I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with al lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering bearing with one another in love endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.--Ephesians 4:1-2
To My Beloved Daughters in Him,
It was noted in the previous study that the first three chapters of Ephesians were about doctrine and the last three about duty...or the first three describe our position in Christ and the last three our practice. Paul begins Chapter 4 of Ephesians by beseeching us to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called. Here in verse two and three he enumerates the 5 characteristics of the worthy walk: humility or lowliness, gentleness or meekness, long suffering, forbearing love...with the goal being endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. That is the goal...unity. The center of Christian unity is in the heart. It is not in a set of rules...it is not outward. In verse 2 Paul gives us 5 attitudes of the heart which bring about peace in the body and bind believers together.
We have now reached the third and fourth characteristics of the worthy walk: long-suffering and forbearing love.
It was noted in the previous study that the first three chapters of Ephesians were about doctrine and the last three about duty...or the first three describe our position in Christ and the last three our practice. Paul begins Chapter 4 of Ephesians by beseeching us to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called. Here in verse two and three he enumerates the 5 characteristics of the worthy walk: humility or lowliness, gentleness or meekness, long suffering, forbearing love...with the goal being endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. That is the goal...unity. The center of Christian unity is in the heart. It is not in a set of rules...it is not outward. In verse 2 Paul gives us 5 attitudes of the heart which bring about peace in the body and bind believers together.
We have now reached the third and fourth characteristics of the worthy walk: long-suffering and forbearing love.
Stepping back in review before we discuss these...humility implies total selflessness and is embodied in Christ. This is the quality that encompasses all the others and without which the others are not possible.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.--Philippians 2:3-8
Humility leads to meekness which is the kind of selflessness that never defends itself but always stands for the cause of God. It is gentle, mild spirited and self-controlled.
Meekness leads to long-suffering which can be defined as patient endurance. It is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering. It is the self restraint that does not retaliate or avenge a wrong John MacArthur describes it as the attitude that never gives in to negative circumstances. I love that!! Going with this theme then.. I picture the house that is built on a rock "The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Meekness leads to long-suffering which can be defined as patient endurance. It is the temper which does not easily succumb under suffering. It is the self restraint that does not retaliate or avenge a wrong John MacArthur describes it as the attitude that never gives in to negative circumstances. I love that!! Going with this theme then.. I picture the house that is built on a rock "The rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
It is easy to respond well and suffer long when you are not experiencing negative circumstances...when things are going your way...the test is how do you respond when things are not going your way. Do you give in to your flesh and become short-tempered or retaliatory with those around you? Do you question God? Or...Do you surrender to His will and walk in His Spirit? Beloved, endure all circumstances for His cause...be patient towards all men. Accept God's will and plan for you without argument. Refuse to defend yourself when you are offended. Defense says I am important...this life is about me and takes the focus off of God and onto you. Humility, meekness and long-suffering say it is God who is important...it is God who matters...commit Yourself to Him who judges righteously. Let the Lord be your defense...let Him bring you low and let Him exalt you in His perfect timing. Put your trust in Him and allow Him to care for your "estate." Put on the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace so that people see Jesus in your words and your actions....so that people see something in you that is "other worldly" and desire it for themselves.
The fourth inward grace of the worthy walk is forbearing love. This is the love that loves with God's love..the love that covers a multitude of sins...the love that seeks only the other's highest good DESPITE the cost. God's love, agape love, is selfless. John MacArthur calls it a self giving, self donating love. The love that just gives and gives and expects nothing in return. CLEARLY, this kind of love is not of us. This love is of God and is reflected in the qualities of humility, gentleness and long-suffering. This is the kind of love that went to the cross when we were still His enemies. This is the kind of love that suffers long and is kind...the fervent (stretched to the limit) kind of love that Peter speaks about in chapter 4 of his epistle. The love that does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked and thinks no evil. This is the kind of love that does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth. The love that is from God bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. This kind of love NEVER fails...it always has an effect. Forbearing love is illustrated in Matthew 5:43-44
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Beloved, as John MacArthur says, "We have a high calling, but a low walk." The lowly walk requires at its end the obliteration of self by surrendering to and obeying moment by moment the will of your Father in heaven. Jesus never did anything from selfish ambition or conceit...He made Himself of no reputation taking the form of a bondservant and came in the likeness of men and was obedient to His Father to the point of death...even the death of the cross. He depicts a perfect picture of forbearing love on the cross at Calvary. He endured all for the joy (us) that was set before Him...
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”--Luke 23:40-43
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.--John 19:25-27
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."--Hebrews 12:1-4
Forbearing love wraps itself around humility, meekness and longsuffering and not only takes whatever people can do and say to them...forbearing love LOVES them right in the middle of it and straight through to the end. John MacArthur says it best when he defines forbearing love as UNCONQUERABLE BENEVOLENCE AND INVINCIBLE GOODNESS. Are you beginning to see how each one of these four characteristics is impossible without the Spirit of God and how each one works together to produce the final one...the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Beloved, as John MacArthur says, "We have a high calling, but a low walk." The lowly walk requires at its end the obliteration of self by surrendering to and obeying moment by moment the will of your Father in heaven. Jesus never did anything from selfish ambition or conceit...He made Himself of no reputation taking the form of a bondservant and came in the likeness of men and was obedient to His Father to the point of death...even the death of the cross. He depicts a perfect picture of forbearing love on the cross at Calvary. He endured all for the joy (us) that was set before Him...
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
And they divided His garments and cast lots.--Luke 23:24
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”--Luke 23:40-43
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.--John 19:25-27
"...and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Forbearing love wraps itself around humility, meekness and longsuffering and not only takes whatever people can do and say to them...forbearing love LOVES them right in the middle of it and straight through to the end. John MacArthur says it best when he defines forbearing love as UNCONQUERABLE BENEVOLENCE AND INVINCIBLE GOODNESS. Are you beginning to see how each one of these four characteristics is impossible without the Spirit of God and how each one works together to produce the final one...the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
