An Invitation to Excellence

MP3 File: 

20110313Sermon.mp3

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance [NIV: bearing with one another] for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:1-3 (NASB)

11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess 1:11-12 (NASB)

The last few weeks we've been talking about God's call—which is really God's invitation. God calls you, He invites you to receive life and salvation and blessing. In fact, God invites everyone to join his kingdom—and he paid for the sins of the "whole world" (1 John 2:2) because he does not want "anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9).

So we've talked about God's invitation to receive grace...to have hope...to find purpose. Today we look at his invitation to excellence.

How do you define excellence? The World English Dictionary defines it (in part): "...excelling or being exceptionally good..." It comes from a Latin word meaning to "rise high, tower."

So when I say that God invites us to excellence—I'm simply saying that he calls us to improve, to rise high, to do better than we used to.

In Eph 4:1 Paul calls on us to "walk in a manner [or "live a life" (NIV)] worthy of the calling with which you have been called."

1. When called by God, you can expect to be changed.

I am not saying that Christians are superior to or better than everyone else! I'm not saying Christians have Adonis DNA or tiger blood in them. Unlike Charlie Sheen, we're not to be proud, arrogant, and obnoxious. The next verse says we should have "humility...gentleness...patience, showing tolerance...in love" (v 2).

I'm simply saying that if God's grace has really worked in us and we have accepted God's invitation, then we should be different than we used to be—our lives should be improving.

God invites us to live better lives than we did before we knew him—before we experienced his grace. God invites us to rise above our past—to "rise high...to tower" over our old way of living.

Two chapters earlier in Ephesians, Paul talks about that we used to be:

"you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world...[but God] made us alive with Christ..." (2:1-5).

When God makes you alive in Christ, he invites you to leave your past behind and "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called." He doesn't want you to live the way you used to when you were spiritually dead in your sins, following the ways of the world. God wants you to live a life worthy of his invitation, his calling.

"Walk in a manner" is a figure of speech. NIV says "live a life worthy..."; NLT says "lead a life worthy..." In other words, we're talking about life-style. About behavior. About the way we conduct ourselves.

God invites us to excellence, to a higher way of living—to live a better life. One version (BBE) says "see that your behavior is a credit to the position which God's purpose has given you." Another (Weymouth) says "to live and act as becomes those who have received the call that you have received."

I'm afraid some people have become content to stay where they are. They're not concerned about improving the way they live.

Perhaps you're satisfied that because God's grace has saved you, because you're on your way to heaven—you're not worried about living the same way as you've always lived. After all, you're saved by grace and not by works, right? But God's Word implores you to do better, to live a life worthy of the calling with which you have been called.

Perhaps you're just spiritually lazy. You see the spiritual life as one of discipline, hardship, sacrifice. You think that Christianity is all about hard work.

Or maybe you think that following Jesus means you'll never have fun any more—that you have to be somber and stern and serious. You think Christianity is probably too boring for someone like you. So you're just content to watch from the sidelines when God invites you to live on a higher level—a life worthy of the calling with which you have been called.

Perhaps you're discouraged about doing better. You've tried—you really have. You've struggled to overcome your temptations. You've worked hard to defeat conquer your habits or addictions. You've prayed about your weaknesses. You've battled with your short temper...your impatience...your critical spirit. And it seems that nothing works, so you've just given up. But God's invitation remains—live a life worthy of the calling with which you have been called.

The King's Speech was a big winner at the Oscars this year. It's the story of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth's father, who was thrust into the role of King of England—reluctantly, as it turns out, because of his speech problems. He stammered and stuttered terribly. But perhaps the more interesting plot line is why he was made king.
His older brother, Edward, was supposed to be king. In fact Edward was king—for 327 days. But at heart, he was more of a playboy than a king. He loved to party. He loved drink. He loved the company of beautiful women. And he fell for an American woman—a married woman—named Wallace Simpson.
Edward knew he couldn't be King of England and head of the Church of England if he married a twice-divorced woman, so he gave up his throne. He walked away from his destiny and his calling in order to follow his heart.
God has called us to be his children—we are invited to be sons and daughters of the King of Kings! And yet, despite God's invitation, some choose to live sub-par lives; some choose to live beneath their calling; some choose to walk away from their God-given destiny.

Whether you're spiritually lazy, too content, afraid of missing out on the fun, or discouraged with your struggle, God calls you higher. He invites you to excellence, to do better. He calls you to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called."

2. God expects great things of you. To be "worthy" literally means to measure up, to meet a standard.

TEV: "I urge you then...live a life that measures up to the standard God set when he called you."

The word worthy in the original language was used to describe something that balanced the scales, something that brings up the other beam of the scales. [axios - EBC: 11,55; Linguistic & Exegetical Key to the Gr NT, p 440; TDNT 1:379].
We use standards all the time! When you buy a gallon of gasoline, there's a sticker on the side of the pump that certifies it has been checked by a government agency to insure you will get a full gallon for your $3.49. When you buy 5 pounds of sugar, you expect it to be a full 5 pounds. We have a Bureau of Weights and Measures to make sure business is done fairly and equitably. If something doesn't measure up to what it's supposed to be, then we get cheated.
In the same way, God has a standard for you. His standard is that he expects great things from you.

In other words, your behavior should be balanced by God's work of grace within you. If God has done a work in you, your life should reflect God's grace. A worthy life is a balanced life—balanced with the grace of God. How you live in response to God's grace should match what God has done in your life!

Some say, "Well I can't measure up to that! It's impossible." If you're thinking that, you have to stop to consider, "Would God ask you to do something that is impossible?" I don't think so.

In fact, we are challenged in more than one place to live a life that is worthy, a life that measures up.

11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thess 2:11-12 (NASB)

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil 1:27 (NASB)

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, Col 1:9-10 (NASB)

You see, God does not abandon us to our own devices, to muddle through life, doing what we can with our limited resources. No! He gives us what we need to succeed. We can live in a more excellent way.

12 ...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Phil 2:12-13 (NIV)

12 ...Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Phil 2:12-13 (NLT)

It's because of God's work within us that we have the ability to "walk the talk." What we are and what we do is an expression of what Christ is and what he has done in us! In fact, go back to the verse we started with, Eph 4:1. What's the first word in the verse?

Therefore... tells us that what we're about to read is the conclusion to what just preceded it. Whenever you see the word "therefore," you should look back to see what it is there for. So we can go back a couple of verses and see why Paul tells the Ephesians that they should live a life worthy of the calling with which they were called.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph 3:20-21 (NIV)

God is able to do more—immeasurable more—than all we ask or imagine...Therefore I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling...

God's power is at work within us...Therefore I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling...

Do you see why God expects great things of us? Because he's at work within us! Because his grace helps bring up the scale of our lives, giving us what we need so we can balance our lives and measure up to the standard God set when he called us!

3. God invites—but you have to choose.

Will you accept his invitation or turn it down? When God offers us the free gift of his grace, we have to respond to his gift.

Surrender. Commitment. Obedience. These are all part of answering God's call. When we live it, grace continues to impact our life.

Jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker (1920-1955) is quoted as saying, "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn."

When we choose to do the right thing, God's grace continues to pour into us. When we surrender to God and obey him, God's grace continues to work in our lives. But when we reject God's invitation, we shut off the flow of grace.

What you do makes a difference: (1) What you do either taps into God's grace and power—or it shuts it down; (2) Do something enough and you develop a lifestyle—a habit (either good or bad); (3) Do something enough and you will change your way of thinking—your attitude is adjusted [If you mope in the valley, nothing changes. But if you climb—and keep climbing—until you reach the mountain top, you'll discover a whole new way of seeing the valley.]

There is a story about Alexander the Great—probably apocryphal. Alexander the Great was one of the world's greatest warriors. His army conquered most of the known world in its time.
Now in Alexander's army was an inexperienced soldier. Though he'd been well-trained and had the equipment and skills necessary to fight, the heavy fighting in his first battle caused him to suddenly lose his nerve and he panicked. He became so frightened that he hid himself in a cave.
When he was found out, he was brought before Alexander for judgment. Alexander saw that he was quite young and wondered if he should have a second chance. He asked, "Son, what is your name?"
The young man whispered, "Alexander."
Alexander the Great said, "What did you say?"
So the young soldier replied with a bit more confidence, "Alexander."
Once again Alexander the Great, struggling to hold back his anger, said, "Boy, what is your name?"
The soldier responded again, hesitantly. "Alexander, sir."
Alexander the Great, unable to contain himself, exploded in anger. He picked up a sword, raised it over the boy's head and said, "Alexander! Either change your ways, or change your name!"

You and I carry the name of Christ—we are "Christian," and as Christians our lives should be demonstrations of God's grace. How we live and how we behave will bring either honor or disgrace to the name of Christ.

We have been called to a more excellent way. To live above the world and to live above our past. To "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called."

We need Christians who will change their ways so they can live up to their calling. People who will accept God's invitation to a more excellent way. Believers who will open themselves up to God's Holy Spirit and supernatural power to live a life worthy of the calling.