This morning we’re beginning a new series of messages from Ephesians chapter 4 which we’re calling The Walk.  If you would please turn with me there to Ephesians 4.  As you’re turning let me explain some of why we’re looking at this chapter and what we mean by this title:  The Walk.

In the Old Testament there were a lot of people who got wiped out.  Have you noticed that?  There are a number of times when God just wipes out whole groups of people.  Like the flood.  Everybody but Noah and family drown.  The first born of Egypt - a whole generation wiped out.  The Egyptian army drowning in the Red Sea.  The whole conquest of the Promised Land thing.  God orders the elimination of Jericho - the men - the women - the young - the old - wiped out.  A whole city wiped out.  And then the city of Ai - 12,000 people wiped out in one day.  No one survives.  On and on it goes.  Places like Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Debir, and so on.  Thousands and thousands of people die.  The Old Testament is one really gory bloody mess.

Then the New Testament opens up with Herod slaughtering all the children age two and younger - another whole generation.  The history of the church is a bloody mess.  Even today.  In places like North Korea where it’s a death sentence to be a Christian.  Places like the Sudan and Indonesia and Malaysia and China and Iran and Bangladesh and Loas and Turkmenistan and on and on.

The last century was the bloodiest - more Christians were martyred in the 20th century alone than all of church history.  This century is no different.  Maybe even worse.

The Bible tells us that we live in a world at war - in conflict - Satan and God - demons and angels - sin and righteousness - a spiritual battle with eternal consequences - the gates of hell and the gates of heaven.  At stake is the eternal destiny of humankind.

The war rages spiritually.  But we see its effects around us.  The shadow of hell so many people live in - wounded - broken - hopeless - searching - empty - without purpose and meaning their lives.  Marriages are coming apart - people are addicted to just about everything - kids are killing kids.  People get wounded.  In war people die.  There are casualties. 

Sometimes we forget the significance of that truth.  We live in a world at war.  Or, we try to sanitize it - make it more PC or less significant than it is.  We get distracted from the urgency of the battle.

Coming to Ephesians 4 - verse 1 - Paul writing to the Church of Ephesus - Paul begins in verse 1 with the word, “Therefore”

That “therefore” refers back to everything Paul has written so far in this letter to the Ephesians - chapters 1 to 3.  He’s been writing about the war.  Reminding the church that they were dead in sin - without hope - in bondage to Satan - living life under Satan’s control - pawns in the war - destined for eternity without God.  And yet - Paul has written - God - because of His incredible grace and mercy and love - made them - the Ephesian church - to be alive - both Jew and Gentile - raised them from death to life through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

So now they’re on a different side of the conflict.  Living life with God full of all that He offers us - life with God today and forever.

So Paul writes, “therefore” - because of all that God has done for you - Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.

Paul is a prisoner.  As he’s writing this letter - is under arrest in Rome - a prisoner of Imperial Rome.  But in reality a prisoner because of Jesus Christ - serving Jesus in Rome - as a guest of the Roman government.  He’s reminding the Ephesians - its not the issues and struggle of life that are important - it’s the “therefore” that’s important.  Paul writes - because of all that God has done for you - even in the issues and struggles of life - the battles of this war - I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.

That’s the point:  Live worthy of the name Christian. Say that with me, “Live worthy of the name Christian.”  That’s The Walk.

Hear this.  How we live today - in the midst of everything that’s happening around us - how we live today - in our relationship together as siblings in Jesus Christ - in the quality and character - the holiness and righteousness - of our lives - how we live today - has eternal consequences for those around us.  The consequences are real.  They’re huge.  How we live is crucial.  Its urgent.  It requires everything that we are in commitment to The Walk.

What we’re going to be looking at over next few Sundays is what it means to walk The Walk - to live worthy of the name Christian.

Verse 2 - Paul begins with a description of the walk, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.”

Someone said, “Once I struggled with pride but now I’m perfect.”

Humility is not arrogance.  Humility promotes others not self.  Gentleness is restraint.  The lioness playing with her cubs.  One swat and they're history.  Power and prerogative held a bay for the good of someone else.  Patience is a reluctance to avenge wrongs.  Loving tolerance means we put up with each other’s faults and idiosyncrasies.  Some of us have those.

The church of Ephesus struggled with these.  We know from Scripture that men - rather than leading out in prayer and Godliness - focused on maintaining their position of leadership.  Women focused on themselves - outward adornment - rather than Godliness.  There were struggles over the role of women in leadership and what qualified one for leadership in the church.  Marital relationships were out of balance.  Families were in crisis.  The church was split down ethnic lines - Jews verses Gentiles - keeping the law verses freedom from the law.  In the same church there were slaves and masters.  So the church struggled with those relationships.  Jesus - remember this from our look at the 7 messages in Revelation?  Jesus had appealed to this church to return to their passionate love for Him and each other.

Ephesus was also a persecuted church.  Which - in fairness - we need to see also.  In the midst of Ephesus - where it wasn’t easy to be a Christian - in the midst of this pagan city this congregation had been faithfully serving Jesus - living for Him - standing up against the odds.  Not for themselves.  But for Jesus’ sake.  Sharing the Gospel with others.  Our siblings were not evil people.  And, they weren’t wimps.

But they were people who struggled with many of the same kinds of issues we struggle with.  Beneath the surface of any congregation - on fire - large - small - wealthy - poor - if we scratch just a little - there are always issues.  We create barriers out of doctrine and race and government and pride and ego and greed and the sins we harbor.  We struggle with humility and gentleness and patience and loving tolerance - walking the walk as we should.

Verse 3 - Paul goes on:  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Paul writes, “be diligent.”  Be eager.  Be alert.  Be willing.  Be proactive.   Do get caught napping - complacent.  Preserve the unity of the Spirit.  If we didn’t struggle with that he wouldn’t have to write that.

Diversity in the church is a given.  Just look around.  This congregation  is a bag of mixed nuts.  All the nuts in one convenient package.  We come from different backgrounds and experiences and education with different issues.  In this city there are diverse congregations - Hmong, Hispanic, African, Caucasian.  Here in Merced and around the world - one of the most amazing realities of the church is its diversity.

Paul writes, be “diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit.”  Who’s unity is it?  The Spirit’s.  God takes this incredible diversity and creates peaceful unity.  One of the most powerful testimonies to the world of the reality of the life we have in Jesus Christ is unity out of diversity.  We can’t create that.  There is no need to create that.  Unity is a God thing.

Diversity is not the problem  Creating unity is not the problem.  Preserving unity is where we struggle.

How many people have we run into who want nothing to do with the Jesus or His Church.  Not because of the diversity.  Not because of the unity He creates.  But because of how God’s people have treated God’s people.  Are you with me?

I’m told by the unofficial historians of this congregation that in the past  -when this congregation has been prepared - just ready to move forward - something always happens - controversy - conflict - immorality - something.  That’s not a surprise.  Is it?  Something is always happening.  If we’re going to move forward where God desires us to be - Satan is already at work trying to divide and destroy us.  That’s a given.

Let’s recognize the war strategy of the enemy and diligently work to not allow anything to slip into or remain in our fellowship that may damage the testimony and life of this congregation. Tap the person next to you and tell them, “Be diligent.”

Verses 4 to 6 are Paul’s way of saying, “What part of unity did you not understand?”  Verses 4 to 6 are the core of what unity in the Church is all about.  This is what makes it all happen and what we need to stay focused on.

Verse 4 focuses on the Holy Spirit.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;

One of the privileges I’ve had is to travel to a number of places around the world and to meet with diverse groups of Christians - some underground - some above ground - worshipping in some interesting places.  I’ve had the opportunity to fellowship with believers of different protestant denominations and believers in other branches of the church - apostolic - orthodox - Roman Catholic.  What is amazing is to meet someone of a very different culture and background - meet them for the very first time - and yet have unity in the Spirit.

This is not Frankenchurch.  Like God takes a body part from here and another part from there and another one from over there and kind of sticks them together - throws a switch - and says, “LIVE!”

At conception there’s a single cell.  That cell divides.  Those cells divide.  And so on.  A body is produced as an extension of the original cell.  There’s great diversity - eyes - arms - legs - a stomach - a gallbladder.  Diverse, but all sharing that original life.

That’s the church.  Diverse persons.  One in nature.  When we meet - no matter how diverse - that original life is recognized within.  One Body created by the Spirit.  Wherever and whenever the Church exists it’s the Spirit that empowers and makes the Church operate as the Church.

Paul goes further with this.  He writes, “just as you were called in one hope of your calling.”  What hope?  Eternity with Jesus.  Pre-trib - mid-trib - post-trib - pro-trib.  The one unifying hope believers share is that Jesus is coming back and we’re going to be with Him.

This is a part of unity that we need to keep in mind.  The Church isn’t dependent on you or me.  Its not dependent on our wisdom - our understanding of things - our pulling it in one direction or another.  The eternal destiny of the Church isn’t dependant on us.  The Church depends on the Spirit.  Be diligent to depend on the Spirit and unity will be preserved.  One more time.  Be diligent to depend on the Spirit and unity will be preserved 

Verse 5 focuses on Jesus.  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Paul writes to the Church in Colosse - describing Jesus Christ - he writes that Jesus is “the head of the body, the what? - the church; and He is the beginning, the first born from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”  (Colossians 1:18)

Lord means supreme authority.   Jesus Christ is the Lord of the universe - the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  And - as Paul writes to the Colossians - He is also the Head of the Church - “the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Paul writes that we share one faith.  That faith is what Peter stood before the rulers and elders and teachers of religion in Jerusalem and declared, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).  We believe that Jesus is the only hope of humankind and our only means of salvation.  Not Buddha or Mohammed or Joseph Smith.  Only Jesus.

Paul writes that we share one baptism.  Baptism is like being a donut.  People get either dunked or sprinkled.  Sometimes both.  Christian baptism is always linked to Jesus Christ.  It always finds its source in His death and resurrection.

Jesus is the reason the Church exists.  He’s established it by His shed blood and broken body.  We’re here because of Him - not us.  There is only one Lord of the Church.  Be diligent to keep trusting Jesus and unity will be preserved.  Once more.  Be diligent to keep trusting Jesus and unity will be preserved

Verse 6 - God the Father.  One God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

Verses 4 to 6 focus on the Tri-unity of God.  Each part focuses on a different person of the Trinity - Spirit - Son - Father.  God existing as one divine nature and yet three distinct persons.  One God - three distinct persons - without division - and yet each unique.  Its the ultimate in unity.  That’s a mind bender isn’t it?

Stay with me and notice the order here.  Normally we hear the three persons of the Trinity listed in what order?  Father - Son - Spirit.  Paul has it backwards - Spirit - Son - Father.  Why?  Its a crescendo - from Spirit to Father.  An arrow pointing at the Father.  He’s pointing to a truth.  In this diverse unity - behind it all is the Father. 

Scripture tells us that the Son and the Spirit proceed from the Father.  The Father gives direction to their work.  The Father initiates creation.  The Father is the author of salvation.  The supremacy of the Father.  God the Father who is “over all and through all and in all.”

Hear this:  In the ultimate unity of the Godhead it is the role of the Father to initiate and give leadership.

How does the Lord’s Prayer begin?  “Our Father.”  That’s intimate - personal.  God - the Father - reveals Himself to us.  He’s knowable - loving - caring.  We’re His children.  In His role - leading the Godhead - it is our Father who gives direction and purpose and life to the Church.

As siblings - that puts us on the same level doesn’t it?  We’re not the parent here.  God is.  As siblings be diligent to follow our Father’s purpose for His Church and unity will be preserved.  Once more.  As siblings be diligent to follow our Father’s purpose for His Church and unity will be preserved.

Thinking this through for us today. 

The Spirit takes care of all the inside deep stuff of the Church.  Jesus has taken care of what we believe and why.  The Father is behind the scenes making it all happen.

That reduces our stress level - doesn’t it? 

God creates unity.  We are to preserve it.  Try that with me, “God creates unity.  We are to preserve it.”

It is so crucial for us to realize that we’re called to understand each other.  To be humble and gentle and patient and loving towards each other.  To pray for one another.  To encourage and uplift and support and protect one another.  To forgive one another.  To let go of grudges and bitterness and resentments.  To do all those things that preserve the unity that’s already been created by God.

If we can get below the surface of all the stuff of church - all the surface stuff that we tend to focus on - we’ll see that God has been doing something incredible.  Right here.  Something by His grace and mercy and love - below the surface - that will rise up - and not only be a joy for us to be a part of - but attractive to those around us.

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.