August 23, 2015

August 23, 2015 Let’s Walk Together

calling with which you were called, I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness [humility] and gentleness [meekness], with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

calling with which you were called… 1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…

“Well, I can’t read your tract; so I’ll watch your tracks.”

Paul’s Consistent Prescription 12Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

comes from Christ rule in your hearts. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15

If God’s love is so great, if His salvation is so powerful, If God has granted us such reconciliation, then believers should live accordingly. They should value God’s love enough to be shaped by it.

Eph. 4:1 “walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called”

Eph. 4:1 “walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called” The Greek word for “worthy” has a connotation of “having the weight of {weighing as much as} another thing.”

4:1 “walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called” Eph. 4:1 “walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called” The Greek word for “worthy” has a connotation of “having the weight of {weighing as much as} another thing.” Thus Paul exhorts the saints to see to it that their Christian experience, the Christian life they live, should weigh as much as the profession of Christianity that they make. K.S. Wuest

Eph. 4:1 “walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called” 4:17 “walk no longer as the Gentiles walk”

Eph. 4:1 “walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called” 4:17 “walk no longer as the Gentiles walk” 5:2 “walk in love”

Eph. 4:1 “walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called” 4:17 “walk no longer as the Gentiles walk” 5:2 “walk in love” 5:8 “walk as children of light”

Eph. 4:1 “walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called” 4:17 “walk no longer as the Gentiles walk” 5:2 “walk in love” 5:8 “walk as children of light” 5:14 “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise”

calling with which you were called, 1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness [humility] and gentleness [meekness], with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

LOWLINESS [HUMILITY] Not slavish grovelling, as in pagan Greek

LOWLINESS [HUMILITY] Not slavish grovelling, as in pagan Greek Stems from knowing ourselves, and accepting ourselves as seen through the eyes of God

LOWLINESS [HUMILITY] Not slavish grovelling, as in pagan Greek Stems from knowing ourselves, and accepting ourselves as seen through the eyes of God God does not want us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to or less highly than we ought to

GENTLENESS [MEEKNESS] It is power under control

GENTLENESS [MEEKNESS] It is power under control Both Moses and Jesus were meek men, but exhibited tremendous power under control

GENTLENESS [MEEKNESS] It is power under control Both Moses and Jesus were meek men, but exhibited tremendous power under control In the ancient Greek language, this word was used for a soothing medicine, a colt that has been broken, and a soft wind. In each case you have power – but that power is under control

LONGSUFFERING Literally means “long-tempered,” the ability to endure discomfort without fighting back

LONGSUFFERING Literally means “long-tempered,” the ability to endure discomfort without fighting back Longsuffering pertains to people

LONGSUFFERING Literally means “long-tempered,” the ability to endure discomfort without fighting back Longsuffering pertains to people Patience pertains to situations and things

FORBEARANCE “Putting up” with each other Literally means to hold up, to sustain, to bear with self-control

FORBEARANCE “Putting up” with each other Literally means to hold up, to sustain, to bear with self-control IN LOVE “Love” and “putting up” with each other are intertwined. Both are a way of valuing the other person

FORBEARANCE “Putting up” with each other Literally means to hold up, to sustain, to bear with self-control IN LOVE “Love” and “putting up” with each other are intertwined. Both are a way of valuing the other person Here Paul is describing some of the “fruits of the Spirit”

22…the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. There is no law against these things. Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

calling with which you were called, 1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness [meekness], with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Endeavouring Speaks of determined effort

Endeavouring Speaks of determined effort It has the idea of ongoing, intentional, exertion

Endeavouring Speaks of determined effort It has the idea of ongoing, intentional, exertion Often we will counsel couples “If you’re going to be happy in marriage, you gotta work at it!”

To keep Continuation of the forbearance described in vs. 3

To keep Continuation of the forbearance described in vs. 3 The tense of the verbs means that we must constantly be submissively endeavouring to maintain this unity

To keep Continuation of the forbearance described in vs. 3 The tenses of the verbs means that we must constantly be submissively endeavouring to maintain this unity It is the Spirit’s responsibility to create the unity

3 endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The bond of PEACE Peace is the binding factor which will preserve the unity which the Spirit has produced

NIV Application Commentary The bond of PEACE Peace is the binding factor which will preserve the unity which the Spirit has produced The reason for war on the outside is war on the inside. If a believer cannot get along with God, (s)he cannot get along with other believers. When “the peace of God” rules in our hearts, then we maintain unity. NIV Application Commentary

What Next? The instructions which Paul lays down in chapters 4-6 are not just duties, which the Christian is required to perform, they are to be understood as the outworking of the marvellous salvation which God has accomplished in Jesus Christ.

Our obedience to His commands are the out of gratitude, to His glory. What Next? Our obedience to His commands are the “good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). They are the actions which God’s grace and power have enabled us to perform, and which we gladly do, out of gratitude, to His glory. R.L. Deffinbaugh

may come to know God because What Next? Live in such a way that those who know you but don’t know God may come to know God because they see Him in you.

Have Thine Own Way, LORD