If I were to ask you to call out the things you and I as Christians really care about we would get a whole list of pious Christian platitudes that would sound quite noble but quite different from how we really live.

As we read Ephesians 4, I want you notice something:

Paul is in prison. If you were in prison... a first century prison, no TV, no conjugal visits, no working in the laundry, or spending time at the prison library... a first century Roman prison... what would you care about?

Do you think that might change some of your priorities?

Listen to Paul's. Listen to what Paul cares about.

Eph 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat 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 forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. See full article

Did you hear what Paul really cares about? Underline v3

We have to balance what we say we care about with the way we live. Paul calls this living "A Worthy Life."

Paul is not saying there is a way to live in order to receive, to create unity.

Listen: "preserve the unity of the Spirit." Paul is saying that in light of what we have received there is a way to live.

You have probably heard: To dwell above with saints we love, That will be grace and glory. To live below with saints we know; That's another story!

Paul answers the question - how can we live together in verse 2.

The first two things Paul points to are Humility and Gentleness. Humility and Gentleness go naturally together.

Jesus says "Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart' Mat 11:29.

Circle = learn

The first requirement for relationship with other Christians, is a willingness to learn, to grow. Are you learning, are you willing to learn to be gentle and humble in relationships?

Two men were riding a bicycle built for two when they came to a big steep hill. It took a great deal of struggle for the men to complete what proved to be a very stiff climb. When they got to the top the man in front turned to the other and said, "Boy, that sure was a hard climb." The fellow in back replied, "Yes, and if I hadn't kept the brakes on all the way we would certainly have rolled down backwards."

Relationship requires patience.

WITH PATIENCE [makroqhumia, NGFS] =long suffering, to have a long fuse. Not get annoyed.

A man is as big as the things that annoy him.

Another thing Paul is says is required is SHOWING FORBEARANCE The outworking... of patience.

It is the ability to make allowance for other people's faults and weakness, means allowing them worth and space. = forbearance=Not passive resignation, but a positive attitude accepting the person's uniqueness.

UNDERLINE - accepting in your Bible.

This is not tolerance. This is accepting. There is a world of between tolerance and acceptance.

God in Christ does not tolerate you - God in Christ has accepted you. 4:32 be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. = it describes a spirit of never giving up or giving in. It is God's counter to failure.

Patience does not mean indifference; it is the art of hoping.

An ounce of patience is worth a pound of brains.

No group of people can live happily together without humility and gentleness. Additionally no group of people can live long together without patience and forbearance.

These 4 qualities, humility, gentleness, patience and forbearance are Summed up in love.

Love is a relationship supplied by God that relates us all together in Christ.

PAUL'S PERSONAL QUEST

Paul's big concern. Be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

UNDERLINE diligent.

In one of my favorite Peanuts cartoons, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn't.

"What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.

"These five fingers," says Lucy.

"Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."

"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus.

Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"

Pastor Art