Text: Ephesians 4:1-6
By: SUNNY OGUMOR
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Introduction
There is always a purpose for people coming together in a group, even wild animals, birds and fishes in the water moves together in groups. “Birds of the same feather flock together” is an English proverb. The meaning is that beings typically, humans of similar type, interest, personality, character, or other, distinctive attribute tend to mutually associate. Those with similar interests or of the same kind tend to form groups. This is why we are together in one faith by c alling. Communities grow from minor to major as people like staying together collectively and help each other in their community. By assisting others, humans are better able to make sense of crisis and add meaning to their own lives.
Walk in Unity
Ephesians 4:1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, Ephesians 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; Ephesians 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (NKJV)
When we come together in fellowship, we teach each other things pertaining to godliness. God gives us a gift of learning and growing when we come together in fellowship, we show each other how to live as God wants us to live, and how to walk in His footsteps. Church gatherings are essential means of oneness whereby believers’ worship and are equipped to live as God’s witness people in the world. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Not only is gathering together enjoyable, but it also nurtures our most important relationships and promotes a sense of belonging and community.
Why is meeting together important for religious people? It gives us the opportunity to inspire and encourage one another. Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
When good people come together, good things happen – they feel happier, more connected, more resilient, and can make changes and improvements where they live and on what they do. Matthew 12:35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him…
God placing us together is not by mistake but for a purpose. As a church the coming together or calling is heavenly. Together, with all Christian believers, we have been called to a common position in Christ, in which we enjoy our common blessings in Christ Jesus, our common transformation in Christ and our common relationship in Christ. Just as the disciples had been called and the apostle Paul had been called so all believers have been called by God. We’ve been called to everything that God has created us to be – his people, his children, his inheritance for all who are ready to walk together in unity.
The employer will gather people together for a purpose, which is mainly to do business, to earn a living, promote humanity and encourage meaningful living. Those who pass the test and show promise to work at initial are employed but as time goes on those who show weakness to the work either resign or are relieved of their duty.
We’ve been called to a life in Christ – a holy and blameless life (1:4), a life of redemption (1:7), a life of future inheritance (1:14), a life of hope (2:12-13), a life in God’s family (2:19-22). We’ve been called to a life of unity with all other believers, a new unity, which we manifest in our practice.
We have been told to walk worthy of the calling and not to show weakness in the calling, a workman having put his hand on the plough without looking back until the work is completed is worthy of his wages. Everyday, every meeting we learn from the scriptures, Paul urges us to put into practice what we learnt from the scriptures. From what we learn we know our position in Christ. Now our practice is to reflect that position. We are to live in such a way as to support, demonstrate, and enhance the glorious position that is ours in Christ and to which we have been called. Do not be a weak link in the service and worship of God.
Paul was an example of the walk worthy of the calling, lived a life that had rendered him figuratively and literally a prisoner of the Lord. After we heed the call, we are to continuously walk on the part that conforms to our new position in Christ and not our old position in the world (Eph 2:2); a walk that reflects our blessings in Christ, our transformation in Christ, and our relationship in Christ; a walk that is consistent with the unity of the body of Christ. A person’s conduct must be consistent with their position in life.
When we accept Christ, our character is reshaped, our thinking changes (Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.); our opinions, values, and attitudes are radically changed to comport with the nature and character of Christ. Then we practice the life of humility, gentleness, patience and tolerance with one another.
Humility is that lowliness of mind that enables us to respect others. It is that lowering of self just as Christ humbled himself (Phil. 2:3-11). True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life (Proverbs 22:4, NLT). It is essential for establishing a right relationship with God and other people, also necessary for maintaining a proper perception of ourselves. Paul’s own example among the Ephesians is of one who served the Lord with all humility so he expressed it in Acts 20:19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.
Gentleness in the midst of your brethren, taking care not to cause disaffection and division in consideration towards others, not insisting on our own rights not asserting ourselves at the expense of others. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1). Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Always be humble and gentle and be wise as the faithful servant. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Patience Is a Virtue. To be patient is to be willing to wait, to be expressed by bearing one another’s weakness out of love for one another. It is fundamental to maintaining unity in our interpersonal relationships. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. I waited patiently for the Lord he inclined to me and heard my cry. Psalms 40:1. Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Keep this unity that God gave to you as lead by the Holy spirit. We are to put into practice the unity of the Spirit – that unity created by the Holy Spirit that indwells every Christian, binding us inseparably to each other. Ephesians 4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
This is a unity that exists in principle whether we live like it or not. If the character of Christian unity has been produced internally in us, then we will express it practically by living like those who are bound together by cords that cannot be broken; then we will take great pains to guard carefully the unity that is ours.
We have been called to “Walk in Unity” through our common calling, common character, and common confession that Jesus Christ is the Lord. Nothing is pressed more earnestly in the Scriptures, than to walk as becomes those called to Christ’s kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, that excellent disposition of soul, which makes men unwilling to provoke, and not easily to be provoked or offended. There is one Jesus Christ in whom all believers hope, and one heaven we are all hoping for; therefore, we should be of one heart. We all believed the same as to the great truths of religion, we had all been admitted into the church by one baptism, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sign of regeneration. By special grace the spirit of God dwells in all believers as His temple, except you repent, sinners excluded.
Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love; note that a mature person in Christ will live in this essential way, allowing love to guide his or her actions.
Conclusion:
Humility, gentleness, and patience are key to walking together in unity in the church. For the church to work right, we need internal character and attitude that is not natural to us, this only comes from God. Avail yourself as a child of God.
Remember, there is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all, therefore “Walk in Unity”, the word is our guide.
May the Good Lord add blessings to His words in Jesu Name amen.
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