disunity is with the “how” not with the “what”. Baptism is the symbol of our dying to self, and being given new life by the infilling of the Spirit of Christ…no matter how you get wet! 
7.     There is “one God and Father of all”…who is over all, through all, and in all”. All things exist because of Him, and all things come from Him, and all things point to Him…It’s all about God. “I am the Lord Thy God, and Thou shall have no other gods before me”…Rule #1