The Walk of Unity.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] My name is Steve. This is your first time here. I am also I’m one of the pastors here. I do [0:06] Majority of the teaching here on Sunday morning. So if you come there’s a great chance you’ll hear from me [0:12] Hopefully by the end of the sermon you’ll be able to decide whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing [0:17] If you have your Bibles, though go ahead and open them to Ephesians chapter 4 Ephesians chapter 4

[0:25] Now for the last nine weeks I believe it is we have been talking about the book of Ephesians going through [0:32] Ephesians laying out what is really God’s blueprint for his church for all time what God is really doing [0:41] Throughout history and throughout this work that we hear about especially this week what we will be focusing in on [0:48] And that is the death of the burial the resurrection of Jesus as Easter is next Sunday [0:53] But the book of Ephesians what it does is is it gives us this laser focus as [1:00] To what specifically it is that God wants us to do

[1:06] with what he has done and [1:08] This book begins by just laying out that before the foundations of the earth before God spoke anything [1:16] Into existence he had a plan as to how through it all [1:21] That he would redeem a people for himself from their sin so that forever they would worship him [1:27] Now what I want to do is I want to kind of start out because in Ephesians chapter 4 what we have is this transition [1:35] chapters 1 through 3 what they do is they really set the scene and build a

[1:40] foundation of what God has done and what chapters 4 through 6 are gonna do is [1:48] They’re going to lay out really some of the specifics as to how that [1:53] Tangibly affects the way that I see myself [1:56] But also the way I live my life the purpose for which I live my life and the vision that I am to have for my life [2:05] Going forward and so in order to do that [2:08] I want to just kind of recap for just a moment some of the things that we have learned thus far in the book of

[2:14] Ephesians all right back in chapter 1 [2:17] Starting in verse 11 what we have is this reality that God has eternally planned through Jesus to save [2:25] for himself a people [2:28] But it’s for him. It’s for his glory [2:30] It’s his doing and so we begin with this reality that life and all of its purposes [2:37] Don’t begin with us

[2:39] But rather they begin with God and what he wants to do through his creation and that nothing catches him off guard [2:46] He’s completely sovereign that he has a plan for all time and then down in verse 18 of that same chapter [2:53] We have the reality that our hearts are enlightened as he calls us to the glory of his riches [3:00] So this is his plan for his glory, but we reap a great deal of benefits from this [3:08] That even though sin is real and it kills us and we’re dead in our sin [3:12] God does not leave us that way

[3:14] But he includes us to reap the benefits of his glory rather than the condemnation that we deserve for our sin [3:21] And then in chapters 1 21 through 23 we see that all who are redeemed are the body of Christ and make up his [3:29] church [3:29] That those who realize the redemption through Jesus those who have faith in God those who follow him [3:38] We are the ones that make up his church which he says in verse 23 [3:43] He says that we are the fullness of him who fills all in all the way that God wants to be known in this life

[3:49] Is through those people whom he has redeemed [3:53] Then in chapter 2 verses 4 through 10 we see that we are saved from the death of sin and [3:58] transformed for the work of God in chapter 2 verses 18 through 22 [4:03] We see that we are reconciled with God in other words [4:07] We did not have a relationship, but through the work of Jesus we are given a [4:12] relationship in which we do not incur his wrath but incur his favor and we are joined with others through that to build his church

[4:20] So not only does he call us to be with him to know him [4:25] But he calls us also to live for him and for the mission that he’s unfolding [4:30] Then in 310 we see that the church reveals the eternal wisdom of God as we live out his purpose of [4:38] Redemption and then finally we took a look at last week chapter 3 verses 20 through 21 [4:43] We see that through God’s power our vision is one of the mission of Jesus [4:50] And as he finishes laying that foundation his focus just gets even more laser-sharp

[4:58] And it just focuses in that we exist [5:02] To be used by God we exist for no other purpose [5:07] And then in redemption we actually have the opportunity to live that purpose and design out [5:17] So in chapter 4 verse 1 he begins and he just simply says if I can get that up

[5:25] Some of you were writing and you’re like I hate you [5:28] I didn’t finish writing. All right, it’ll be up on the website this week. I’m sure [5:34] Somehow how that happens. I really never know I [5:39] He says in chapter verse 1 of chapter 4 [5:42] He says I therefore in other words just to pause for a moment [5:45] Kind of like at the beginning of chapter 3 when he says for this reason in chapter 4

[5:50] He begins by saying I therefore in other words in light of all that I have just written [5:56] So everything that we just kind of summarized [5:59] What Paul is about to say is in light of that [6:05] He says I therefore a prisoner for the Lord [6:10] Urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and [6:18] gentleness with patience

[6:20] Bearing with one another in love eager to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace [6:26] There is one body and one spirit [6:30] Just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call [6:34] one Lord one faith one baptism one God and father of all who is over all and [6:42] Through all and in all so if you notice there at the end he kind of really wants us to get this one thing [6:49] Right that it is one call one baptism one faith one God and father

[6:55] Who’s overall in all he wants us to kind of come to this place where we understand that all of it is going to a [7:02] specific place [7:03] That we’re not just wandering aimlessly through the journey of Christianity, but we have a destination [7:10] And it is God [7:11] But he begins in verse 1 [7:13] He says a few things that I really want to unpack and I want to spend a great majority of what we’re talking about today

[7:20] On part of verse 1 and that is the calling I [7:24] Want to focus in on that I want to talk about the calling to which you have been called [7:30] And he tells us something very interesting. He says that we are to walk in a manner [7:38] worthy of a specific calling [7:42] Okay, so point number one if you’re if you’re writing things down this morning, I don’t mind that [7:47] Redemption what God has brought us to in chapters 1 through 3

[7:51] Redemption is a unified calling to follow Jesus [7:56] And you may say well, yeah, of course if Jesus redeems its for Jesus. We’re supposed to follow Jesus [8:01] That’s the definition of a Christian [8:02] But I want to put forward to you this morning that the one thing that I’ve noticed over the past [8:07] years of ministry that I’ve done a [8:09] Little over a decade now one thing that I’ve seen as I have many

[8:14] Conversations is that we do not see the calling of God through Jesus on our lives as a unified calling

[8:23] We oftentimes [8:25] See it as some people are called to this level [8:29] Some people are called to this level. Some people are here. Some people are here and [8:33] Typically what we see our calling as we’re kind of way down here [8:38] We’re not a super Christian

[8:42] We’re left alone to do these other things because we’re not gifted to do some of the more what we think are a little more [8:48] Spectacular things that other people do and we create inevitably [8:52] Inside of many churches, and I think we do it on accident sometimes, but oftentimes as an excuse [8:58] We make a totem pole of callings

[9:02] We say well, I’m not a pastor [9:06] I’m just this [9:09] All right, I can’t preach or I can’t sing or I can’t do this thing. I’m not really good in front of people [9:15] I don’t have very many conversation skills [9:18] I don’t have any real [9:19] Giftings in denial of everything scripture is gonna say about that you really believe that and you think well

[9:24] I’m just meant to kind of live a mediocre [9:27] Christian life in which I get some of the benefits I get to avoid hell and [9:31] I get heaven [9:33] But in this life [9:35] I don’t live out as much of the calling of God as other people and what I want to put forward to you today [9:41] Is that is extremely unbiblical at best

[9:45] And at worst it’s sinful and faithless

[9:51] You will not find any type of calling

[9:58] To follow Jesus [10:01] Any more than any other calling

[10:05] Everyone is called

[10:09] Everyone [10:11] if you are a follower of Jesus you are [10:16] Called to follow him with [10:19] Everything you have in your life, and I think some of this begins with a great misunderstanding of what grace is [10:27] In Ephesians chapter 2 verses 9 and 10 [10:31] Kind of starting in verse 8, but especially in 9 and 10 Paul writes that we were not saved by works

[10:40] Okay, so oftentimes when we read that we almost want to use that as some type of an excuse or some type of a way out [10:48] Of actually living for Jesus once we are redeemed by Jesus [10:53] But if you focus on what verse 10 says when it lays out this great vision that we are his workmanship [11:00] Created in Christ Jesus for what?

[11:04] for good works [11:07] We are not saved by our works, but we are necessarily saved for good works [11:16] We are saved by grace, but this grace causes a [11:21] Revolutionary transformation in our lives and absent the change that grace brings into our lives [11:28] There was no grace that came into your life

[11:33] It changes us and it frees us to live the life that God [11:40] Designed for us to live before the foundations of the earth verse 10 even gets so specific [11:46] That it says these works that we are walking into were prepared beforehand by God for us to walk into [11:54] So the works that we do in light of the gospel are also a work of grace [12:02] Because apart from God they would not come into our lives [12:06] But God is gracious to free us from sin in order that we can walk in them

[12:13] Now oftentimes we may want to paint a picture of grace that it is so freeing [12:20] That we just do whatever we want [12:23] And I think if you’ve ever really thought about the gospel you have to have asked yourself that question [12:29] Well, do I do anything? Yes [12:32] Yes, you do [12:35] We are given grace not to just do what we want because that is what sin was

[12:43] See our problem is oftentimes we paint no difference between the life of sin to the life that we live in the grace of God [12:50] In sin you were free to fulfill yourself in any way that you wanted to and the ends of that is death [12:58] So when you are in the driver’s seat realize that your destination is not God [13:04] It is only when God comes in takes over transforms through the work of Jesus that you have any semblance of life at all [13:14] And so grace is a freeing agent to live as you were designed to that is what freedom is otherwise you are a slave to sin [13:23] But Paul says something very interesting in verse 1 of chapter 4 when he says I a prisoner for the Lord

[13:32] You notice how Paul says that [13:34] So what he’s doing there is he’s putting forth this idea [13:38] That he the life that he lives in light of grace is a life that is taken totally captive to God [13:45] Because there’s nothing else worth captive or worth being captivated by [13:49] There’s nothing else that saves there’s no one else that can give life [13:53] There’s nothing else that can ultimately and eternally satisfy you no matter how hard you try other than God

[14:00] So Paul through faith says I have been taken captive to something and [14:07] In the freedom of God, it’s God himself that you were taken captive to [14:11] But then he jumps off of that and he wants the Ephesian Church and I say he wants us to know today that we also [14:20] Are called to the same type of living that Paul was called to [14:27] When right after that he says I urge you

[14:32] And the word there is in some older translations is beseech, but it can also be translated as bag

[14:42] It’s this emotive way of pleading with someone with great force because you are desperate for them to get it

[14:53] He says I beg you [14:56] To understand what it is that you have been called to I [15:04] Beg you to walk worthy I [15:09] Beg you to move with God I [15:13] Beg you to understand that you’ve been called to something outside of yourself [15:18] That when we continue to live for self-fulfillment

[15:22] When we continue to live for nothing but our own values when we continue to live on the [15:29] Destination that we have mapped out apart from God’s will

[15:36] That takes zero faith

[15:39] Paul is urging them to also along with him be prisoners for the Lord [15:48] Okay, now this calling because we then kind of have to ask ourselves a question. What is it? [15:55] That we have been called to okay, so I just went through a couple of scriptures and

[16:02] We it would take us hours to go through them all so I just picked out a few [16:06] Scriptures that kind of lay out what it is that we have been called to because he uses this language again in verse 1 [16:13] Excuse me in chapter 1 verse 18 when he says we’ve been called to the riches of his glory [16:19] But over in Romans chapter 12 verse 1 I’m gonna get a couple of different things up on the screen [16:23] We’re not gonna read all these passages if you want to write them down go read over them later [16:28] I’m just gonna summarize each and every one of them in Romans chapter 12 verse 1

[16:32] We are called to offer God our entire lives for his purpose in worship [16:38] That the only way God is worshiped is when we say here I am [16:43] Take everything [16:45] My vision my values my purpose have it all God it’s for you [16:50] He calls us living sacrifices in first John chapter 2 verse 17. We’re actually called to desire [16:57] The will of God we’re not called to say all right

[17:03] If I have to [17:05] No, we’re called to take joy and that God is inviting us to live his mission in 2nd Peter chapter 5 [17:12] chapter 2 verses 5 through 10, and this is really the passage in Scripture that I think the most just

[17:20] Disqualifies us from having any notion that one of us is more called to follow God than any other [17:26] Follower of Jesus because it sets up the idea of the priesthood of believers [17:30] So we are all saints in God [17:32] We are all priests in God and he kind of tells us that we’re called then to be a people [17:38] Who build his church and also find our identity in being his church [17:44] Then in Galatians chapter 5 verse 17

[17:47] We’re called to follow what God the Spirit has revealed and not our sinful desires and what are sinful desires [17:54] I would say sinful desires or anything that takes us away from that which God has planned for us to do [18:00] In 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verses 8 through 10. We’ve been called [18:05] to holiness, but [18:07] That holiness has a specific look it’s not simply not doing certain things [18:13] That we are actually made holy by living for the gospel

[18:17] Through God’s power to further his purpose which was revealed in Jesus [18:23] That’s a mouthful. I’ll give you a second to read it. I [18:28] Couldn’t summarize it any better than that. There’s a lot there [18:30] All right, then in Philippians chapter 1 verse 27 [18:33] We are called to live a life that propels the purpose of discipleship

[18:40] Paul says in that passage [18:41] He says that whether or not I’m away or whether or not I’m with you [18:45] I pray that you are standing side by side arm in arm [18:50] Following Jesus and basically this arm by arm side by side analogy saying is bringing others to follow Jesus [18:57] Colossians chapter 1 verse 10. We’re called to bear fruit [19:01] Pleasing God with our work and we’re called to grow in our knowledge of him

[19:06] 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 and this whole chapter is just as great [19:13] Writing of Paul where he writes that we are called to live as people who are [19:19] Destined for God’s kingdom and to be used of God as his ambassadors for reconciliation [19:26] That we are called to show the world that our citizenship is in heaven and we desire to be there with him [19:34] By the way that we live right now [19:37] As you can see this is just a few places in scripture that just kind of unfold

[19:43] What it is that we’ve been called to do and next we bring it very specific a lot more specific as to how that [19:55] Offices of the calling like the pastoral office. We’re kind of tempted to say that others have more [20:03] Responsibility in this than we do because their offices are more focused in on certain aspects of teaching others the gospel [20:10] But the reality is is that every office and every gift that God gives anyone [20:16] Exists for one purpose and one purpose alone and that is to bring him glory by [20:23] Furthering the work of redemption in lives of others

[20:26] Whether you are a banker whether you work at a retail store whether or not you are a real estate agent whether or not you [20:33] Work in a school teaching people whether or not you are a pastor you are called to use [20:38] every gift God gives you in what you do for the purpose of the gospel and

[20:45] Discipleship then is how we learn to harness those gifts and abilities to do that

[20:53] Now [20:54] Secondly we see that when this calling comes in our lives [20:58] And we realize this calling that God gives on our lives, and we kind of realize man. I am called where does it take us?

[21:07] and [21:07] That’s why Paul gets very specific when he talks about a key issue of unity and then a key issue of the [21:14] Singularity of what God has called us to that you when he keeps saying one one one one and verses five and six [21:21] The first thing I want to talk about is the unity of who we are as a church [21:25] Okay, that Jesus if we’re following him in this calling then he’s going to lead us to a certain destination [21:32] Drives me nuts when people are like one guy’s like well

[21:36] Jesus is leading me in this direction another guy’s Jesus is leading me in this direction another guy’s like Jesus is leading me in [21:40] This direction, and they’re all in the same church [21:43] Everybody’s got a different goal different purpose different way different meaning and so we try to keep that on other people inside the church [21:50] So what you end up having is a couple of hundred people who are doing different things in a church that’s going nowhere [21:56] You can’t do it that way that is not what God has called us to do now focus in on the text [22:04] and verse 2

[22:06] He tells us with all humility and gentleness with patience bearing with one another in love and unpack each of those things [22:13] He says eager to maintain what the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace [22:19] Now where else has he talked about the spirit talked about it a lot in chapter 2 [22:25] And if you didn’t hear those sermons go back listen to the podcast watch the videos [22:31] If you don’t want to look at me just listen to the podcast I know that’s tough all right it’s distracting [22:38] They couldn’t find anybody better looking sorry all right they tried

[22:44] All right what he’s talking about here, and when he says the unity of the spirit is that all of those attributes [22:50] right humility gentleness patience bearing with one another love all of that flows a [22:58] Certain direction if it is out of and for the calling of God [23:04] It’s all going to go in the same same direction [23:06] And that is the direction that the spirit is leading if you remember in X and excuse me in Ephesians chapter 2 [23:13] He talked about that we all have all of those that are redeemed by Jesus have access to God through one

[23:21] spirit and [23:23] So that access that we have to a relationship with God is going to go through the power of God by his [23:30] Spirit and it has a direction which Jesus talked about in John chapter 14 when he said that once I leave [23:37] I’m going to send another who’s greater than I that is the Holy Spirit who will number one bring to [23:44] remembrance all that I have taught you and [23:47] Also give you help as you obey all that I commanded you

[23:53] But what flow is that directional Holy Spirit that comes to us what flow is he going to give us and what direction is that? [24:02] Jesus [24:02] So specifically the purposes for which Jesus redeems us for are the direction that the spirit and all that he does in our life [24:11] Is going to give us [24:13] therefore [24:14] The work of redemption is the call of the Holy Spirit on all of our lives, and he also gives us postures

[24:21] Through which we are able to do that and the first posture that he’s going to give us is the Holy Spirit [24:27] Excuse me is humility [24:29] All right now this is all leading that he’s leading us into [24:34] Unity and that unity then is necessarily going to create a missional community [24:40] All right, so Jesus leads us into unity through missional community. Okay. Try to be humble when you’re looking at a mirror

[24:49] Now some of you you may have self-esteem this you show that’s how I do it

[24:53] I just look at a mirror me too. All right. All right, you know [24:57] That’s all I’m talking about [24:59] When we talk about humility when we talk about gentleness when we talk about [25:05] Kindness or bearing with one another and love when we talk about the thing or even when we talk about unity [25:10] You can’t do that by yourself

[25:14] You can’t now we will try to [25:17] We can’t so humility and gentleness. What what is that? All right first and foremost [25:24] Humility is a posture that we take with God [25:28] All right. This calling is towards God through Jesus [25:31] So in humility we realize that he is God and I am NOT I exist for his purposes [25:37] He does not exist for my purposes. I

[25:42] Exist for his mission. He doesn’t exist for mine [25:46] All right, and realizing that is a form and posture of humility [25:52] Now what that then does is [25:56] You begin to also take humility in your relationship with others as God [26:02] Pours himself into you you do what the cross reveals you put others before you put yourself

[26:10] You take a posture of humility towards others and this is a struggle don’t get me wrong [26:16] I’m not gonna get up here and lie to you. I struggle with this

[26:22] I really live oftentimes as if [26:26] My way is way superior my needs far superior [26:32] And I just have an inkling that maybe you’re the same way [26:35] Because something called sin sometimes it’ll do that to us. I’m just the one that’ll be honest about it

[26:43] Humility is actually seeing others as mattering to God

[26:48] Humility is the realization that God has called you to push others up [26:54] Push them to push them. It’s not for them to push you up and [26:59] I think a lot of times our relationships inside of the church [27:01] Struggle because we believe everyone else in the church exists to exalt us [27:07] Well, no one’s exalting me. I don’t like it here

[27:12] Well, they’re not being humble so why should I [27:15] See you see how our mind will play tricks on us where we’ll focus on someone else’s humility before we’ll focus on our own

[27:23] You exist to exalt others [27:26] Not the other way around now what’s then gonna happen if everyone’s doing that [27:32] What Paul said in a Philippians chapter 1 verse 27 standing side by side for the purposes of God? [27:39] No one is ahead of anybody else no one is kind of dragging everybody down [27:46] No one’s really going their way [27:47] Everybody’s going God’s way and we are living out the offices and gifts that God has made us specifically for

[27:55] We’re gonna talk a lot about that next week because sometimes we can get into this kind of conversation or like see [28:00] There’s no authority no authority structure in the church. No, there is an authority structure [28:05] God clearly made it happen or else we really wouldn’t get anywhere

[28:10] But God has called those of us even an authority to live lives of humility where we help others and then that humility turns into gentleness [28:19] All right. Now I will say some of you guys are stubborn [28:24] All right, I’m joking around outside. You won’t even get here on time. So it’s like, you know, this is a struggle [28:30] All right. I’m just kidding with you. Not really show up early, but uh [28:36] It’s a joke really no [28:39] Here’s here’s what I’m saying in gentleness

[28:42] We are not going to be perfect 100% of the time none of us [28:47] I’m good if I’m 25% of the time good ask my wife [28:51] All right [28:52] So what we do sometimes is we will then begin to whip each other and beat each other and be mean to each other [29:01] And be so hard on each other that it is just an unbearable load of expectation that we can’t take

[29:09] So [29:10] God has called us to be gentle [29:13] because here [29:15] now sometimes [29:18] We need the cattle prod [29:21] But oftentimes we just need to listen a little better to each other

[29:25] You have no idea what someone else is going through [29:27] You have no idea of the wise of [29:31] someone else’s life so sometimes in humility [29:36] When we put others needs in front of our own we need to listen a little more than we do [29:41] I’m preaching to myself right there [29:44] All right, but then

[29:46] Okay, then it goes further doesn’t stop there. All right, then he calls us [29:52] and he says [29:55] Bearing excuse me with patience now, who’s the greatest example of patience God why us? [30:04] All right, he hasn’t killed us that’s an ultimate patient Luke chapter 12 Jesus literally says he could [30:12] And we should fear him because of it [30:14] But he’s the ultimate example of patience where it literally says that he was patient with us until redemption

[30:21] All right, so we need to be patient with one another [30:24] We’ll never get anywhere if we’re not [30:27] Then he says bearing with one another in love [30:30] Now that’s where I want to get that laser-sharp focus back because that’s where I think Paul is taking it in that laser-sharp focus [30:37] Oftentimes we want humility gentleness and patience and then even bearing with one another [30:43] To be totally human focused

[30:47] But when Paul [30:49] Lays that trump card of love on us [30:52] He then explains why? [30:54] We’re doing those other things it is not just to be nice [30:59] It is not just to be those people that are really smiley with each other and oh [31:05] And then just leaving each other in the muck and the mire of the sinful existence that we have

[31:11] No [31:13] No, Paul gave us the end of chapter 3 a definition of love [31:18] 1st Corinthians chapter 13 that wedding passage [31:22] Gives us a definition of love it love must drive us to the cross [31:29] If it does not then it is not love in its ultimate value [31:36] When we bear with one another in love that means that we are living

[31:41] discipleship [31:43] Relationships in which we help one another we love one another we live for one another [31:49] But we are pointing one another towards the cross which reveals the mission of Jesus [31:58] The unity of the spirit has a direction and that direction is the direction of love [32:05] But it is not love as defined by you or the culture around you it is love as [32:13] defined by

[32:14] God through the work of his son Jesus which Ephesians chapter 1 said [32:20] Reveals the mystery of his will for all time

[32:25] Love is the cross [32:28] So if I am going to live in real humility if I’m going to live in real gentleness [32:34] If I’m going to live a life in which I bear with each of you and with which you are bearing with me [32:40] It is not just a nice kind of thing but rather it is an urgent thing where Paul says I urge you [32:50] To walk in a manner worthy of the call to which you’ve been called [32:57] That is the direction of love it is not me leaving you as you are because God did not

[33:05] Leave me as I was [33:07] He redeemed me then he began to change me and he’s not done with that yet [33:14] So if we allow one another to live in the meaningless [33:18] Existences that we naturally want to live for then we do not love one another

[33:27] We’re phony [33:29] fake [33:31] But I think that is what oftentimes we want [33:36] And when someone has the audacity

[33:40] To challenge me to actually live the mission

[33:47] How dare they they’re not humble who do they think they are

[33:55] They think they love you

[33:59] And the only real love is a love that points you to Jesus [34:05] Everything else is counterfeit [34:09] So when we toy [34:12] With just these niceties [34:15] That don’t point people to Jesus [34:18] We’re not humble

[34:20] Reason being is because we’re putting our way above God’s way. That’s not humble [34:27] And that light you think you’re God because you think your mission is above his

[34:33] We must be honest with ourselves that most of the time we don’t know what real love is [34:40] Most of the time we live by a definition of our own making [34:44] Most of the time we are more willing to let people waste their lives [34:50] Than we are to say hey, you’re not going the right direction

[34:58] How unloving is that [35:02] I refuse

[35:05] Refuse to stand before God and have him look at me and say [35:11] Did you tell people what real love is? [35:14] Because I think that’s an indictment on my faith

[35:18] Because if I don’t plead with people to follow Jesus if I don’t plead with people about the authority of Scripture if I don’t [35:25] Plead with people about the reality of hell if I don’t plead with people about the reality of what God has really called us to [35:32] In discipleship, then what do I actually believe? I believe a gospel that I wrote myself

[35:42] And that’s a false gospel folks

[35:45] God’s gospel is real God’s gospel is specific and that leads us into a unified hope [35:54] That Jesus leads us into a hope that is definite leads us into a hope that is [36:01] Specific leads us into a hope that has a name and it’s the name that’s above all other names. It’s the name of Jesus

[36:10] That’s where hope is found

[36:14] If you focus on the end there

[36:19] We see that there is one body [36:22] A church body of Christ [36:26] There’s one spirit [36:27] Just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call one lord one faith one baptism one god [36:34] And father of all who is overall and through all and in all

[36:39] It’s singular laser sharp focus

[36:45] Oftentimes [36:47] We treat discipleship and we treat the gospel and even god we treat it as though it’s very vague [36:53] Very vague. It’s not very clear. So it takes a bunch of different forms and I don’t believe that

[37:00] I believe in the vagueness of scripture now. There are some areas that we can squabble about

[37:07] But I think the purpose to which we have been called has been made so crystal clear that we just don’t want to have to [37:14] Rearrange our lives [37:17] So we pretend it’s not [37:21] We pretend it has a bunch of different makes and models [37:25] You just kind of pick and choose on the buffet of god [37:27] Which part of his calling and which part of his will you want to take part in and if you just do one or two

[37:32] You’re doing a really good job and you’re allowed to waste the rest of your life

[37:37] Paul sounds a little more urgent than that to me [37:40] Paul sounds like a guy that’s trying to tell a bunch of people who may miss it

[37:47] That they need to get it together [37:51] When we’re walking worthy of the manner with which we have been called what that does is [37:57] Is it causes me to understand that there is great tension? [38:02] I’m going to call you in that as we close [38:05] That there is a oftentimes a great tension [38:09] Between the way in which I am living my life

[38:14] And the way in which scripture describes as I need to be living my life

[38:21] There is a great tension [38:24] Between what faith really is and how my faith is typically lived out

[38:31] And we cannot live in apathy of that tension [38:38] We must live in it [38:41] We must take joy through it and we must look at texts like this and see there’s one body [38:48] There’s one spirit. There’s one god and father of all and he is the god over all and you say where’s the hope there? [38:55] I’m not seeing hope what we’re seeing is is that since god is over all [39:02] Then everything exists for him

[39:05] So if I am going to do anything with my life that will ever have any meaning [39:12] Whatsoever then it must be done for him

[39:20] That means to me it matters what I do [39:24] That means that my life counts [39:28] That means that my choices matter [39:32] That means that I must look to scripture and then look to my life and say are they parallel?

[39:43] God does not enter the life of your making

[39:49] God calls you to enter into his life through jesus

[39:54] And oftentimes what we do [39:57] Is we say okay, I’ll trust him. I’ll believe in him now. I’m gonna look around in the life that I’m living right now [40:03] Everything that I’m doing right now [40:06] Because I don’t really want to change anything [40:07] And i’m gonna see where I can fit him [40:10] Where can I pencil god in?

[40:13] You say oh people don’t really do that. I’d probably say you do it

[40:19] If you truly have faith in jesus the repercussions of that are major [40:26] If you say you have jesus if you say you trust in jesus what that means biblically [40:32] Is you say that everything then in your life?

[40:38] Is made suspect [40:40] and if [40:41] Anything stands in the way of him being your one [40:47] Desire of him being your one god then you are willing to get rid of it

[40:55] Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 and 2 say that we are getting rid of sin [41:00] And everything else that weighs us down [41:04] That and is very important [41:06] That means there are some things I can’t specifically label as sin, but I still need to get them out of my life

[41:13] That means career

[41:17] I’m not saying god’s gonna call you to change your career. I’m saying if you trust jesus you might be willing to

[41:28] Relationships [41:28] Now scripture lays out if you’re married [41:31] And your spouse isn’t [41:33] Then you had better live as one who desires for your spouse to come to know the lord doesn’t mean you leave your spouse [41:39] No one leaves their spouse because jesus told them to unless there’s a situation of abuse unless there’s a situation of infidelity [41:45] But if you are in a dating relationship

[41:49] You need to ask yourself is this glorifying to god because if it’s not you need to be willing to break up

[41:55] Your children [41:58] Are you raising them as disciples of christ or are you raising them as disciples of this world? [42:04] Are you tangibly and practically telling them that there are some things that matter more than the gospel of jesus?

[42:14] What are you willing to sacrifice

[42:19] So that they can reach new levels [42:23] Now what I mean by that is are you willing to sacrifice certain other things so that above all they can be a disciple of jesus [42:29] Or are you willing to sacrifice them being a disciple of jesus so they can reach other heights?

[42:37] Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you’ve been called

[42:43] That tells me following jesus trumps absolutely everything else

[42:49] That tells me that as we enter into this week [42:53] As we enter into a week in which we focus in on the cross of jesus [43:00] That we are a people who are called to follow the one god whose destination has been made real [43:11] Only in him because he’s god overall in all and everything else [43:16] Through all it’s only in him that life can possibly have any meaning [43:22] Because he’s going to be the one that’s left in the end

[43:25] He’s going to be the one that sets up a kingdom not me not any of the other false gods that i’m following [43:30] And if we enter into this week what i’m calling you to is I am calling you to enter into a week [43:34] And would you really look at the life that you are living and you take real inventory of where you’re going

[43:43] You take real inventory of where your family’s going [43:47] You take real inventory of how the decisions that you are making are impacting the kingdom

[43:57] Because all of our decisions impact the kingdom in one way or another one reveals faith and one does not

[44:06] Does your life reflect true trust in the cross of jesus

[44:15] And I know this is a hard message it’s hard to preach

[44:22] But the only way I can grow in my relationship with god [44:27] Is by furthering a redemption in my life [44:29] And in the lives of others [44:32] And it would not be loving [44:35] If I did not tell you the same thing [44:39] Because that’s what scripture calls us towards and it is ultimate avoidance

[44:46] Everything in my life is suspect to the gospel [44:53] And everything in my life must be driven by the gospel [44:58] Right now I want to enter into a time in which we reflect on this

[45:04] Today is a day in which we reflect on the day that jesus came into jerusalem [45:11] And people shouted hosanna

[45:16] Today we reflect on the beginning of the final week of jesus’s life on this earth [45:21] And as the band comes up I want you to realize that that as we reflect in communion [45:28] And as we reflect in the life of the cross [45:29] That jesus did not head into jerusalem where he knew he would die with any hesitation

[45:40] Because he knew what was on the other side

[45:46] And as you look at the possibility of real life change and what you really start to live like the gospel matters more

[45:56] Don’t hesitate because jesus didn’t

[46:02] Run to his table [46:06] Enjoy his feast his body and his blood through this bread and this juice what it represents

[46:15] And then run into the culture with a life that reflects the hope of god

[46:25] If you don’t know him you can know him today [46:30] I’d love to talk to you about it there’s people in the back that would love to talk to you about it [46:33] But if you know him whenever you’re ready come and worship him