LIFESONG – Getting Rid of the Sour Notes,
Staying on Key in a Song of Praise
Ephesians 4:1-16
• Ephesians 4:1-16 (NIV)
[1] As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. [2] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. [3] Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—[5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
[7] But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. [8] This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
[9] (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? [10] He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) [11] It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
[14] Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
INTRODUCTION:
A three-year-old girl was listening intently to the children’s sermon one Sunday morning at her church. The minister explained that God wants everyone to get along and love each other. He said, “God wants us all to be one.” To which the little girl replied, “But I don’t want to be one. I want to be four!” (From Humor for Preaching and Teaching, Edward Rowell, ed., p. 42)
Some churches don’t want to be one either.
This morning we will continue taking a deeper look at our 2006 theme: LIFESONG: Getting Rid of the Sour Notes, Staying on Key in a Song of Praise. Nothing sounds worse than when the unity of the local church is broken. Division within the church is to “sing between the cracks,” to be off key in our song of praise.
Before we look at what it takes for us to stay on key, let’s take a moment and revisit the direction LIFESONG gives to us as a church for 2006. Remember we are to offer our lives to God as living sacrifices, God wants or day-to-day lives given to him as an act of worship; this is our LIFESONG of priest to God. Collectively we join our voices together as the church here at Praise Assembly of God to sing one song of praise to God; our combined LIFESONG points us the way we need to go.
L Limitless Possibilities (nothing is impossible for us),
I Involve Everyone (we all do our part),
F Freedom Encounter Ministry (help people overcome fear guilt and more),
E Economic Freedom (through obedience as we give our tithes and offerings),
S Study God’s Word Together (improve our home group ministry),
O Outreach Ministries (reach our community in new and innovative ways),
N New Early Morning Worship Service (being prepared for continued growth),
G Go to God for everything (maintain a foundation of prayer).
I’m excited about what God is going to do through us this year! I’ve had many people express a desire to be involved, to sing their part in a song of praise. I told you last week that ALL OF US ARE STRONGER THAN SOME OF US. We need each of us to be willing to do what God calls us to do, and I’m excited that so many have said they want to sing their part in our LIFESONG of praise, to be involved in the ministries of the church as a whole.
But if we are going to do great things for God, then we must be united as one body. Satan does not fear the big church; the devil fears a church that is united, the church that is one. When we are one God will answer our prayers and we will see great things happen that only God can do.
SATAN WANTS TO DIVIDE US; the devil wants to break the unity with in the church thereby rendering us ineffective and powerless. Already this week Satan has been up to his evil tricks. We received calls from two different families in which there was conflict between husbands and wives. BE ON YOUR GUARD! The devil is bringing an attack against the families of the church to break the core or the heart of the church.
Long before God established the church the family was set up by God as the foundation of society. It is the families of our church that make us a great church, so if Satan can create conflict and divide families then he has weakened the church. Husbands and wives be on guard!
• 1 Peter 3:7 (NIV)
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Conflict in the home breeds conflict within the church and both are sour notes in our song of praise. We need to guard against division within the church.
So what can we do to get rid of the sour notes? How can we stay on key in our song of praise? We are going to focus this morning on getting rid of those sour notes; to do so requires that we know our N-O-T-E.
N NEW NATURE, Our Christian Character
O ONENESS
T TRIUMPHAL GIFTS
E EXPERIENCE and MATURITY
If we are going to stay on key in our song of praise and get rid of the sour notes, then we nee to live by our NEW NATURE.
N New Nature, Our Christian Character
• Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)
[1] As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. [2] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. [3] Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
1) Live the a life worthy of your calling – live out your new nature!
Paul writes as a prisoner. Would we take our responsibility to live differently more seriously if we encountered more persecution?
What does this tell us about how we are living? Are we too much like to world for them to even notice us?
2) What does our new nature look like?
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2) Sounds a lot like the fruit of the Spirit doesn’t it? These are the things God’s Spirit works into our lives because we are connected to Jesus.
a) HUMILITY
If you describe the way Jesus lived His life on earth with one word, it would have to be HUMILITY.
• Philippians 2:6-8 (MsgB)
[6] He [Jesus] had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. [7] Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! [8] Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.
When we take on the new nature we are to be like Christ, to live the way Jesus lived, to live in HUMILITY. Jesus tells us what it will take to live according to our new nature.
• Matthew 23:11-12 (MsgB)
[11] "Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. [12] If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.
b) GENTLENESS
Gentleness is power and strength under control; gentleness is a LOVING TOUCH.
GOD TEACHES US HOW TO BE GENTLE BY HOW HE TREATS US.
• Psalm 103:10-11 (NIV)
[10] He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. [11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.
I like how The Message Bible puts the last part of verse 11: “So strong is His love to those who fear Him.” God’s love for us is strong, but His strength is under control. God has not crushed us or treated us as our sins deserve. Instead with gentleness God’s love has touched us. God has shown us His loving and gentle touch.
c) PATIENCE
What is patience? We think of patience as a willingness to wait; endurance or tolerance. People who have patience can put up with other people without complaining. Is that what our new nature is to be like? No there is something more.
The word translated patience is “makrothymia.” This is a compound Greek word made up of the words “makro” meaning long, and “thymia” meaning anger. So literally patience means LONG TO ANGER as opposed to “oxythymia” which means sudden anger.
• Proverbs 14:29 (NIV)
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.
• Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding; a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity. Proverbs 14:29 (MsgB)
d) LOVE and FORGIVENESS
• 1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
3) We must MAKE EVERY EFFORT to live by the new nature; it isn’t automatic. You have to be willing to work at it.
• Hebrews 12:14 (MsgB)
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God.
Living by our new nature; living with humility, gentleness, patience and love will get rid of the sour notes in our song of praise. We will learn to stay on key because we will then be ONE!
O Oneness
• Ephesians 4:4-6 (NIV)
[4] There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—[5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
1) Notice the how Paul emphasizes oneness and unity.
a) One body b) One Spirit c) One hope
d) One Lord e) One faith f) One baptism
g) One God and Father of all
2) God has shown us His plan and purpose for the church.
a) We are not to be individuals singing our own song; we are to sing ONE SONG OF PRAISE in perfect harmony.
b) No sour notes or being off key by breaking the unity of the church.
3) Jesus’ prayer for the church was that we would be ONE!
• John 17:21-23 (NLT)
[21] My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.
[22] I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are—[23] I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.
a) Jesus has prayed for all of us; He has prayed for our relationships within the church, for the relationships between husbands and wives, for parents and children. He has prayed for any and every relationship you could possibly have with anyone who calls themselves a Christian; FATHER MAKE THEM ALL ONE!
b) Will we agree with Jesus’ prayer? will we say the, “Amen?”
c) When we get angry, or hold on to resentment what we are really doing is standing up and saying, “God don’t answer Jesus’ prayer for me to be one with my brother or sister; GOD DIVIDE US INSTEAD!” None of us may be willing to verbalize such a prayer, but actions speak louder than words.
d) Do you know how Jesus responds to us when we resist maintaining unity within the church? Do you know what He would say to us? He would talk to us just like He did the Pharisees because we are acting just like them.
• Matthew 15:7-8 (NIV)
[7] You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
[8] “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
4) Get rid of the sour notes! Preserve the Oneness that Jesus prayed for; maintain the unity of the church.
Fortunately for us Jesus has done more than just pray for us. He is actively involved in the answer to His own prayer because He has given us triumphal gifts.
T Triumphal Gifts
• Ephesians 4:7-11 (NIV)
[7] But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. [8] This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
[9] (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? [10] He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) [11] It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.
1) The gift of grace has been given to each of us.
a) APPORTIONED: Jesus has allotted gifts to His church; the gifts have been distributed or divided among all of us.
b) Jesus has not been selfish and hoarded His grace to Himself; His grace is given to us all.
2) Paul quotes Psalm 68:18 saying, “When he ascended on high he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
a) The imagery pictures God as the conquering king who has returned from war against His enemies. As the king enters the gates of His kingdom he leads the captives and carries with him the spoils of war. Gold and silver is shared with the people, these are the triumphal gifts of the king celebrating his victory over his enemies.
b) Paul pictures Jesus and His ultimate victory over Satan. Jesus went to the cross; He died and was buried. But death had no power over Christ; He has been raised to life. Jesus conquered death hell and the grave. Therefore, the resurrected Christ leads His enemies in a triumphal procession and Christ shares the spoils of war with us! His grace in all of its various forms is the triumphal gift, a celebration of Christ’s ultimate victory at the cross!
c) We saw last week how Christ has given each of us various gifts to be used as He desires. These are Christ’s triumphal gifts of grace. Don’t limit his grace to just salvation or forgiveness. His grace flows into every area of our lives!
d) Singing our part in a song of praise means we all must be willing to play our part, to use the gifts Christ has given.
• Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)
[6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. [7] If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; [8] if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
3) Jesus didn’t stop with just giving us His triumphal gifts of grace to each of us; He has also given special gifts that proclaim His victory and build up His church.
a) Jesus has given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to His church.
b) Pastor George and I are gifts Jesus has given to Praise Assembly of God, but we are NOT the only gifts given to our church! The ministry of being a pastor may be my full time job, but I am not the exclusive gift to our local church. Pastor George may be working part time, but he isn’t the only gift to our church
o Susie and Denise may not have the title of “Pastor” but they are a gift to our ladies ministry as well as being teachers for our children.
o Christy Huffman is a gift to the church instructing children each Sunday and Missionettes on Wednesday.
o Brian Thornburg is a gift to the church training our boys in RR.
o Ron Hartman is a gift to the church as he has helped me lead our adult Bible studies.
o Bill Seigner is a gift to the church as he develops our worship team and instructs them in a biblical approach to worship.
o Tiffani White is a gift to the church helping with the administrative function of our church office.
o Likewise Christy, Brian and Ron are gifts governing on the church board (Rich, Bill and/or Mark will take their place as a gift to the church after our elections next week).
c) We need to stop seeing Pastors as the only gift to the church and that the role of the pastor is to teach and preach and to recruit volunteers to do ministry at the church.
d) Real ministry does not happen within the church! What we consider ministry is really preparation for ministry outside the church, and those we think of as “a minister” are really the triumphal gifts of Jesus to prepare each of us as ministers to our world!
Staying on key in our song of praise means we all need to know the right N-O-T-E. We live according to our NEW NATURE to establish and maintain ONENESS which Jesus strengthens through His TRIUMPHAL GIFTS. These gifts are given to keep us on key through EXPERIENCE and MATURITY. It’s time to grow up!
E Experience and Maturity
• Ephesians 4:12-16 (NIV)
. . . [12] to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
[14] Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
1) Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are given for this purpose: to prepare God’s people for works of service.
2) Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are given to insure the oneness and unity of the church.
3) We are to grow up IN HIM, to be like Jesus.
a) Maturity is not measured by biblical knowledge
b) Real maturity is to first LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
c) Real maturity is also demonstrated by sharing in the work of Christ. NOT CHURCH WORK. Christ’s work is to connect people with God.
• John 17:4 (NIV)
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
d) What is the work that Jesus has completed; THE WORK OF SALVATION. When Jesus gets up from His prayer He is arrested, falsely accused, condemned to die and crucified upon the cross. From the cross Jesus says, “IT IS FINISHED.”
e) Maturity brings us into a partnership with Christ in His work of salvation! We are Christ’s ambassadors.
f) Speak the truth in love – we are good at telling people the truth; “You are a sinner and need to be saved. . .” but we fail to speak the truth in love. We are like a telemarketer selling Jesus like a mortgage refinance and debt consolidation program!
g) People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
o Rich and Diane Skidmore along with Sandy Bruce are gifts to the church as they want to help develop the divorce recovery ministry.
