Honor God in His Church

Ephesians 3:14-4:16
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, Oct. 23

We live in a day of spiritual compromise. One could compare it to the times immediately following the death of Joshua. In those days the people began to make practical compromises in their walk with the Lord that soon led to spiritual lukewarmness and ultimately deadness.

What can a 21st century Christian do to avoid the same spiritual decline that we find in the book of Judges?

In I Corinthians 10:6, Paul tells us that the experiences of Old Testament believers are recorded as practical examples to remind us of how easy it is to drift and dishonor God.

Their experiences also pattern for us the kind of commitment it takes to honor God. If we desire to stay on track spiritually and honor God in His church, Ephesians chapters 3 and 4 offer great guidance.

Be Empowered by God's Spirit (Eph. 3:14-16)

No one has ever been able to live out the Christian life without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Grit and discipline may work in sports or other areas of life but Christians need God's help.

Living the Christian life without the power of God is like loading a gun shell with lead projectile but never filling the casing with gunpowder. You can load it in the gun, pull the trigger, and wait till Jesus comes for the lead to fly out of the barrel but it is powerless to do so.

For this very reason Paul prayed that God would strengthen believers with power through His Spirit in the inner man (v.16). Until a man is empowered by God internally, he cannot live effectively for God in any area of his Christian life.

The remainder of Ephesians sets forth practical instruction that cannot be walked out apart from the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Paul knew that when believers were empowered by God they could accomplish more in five minutes than human effort could produce in one hundred years.

Seek God's Glory (Eph. 3:20-21)

Verses 20 and 21 are the climax to Paul's prayer for the saints. He wanted God to so work in the believers that it would result in glory and honor to Him. As a result of the mighty working of God in and through our lives, we are able to share God-exalting stories with others.

The person who lives merely out of his own power and resources can only talk about what he can do, but the person who lives out of the supernatural power of God can talk about what God can do.

When God is powerfully at work in our lives, others have the opportunity to see what He is like. That is what glorifying Him is all about.

Paul says that this work that God does rises to the level of, "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think," and it all has to do with His power working in us (v.20). This is the same power that was required to raise Jesus from the dead (Eph. 1:19ff).

For this and many other reasons, Christians personally and churches corporately should always be praying for the empowering of the Holy Spirit that we might have God glorifying stories to pass down to future generations (v. 21).

Live in a Worthy Manner (Eph. 4:1-6)

The word, therefore, is a word of transition. In the previous three chapters Paul has dealt mainly with doctrinal issues. From chapters 4-6 he will address the practical and ethical implications of these doctrines.

He begins this passage with a general statement, encouraging believers to live in a manner that is worthy of the calling they have received (v.1). This calling is of an eternal and holy nature demanding a lifestyle that honors the One who called us.

Beginning in verse 2, specific issues begin to be addressed. The first of these is unity in the body of Christ. He lists four virtues that characterize a Christian who is committed to unity: humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance.

All of these will require the enabling of God, because they are in opposition to the old sinful nature, and each is motivated by agape (unconditional) love.

The practice of these virtues also requires diligence on the part of the believer. Unity is not something that just happens. It only occurs when believers are adjusting their hearts and lives to the ways of the Holy Spirit. It is a Christian's responsibility to do everything he can to preserve unity in the body (v.3).

Verses 4-6 point to seven "ones" that constitute and lay the foundation upon which the Holy Spirit affects true oneness among the people of God. What a great day it would be if believers had the same heart for unity and oneness that God wants for us.

Do the Work of Ministry (Eph. 4:7, 11-13, 15)

Every believer is commanded to participate in building up the body of Christ. Paul says that grace gifts have been given to each one by Christ to insure that the building process is made possible (v.7).

We are also informed that gifted leaders have been given as gifts to the church to train the members for the work of ministry (vs. 11, 12).

This implies an expectation that the members present themselves for training and that they put the training into action. Such action will result in unity in the faith, knowledge of Jesus, and spiritual maturity that gives evidence of a life full of Christ (v.13).

When a person becomes spiritually mature, he will help build up the body with truth revealed by the word of God.

As he speaks this truth it will always be seasoned with the kind of love described in I Corinthians 13. This kind of person will always be mindful that what he says and does is about Christ and not him. This kind of ministry honors God in His Church.