Living Out Our Calling: Unity and Transformation in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Walking in Worthiness of Our Calling

The journey of faith is not a one-time decision but a continuous walk that requires daily commitment to live in a manner worthy of our calling. This involves making choices that reflect the teachings of Christ, resisting temptations, and embodying His love and grace in every aspect of our lives. As believers, we are called to walk in humility, gentleness, patience, and love, maintaining the unity of the Spirit. This walk is a response to God's grace, not an attempt to earn His love. It is about embodying Christ in our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others. [10:39]

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV): "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to walk in a manner worthy of your calling, especially in your interactions with others?

Day 2: Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

Spiritual maturity is essential for maintaining unity within the church. As we grow in our faith and knowledge of Christ, we become less susceptible to false teachings and more effective in building up the body of Christ. This maturity is measured against Christ, not others, and requires active participation in the life of the church. Each believer is a minister, tasked with encouraging and supporting one another. This involves moving from passive consumption to active engagement, fostering an environment where truth and love coexist. [21:12]

Ephesians 4:13-14 (ESV): "Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church community this week to promote unity and spiritual growth?

Day 3: Transformation Through Renewal

Embracing our new life in Christ involves a transformation of our minds and actions. We are called to put off our old selves and renew our minds, creating new thought patterns that align with God's will. This renewal is both a choice and a work of the Holy Spirit, requiring us to actively replace old, ungodly thoughts with new, godly ones. It is a process of aligning our thoughts and actions with God's righteousness and holiness, allowing His Spirit to guide us in this transformation. [27:11]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: What old thought patterns do you need to replace with godly ones, and how can you begin this transformation today?

Day 4: The Power of Truth and Love

Speaking the truth in love is crucial for spiritual growth. Truth without love can be harmful, just as love without truth can be misleading. We need to surround ourselves with people who can speak truth into our lives and be willing to do the same for others. This fosters an environment of growth and maturity, where we can build each other up in love. It is about balancing truth and love in our interactions, ensuring that our words are both honest and compassionate. [24:53]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the truth spoken in love, and how can you approach them with both honesty and compassion?

Day 5: Living Out Righteousness and Holiness

Our new life in Christ is characterized by righteousness and holiness. This involves practical changes in how we speak, manage anger, and interact with others. We are called to let go of bitterness and embrace kindness, forgiveness, and love, reflecting the forgiveness we have received from God. It is about living out the righteousness and holiness that God has called us to, allowing His Spirit to guide our actions and interactions. This transformation is a testament to the grace we have received and a reflection of Christ's love in our lives. [33:55]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate kindness, forgiveness, and love in your daily interactions, reflecting the righteousness and holiness of Christ?

Sermon Summary

Chapter four of Ephesians marks a pivotal shift in focus from the awe-inspiring works of God to the responsibilities we have as believers in response to His grace. Paul transitions from the theological foundations laid in the first three chapters to practical applications, urging us to live in a manner worthy of our calling. This chapter is rich with imperatives, guiding us on how to embody the teachings of Christ in our daily lives. The call is not to earn God's love but to respond to it by walking in humility, gentleness, patience, and love, maintaining the unity of the Spirit.

Paul emphasizes the importance of spiritual maturity, urging us to grow in our faith and knowledge of Christ. This maturity protects us from being swayed by false teachings and helps us build up the body of Christ. We are reminded that each believer is a minister, tasked with building up the church and encouraging one another. This requires active participation, not passive consumption, of church life.

The chapter also challenges us to put off our old selves and embrace the new life in Christ. This transformation involves renewing our minds and aligning our thoughts and actions with God's righteousness and holiness. Paul provides practical guidance on how to live out this new life, including speaking truthfully, managing anger, working honestly, and using our words to build others up.

Ultimately, the journey of faith is a long walk, requiring patience and perseverance. We are encouraged to support one another, forgive as Christ forgave us, and continually strive to be more like Jesus. This chapter serves as a roadmap for living a life that reflects the love and grace we have received, urging us to grow in spiritual maturity and unity as the body of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Walking Worthy of the Calling: Our walk as disciples is not about a one-time decision but a continuous journey of living in a manner worthy of our calling. This involves daily decisions, thoughts, and actions that reflect Christ's teachings. We must resist temptations that lead us away from this path, remembering that being a disciple is about embodying Christ in every aspect of our lives. [10:39]
2. Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ: Spiritual maturity is essential for maintaining unity within the church. As we grow in our faith, we become less susceptible to false teachings and more effective in building up the body of Christ. This maturity is measured against Christ, not others, and requires us to actively participate in the life of the church, encouraging and supporting one another. [21:12]
3. Transformation Through Renewal: Embracing our new life in Christ involves a transformation of our minds and actions. We must put off our old selves and renew our minds, creating new thought patterns that align with God's will. This renewal is both a choice and a work of the Holy Spirit, requiring us to actively replace old, ungodly thoughts with new, godly ones. [27:11]
4. The Power of Truth and Love: Speaking the truth in love is crucial for spiritual growth. Truth without love can be harmful, just as love without truth can be misleading. We need to surround ourselves with people who can speak truth into our lives and be willing to do the same for others, fostering an environment of growth and maturity. [24:53]
5. Living Out Righteousness and Holiness: Our new life in Christ is characterized by righteousness and holiness. This involves practical changes in how we speak, manage anger, and interact with others. We are called to let go of bitterness and embrace kindness, forgiveness, and love, reflecting the forgiveness we have received from God. [33:55]
** [33:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - Introduction to Ephesians 4
[03:45] - The Shift from Belief to Action
[05:20] - Walking Worthy of the Calling
[07:10] - Humility, Gentleness, and Patience
[10:39] - Bearing with One Another in Love
[12:50] - Unity of the Spirit
[15:18] - The Role of Saints and Ministers
[18:30] - Spiritual Maturity and False Teachings
[21:12] - The Importance of Truth in Love
[24:53] - The Body of Christ Working Together
[27:11] - Putting Off the Old Self
[30:50] - Renewing the Mind
[33:55] - Living in Righteousness and Holiness
[36:27] - Managing Anger and Speech
[39:19] - Avoiding Corrupting Talk
[41:51] - Grieving the Holy Spirit
[45:02] - Forgiveness and Kindness
[47:51] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you've been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [00:02:27] (33 seconds)

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [00:03:26] (37 seconds)

So we as disciples, we are taking responsibility for the person next to us because this walk that we're supposed to walk is hard. It's not easy. But if we lock arms with the person next to us, when they trip and stumble, we can help carry them. We can bear the load for them. And the same thing when we trip and when we stumble, they're there to lock arms and to grab us and to help us carry that burden too. So we bear with one another in love because we are eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. [00:11:09] (31 seconds)

And the goal of a disciple is spiritual growth. In fact, that's what Paul says. We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head into Christ. In fact, Ephesians 4 .15, this is one of our foundational verses as disciples church. Because the goal of a disciple is to grow up in every way, not just the convenient ways, not just the easy ways, but in every way to be more like Jesus. That's why some of the mirrors in the building still ask the question, do I look like Jesus today? Because the goal of a disciple is to look more like Jesus today than we did yesterday as we grow up in maturity. [00:24:00] (38 seconds)

And so we have to be mature in our foundation and we got to be building each other up and we got to be reading our words so that we know what truth is. So that when you hear the lie, you can say, that's not right. That's not it. So do me a favor. Next time you get a Christian post that sounds really good. Before you share it, check the source. The next time you're listening to a preacher that's saying a lot of stuff, but then you realize he hasn't opened up his Bible once. I'm not saying he's off, I'm just saying that should be a place of caution. And so here's the question that I want to empower you to always ask. Social media, at church, wherever you go, this is the question to ask. Show me the verse. Show me the verse. Because it sounds good, but if it isn't backed up by scripture, then it's man's wisdom, not God's. [00:29:16] (57 seconds)

And this put off language is actually, it's talking about clothing. Like the way it's described, it's about taking off one set of clothes so that you can put on a different set of clothes. And this is actually, this is imperative number five for us, I think. And there's like this change of clothes that's supposed to take place. And the emphasis here is that there should be something different about you after you come to faith in Christ than there was before Christ, right? Like we love the message that you come to Jesus as you are, but you're not supposed to leave it there. That's a comma kind of statement. Like the end of that is not a period, it's a comma. You come as you are, but you're supposed to leave different. [00:28:18] (41 seconds)

And the way we do that is either through the power of the Holy Spirit or the power of choice. Both are valid. Both are probably gonna happen at the same time. But it does require choice. You actually can think, choose what you think about. Like just because it popped in your head doesn't mean you have to let it run. Paul actually tells us to take every thought captive, right? So when that thought starts running that groove, you snatch it and you say, no, I'm putting in a new pathway and now I'm replacing those old thoughts for some new thoughts. I'm replacing my fleshly thoughts for some godly thoughts. Renew your mind. [00:32:55] (39 seconds)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. I love this verse. This is imperative number 13, and it acts as the catch -all. Like, Paul doesn't have to list out every sin or every behavior issue or every problem, because he just throws a blanket over everything that you think, everything that you say, everything that you do. And he's like, just make sure you're not breaking God's heart when you do it. And so, if you're saying it or doing it, and it's breaking God's heart, stop it. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit. And remember, the Holy Spirit is with you all day, every day. He doesn't take vacations. There's no time off. [00:40:17] (40 seconds)

And so letting go of all the bitterness basically means you can choose to be bitter or you can choose to get better. But it's a choice that you have to make. But if you're gonna walk in a manner worthy of the calling, you have to let go of bitterness. And all of the emotions and all of the actions tied to that bitterness. You gotta get rid of the wrath and the anger and the clamor and the slander and the malice and all of that. But it's more than that too. You gotta get rid of the gossip and the backbiting and the rage. Just all of that stuff is old grave clothes. And you gotta take those off and swap them for some grace clothes. Let go of the bitterness. [00:43:48] (32 seconds)

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