Calvary Chapel Wenatchee
Sunday Service - Ephesians 4pt1
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  • Last week:
    Paul prayed for the Ephesians, that they would be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit in the inner man.
    He truly wanted them to know the love of Christ that surpasses all understanding.
    Knowing that, Paul is going to transition into some very practical things for the Ephesians and help them understand what it means to walk in a manner worthy of their calling
    Intro:
    The Cabinet of Rivals
    When Abraham Lincoln became president in 1861, he did something baffling: he filled his cabinet with the very men who had run against him—men who had doubted him, criticized him, even despised him. His advisors were stunned. Why invite your rivals to your own table?
    Lincoln's answer was simple. These were the strongest, most able men in the country, and the country needed all of them. He didn't want a room of people who would just echo his own thinking. He wanted William Seward's diplomacy, Salmon Chase's grasp of finance, Stanton's drive—each man seeing what Lincoln alone could not. They argued fiercely, but together they held the nation through its darkest hour. Lincoln's genius wasn't being the smartest man in the room. It was knowing no single person could carry the whole weight. He knew that every part was necessary, and to have everyone who just thought the same and did the same thing would fail the country.
    That is what we see today, that every part of the body is necessary, and it is even more necessary that they are not all the same gifting and same calling. Paul makes it a point that unity needs to be in Christ, and in order to do that, we need a diversity of parts to see the body function properly.
    Manner of Walking (V.1-6)
    V.1
    O: Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
    I: Because of all these things we talked about, you are to walk in a way that reflects your calling
    A: What are all those things (therefore), what have we been called to?
    That we are children of God, heirs, partakers of the promise in Jesus, that we have every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies, that we have been brought near by the blood of Christ, that we have the forgiveness of sins, that Paul has been given grace to share these things with the Gentiles
    Walk in a manner worthy:
    What does Paul mean by that? How do I walk in a manner worthy of my calling?
    V.2
    O: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, (3) being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
    I: Here is how you walk in a manner worthy of your calling.
    A: Take a look at these things:
    First… humility
    We have been through this before, and we will most certainly see it again, but we read in James 4:6
    James 4:6 NASB95
    6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
    What does humility look like? Take a look at Philippians 2:3-4
    Philippians 2:3–4 NASB95
    3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
    This is the first thing you need to walk worthy of your calling. Why? Because this is the example Christ set for us as we see in Philippians 2:5-8
    Philippians 2:5–8 NASB95
    5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
    So as we go through the rest of this book, we need to realize that humility is going to go a long way in the practical sense of walking according to what we have been called to.
    Second is gentleness
    Simply, being gentle towards others, not harsh, but gentle.
    Then patience
    We need to be patient as the Lord does His work in us
    Both for ourselves and others
    Showing tolerance for one another
    With love as the motivation, tolerate one another and our shortcomings
    Remember the context, the Jews and Gentiles
    This isn’t a worldly tolerance, where it means you have to approve of what people do.
    Instead, we tolerate, looking ahead to what the Lord is doing in their lives to transform them by the renewing of their minds.
    preserve the unity of the Spirit.
    To be unified in the Spirit of God
    In, the bond of peace.
    Paul explains this further in Colossians 3:14-15
    Colossians 3:14–15 NASB95
    14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
    V.4-6
    O: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
    I: There aren’t multiples, but only one.
    A: We all have the same Spirit, whether you are Jew or Gentile, baptist or pentecostal
    One faith and one hope, which is in Jesus
    one baptism
    This is the baptism that Peter talks about in 1 Peter 3:21
    1 Peter 3:21 NASB95
    21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
    and there is only one God who has ordained all this.
    Remember we read this in Galatians 3:28
    Galatians 3:28 NASB95
    28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
    Here is the greatest news… we are all part of the body of Christ. We all are being used as a part of the body of Christ. There isn’t one over the other, there isn’t people who are part of the body and others are just spectators… we are all one and it is God who is over all of us, who works through all of us, and who is in all of us.
    Christ Equips His Church (V.7-13)
    V.7
    O: BUT
    I: However, keep in mind
    A: This word echos pretty loud, because Paul is establishing the oneness, and if we stop there, then everything becomes one messy amoeba, not a body. God is a God of order, and He has structured things to reflect His nature.
    This is important, because I have heard and seen people use the oneness argument to promote chaos.
    Essentially, the thought comes that since there is no Jew, no Greek, no man, no woman, no slave, no free man, that we are all the same and there is no order nor defined parts within the church. And people who come away with that have made the error of not finishing the thought and context that Paul is writing this.
    O: to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
    I: Every one of us has been given a gift, according to Christ and what He gives.
    A: Remember, Paul used the word “grace” to speak about his ministry, about the work the Lord had for him to do specifically.
    The same is true for you, everyone of us has been given a calling of grace within the body of Christ.
    V.8
    O: Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.”
    I: Paul is quoting Psalm 68:18 here.
    A: When Christ ascended, gifts were given to men, to the church.
    Now, we have all been given a spiritual gift, explained by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
    1 Corinthians 12:4–7 NASB95
    4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
    This gift is not for you, it is for others, it is for the common good.
    But we know that because Jesus left, we now have the Holy Spirit. Look at what Jesus says in John 16:7
    John 16:7 NASB95
    7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
    Now, because He has ascended, we have the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
    V.9-10
    O: (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
    I: Paul uses the opportunity to give the truth about Jesus, that He came to the earth to be among us, and that He would ascend and sit at the Right Hand of the Father to fill all things.
    A: Jesus is the Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy and promises of God.
    V.11
    O: And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers;
    I: It is the Lord who gave these to us.
    A: Put this into context, that these are gifs that Jesus has given to His bride.
    Your pastor, is given to you by the Lord.
    That person who shared the gospel with you, is a gift from the Lord
    Now notice, he says SOME:
    Not all will have these callings. He hasn’t called everyone to be an apostle, or prophet, or evangelist, or a pastor or a teacher. But He gave some as
    But why did He give “some as”?
    V.12
    O: for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
    I: These were given to equip the church for works that they are to do, to build up the body of Christ.
    A: Notice, these positions, these gifts, are to equip and build, not dictate or command, and especially not to tear down.
    Further notice, HE GAVE SOME AS… key word here is HE GAVE.
    The Lord gave these positions to the body, to the church, to men… not the other way around.
    He did not give them to have authority, but to equip.
    Naturally, the positions do imply authority within the body as leaders and those who do equip and train. That naturally has to happen.
    But the primary purpose is not authority, but to serve… by equipping the saints
    For the work of service
    You are here being prepared for the work of service
    V.13
    O: until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ
    I: This is to promote unity in the body of Christ, not divisions.
    A: 3 things Paul says is the benefit for the church:
    unity of the faith:
    This is harder than it sounds, but thank God He is patient with us. The problem is where we lack, we tend to reject
    Knowledge of Jesus (Son of God):
    That we would know Jesus better and more intimately
    to a mature man:
    That we would be made complete
    Fullness of Christ:
    Remember Ephesians 1:22-23
    Ephesians 1:22–23 NASB95
    22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
    The church, His Bride, is the fullness of Christ
    What is the result of all this?
    Purpose of Callings (V.14-16)
    V.14
    O: as a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
    I: This is all put in place to keep you from being gullible and immature and following something that is poor teaching.
    A: How are we tossed?
    trickery of men
    Be careful of man made confusion. This tends to blow people completely out of the water now a days.
    craftiness in deceitful scheming
    The methods designed to deceive
    Be aware of the methods they use
    But this is why we have been give gifts, this is why we have the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, so you will not be like children in these matters.
    Think of 1 Corinthians 14:20
    1 Corinthians 14:20 NASB95
    20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
    V.15
    O: but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects, into Him who is the head, even Christ.
    I: instead of being children, instead of trickery or deceitful scheming, we are to speak the truth in love and to grow in Christ
    A: Our ways are not to confuse, but to bring clarity, to bring order, to bring maturity
    Grow up in all aspects:
    Not just the Spirit, not just love, not just grace and mercy, but all of it.
    V.16
    O: from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
    I: Jesus uses each part for its purpose to promote growth through the whole body of Christ
    A:
    each individual part:
    We all have a part to do, not all are the same.
    Paul speaks in more detail about this in 1 Corinthians 12:19-25
    1 Corinthians 12:19–25 NASB95
    19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
    Don’t try to be something you are not. When you do, the whole body suffer, and it does not build up nor equips.
    That is why humility is the first part of walking worthy of your calling, because we need to recognize who we are, what our callings are, and operate as a part of the body, not fighting against it.
    Conclusion:
    God doesn’t want disorder, He wants order, because He is a God of order. A theme that will come up several times is that God hasn’t established roles in the church to bring confusion, but rather to promote unity within the body of Christ. When we fight that, it becomes devastating to the church and the work of ministry which God has for us.

      • James 4:6NASB95

      • Philippians 2:3–4NASB95

      • Philippians 2:5–8NASB95

      • Colossians 3:14–15NASB95

      • 1 Peter 3:21NASB95

      • Galatians 3:28NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 12:4–7NASB95

      • John 16:7NASB95

      • Ephesians 1:22–23NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 14:20NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 12:19–25NASB95

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