WALKING WORTHILY by Bola Olu-Jordan
Text: Ephesians 4:1
‘I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace’ (Eph.4:1-3).
Other Translations
- Calling
- Set Standard
Definition: Vocation is defined as an employment, trade or profession.
Walk worthily means being able to defend what you profess to be.
The First Question
What is your vocation? What do you profess; what are you called? What are you called to do?
You are called:
- a Christian
- Brother
- Born Again
- Leader
- Elder
- Worker
- Etc.
Walk of worthy of it!
Can we call you a brother, sister, Christian, leader, elder, pastor, evangelist, etc
Can you defend what you profess?
Can you pray the price?
Can you stand the drilling?
Can you withstand the furnace of your profession?
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be Revealed By Fire; and the fire shall try it.
You must not ordinarily know your vocation, you must be sure of it.
The knowledge and the assurance of your calling is the only shield that will see you through the challenges of your calling when they come and they shall come!
Many people desire to walk worthy of their calling but lack the power!
You desire to be
Faithful
Diligent
Competent
Trustworthy
Discipline
Dependable
Capable
Diligent
But you are not!
Don’t blame or condemn yourself.
You are given an assignment to do, but you didn’t do it.
You are asked to do one thing or the other, but you didn’t do it
You desire to, but somehow, you cant’
Maybe because of sleep, etc
You will receive the power today.
You desire to be a good Christian, prayerful Christian, diligent in church, etc You will get the power today.
There are tools to help you do this;
I will tell you these tools and you will pray them into your life and before you go, you will receive them.
Before Then:
2 Important Things
1: Be sure of your calling: Be sure that you are called into which you profess
- a Christian
- worker
- chorister
- Prayer warrior
2Pe 1:10 ‘Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble’
2. Abide by your calling
- Don’t seek another
- Don’t covet another
- Be a solider, stay at your duty post
- Until help come
- Help will come
1Co 7:20 Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.
1Co 7:24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
Rom. 1:7: Called to be saints
1Cor.1:1: Called to be an apostle
Psalmists, exhorters, encouragers, workers, deputies, leaders, administrators, followers,
TOOLS TO MAKE YOU WORK WORTHILY
‘I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace’ (Eph.4:1-3).
LOWLINESS: Accept that you are helpless and need help.
You are not yet in your maximum
You are operating below capacity
Psa 138:6 For though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the haughty he knoweth from afar.
Luk 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Pro 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners, but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
Pro 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honour.
Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Pro 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Luk 1:52 He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.
Rom 12:10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honour preferring one another;
Being lowly means:
1. Not looking for recognition.
2. Being at the back ground yet making things to happen at the foreground.
3. Prefering your neighbour. (Rom.12:10
4. No ambition
5. Weaned of titles, position, recognition, etc.
6. Don’t want to be known
Lowliness is a life of deliberate sacrifice
MEEKNESS (humble, submissive or gentle):
Be quick to hear but slow to speak
Psa 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek after him: let your heart live for ever.
1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
LONGSUFFERING: 2Co 6:3
Endure suffering. Jesus, Joseph
2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.
2Co 6:3 giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;
2Co 6:4 but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
2Co 6:6 in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Ghost, in love unfeigned,
2Co 6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2Co 6:8 by glory and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
2Co 6:9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
2Co 6:10 as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness,
Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearance (Patience, self control, tolerance): Forbearance is bearing (carrying) something.
Strength to carry a load and not complain:
Provocation, frustration, dispossession, disappointment, deprivation, slander, criticism, cheating, libel, malignment, hatred, lies.
Self control in mouth: it is not everything you see you talk about.
Tolerate people attitude
Be patient with all men
Be careful in reporting your brethren
Be careful in drawing conclusions on issues
God respects people who will keep quiet in times of trouble
The strength of your tolerance is how long you are able to maintain your calm during intense provocation.
Endeavour to keep the unity:
Whatever will break the unity of the spirit, avoid it.
It’s like husband and wife.
It’s not everything you see concerning your friend’s wife that you tell your friend.
You will not tell an elder in the church about what another elder said about him
Strive!: Let there be no division among the brethren because of you.
Let not the name of God be blasphemed through you
Words are seed! Be careful the type of words you sow in the name of fellowship or prayer points
All these are the fruits of the spirit’