"Walking Worthily"

"Walking Worthily"

Text: Ephesians 4:1-3

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech

you that ye walk worthy of the vocation where-

with ye are called.

With all lowliness and meekness, with long-

suffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit

in the bond of peace."

Introduction-

We have just finished an On Missions Confer-

ence in our church, wherein we were privilaged

to hear from foreign, home, state, and associa-

tional indivivuals who shared their work, and

what God was doing in and through them. It was

very spiritually uplifting for me, and for

many others in our church. It was exciting, and

sometimes convicting, to hear how God answered

prayer after prayer for their protection and

provisions, and how that He was using them in

His wonderful plan to save a people to be His

own. For them, living by faith, and seeking the

will of God is not an illusion, but an everday

reality. But, you know what, I believe that that

is the way God wants all of His people to live,

not just missionaries! The Apostle Paul stressed

this truth in Ephesians 4-6, wherein he gives a

kind of "Manual for Christian Living." He talks

about our relationship with Christ, and how that

our faith is designed to impact every area of our

lives, at home, work, out in the world, wherever

we might be. Our goal in life should be to do

all we can do for the glory of God, and to touch

as many lives as we possibly can with the Gospel

of Jesus Christ. It was pointed out that the

church of today has become so introverted that it

is confining itself to the inside of the church

walls, enjoying worship, and ministering to its

own, but failing to reach the masses for Christ.

In Ephesians 4:1 Paul talks about the Christian’s

"vocation," or "calling." The Bible mentions

several different callings that God gives us as

believers:

1. There is THE CALL TO SALVATION.

2. THE CALL TO SANCTIFICATION., And

3. THE CALL TO SERVICE.

Every Christian receives these three calls from

God. If we would "walk worthily" of our calling

as Christians, then we must be faithful and true

to what God has saved us for, and called us to

be.

THE CALL TO SALVATION

Everyone who is a Christian at some time in his

or her life, received a calling from God to sal-

vation.

Romans 8:30 says-"For whom he did foreknow, he

also did predestinate to be conformed to the

image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

8:31-Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he

also called: and whom he called, them he also

justified; and whom he justified, them he also

glorified."

Romans 1:6-7

"Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ;

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to

be saints. Grace to you and peace from God our

Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."

John 10:4

"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth

before them, and teh sheep follow him; for they

know his voice."

These Scriptures stress our calling to faith, to

salvation, found only through the grace of God.

There is "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One

God and Father of all, who is above all, and

through all, and in you all."-Eph. 4:5-6

1st Corithians 1:26-

"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not

many after the flesh, not many mighty, not many

noble are called..."

THE CALL TO SANCTIFICATION

Just as surely as God calls us to salvation, He

also calls us to seperation and holy, righteous

living. 2nd Corinthians 6:17-

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye

separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the un-

clean thing; and I will receive you."

Paul has a lot of instruction for "worthy walking"

in chapters 4-6 that deal with our sanctification.

A. There is the instruction to use our spiritual

gifts for the edifying of the entire body of

Christ. Eph. 4:7-16

B. There is the instruction to put off our old

sinful natures, and to be clothed with our new

spiriutal nature. Eph. 4:17-32

He emphasizes not lying to each other, not hold-

ing grudges, not giving the Devil any door of

opportunity in our lives, working hard, control-

ing our tongues, and following the leadership

of the Spirit."

C. There is the instruction to live by love, and

to live pure moral lives, walking as children

of light, being filled with the Spirit, being

good husbands and wives, and children, and

parents, being dependable on the job, putting

on the whole armour of God as we war against

Satan, and praying with boldness.

THE CALL TO SERVICE