Prayer for All Members Based on Pastor Jared’s Message, May 1, 2022

Ephesians 4:1-6

“Walking Worthy”

Introduction:  Paul is now moving from theology (in chapters 1-3) to practicality (in chapters 4-6), telling us how to live out in practice the eternal truth that we are part of the body of Christ. In Christ we have spiritual unity, so we should walk worthy by living in our unity:

1. Unified In Our Calling (4:1)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…

Why would Paul mention that he is a prisoner? My hunch is that he wants us all to know that walking worthy of the gospel is worth it, worth being imprisoned for, or worth even dying for. If we walk together in unity, we can walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

Lord, please help us walk worthy of your high calling by walking together.

1. Unified In Our Character (4:2-3)

…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.

Paul immediately associates walking worthy by these character traits:

• Humility, or “lowly-mindedness,” the recognition that everything we have is due to God’s grace; not using our gifts to inflate ourselves but to glorify God and serve others.
• Gentleness or meekness, which does not mean weakness. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit; it involves helping others in love.
• Patience, or being “long-tempered.” We can be patient with others when we remember how patient God is with us.
• Forbearance means willingly enduring one another because we know none of us is perfect.
• Love, which means seeking the other person’s highest good. Love cares enough to step into another’s life and give help.

How should we maintain the unity? Eagerly! God is glorified when we seek to maintain the unity He has given us.

Father, thank You for the unity You have given us through Your Spirit! Please help us through Your Spirit to maintain that unity by practicing Christ-like character for Your glory.

1. Unified In Our Confession (4:4-6)

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.

There are seven “one” statements: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father. The Spirit creates unity, fills, organizes, plans, and empowers the body. God the Son, the Lord, is at work in fostering unity and He is the object of our faith. God is the Father of one spiritual family and we are that family. Because it is rooted in the Trinity, our unity is eternal and indestructible.

Thank You, Father, Son, and Spirit, that in You our unity is eternal and indestructible. Please help us always to rely on Your unity, Your love, and Your power.