The Church Here and There

2018-07-01

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

Key Verse: Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Last week, we talked about the way He uses us to build the church and we ended with this verse:

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Today, we’re going to rewind to the first part of Ephesians 4 and talk about our role, our mission and our reward.

Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.  2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.  5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Vs 1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

a. To accomplish our calling requires us to live as the called

b. We didn’t ask for the calling, it was given the moment we accepted Christ

vs 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

a. This verse is the antithesis of the human experience

b. Selfless rather than selfish

c. Calm rather than angry

d. Caring rather than dismissive

vs 3-4a Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.  4 For there is one body and one Spirit…

a. We must know that our ultimate goal is reaching the world with the Gospel

b. When that is your primary focus, it takes a lot of pressure off of everything else

c. You’ll care about people that others think you shouldn’t care about

vs 4b …just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

– a future that we can’t keep to ourselves

– to keep our eyes fixed on what’s ahead not what’s around us

– Phil. 3:13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead

– Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

vs 5-6 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

a. Here’s what it all comes down to…our lives our about HIM!

b. He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2)

c. He started it…He’ll finish it!