Sermon Tone Analysis

Ephesians 4:1-6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2005

Geese Flying In V Formation

 

When geese migrate they can be seen flying in a V-shaped formation.

While to us on the ground it is a thing of beauty, to the geese it is an essential for survival.

If you watch them, you will observe that at certain intervals, relative to the strength of the head wind, the lead bird — who was doing the most work by breaking the force of wind—will drop off and fly at the end of the formation.

The reason for this is that the V-formation is much more efficient than flying lose; up to 60 percent less work is required!

It has been discovered that the flapping wings create an uplift of air, an effect that is greater at the rear of the formation.

So the geese take turns */uplifting one another/*.

By cooperating — working together — the geese can achieve long migrations that would otherwise be exceedingly difficult for the strongest and deadly for the others.

In a similar manner, when believers in Christ actively uplift one another through prayer, sharing material means, and heart-to-heart friendship and caring, they can go further into godliness than if they attempt their pilgrimage alone.

This morning I would like to commence a series from Ephesians 4. On the Church Camp Matt French shared some wonderful studies from Ephesians and touched on some of this.

However, not all were on camp and this wonderful passage is so rich it would be good to look at it further.

In this passage Paul encourages believers to walk together and to work together.

Paul outlines a few essentials require for real unity.

/Paul lays out the grounds for unity./

/There are three;/ */1.

Purity, 2. Humility, 3. Deity./*

 

1.

Purity

 

*Ephesians 4:1:* /I, *therefore*, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to *walk worthy of the calling* with which you were called./

/a.

Our Position/

/ /

Paul starts chapter 4 with the word */therefore.

/*/He summarizes* *the first three chapters and says *look at what God has done for us.*/

He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

*/Firstly,/* /God the Father/ */selected/* us for salvation.

He chose us before the foundation of the world to become His children.

/What is the basis of God’s choice?/ /His grace, mercy and love./

We’ve don’t deserve God’s kindness.

Praise Him He loves us.

*/Secondly, /*/God the Son/* /sacrificed/* Himself to save us.

We owed God a great debt because of sin.

Jesus Christ redeemed us from that debt when He died for us.

*/Thirdly,/* /God the Spirit/ */sealed /*us as His own possession.

We were spiritually dead until the Holy Spirit gave us a new birth.

He enabled us to be born into God’s family.

*/Every believer becomes a child of God by the grace of God./*

We are raised from the dead and given new life.

We are then raised up into heavenly places and seated there with Jesus Christ.

This is now our position in Jesus Christ.

/To the praise of His glory.

Amen./

/The conclusion is that we, believer’s, are God’s children.

Since we are God’s children then we ought to behave like God’s children.

*Our belief must affect our behavior.*/

/b.

Our Calling/

 

*Ephesians 4:1:* /I, *therefore*, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to *walk worthy of the calling* with which you were called./

*/Walk God’s Way./* Paul doesn’t command us to walk worthy, he */beseeches/* us.

Paul could command us to /walk worthy/, but he doesn’t.

He appeals to a higher motive than */law/*; Paul appeals to */love./*

/Out of gratitude to God for what He’s done for us we should *walk worthy of our calling.*/

The word */walk,/* *περιπατέω**, *means */to walk about, or live./*

/It is said of Enoch that he walked with God.

/The way He lived pleased God.

Our lives too, ought to please God.

/How should we live to please God?/ *Colossians 1:10*: /that you *may walk worthy of the Lord*, fully pleasing Him, *being fruitful in every good work *and* increasing in the knowledge of God.*/

 

*/Walk Worthy.

/*Paul says we are to /walk worthy/.

The word */worthy,/* *ἀξίως**, **/suitably or/** **/properly.

/*The word literally means */of equal weight/*.

/We are to walk equal *to our calling.*/

Training A Princess

 

Mary the girl from Tasmania recently married a prince from Denmark.

This is a high calling that she received.

I know that Princess Mary received a lot of training first.

Before a royal prince marries a young lady they are first trained to behave in the right manner.

Certain things are expected of them because of their position.

Therefore Mary was given instruction in etiquette, conversation and other social skills.

The privileges of royalty carry the responsibility of appropriate behaviour.

Peter describes the Church as a royal priesthood.

As such we have received tremendous privileges along with certain responsibilities.

The word */Church,/* *ἐκκλησία**, *means */congregation, assembly./*

It comes from the Greek word to call.

It literally means */the called out ones/*.

We have been called out of this sinful world to follow Christ.

We belong to God not the world.

We, God’s people, the Church have been called out to live differently from the world.

*1 Peter 2:9:* /But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of *Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.*/

*/Do the Scriptures give us any further instruction on our calling?/*

Yes they do!

*Hebrews 3:1: */Therefore, *holy brethren*, partakers of the* heavenly calling*, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus./

*2 Timothy 1:9:* /God has saved us and called us with a *holy calling*, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began/.

*/Because we have a holy calling our lives must be set apart for God./*/ /We should live for the Lord every day since we belong to Him. */Do we proclaim God’s praises?/*

We should!

Our calling is also a heavenly calling.

Heavenly citizens should behave like people do in heaven.

*Philippians 3:17-20:* */Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern./*/

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things.

*For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

*/

 

Dearer Than Life

 

In the forests of Northern Europe lives the ermine, a small animal known best for its snow-white fur.

Instinctively, this animal protects its glossy coat of fur with great care lest it become soiled.

Hunters often capitalize on this trait.

Instead of setting a mechanical trap to catch the ermine, they find its home in a cleft of a rock or a hollow tree and daub the entrance and the interior with tar.

Then their dogs start the chase, and the frightened ermine flees toward its home.

But finding it covered with dirt, he spurns his place of safety.

Rather than soil his white fur, he courageously faces the yelping dogs who hold him at bay until the hunters capture him.

To the ermine, purity is dearer than life!

*/The Lord wants us to be a people who will keep ourselves unspotted from the world./*