What Holds Us Back From Making the Single Greatest Decision of Our Life?
His Position—A Pharisee and a Roman citizen—He possessed both religious standing within Judaism and legal standing within the Roman Empire (Acts 22).
· His Prestige—A Man of Reputation and Religious Achievement—He had an impressive religious pedigree and zeal.
Philippians 3:5-6 – 5Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
· His Power—Authority to Persecute Christians—He exercised his power against the early church (Acts 9).
Acts 9:20 – Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
Is It Evident Who We Worship with Our Lives?
Ephesians 4:1 – Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.
Paul is writing this letter from a Roman prison, encouraging us to walk worthy of our calling. That is, if we have received the calling. To be able to walk worthy of the calling, we must realize we can’t without having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. There are many of us who believe we have REAL Life based on our understanding. Have we accepted what He defines what REAL Life is?
John 6:44-47 – 44No one can come to the Father, unless the who sent Me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45it is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught by God.” Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
When we come into this new and real life, we start well. We recognize we have been forgiven of all our sins and been given a fresh start, and we begin the journey ahead of us with passion and fire. We are all in! We not only join the family of God, but we should also align ourselves to live and act accordingly to the standards set by God’s Word.
Galatians 1:6 – I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.
Galatians 3:1 – O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you crucified?
How Do We Walk Worthy of Our Calling?
There are Four Areas where we must Remain Intentional.
1. Stay Connected to the Source: The Word of God
John 15:5 – I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do thing.
· The branch's problem isn't that it needs to try harder. Its problem is that it has been disconnected from its source.
· Jesus in the Wilderness (“it is written” was His response to the temptation)
Ask yourself:
· Am I allowing God's Word to influence my decisions?
· Do I turn to Scripture only when I am in trouble?
· Am I willing to change my thinking when God's Word challenges me?
· What is God teaching me that I need to put into practice?
2. Stay Focused on the Son: Jesus Christ
Acts 7:55 – But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus stand at the right hand of God. Acts 7:58 – They cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man Saul.
· Sometimes, the next step in our walk with God is not to change our circumstances. It is to change where we are looking.
Consider these questions:
· What has been consuming most of my attention lately?
· Am I allowing the opinions of others to influence my obedience to God?
· Have I become so focused on my circumstances that I have lost sight of Christ?
· What is God asking me to trust Him with today?
3. Stay Energized by the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18 – And do not be drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.
· We cannot walk worthy of our calling through our own strength. We must continually depend on the Holy Spirit to shape our character and empower our obedience.
Consider these questions:
· Am I trying to live the Christian life in my own strength?
· What areas of my life have I been unwilling to surrender to God?
· Is there evidence of the Spirit's fruit in my relationships and responses?
· Where do I need to stop relying on myself and start depending more fully on God?
4. Stay Engaged in His Service
Colossians 4:17 – And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
· We are not called merely to receive REAL Life. We are called to live it, share it, and serve others in ways that help them discover it.
Consider these questions:
· Am I actively using my gifts and abilities to serve God?
· Do I look for opportunities to meet the needs of others?
· Am I waiting for someone else to take responsibility?
· Have I allowed fear, inconvenience, or a desire for recognition to influence my willingness to serve?
· What is one practical way I can help someone discover REAL Life this week?
The Apostle Paul started immediately after his salvation walking worthy of his calling.
Yet he was ostracized from all his family and friends, he was threatened, to was stoned, he was shipwrecked, abandoned, and imprisoned.
He didn’t give up or give in. He didn’t bend, bow or break. He knew it was not loss but gain.
Philippians 3:7-10 – 7But what things were gain to, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered loss of all things and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
We must follow the example before us to walk worthy of our calling.
Stay Connected to the Source—the Word of God.
Stay Focused on the Son—Jesus Christ.
Stay Energized by the Spirit—depending on His power.
Stay Engaged in His Service—faithfully serving God and others.