Walking according to God’s call

Eph.4:1-6

By: Ysrael De la Cruz

When someone calls you on the phone or calls your name; that person has a purpose in calling you.  They want to communicate something to you.  When you receive a call, you either answer it or you neglect it.  When you became a Christian, when you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior you responded positively to God’s call of salvation.   Being a Christian is a calling.  You are a Christian because  you answered God’s call.  If God called you, then he has a purpose in calling.  The Bible paints a vivid picture of who we were before being called and what we are supposed to be after being called.

 

God called you (it was his will and plan to do so)  Why did God called you?

The book of Ephesians is a great book that helps us understand God’s grace and his will to extend us this call.  Paul writes to the church in Ephesus to explain to the them the mystery of God’s call in the gospel.

–We were chosen in Christ according to God’s will. Eph.1:11

-We were included in Christ when we believed the gospel message. (v,1:13)

 

God called us from:

-from death to life (Eph.2:4-5) Eternal life.

-From being alienated from God to becoming heirs and partakers of His glorious promises.  The call to change your citizenship.  Eph.2:11-13

-From the old self, to a new self, created to be like Him. Eph.4:22-23

-From darkness into light.Eph.5:8

 

Once you answer the call, there are expectations.  God has expectations for the called.  This is what Paul addressed in chapter 4 of Ephesians.  Where he urges the church to walk or live in a manner worthy of the calling, they have received.

Eph.4:1-6

Walking in a manner worthy of the call you have received.

A police’s calling is to defend and upheld the law.  This is how the officer would walk in a manner worthy of their calling.

A doctor has his/her calling

A teacher, nurse.

Whatever job you may be doing, there are expectations (code of ethics, policies and standards) which you must meet in order to keep the job.

As followers of Jesus, we must understand that there are expectations for those who are called; there are marks or characteristics that distinguish followers of Jesus from everyone else in the world.  Paul highlights for us what it means to walk or behave in a way worthy of the calling we have received.

Paul addressed himself as a prisoner of the LORD.  Literally he was bound when he wrote this letter.  As a prisoner of the Lord, I urge you (exhort you, implore you) to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

-To walk in a manner worthy of the calling.

(v.2)Being completely humble and gentle; being patient, bearing with one another in love.

By making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

By displaying these qualities (humility, gentleness, patience and putting up with one another in love), you are living or walking in a manner worthy of the calling. 

Some of these qualities are fruit of the Spirit.  In other words, how do you live in a way suitable to the call from God?  By displaying the fruit of the Spirit in  your walk or behavior.

By promoting unity in the church (the body) (Unity of the Spirit) God’s Spirit is given to those who answer the call by believing in Jesus).  Paul talks about spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

The body of Christ is diverse, and it is the Spirit that keeps us together.  One in Christ.

Anyone in church who attempts to divide the church does not operate by the Spirit of God, but by the Spirit of the antichrist.

Keeping this unity given to us by God is not easy, this is the reason Paul uses the language make every effort (be diligent to keep unity).

Therefore, you walk in a way worthy of the call when you strive to keep unity in the church regardless of whatever situations we may be facing.

Listen to the language of oneness or unity in the text.

There is one body and one Spirit.

You were called to one hope (Eternal life); one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Unity was Jesus’ prayer for his followers so the world would know him.  John 17:23

 

You walk or live in a way worthy of the call by being humble and displaying the fruit of the Spirit in your behavior.

You walk in a way worthy of the call by striving to keep unity in the church.

 

To walk in a way worthy of the call is the same as living a life pleasing to the LORD. (Col.1:9-12)  Paul prayed for the Colossians to live a life pleasing to God

This is my prayer for  us SICC this year.  May this be a resolution for us to live our lives to pleasing to God.

-Bearing fruit in every way

-Growing in the knowledge of God

-Being strengthened by God so you can endure and have patience with joy no matter the situation.

-Always to remember to be thankful for God has qualified you to share in his inheritance.