Eph 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you 
were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Paul has an interesting background that God is using through him exhorting them to walk worthy of the call upon their lives
.  Paul is well educated and thoroughly steeped in legalistic Judaism.  Also he is a prisoner of Rome and in a real sense a
 prisoner of God’s call upon his life to the Gentiles.  He is a man with many friends yet possesses little of worldly value.   

¨      What circumstances in Paul’s background would you think of as undesirable, stressful, or pressure
 filled?  He has been beaten many times and is writing from a prison.  He has very little control over his circumstances.  His chosen career is long gone and the Jewish people have rejected him.  Are there any 
other things you can think of?  2Corinthians 11:22 gives further incite into this question. 

¨      How has God worked in Paul to use these circumstances for Kingdom advantage?  His beatings and 
rejection became an opportunity for him to more closely identify with the Lord.  Philippians 3:4-12 gives
 further incite into this question. 

… Beseech you to walk … lowliness and gentleness…  The Ephesian church is now exhorted, called, 
beseeched to walk worthy of their call with the Lord, and this statement is put in relational language. 

¨      How important has it been for you to be encouraged by others to walk with the Lord?

o       Do you have specific times you recall being encouraged by others to walk with the Lord?  It 
could be calling you to move forward, believe, continue in faithfulness, hope in the goodness and 
plan of God, or something else. 

2 Cor 1:4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, 
with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. NKJV. 

We are exhorted in our troubles.  “Comfort with the comfort … “

¨      The Christians at Ephesus are exhorted/encouraged/called to “walk worthy of the calling” and this is a call to 
active faith. 

o       All things are possible to him that believes… Mark 9:23

o       This is the work that you believe…John 6:28-29

o       Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding… Proverbs 3:5-6

¨      Two important things to remember

o       When you are discouraged waiting until you feel better never works. 

o       When you are confused seeking answers for the “why” rarely works and requires repentance and faith 
to walk in. 

¨      Where is God when tribulations come into my life?  Psalm 139:12-16

o       God, by the Holy Spirit is present. 

o       Friendship with God and people is forged in the presence of trouble and pressure. 

¨      What is God doing when I am in “the pressures of life?”  Psalm 139:17-18

o       Calling me near

o       Thinking thoughts of peace

o       Preparing a plan for my life

¨      Why does God let bad things happen?  Romans 8:28-29

o       To work the Glory of God in and through your life. 

o       …Causes all things to come together for good for the one who loves the Lord…  

o       I don’t know and He isn’t talking.   

¨      When will it be different?  Romans 8:28-29… predestined to be conformed to the image…

o       As you come near to the Lord and join Him in the Kingdom purposes of loving the Father and people you 
will be changed. 

o       The change in you is what makes things different. 

Consider the following verses as exhortations from the Lord to you and talk about how you will respond to 
them in the context of the local church and personally.   

¨      Matt 5:43-45 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  44 
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, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven… 
 NKJV

¨      Heb 10:23-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking 
the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much 
the more as you see the Day approaching. 

¨      John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that 
you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one 
another."   NKJV

¨      Heb 3:13  … but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through 
the deceitfulness of sin.   An expression of the daily discipline of love for others…  The SFS is an example 
of calling the saints to engage in the battle to advance God’s Kingdom in the earth. 

Friendship is every Christians calling.  Jesus Disciples were His friends.  John 15:13-16 Greater love has no one 
than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No 
longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all 
things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 

A Friend is:

¨      Prov 18:24  A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a 
brother.

¨      Prov 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¨      Prov 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

¨      Prov 27:9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty 
counsel.

¨      Prov 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

o       What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of being a real friend?

o       Who has been a friend to you in the past and what did they do for you? 

o       Take the time to ask the Lord to show you someone who needs your friendship to bring the Lord 
near to them. 

© 2003  Rev. Paul Gmitter