Called to be Unified
Bible Devotional
Ephesians 4:1-10 (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. 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. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
There is a lot to unpack here, but let me just begin with this question.
What is our calling? What is our mission as a body of believers? What is it that God is asking you to do? We will explore this and answer this very important question. But let’s begin with Ephesians 4:1.
Ephesians 4:1 (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,
Remember, the word “therefore” is telling us what happened before or what was presented before chapter 4. So, we’ll take a quick memory lane and look at some key highlights from previous chapters.
In Ephesians chapter 1, we were given an amazing spiritual blessing: that Christ chose us in Him before the foundations of the world and predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4). You and I have a purpose and a plan.
And here is another beautiful truth: even when we were dead in our trespasses (intentional disobedience against God) and sins (our weakness in our flesh), and we were headed toward darkness, but God, being rich in mercy, and because of His love for us, made us alive together with Christ.
Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
And in chapter 3, God reveals His mystery that even the Gentiles, who for thousands of years were considered uncircumcised, derogatory name of uncircumcision, heathens, outsiders, no heirs, no promises from God, and no hope. But now, they are given the same promises of God, equal and as fellow heirs, members of the same body, and given the everlasting hope through Jesus. And even the angelic beings were watching and learning from us.
Ephesians 3:10-11 (NLT)
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
And because of all the great things that God has given to us, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So that was the first 3 chapters of Ephesians.
O.K.! So, now what? In light of the revelation of the first 3 chapters, what will you do? So this is where the next three chapters come in. Ephesians 4, 5, and 6 will focus on the practical application of what was learned from the first 3 chapters. You learned it, and now apply it. This is a summary of Ephesians 4-6.
Ephesians 4-6 = How to live to the glory of God, practically.
So for today, I will focus on Ephesians 4:1-16, and next Sunday on Ephesians 4:17-32. So, are you ready? Let’s dig into this!
Ephesians 4:1 Amplified Bible
So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],
So what is your calling in life? “to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior, which means to live a life that expresses gratitude to God for our salvation.”
Prisoner for the Lord - Here, Paul begins by saying that, “I am a prisoner of the Lord.” Remember that Paul is in Prison in Rome, and is chained up to a Roman guard, but because he is in Christ every day, he has a new mindset or New Character that no matter what situation or circumstance he is in, “I am a prisoner of the Lord.” That is a new creation in Christ, and that is available to everyone. So, no matter what your life circumstances are, if we have our minds and hearts set on “I the prisoner for the Lord,” we can overcome all challenges in life through Christ. But you must carry that mindset of “I am a prisoner of the Lord.”
I want you to notice these words by Paul.
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)
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.
Appeal to you - Amplified Bible
Urge you - ESV
Beg you - NLT
Why is Paul appealing, urging, pleading, and begging us to lead a life worthy of our calling? Let’s break it down. In the ESV, it says that Paul “urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”
The word walk in Greek is peripateō, pronounced per-ee-pat-eh'-o, meaning to make one's way, progress; to make due use of opportunities, one's daily conduct or lifestyle. [So, our daily conduct, or our daily application, is to lead a life worthy of our calling. So in response to Ephesians 1-3, we are to daily conduct our lives worthy of our calling by God.]
And I want you to think of the word “worthy” as a type of weight scale.
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. 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. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
There is a lot to unpack here, but let me just begin with this question.
What is our calling? What is our mission as a body of believers? What is it that God is asking you to do? We will explore this and answer this very important question. But let’s begin with Ephesians 4:1.
Ephesians 4:1 (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,
Remember, the word “therefore” is telling us what happened before or what was presented before chapter 4. So, we’ll take a quick memory lane and look at some key highlights from previous chapters.
In Ephesians chapter 1, we were given an amazing spiritual blessing: that Christ chose us in Him before the foundations of the world and predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4). You and I have a purpose and a plan.
And here is another beautiful truth: even when we were dead in our trespasses (intentional disobedience against God) and sins (our weakness in our flesh), and we were headed toward darkness, but God, being rich in mercy, and because of His love for us, made us alive together with Christ.
Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
And in chapter 3, God reveals His mystery that even the Gentiles, who for thousands of years were considered uncircumcised, derogatory name of uncircumcision, heathens, outsiders, no heirs, no promises from God, and no hope. But now, they are given the same promises of God, equal and as fellow heirs, members of the same body, and given the everlasting hope through Jesus. And even the angelic beings were watching and learning from us.
Ephesians 3:10-11 (NLT)
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
And because of all the great things that God has given to us, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So that was the first 3 chapters of Ephesians.
O.K.! So, now what? In light of the revelation of the first 3 chapters, what will you do? So this is where the next three chapters come in. Ephesians 4, 5, and 6 will focus on the practical application of what was learned from the first 3 chapters. You learned it, and now apply it. This is a summary of Ephesians 4-6.
Ephesians 4-6 = How to live to the glory of God, practically.
So for today, I will focus on Ephesians 4:1-16, and next Sunday on Ephesians 4:17-32. So, are you ready? Let’s dig into this!
Ephesians 4:1 Amplified Bible
So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],
So what is your calling in life? “to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior, which means to live a life that expresses gratitude to God for our salvation.”
Prisoner for the Lord - Here, Paul begins by saying that, “I am a prisoner of the Lord.” Remember that Paul is in Prison in Rome, and is chained up to a Roman guard, but because he is in Christ every day, he has a new mindset or New Character that no matter what situation or circumstance he is in, “I am a prisoner of the Lord.” That is a new creation in Christ, and that is available to everyone. So, no matter what your life circumstances are, if we have our minds and hearts set on “I the prisoner for the Lord,” we can overcome all challenges in life through Christ. But you must carry that mindset of “I am a prisoner of the Lord.”
I want you to notice these words by Paul.
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)
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.
Appeal to you - Amplified Bible
Urge you - ESV
Beg you - NLT
Why is Paul appealing, urging, pleading, and begging us to lead a life worthy of our calling? Let’s break it down. In the ESV, it says that Paul “urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”
The word walk in Greek is peripateō, pronounced per-ee-pat-eh'-o, meaning to make one's way, progress; to make due use of opportunities, one's daily conduct or lifestyle. [So, our daily conduct, or our daily application, is to lead a life worthy of our calling. So in response to Ephesians 1-3, we are to daily conduct our lives worthy of our calling by God.]
And I want you to think of the word “worthy” as a type of weight scale.
Now, I want you to think of a scale. On one side, all the things of God in Ephesians chapters 1, 2, and 3, and I want you to put all of that on one side of the scale. Then on your other side is a question:
Is my daily conduct and my lifestyle reflecting the value of what He has done in my life?
In light of all of God’s teachings (Ephesians 1-3), on the other side of the scale, am I daily conducting myself, living a life worthy of His calling? So if it is a “yes,” add a small weight to that side of the scale to work toward that balance.
So the concept of being “worthy” or to “walk in a worthy manner” is not about earning God’s favor, it’s not about outward behavior, but responding appropriately to the grace that God has given me.
“Am I genuinely responding to God’s grace daily, in light of all that God has done in my life?” If yes, then the weight is added to the scale.
Now that you know that your identity is in Christ and that you have been reconciled with God and that you have been redeemed, you have been rescued by Jesus, Paul is saying, “Now that you know all these, I urge you, plead with you, and beg you to put it into practice.”
Now, some people say, “Pastor Joseph! I am saved by grace through faith in Jesus. So I don’t need to bear much fruit for God’s kingdom. I just like to keep my seats warm on Sundays.” Remember that salvation is not just about going to heaven; it also involves intentional, daily walking in the conduct of who Christ calls us to be. That’s what Paul is saying. Walk in the worthiness of your calling.
But how? How do I live a life worthy of the calling? Well, verse 2 gives us the answer.
Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
So, in order for you and me to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called, I need to conduct myself daily with a lifestyle of humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. Did you know that these four characteristics are one of the most difficult things to do as a human being? But now, as a new creation in Christ, as a born-again believer in Jesus, nothing is impossible with God.
That’s why we all need Jesus! He dwells in our hearts, so He can help us break down the walls of the flesh, so that we can have access to God for His strength. “God, please help me to forgive.” And God gives you the power to forgive someone who hurt you. Remember Ephesians 3:11-12?
Ephesians 3:11-12 (NLT)
This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
We can boldly and confidently enter God’s presence and ask for humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. I tell you, you cannot do this on your own. You need the power of the Holy Spirit to help you. When you have your heart right before God, God will help you.
You know what is interesting? This calling to live a life of worthiness begins with humility. Why does it start with “humility” first? Did you know that the word “humility” was a brand-new concept in the early Christian life?
When Rome took over the city, it was by force. In fact, anywhere Rome took over, thousands of people died, and thousands became slaves of Rome. So, strength and power in men were the norm. And, if you had any sign of “humility” in any man or country was a sign of weakness.
So, when Jesus humbles Himself on the cross, willing to take the punishment on our behalf, for our sins, the meaning of humility was not about weakness; it was about overcoming death to life, and that’s power in the form of “humility.” That’s why the word “humility” was actually coined by Christians. This was a brand-new idea introduced to the world.
Humility / lowliness / forsaking self-righteousness / John 3:30 (NIV) He must become greater; I must become less. (Humility involves recognizing one’s own limitations and the greatness of God)
[What is your score? If 0 being none and 10 being the best of showing your humility, then what is your score on “humility”? When humility becomes your second nature, then the next follows naturally in the spirit, which is “gentleness.”]
Gentleness / Meekness / Self-Controlled / This is not weakness but strength under control. Colossians 3:12 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
[You know, growing up with three older brothers who love Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, kick boxing, and all the rough and tough stuff, this was one of the most difficult things for me. Because the attitude was, “If you don’t knock out the other person, then that person will knock you out. So, either you fight, or get out!” God says, “But now, that you are rich in mercy and grace, you have to respond to others with kindness and compassion as Jesus did, and love one another.” My friends, I will be honest with you. I am still working on this, and my score was low. What is your score?]
So, what is the benefit of being humble and gentle? Why should you be humble and gentle in spirit?
Matthew 11:29 (NLT)
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
When you become humble before God and gentle with others, God will give you rest for your souls.
Patience / Long-suffering (attitude) / long-tempered / Ability to endure difficult circumstances and shortcomings of others without becoming angry or upset. [What is your score?]
[In the original language, this implies a long-suffering attitude, which is necessary for dealing with the imperfections of others. Now, when you are at work, you have to make sure you are doing a high quality work, and you have to meet the standards of your boss, right? There is a standard of patience you have to maintain at work.
But Paul is talking about work; he is talking to Christians inside the church. Paul is like, “You've got to be patient with your brothers and sisters in Christ for the unity of the church. You guys need to work through these conflicts and differences in a Christ-like manner.” That is what Paul is talking about regarding patience. You have to be patient with one another in the church, because everyone has different ideas about this and that. That’s why Paul tells us the first thing is to be “humble” before the Lord, and obey God’s Word first before all else.]
Bearing with one another in love involves enduring and supporting each other, even when it is challenging or when you are being tested in your patience.
And this “love” is not based on feelings but is a deliberate choice to seek the best for others. In the early church, this kind of love was counter-cultural because Jews and Gentiles being together was never done before. Remember the “Walls of Separation” where the court outside the temple was for the priests, then you had the court of Israel or men, then you had
the court of women, and then you had the wall, and then you had the court of Gentiles. So, the “bearing with one another in love” was about breaking the walls of the people inside the church.
This was a brand new culture and lifestyle. And it transcended social, ethnic, and economic barriers. So, humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love were to symbolize what a united church looks like. And here is our assigned mission in verse 3.
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV)
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.
Listen, everyone wants unity. Whether at home or in the church, everyone wants unity, and everyone wants peace, right?
Ephesians 4:3 Amplified Bible
Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].
If you want success in the home and in the church, then make every effort to keep the “oneness of the Spirit” or the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
So your daily conduct, your calling, is to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. What Paul is asking us, calling us, or giving us a mission to do is to “maintain” or “make every effort to keep” the unity of the church. Paul is not asking us to create a brand-new “unity,” but he is urging and pleading with us to maintain what God is already doing. Because the devil is very good at dividing the church.
The question then is why? Why do we need to “maintain” or “make every effort to keep the unity of the church?” Verses 4, 5, and 6 give us the explanation.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV)
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.
So here you have versus 4-6 gives us the trinity of unity. Because one God in three persons is united, so should you be united inside the church. Trinity: you have “one Spirit” which is the Holy Spirit, “one Lord” which is Jesus, and you have “one God the Father” who all three, will all play a role in helping us maintain and keep the unity of the church, with each individual working together to make the whole church successful, which in turn will help your home become successful. Our heavenly Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are united, and so should you be united inside the church.
Ephesians 4:6-7 (ESV)
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Remember, our goal is to walk worthy of the calling which we were called, right? And in order to accomplish this, by God’s grace, something we don’t deserve, but He gives it to us because He loves us. And the method and the approach God uses for us to build upon our calling is to give us His spiritual gifts.
You know that the current dictator in North Korea is Kim Jong Un, right? The North Korean government has issued a policy stating that all men may have no more than 15 hairstyles. And if you have anything other than the required 15 different hairstyles, then you will be thrown in jail.
If I were a North Korean citizen and I had my unique hairstyle, I would be thrown in jail. Why am I bringing this up? Being the same doesn’t mean unity. Unity does not mean everyone should have the same haircut as mine. God looks at you individually and sees that it is the spiritual gift, “I want this person to have a uniquely designed spiritual gift.” This gift is apportioned by God or given in measure by God’s grace.
Spiritual Gifts - Supernatural abilities that benefit the church body or meet the needs of other believers (outward edification of the body).
Where can I find it in the Bible?
Spiritual Gifts
Now, there are a lot more in other parts of the Bible, but let’s start with this. “Pastor Joe, what do I do after I read these verses? How can I know what my spiritual gifts are?” Great question.
Here are 3 simple processes for finding your Spiritual Gifts
Now, if you think you are gifted with “administration,” but then when you ask others who know you well, and they are hesitant about your gift, then it’s a good chance that maybe you are not gifted with the gift of administration.
But maybe some of you are gifted in evangelism, but you don’t like being on the street preaching the gospel to strangers, and you are good at writing about the good news of Jesus or putting videos together about Jesus. One of the greatest evangelism tools was a movie called “The Jesus Film.” Since its theatrical release in 1979, the JESUS film has been viewed more than five billion times and been translated into more than 2,160 languages. Based on the Gospel of Luke.
The people who created this film all had different spiritual gifts and were able to make one of the most-watched movies in history. And maybe you are gifted in personal evangelism, where you can talk to someone one-on-one. Maybe that is your gift. But here is the thing: you will not know what your gifts are until you start to apply them.
Now Paul takes us on a bit of a side turn and says this in verses 8-10.
Ephesians 4:8-10 (ESV)
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
So, let me break this down into smaller bites to help us digest what we are reading.
Ephesians 4:8 (ESV)
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
Now, Paul is actually reading this from Psalm 68:18, and he changes it. So, let's read Psalm 68:18.
Psalm 68:18 (NLT)
When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the LORD God will live among us there.
Let me tie this together. In ancient warfare, captives or prisoners of war were part of the spoils of war. The conquering general would take many captives, who were soldiers as well as civilians. This was very common during those periods. So a “host of captives” or “crowd of captives” refers to the long line of prisoners of war or captives, like a long train.
So, what Paul is saying in Ephesians is that when Jesus ascended (rose from the dead), He took with them spiritual captives-those who were once bound by sin and death, but now into freedom. In other words, when Jesus rose from death to life, and sinners believed in God, they became the “host of captives” or the “crowd of captives.”
And in ancient times, when you took over a country, you would receive gifts or tributes. Then the king or general would return to their hometown and distribute gifts from the spoils of war. Paul is sayingthat Jesus has taken over the spiritual realm and that I will now give gifts to men and women who believe in me.
If Jesus ascended into heaven, then how did God give gifts to men?
John 16:7 (ESV)
Nevertheless, 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, what Paul is illustrating, or using as an analogy from Psalm 68, is that after Jesus ascension into heaven, I will send the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to you and give to all who believe in me a gift from the Holy Spirit. And that is called the “Spiritual Gifts.”
Paul is saying that in the Old Testament, we received the gifts, but in the New Testament, God now gives gifts to His followers. So, verses 9 to 10 make sense now. Let’s continue to read.
Ephesians 4:8-10 (ESV)
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
For verse 9, with “he descended into the lower regions of the earth.” Many biblical scholars believe that after Jesus died on the cross, the “lower parts of the earth” refers to the grave, or the ground, and that is my belief as well. To know that it does not mean "hell" is to understand the context of what it is saying. Anytime you are not certain, it is best to always read and reflect on the context of what Scripture is saying. This will help you clarify what you read.
One key reason we know that Jesus was not in hell.
Luke 23:43 (NLT)
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43 (ESV)
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43 (KJV)
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Notice that in all three versions there is a comma before the word “today.” All agree that Jesus was speaking of the time that the thief would enter paradise. The thief would be in paradise with Jesus on that very same day. Whenever Jesus says, “I tell you the truth,” He is telling us to pay special attention and listen carefully.
If Jesus was buried in the grave for three days, then how could He have been in paradise with the thief?
When Jesus died, it was His body that was buried in the tomb. However, Jesus’ spirit/soul was not in the tomb, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46 ESV).
As Jesus was hanging on the cross, He made a promise to a dying sinner who repented, and by His grace and promise, Jesus brought the repentant sinner to paradise. At that very moment of Christ's death, he went to be with the Lord, with his heart clean and pure.
From the cross: Jesus first descended into his death (lower region of the earth), and then Jesus first ascension - Jesus’ resurrection up from the lower parts of the earth, or rising from the grave.
So Jesus, who was descended from the grave, and then ascended back to heaven, so that the Holy Spirit can be descended to give spiritual gifts to all those who believe in Him. This aligns with 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV)
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
So again, the Trinity Unity comes into power with the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God the Father. For what purpose are you given the gifts?
1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
The purpose of the spiritual gifts is for the benefit of the entire church community, not for any personal gain or status. The spiritual gifts are for the benefit of all believers to build up His church.
Summary: Jesus's descent into the grave, His resurrection, and His ascension to heaven send the Holy Spirit, who descends upon believers and gives spiritual gifts to build His church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NLT)
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Listen, to walk worthy of our calling means for us to do his work and build up the body of the church, through our spiritual gifts. So, if we are not walking towards that calling, then where are you walking? So, if we are not walking towards our calling, building unity in the church, and using our spiritual gifts, then we will not be maturing in the Lord.
The only way to measure your walk is to walk towards His calling. That is how you will know if you are maturing or growing spiritually in the Lord, if you are building up the body of the church. In other words, for you to know if you are maturing, then help build the body of the church.
So here is what happens when you mature in the Lord.
Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
When you are not maturing to help build the body of the church, Paul says, “You are immature like a child,” and you will be tossed from side to side. And when you get tossed side to side, you are going to be dizzy. New teachings or being influenced by people who trick us are spiritually immature believers who are not grounded in the knowledge of Christ through God’s Word. They are receptive to “new teaching” or to being “influenced” by false teachers.
What is the sign that we are maturing in Christ?
Ephesians 4:15-16 (NLT)
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 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.
So, a major sign that we are maturing in Christ is to communicate truth with love. In the earlier verse, it talks about false teachers speaking with deceitful schemes, or trying to trick us with lies to make it sound like the truth. So Paul is saying, “You need to share the truth with ‘agape’ love, which is selfless, and a sacrificial kind of love like God’s nature.” This is how you will maintain and keep the unity of the church.
“Will speak the truth in Love”: This is an important principle to practice about “speaking in truth” - speak the truth also in the timing of God. Just because you have the truth doesn’t mean you have to jump right in and speak it, because the other person might not be ready for the truth. Speaking the truth in love also requires you to speak at the timing of God for the other person. You can speak when you're excited to share, but the other person might not be ready, so you should be encouraged to first pray for the other person and ask the Holy Spirit to open up that person’s mind and heart for you to share. Then God will open up the other person’s heart and mind, and you will be ready by the conviction of your heart. Then, when you share it, it will be with wisdom that you speak, and the other person will receive it with gladness, and awaken a spirit in them. This is the timing of God to speak the truth in love.
Remember that maturity is not based solely on age and experience, but also on the wisdom of knowing God’s Word. That’s how you speak the truth in Love.
What is your calling in life?
Ephesians 4:1 Amplified Bible
So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],
Is my daily conduct and my lifestyle reflecting the value of what He has done in my life?
In light of all of God’s teachings (Ephesians 1-3), on the other side of the scale, am I daily conducting myself, living a life worthy of His calling? So if it is a “yes,” add a small weight to that side of the scale to work toward that balance.
So the concept of being “worthy” or to “walk in a worthy manner” is not about earning God’s favor, it’s not about outward behavior, but responding appropriately to the grace that God has given me.
“Am I genuinely responding to God’s grace daily, in light of all that God has done in my life?” If yes, then the weight is added to the scale.
Now that you know that your identity is in Christ and that you have been reconciled with God and that you have been redeemed, you have been rescued by Jesus, Paul is saying, “Now that you know all these, I urge you, plead with you, and beg you to put it into practice.”
Now, some people say, “Pastor Joseph! I am saved by grace through faith in Jesus. So I don’t need to bear much fruit for God’s kingdom. I just like to keep my seats warm on Sundays.” Remember that salvation is not just about going to heaven; it also involves intentional, daily walking in the conduct of who Christ calls us to be. That’s what Paul is saying. Walk in the worthiness of your calling.
But how? How do I live a life worthy of the calling? Well, verse 2 gives us the answer.
Ephesians 4:2 (ESV)
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
So, in order for you and me to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called, I need to conduct myself daily with a lifestyle of humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. Did you know that these four characteristics are one of the most difficult things to do as a human being? But now, as a new creation in Christ, as a born-again believer in Jesus, nothing is impossible with God.
That’s why we all need Jesus! He dwells in our hearts, so He can help us break down the walls of the flesh, so that we can have access to God for His strength. “God, please help me to forgive.” And God gives you the power to forgive someone who hurt you. Remember Ephesians 3:11-12?
Ephesians 3:11-12 (NLT)
This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
We can boldly and confidently enter God’s presence and ask for humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love. I tell you, you cannot do this on your own. You need the power of the Holy Spirit to help you. When you have your heart right before God, God will help you.
You know what is interesting? This calling to live a life of worthiness begins with humility. Why does it start with “humility” first? Did you know that the word “humility” was a brand-new concept in the early Christian life?
When Rome took over the city, it was by force. In fact, anywhere Rome took over, thousands of people died, and thousands became slaves of Rome. So, strength and power in men were the norm. And, if you had any sign of “humility” in any man or country was a sign of weakness.
So, when Jesus humbles Himself on the cross, willing to take the punishment on our behalf, for our sins, the meaning of humility was not about weakness; it was about overcoming death to life, and that’s power in the form of “humility.” That’s why the word “humility” was actually coined by Christians. This was a brand-new idea introduced to the world.
Humility / lowliness / forsaking self-righteousness / John 3:30 (NIV) He must become greater; I must become less. (Humility involves recognizing one’s own limitations and the greatness of God)
[What is your score? If 0 being none and 10 being the best of showing your humility, then what is your score on “humility”? When humility becomes your second nature, then the next follows naturally in the spirit, which is “gentleness.”]
Gentleness / Meekness / Self-Controlled / This is not weakness but strength under control. Colossians 3:12 (NLT) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
[You know, growing up with three older brothers who love Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, kick boxing, and all the rough and tough stuff, this was one of the most difficult things for me. Because the attitude was, “If you don’t knock out the other person, then that person will knock you out. So, either you fight, or get out!” God says, “But now, that you are rich in mercy and grace, you have to respond to others with kindness and compassion as Jesus did, and love one another.” My friends, I will be honest with you. I am still working on this, and my score was low. What is your score?]
So, what is the benefit of being humble and gentle? Why should you be humble and gentle in spirit?
Matthew 11:29 (NLT)
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
When you become humble before God and gentle with others, God will give you rest for your souls.
Patience / Long-suffering (attitude) / long-tempered / Ability to endure difficult circumstances and shortcomings of others without becoming angry or upset. [What is your score?]
[In the original language, this implies a long-suffering attitude, which is necessary for dealing with the imperfections of others. Now, when you are at work, you have to make sure you are doing a high quality work, and you have to meet the standards of your boss, right? There is a standard of patience you have to maintain at work.
But Paul is talking about work; he is talking to Christians inside the church. Paul is like, “You've got to be patient with your brothers and sisters in Christ for the unity of the church. You guys need to work through these conflicts and differences in a Christ-like manner.” That is what Paul is talking about regarding patience. You have to be patient with one another in the church, because everyone has different ideas about this and that. That’s why Paul tells us the first thing is to be “humble” before the Lord, and obey God’s Word first before all else.]
Bearing with one another in love involves enduring and supporting each other, even when it is challenging or when you are being tested in your patience.
And this “love” is not based on feelings but is a deliberate choice to seek the best for others. In the early church, this kind of love was counter-cultural because Jews and Gentiles being together was never done before. Remember the “Walls of Separation” where the court outside the temple was for the priests, then you had the court of Israel or men, then you had
the court of women, and then you had the wall, and then you had the court of Gentiles. So, the “bearing with one another in love” was about breaking the walls of the people inside the church.
This was a brand new culture and lifestyle. And it transcended social, ethnic, and economic barriers. So, humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love were to symbolize what a united church looks like. And here is our assigned mission in verse 3.
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV)
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.
Listen, everyone wants unity. Whether at home or in the church, everyone wants unity, and everyone wants peace, right?
Ephesians 4:3 Amplified Bible
Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful].
If you want success in the home and in the church, then make every effort to keep the “oneness of the Spirit” or the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
So your daily conduct, your calling, is to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. What Paul is asking us, calling us, or giving us a mission to do is to “maintain” or “make every effort to keep” the unity of the church. Paul is not asking us to create a brand-new “unity,” but he is urging and pleading with us to maintain what God is already doing. Because the devil is very good at dividing the church.
The question then is why? Why do we need to “maintain” or “make every effort to keep the unity of the church?” Verses 4, 5, and 6 give us the explanation.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV)
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.
So here you have versus 4-6 gives us the trinity of unity. Because one God in three persons is united, so should you be united inside the church. Trinity: you have “one Spirit” which is the Holy Spirit, “one Lord” which is Jesus, and you have “one God the Father” who all three, will all play a role in helping us maintain and keep the unity of the church, with each individual working together to make the whole church successful, which in turn will help your home become successful. Our heavenly Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are united, and so should you be united inside the church.
Ephesians 4:6-7 (ESV)
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Remember, our goal is to walk worthy of the calling which we were called, right? And in order to accomplish this, by God’s grace, something we don’t deserve, but He gives it to us because He loves us. And the method and the approach God uses for us to build upon our calling is to give us His spiritual gifts.
You know that the current dictator in North Korea is Kim Jong Un, right? The North Korean government has issued a policy stating that all men may have no more than 15 hairstyles. And if you have anything other than the required 15 different hairstyles, then you will be thrown in jail.
If I were a North Korean citizen and I had my unique hairstyle, I would be thrown in jail. Why am I bringing this up? Being the same doesn’t mean unity. Unity does not mean everyone should have the same haircut as mine. God looks at you individually and sees that it is the spiritual gift, “I want this person to have a uniquely designed spiritual gift.” This gift is apportioned by God or given in measure by God’s grace.
Spiritual Gifts - Supernatural abilities that benefit the church body or meet the needs of other believers (outward edification of the body).
Where can I find it in the Bible?
Spiritual Gifts
- Romans 12:6-8
- 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30
- Ephesians 4:11
Now, there are a lot more in other parts of the Bible, but let’s start with this. “Pastor Joe, what do I do after I read these verses? How can I know what my spiritual gifts are?” Great question.
Here are 3 simple processes for finding your Spiritual Gifts
- Study the Scripture thoroughly and know what each gift means.
- Pray and ask God, “Lord, what is or are my spiritual gifts?”
- Ask others if they confirm or clarify those gifts.
Now, if you think you are gifted with “administration,” but then when you ask others who know you well, and they are hesitant about your gift, then it’s a good chance that maybe you are not gifted with the gift of administration.
But maybe some of you are gifted in evangelism, but you don’t like being on the street preaching the gospel to strangers, and you are good at writing about the good news of Jesus or putting videos together about Jesus. One of the greatest evangelism tools was a movie called “The Jesus Film.” Since its theatrical release in 1979, the JESUS film has been viewed more than five billion times and been translated into more than 2,160 languages. Based on the Gospel of Luke.
The people who created this film all had different spiritual gifts and were able to make one of the most-watched movies in history. And maybe you are gifted in personal evangelism, where you can talk to someone one-on-one. Maybe that is your gift. But here is the thing: you will not know what your gifts are until you start to apply them.
Now Paul takes us on a bit of a side turn and says this in verses 8-10.
Ephesians 4:8-10 (ESV)
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
So, let me break this down into smaller bites to help us digest what we are reading.
Ephesians 4:8 (ESV)
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
Now, Paul is actually reading this from Psalm 68:18, and he changes it. So, let's read Psalm 68:18.
Psalm 68:18 (NLT)
When you ascended to the heights, you led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against you. Now the LORD God will live among us there.
Let me tie this together. In ancient warfare, captives or prisoners of war were part of the spoils of war. The conquering general would take many captives, who were soldiers as well as civilians. This was very common during those periods. So a “host of captives” or “crowd of captives” refers to the long line of prisoners of war or captives, like a long train.
So, what Paul is saying in Ephesians is that when Jesus ascended (rose from the dead), He took with them spiritual captives-those who were once bound by sin and death, but now into freedom. In other words, when Jesus rose from death to life, and sinners believed in God, they became the “host of captives” or the “crowd of captives.”
And in ancient times, when you took over a country, you would receive gifts or tributes. Then the king or general would return to their hometown and distribute gifts from the spoils of war. Paul is sayingthat Jesus has taken over the spiritual realm and that I will now give gifts to men and women who believe in me.
If Jesus ascended into heaven, then how did God give gifts to men?
John 16:7 (ESV)
Nevertheless, 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, what Paul is illustrating, or using as an analogy from Psalm 68, is that after Jesus ascension into heaven, I will send the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to you and give to all who believe in me a gift from the Holy Spirit. And that is called the “Spiritual Gifts.”
Paul is saying that in the Old Testament, we received the gifts, but in the New Testament, God now gives gifts to His followers. So, verses 9 to 10 make sense now. Let’s continue to read.
Ephesians 4:8-10 (ESV)
Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
For verse 9, with “he descended into the lower regions of the earth.” Many biblical scholars believe that after Jesus died on the cross, the “lower parts of the earth” refers to the grave, or the ground, and that is my belief as well. To know that it does not mean "hell" is to understand the context of what it is saying. Anytime you are not certain, it is best to always read and reflect on the context of what Scripture is saying. This will help you clarify what you read.
One key reason we know that Jesus was not in hell.
Luke 23:43 (NLT)
And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43 (ESV)
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43 (KJV)
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Notice that in all three versions there is a comma before the word “today.” All agree that Jesus was speaking of the time that the thief would enter paradise. The thief would be in paradise with Jesus on that very same day. Whenever Jesus says, “I tell you the truth,” He is telling us to pay special attention and listen carefully.
If Jesus was buried in the grave for three days, then how could He have been in paradise with the thief?
When Jesus died, it was His body that was buried in the tomb. However, Jesus’ spirit/soul was not in the tomb, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46 ESV).
As Jesus was hanging on the cross, He made a promise to a dying sinner who repented, and by His grace and promise, Jesus brought the repentant sinner to paradise. At that very moment of Christ's death, he went to be with the Lord, with his heart clean and pure.
From the cross: Jesus first descended into his death (lower region of the earth), and then Jesus first ascension - Jesus’ resurrection up from the lower parts of the earth, or rising from the grave.
So Jesus, who was descended from the grave, and then ascended back to heaven, so that the Holy Spirit can be descended to give spiritual gifts to all those who believe in Him. This aligns with 1 Corinthians 12:4-6.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV)
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
So again, the Trinity Unity comes into power with the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God the Father. For what purpose are you given the gifts?
1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
The purpose of the spiritual gifts is for the benefit of the entire church community, not for any personal gain or status. The spiritual gifts are for the benefit of all believers to build up His church.
Summary: Jesus's descent into the grave, His resurrection, and His ascension to heaven send the Holy Spirit, who descends upon believers and gives spiritual gifts to build His church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NLT)
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Listen, to walk worthy of our calling means for us to do his work and build up the body of the church, through our spiritual gifts. So, if we are not walking towards that calling, then where are you walking? So, if we are not walking towards our calling, building unity in the church, and using our spiritual gifts, then we will not be maturing in the Lord.
The only way to measure your walk is to walk towards His calling. That is how you will know if you are maturing or growing spiritually in the Lord, if you are building up the body of the church. In other words, for you to know if you are maturing, then help build the body of the church.
So here is what happens when you mature in the Lord.
Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)
Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
When you are not maturing to help build the body of the church, Paul says, “You are immature like a child,” and you will be tossed from side to side. And when you get tossed side to side, you are going to be dizzy. New teachings or being influenced by people who trick us are spiritually immature believers who are not grounded in the knowledge of Christ through God’s Word. They are receptive to “new teaching” or to being “influenced” by false teachers.
What is the sign that we are maturing in Christ?
Ephesians 4:15-16 (NLT)
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 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.
So, a major sign that we are maturing in Christ is to communicate truth with love. In the earlier verse, it talks about false teachers speaking with deceitful schemes, or trying to trick us with lies to make it sound like the truth. So Paul is saying, “You need to share the truth with ‘agape’ love, which is selfless, and a sacrificial kind of love like God’s nature.” This is how you will maintain and keep the unity of the church.
“Will speak the truth in Love”: This is an important principle to practice about “speaking in truth” - speak the truth also in the timing of God. Just because you have the truth doesn’t mean you have to jump right in and speak it, because the other person might not be ready for the truth. Speaking the truth in love also requires you to speak at the timing of God for the other person. You can speak when you're excited to share, but the other person might not be ready, so you should be encouraged to first pray for the other person and ask the Holy Spirit to open up that person’s mind and heart for you to share. Then God will open up the other person’s heart and mind, and you will be ready by the conviction of your heart. Then, when you share it, it will be with wisdom that you speak, and the other person will receive it with gladness, and awaken a spirit in them. This is the timing of God to speak the truth in love.
Remember that maturity is not based solely on age and experience, but also on the wisdom of knowing God’s Word. That’s how you speak the truth in Love.
What is your calling in life?
Ephesians 4:1 Amplified Bible
So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation],
Posted in Weekly Devotional