How to Have a Growing Lifegroup? (#3)

         This past Sunday we continued our process of birthing a Lifegroup with a discussion that ended with a few thoughts being expressed about what the scripture says about us being in unity and how it impacts a group? Everything that was shared was very good and it motivated me to study a little on what God means when He tells us to be in unity.



1. What are the Main Scripture Passages on Unity?
a. Ephesians 4:1-6  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat (Paul Cries out; Begs Us) you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility (lowliness) and gentleness (meekness), with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve (maintain) the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
b. Ephesians 4:11-13  And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.



2. Discussion:

• Ephesians 4:1-6: In Ephesians 4 we begin the chapter with Paul urging/imploring the church “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” This verse starts with “therefore,” making reference to what Paul has said in the first three chapters. In those chapters Paul clearly describes “the calling with which” each of us Christians has “been called.” He tells us (just to mention a few):

a. God blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (1:3);
b. God chose us for Himself before the world was created.(1:5);
c. He predestined us to be his children (1:5)
d. He sent Christ to atone for all our trespasses (1:7)
e. He sealed us with His Holy Spirit. (1:13)
f. He promises to spend an eternity increasing our joy in the riches of his grace. (2:7)
g. He has given us the mission as a church to display his wisdom even to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places; (3:10) Or as 1:12 says, we are "destined and appointed to live for the praise of His glory."

So when Paul tells the church to “walk in a manner worthy” of all these things that God has done, he is not telling them they should work hard so that they would deserve what God has done, but that they should be motivated to live a life that is reflective of what God has done.

We hear of politicians who are in very important political positions falling into moral failure. They typically resign. Most people expect this of them because they feel that the position that they were elected to fill was a position of great privilege and purpose and that they should have more respect for that position than was illustrated by their lifestyle. This is typical of the way we as humans respond to positions that people are chosen, but this is also the typical response to anything that we belong. Jobs, organizations, teams, etc. to which we belong are things that we generally make important to ourselves. To the extent that we take very seriously any guidelines, rules, expectations, standards that are set by that group to which we are committed. We commit even at times to the point that we will compromise a higher standard in order to maintain our position in these groups.

How do I know this? Look in John 12:42-43. There we have people who actually believe in Jesus, but they will not confess Him because they are afraid of being put out by the synagogue. “They loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.” Wow! Men will actually compromise the approval of God for their position in man’s organizations. They will give up eternal bliss for momentary acceptance of man. That is who we are.

Some might say, “I sure am glad that God does not have expectations.” In saying so they are demonstrating a heart of misunderstanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ, because God has expectations that far exceed those of man. Look at just a couple of biblical references that indicate these expectations:

• 1 Corinthians 5:13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that man and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame.
• 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep (are dead).

Unfortunately, men do not look to the expectations of God as seriously as they do to man’s expectations. As we see from these very few references, God does expect Christians to walk a walk that is representative of who they are and if they do not he tells the church to respond in a very serious way. Even to the point that they may be asked to leave the church, with the goal for them to become repentant. We see in 1 Cor. 11 that God looks at Christians with such a high expectation that a continued life of disobedience may result in death (not loss of salvation but physical life).

People do not hold true, or represent, the high position to which God has placed them with the same commitment they have to things of this world. This is what is being presented here in Eph. 4:1. Our position in Christ should demand even a much greater respect than our worldly positions, and this respect should be demonstrated through our lifestyle. In the first three verses of chapter 4, Paul proceeds to give a progressive description of a life that is being lived with such a respect that the end result will be a “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” The progression that describes this worthy walk starts in verse two with humility, and this humility results in gentleness, which causes patience and produces a tolerance for one another in love. Again, humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance describe the progressive walk that results in unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. These deal with the attitude of a person and not their actions. We are taught in the scriptures that Christians should have both action fruit and attitude fruit. Action fruit would be going, telling, serving, helping, etc. Those things we do for the Lord in action. Attitude fruit are about the heart and are expression of the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, etc.) If we only have action then we are living a life of legalism, or law, without experiencing grace. We find here that Paul tells us that a real worthy walk will be expressed not through actions but attitudes. Look at these four attitude characteristics of a worthy walk.

• Total Humility (all lowliness): This word may have been created by Christianity, even by the Apostle Paul in this very text, since there is no evidence of its use prior to the second century. It was considered to be a negative term by the Romans and used by them to describe Christians. God’s characteristic’s of that which describes a worthy walk is the opposite of what men would suggest as being positive. The word humility in the Greek has two parts. The first part means low, useless, base, unimportant, and the second part means to think or to judge. Combining these two words results in a mindset that thinks of one’s self as low. This word describes the opposite of what men are naturally driven to and that is an attitude of pride. There is no one who is humble and knows it for when they become aware of being humble it then becomes a prideful consideration of themselves. Even though this is true, humility is a necessary characteristic in order to know God and to walk the worthy life. Humility is something that is birthed in the heart of a person as they become fully aware of who they are as compared to who God is. Look in Isaiah 2:10-17 to get a correct picture of humility birthed in a mindset of having this perspective. We see from this text that when we compare ourselves to God we need to crawl under a rock as an insect, and that is still too high of a thought of ourselves. Pride is a sin because it lifts me up when only God should be lifted up. Paul said in Colossians 1:27 that the only glory that we have is a result of what God has done through Christ who is in us. This characteristic is only a virtue of the righteous and righteousness is only experienced as a result of faith in Christ. Proverbs 15:33 …before honor comes humility; Proverbs 22:4 The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life; Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth…;Ephesians 2:1-2 1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.. (do not forget where you came from). Humility is having a correct perspective of yourself and an awareness of God.

• Meekness: Humility produces meekness. Meekness cannot exist without humility. Meekness again in the standards of the world is a negative characteristic. Webster defines it as being deficient in spirit and courage, but God defines it a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, 23 meekness, self-control: against such things there is no law. Therefore, this worldly weakness empowered by the Spirit of God is a direct characteristic of the walk that is expressive of God’s call on a life. This Godly meekness is a person with a mild heart. One who never seeks revenge or payback towards others; It is a gentle person; It is power under control. A meek person will fight, but only for the right cause. It is power that fights for truth under the full control of God. In Psalm 25:9 we learn that The meek will he (God) guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. So God gives direction and guidance and teaches the meek. They know God in a special way and they will fight for the cause of righteousness, but not in defense of themselves.

• Patience (Longsuffering) : This word speaks of a person who is “long tempered.” They do not blow-up over things. This person does not give into negative circumstances. Hebrew 6:15 it is used to describe Abraham in the way he longsuffered the impossible circumstances of old age for both he and his wife, yet still seeing the fulfillment of God’s promise of a child. Noah, Moses, Jeremiah, and even Paul all took the circumstances as also being the will of God, knowing that in the end His would be achieve whatever He had promised. For God causes a longsuffering person will endure all circumstances. This kind of patience is applied meekness. No matter what kind of circumstances this person will not give into their selfish desires to fix it, no matter what their capability. This person is not concerned about what happens to themselves. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 But we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, sustain the weak, be patient towards all.

• Forbearance to one another in love (Forbearing Love): Forbearing Love is a product of patience, which is the product of meekness, which is the product of humility. This is a love that is best expressed in 1 Peter 4:8. 1 Peter 4:8 but before all things having fervent love among yourselves, because love covers a multitude of sins; This love throws a blanket over sin against itself. This love says, “not only can I endure it and have patience with you, but I will also love you.” This love goes far beyond just gritting our teeth and enduring. This love defines patience. Jesus said in Matthew 5:43-44 43 Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, [bless those who curse you,] do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who [insult you and] persecute you.” This is forebearing love.

If these heart attitudes exist, humility that is producing kindness that results in longsuffering that shows a fore-bearing love, then there will be a unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This is the unity that the world does not know or understand. This is the unity that will result in our being a drawing instrument of God to Himself. This is the unity that will result in us being on the path of “attaining to the unity of the faith” as we are equipping and being equipped in His church. (Ephesians 4:11-13)

In Christ,
Your Brother in the Faith
Rick