Walk Worthy
Ephesians 4:1-3
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
“Walk Worthy” is such a powerful combination of words which to my opinion is overlooked fairly often. In this booklet I want us to dig deep into the meaning of walking worthy as well as seeing it in context of Ephesians 4:1-3 and the rest of the Bible, but before we can tackle that, I think it of utmost importance to first understand what it means to walk worthy and to what vocation we are called to walk worthy.
According to my opinion this is an extremely important topic, as we are completely unworthy in all possible aspects, but due to the atoning blood of Jesus Christ we have a chance to at least walk in a worthy manner from here on forward. In order to live a life pleasing unto God.
Vocation
The Strong’s interprets the meaning of vocation as “called”. In essence it means what it says in Ephesians “The vocation/calling wherewith ye are called”. Now the first point that needs to be clarified is what “calling” will be defined as, and in what context it must be understood. The reason for that is with the new Charismatic movements popping up everywhere, every single person wants God to call them to their specific “higher calling”, and they use substantiating verses like Ephesians 4 to motivate that need for a calling. The only method to understanding what this calling really means is to dig deeper into the Word of God.
Hebrews 3:1
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Paul is speaking to believers and calling them partakers of the heavenly calling, with no variation in personal callings, but equal partakers of one calling originating in Heaven.
1 Corinthians 7:17
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
Everyone is called, although the distribution works differently and works in relation with spiritual gifts. (Just a quick note here, most Calvinist doctrine teaches that only a select few are called, the Bible directly states “The Lord has called everyone”, but more on that another day.)
Philippians 3:14
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
It is crucial to understand that we are first and foremost called to become a part of the Body of Christ. It is the call to salvation and the call to become Christ’s. We cannot confuse the call to salvation and the call to become a child of God with a unique, personal, ministerial calling that each individual has received. The call to become a part of the Body of Christ is universal and freely available to those that desire a relationship with God, believe on Him and are willing to repent and turn from their wicked ways.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 1:6-7
Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:9-10
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
We are called to be Christians!
As you can see with Romans 8:28, it is according to God’s purpose and will that we are called. Romans 1:6-7 shows us that the called of God are called to be saints. In regards to 2 Timothy 1:9-10, we can know that the saving and calling work hand in hand with one another. The entire verse explains to us the Gospel by which we were saved and then adds that we were called to it with a holy calling. The holy calling to be Christians and therefore God’s children and servants. In essence, the calling is everything the New Testament is about. We are called out of our decayed position in sin, to a life in abundance with Christ, liberated from all the bondages of the world, set free by the Truth and now in a special relationship with God as our Creator and Saviour. We can testify with boldness that we have been called as servants of God and as co-heirs with Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:12
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
The calling is the foundation of our existence as Christians, from this calling comes our faith, actions and hope.
The calling explained by the above-mentioned verses can be further clarified through what it entails to become a child of God. How must your life look? Your actions? You see now, how the walking worthy is being explained. If we understand what the calling is we will understand how the walking must be, but more on that later.
Lowliness and Meekness
What it means to walk worthy is starting to be explained by Paul in this part. There are a lot of different aspects of walking worthy mentioned in the Bible, but these are part of the ones Paul specifically focused on by the leading of the Holy Spirit and Godly inspiration. Lowliness and Meekness can be summed up in one word – humbleness. Jesus, the Bible and the apostles were never tolerant of pride, it was always detested in whichever form it appears, and still is. The most probable reason for that is the resistance to acknowledge your complete dependence upon God and to give Him all the glory that is due to Him. In other words, you will receive no glory as all is due to God, and a prideful man will struggle to accept that. How can you be saved if you do not see the need for a Saviour? How can God help you, if you think you are perfect and in need of nothing?
Let’s put it very simply, does God want anyone to go to hell? I hope you realize this question is rhetorical.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Therefore, if God wants everyone to come to repentance and He sent His Son to die for the WHOLE world, why would He in any possible way increase someone’s chances of ending up in hell? Do you realize that in working powerfully through a man that would take all the glory for himself and ultimately rely on his own gifts or charisma, pride will heap up in his life, which in turn will drive him further away from God possibly ending up in eternal damnation. God will not work through such a weak vessel? There are attributes God is looking for in His servants, there is holy living and complete dependence upon Him. No prideful man possesses that, because he finds his satisfaction and pride within himself and not in God.
A prideful man at his core is rotten, regardless of how healthy is spiritual life may seem or his relationship with God. Whenever he does something it would be to benefit himself, or to let someone see him do it and thus still benefitting himself. So with whatever notion the action is done a prideful man always does it, either directly or indirectly to benefit himself. The will, honour and glory of God are only strived for if it does not interfere with the praise the man thinks he deserves. The Bible makes it very clear that God cannot be an addition to our lives, God is our lives (Philippians 1:21).
We will never be able to explain the depth of God’s glory and the awesomeness surrounding it in this booklet, but let’s at least get a framework for explanation’s sake.
1 Chronicles 29:11
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
Psalms 93:1-5
The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.
Just look around you and think about everything you’ve ever seen in your life, and the most powerful man or deed that you’ve ever experienced. While doing that, know this, God is far greater, far stronger and far more glorious than our minds can comprehend.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3, Exodus 40:24-35, 1 Kings 8:10-11, Mark 13:26, Isaiah 6:3
Romans 4:20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Go read the entire Romans 4 to fully understand what the above scripture means. We can realize through Abraham’s example that by giving glory to God, you start grasping Who is in control. It gives you that assurance that you cannot make things happen and have to rely fully on God, which ultimately causes you to trust more in Him. That is exactly why you get verses like 2 Corinthians 4:6 which reveals God’s glory and desperate need for saving. We cannot even glimpse God’s glory if we have a prideful spirit, as it causes us to bask in our own pitiful, so-called glory, hence never even seeing or experiencing God’s amazing glory.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
This realization has such a profound influence on the believer’s everyday life, because it brings you to a point where you realize that you deserve nothing of this. You don’t even deserve to speak about the glory of God yet we can catch slight glimpses of it. It reveals to you that you cannot do anything without bringing glory to God through it, otherwise it is completely futile. The reason we live and breathe is all due to God, we owe Him everything. So whatever we do, it must be done for the Lord.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
All glory on earth and in Heaven is due unto God. In Jesus and through Him all things were created (Colossians 1:16), so it is a given that all glory is His, so then why would God abundantly use a person who keeps trying to steal His glory for His own ego. Do you not think that is counterproductive? Just imagine God allowing someone to steal His glory which in its truest form is a sin and if not will lead to sin, which ultimately glorifies satan. Give glory to God, and in due time He will glorify you, but even then make sure all glory is given to Him.
Even in terms of miracles and preaching and praying, people start adoring the person being used by God instead of God, the only reason these things are possible. Then at the end of the day when they start putting their trust in men, was it not all futile. Miracles and preaching exist to put your focus and affection upon God. So trusting in the preacher or the vessel used by God is as good as trusting in nothing. All trust if not based solely on God in terms of salvation is redundant.
1 Corinthians 3:3-7
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Do we not see this happening in all churches? People quote their pastor or Youtube preacher more than they quote their Saviour that made everything possible. God is the only one that can bring change or growth. Let’s focus on God and not man. We cannot idolize anything in our hearts, doesn’t matter how good or a Godly it seems, there is space only to serve God and God alone.
A humble spirit also makes you considerably more approachable in life in order to help others with problems and attend to their needs in Jesus name. A prideful man will not be used by God, for the sake of that person’s salvation as well as the glory of God.
With longsuffering, forbearing one another in love
Philippians 2:1-4
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
This verse directly links the humbleness discussed above with loving each other. Before we expound this part, we must first realize that a prideful person cannot esteem someone higher than himself, so in lacking humility he will be found lacking in almost all other aspects of his walk with God. There is a reason for everything in the Bible and I believe that is why the humbleness is mentioned first. Our love must be unconditional, just like Jesus’, but here’s my question: Does a prideful man do anything unconditionally? There are usually slight hidden motives, like honour, respect, love etc. therefore, pride is a big stumbling block that stands within the way of walking worthy.
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
When Jesus was asked what is the greatest command He answered and said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind”, directly after that He said the second one is “Love your neighbour as you love yourself”. God loves the whole world so much that He sent His only Son (John 3:16). You have access to salvation due to it, when you are baptized into Christ, you are buried with Him (Romans 6:4) and come up clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27). We no longer live for ourselves, but for God. It is no longer us that live, but Christ Who lives within us (Galatians 2:20). That is why we have to share the exact same love that Christ had for the world. We must strive to become like Him and have our hearts of stone replaced with hearts of flesh so that we can look at the lost and hurting through the eyes that once had pity on us and saved us.
If we take a look at 1 Corinthians 13, we will realize that whatever we do it is all futile and useless if not done in love for God. This love must be shown to the whole world, we must be immersed in it and live a life that puts everything Jesus stands for on display.
Although this “forbearance in love”, referred to in Ephesians 4, is mostly in correlation to brethren in the Body of Christ, nevertheless it also has applicability as mentioned above. In all things we must have patience and try as far as possible to help everyone understand the truth. How many times have you seen people get irritated with each other when one or the other does not understand something within the scriptures?
A very important question to ask yourself is if you have a limited number of times someone can come to you with the same problem or doctrine? If you have, pray for forbearance and longsuffering, and ask God to put His perfect love in your heart for that person. As long as that person’s intentions are pure and they truly want to learn more about God, who are we to deny them our time? Is your time more important than God’s work? Remember the pride that seeps into every aspect of our lives. When we realize what Christ did for us we will be more than willing to always be of assistance when assistance is needed.
Truth and love in the same sentence is probably the biggest reason a person’s mind starts it’s journey to total collapse. It’s absurd to think that society at large has become so sensitive and are so easily offended that you cannot dare to touch on the subject of truth without being clamoured as a hater or a conservative idiot. With that in mind, always refer to James 4:4 and know that if the world loves you, you are going in the wrong direction. In fact, the society is so distorted that they call an apple a pear and let’s everyone live in a delusion that will never realize, searing their consciences all the way to hell. If you love someone you will tell them the truth. Love does not mean you become a spineless sloth letting the world toss you to and fro with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). NO! Then you do not care about anyone, because you see them running down a cliff at full speed and you let them be. That my dear friend, I will rather define as insensitive and being a hater. Do you now see the distortion in society? If you love someone stand firm on the truth. The truth will set you free (John 8:32)! One day all of us will stand alone in front of God and give account for all the things we have done. We must make sure that we did everything in our power to save everyone we come in contact with. The Great Commission is the key.
Remember this phrase throughout your life:
Hard on the rule, but soft on the person.
Ephesians 4:15
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Another aspect of forbearance and longsuffering is your willingness to put others needs above your own. Everything in life endeavours to teach us the direct opposite. It’s always a struggle to look out for yourself, to build your own future and to get the best position you can get. In fact it’s quite simple, as a rule that almost never fails, you can know that if the world teaches something, with God it will most likely be the opposite. If the majority of people follow that direction, you are safer to turn around than to go on ahead. Everywhere in the Bible we see that those doing God’s will were far in the minority. Just look at Joshua and Caleb, the only two in all of Israel. Noah and his family, eight in the entire world. Rahab in Canaan, the only one in the city. Do not be fooled, it is the same in Christianity. A very small minority of Christians are really striving to walk worthy as the Bible requires. We can even look at the major schools of doctrine in Christianity today, you either get the far left charismatics worshipping only in Spirit (Which begs to ask the question if the truth is not present what spirit is?), or the far right reformists worshipping only in truth (yet again, only their perspective on truth, because they do not allow the Spirit to teach them the truth, but has made it in an academic feat.), thus showing us yet again, that we need to stand strong even though we are in the minority, but must always be open to change and never to think that we have all the truth.
1 Corinthians 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
We need to start placing others above ourselves and tell them the truth in love, because the only hindrance to that is our own comfort. I say it’s due to your own comfort, because you can be ridiculed and hated, but so was Jesus.
Galatians 4:16
Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Die to yourself and live for Christ. That’s the answer, regardless of what people say to or about you. You show them the truth in love, if they listen praise the Lord and teach them everything God has commanded you. If they don’t listen, praise the Lord that they had a chance to hear the truth and that the seed will grow in their lives, but dust off your feet and move on to the next person, except if the Holy Spirit tells you to persist with that specific person. The reason I say that is because the harvest is ready and the labourers are few, so the enemy would want to keep us busy when we could’ve made a big difference in that time. The biggest mistake Christians make is that they linger and try to help a single person over a span of a few years, because they allowed that emotional relationship with that person and sense of responsibility to take control. There are ample lost souls out there. They all need to hear the truth, we are doing the love of God injustice if we just keep it between two or three people. (Go check out the Triple Get series on truthfocus.co.za)
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace
The unity in the Body of Christ is truly a topic that will keep us busy for a long time. Just look at how the denominational spirit has taken control of the Church today. Christians can’t talk doctrine for five minutes without some sort of disagreement. They usually end up going their separate ways with no conclusion and no unity. If that’s the case, how do we explain the following verse?
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Dear brothers and sisters, if we “walk worthy” these things will not have priority in the Body of Christ. Why does the general knowledge of the subject say “Love unites, but Doctrine divides”? It’s because people live for themselves and their little empire they are building. If you implement everything mentioned in the previous parts of this booklet you will realize that if someone challenges the doctrines you believe, claiming that they have scripture to back it, it is your responsibility to hear them out in love. The Bible is final authority and you can never compromise on what the Bible says, so if they claim the Bible says it, you must listen with a humble spirit. Your answer whether they are right or wrong must be done in a humble spirit as well. We can never back down on truth, but make sure you are always open to hear if what you believe is truth, could possibly not be. That being said, I hope and believe that whatever you believe you have thoroughly researched it in the Bible and have had a couple of sleepless nights whilst labouring in the Word of God in order to come to your current set of beliefs. So you must have a strong foundation and not just throw everything away at the first opportunity. The key is labouring in the Word of God and meditating upon it day and night.
Then to the point of many interpretations of the same part of the Bible. Most people believe you will not necessarily agree with each other. Now, I will tell you that that is an egotistical, arrogant and lazy outlook on the Bible. There is but one interpretation of everything in the Bible and that is God’s interpretation, thus the Bible’s interpretation of the Bible.
The Bible will always explain the Bible.
It is our job to labour as brethren to get to that interpretation.
Acts 4:32
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
They were of one heart and soul in complete agreement and submission under God. Why? Because every man did not see himself as a preacher or teacher, but they allowed the Holy Spirit to teach them, whilst abiding under the authority of the Apostles’ teachings, which we have even today. So in short what I am saying is that we don’t have any excuse as to stand together in unity as it is a command.,
Philippians 2:2-3
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
The above-mentioned scripture once again shows you that unity will only be possible once people let go of their pride.
You are probably wondering in a booklet that is about walking worthy why would one speak so much about truth? The answer to that, my dear brother and sister, speaks for itself. How can we know what walking worthy is if everyone’s perspective and interpretation of it differs? The Word is Truth, so we must first set that as an unmovable fact that if the Word says it and you don’t believe it, you must change with immediate effect. The Bible is Truth, which is the final authority.
3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Wherever there are divisions and disagreements we are breaking the unity in the Spirit not even realizing that it is a command to keep the unity. By breaking that unity, we first destroy the peace that is promised by God and thereafter the love grows cold and brethren who once stood side by side become nothing more than formal acquaintances.
Walk Worthy
We conclude with the start of Ephesians 4:1-3.
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
We are called to be His children, we are called to join in His glory. We must stand strong here on earth and face every attack of the devil, resist him, resist temptation, walk holy, persevere through the hatred of the world and we will be joined with Him in eternity. But here on earth He will make us perfect, strengthen us and stablish us so that we can stand and walk worthy to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
That freedom that comes through truth is provided by the Spirit of God, because of Jesus Christ. Oh Man! It’s just amazing to see how everything is connected.
1 Thessalonians 2:12
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Colossians 1:10
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 2:6
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Galatians 5:25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Therefore, walking in Christ, walking in the Spirit would automatically channel you into the direction of walking worthily.
Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
I want to conclude, by saying we must stand strong in this present, Godless age. We must run the race set before us to the glory of God. We must walk worthily of Our Father and Saviour who called us and gave us a chance to escape eternal damnation and provided us with the means to take as many people with us as possible.
Philippians 3:12-14
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Walk Worthy in humbleness, love, patience and firmness. Reach for the things that God gives and reject the easy grabs of the world.
Stand upon the truth, even if you are standing alone.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity (Love).
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