EPHESIANS 5 — “WALK IN LOVE, WALK IN LIGHT, WALK IN WISDOM”
— Ephesians 5:1–2
Paul says, “Walk in love.”
For us in JCRC, this means our ministry must
never become more important than the people God has entrusted to us.
We can preach.
We can evangelize.
We can go to the nations.
We can organize ministries.
We can serve for many years.
But if we lose love, we can become busy
for God while becoming distant from God's heart.
Sometimes the hardest place to practice love
is not in the mission field.
It can be inside the church.
When someone disappoints us.
When someone misunderstands us.
When someone does not appreciate our
sacrifice.
When someone receives a position we wanted.
When someone makes a mistake.
When someone needs correction.
Our
standard is not how people treat us. Our standard is how Christ loved us.
we should also ask:
“Am I responding to this person with the heart
of Christ?”
Love does not mean ignoring sin.
Love can correct.
Love can confront.
Love can establish boundaries.
Love can discipline.
But even correction should have the goal of restoration
and Christlikeness, not humiliation.
“For
you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of
light.”
— Ephesians 5:8
The light of Christ must touch:
·
our personal
lives,
·
our
relationships,
·
our finances,
·
our leadership,
·
our motives,
·
our
conversations,
·
our decisions,
·
our ministry
practices.
This connects strongly with 2
Corinthians 13:5:
“Examine
yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.”
Before pointing out another person's weakness:
Let Christ examine me first.
Before correcting another person's attitude:
Let Christ correct my attitude.
Before questioning another person's
faithfulness:
Let Christ examine my faithfulness.
Before asking whether others are walking in
the light:
Ask whether I am walking in the light.
For JCRC: A healthy church is not a church where nobody makes mistakes.
It is a church where people are
willing to bring things into the light, receive correction, repent, forgive,
restore, and grow.
Light produces accountability.
And accountability protects the body.
3. JCRC, WALK IN WISDOM — BE INTENTIONAL WITH WHAT GOD ENTRUSTED TO US
“See
then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the
time…”
— Ephesians 5:15–16
Walk carefully.
Not carelessly.
Not impulsively.
Not according to emotion.
Not simply because:
“This is how we have always done it.”
But:
“Lord, what is Your wisdom for this?”
For JCRC, wisdom means: (which we must
always practice)
Before making decisions: Pray.
Before speaking: Think.
Before correcting: Understand.
Before committing resources: Count the
cost.
Before sending people: Prepare them.
Before entering ministry: Check the heart.
Before accepting a teaching: Test it with
Scripture.
Before responding to conflict: Seek God's wisdom rather than reacting
emotionally.
“I don't want to be merely active for God. I want to be intentional
with what God has entrusted to me.”
“Be
filled with the Spirit.”
— Ephesians 5:18
“Work harder.”
The answer is:
“Be filled with the Spirit.”
Because we can become:
·
spiritually
tired,
·
emotionally
tired,
·
ministry tired,
·
people tired,
·
mission tired.
And when we are empty inside, we can
still look busy outside.
But God does not want JCRC to operate
merely through human strength.
“Lord, fill me again before I serve again.”
Before the sermon—
be filled.
Before the mission—
be filled.
Before the meeting—
be filled.
Before correction—
be filled.
Before making decisions—
be filled.
Before confronting someone—
be filled.
Before leading others—
be filled.
We cannot continually pour out if we are unwilling to continually
receive from God.
5. JCRC, OUR UNITY MUST REFLECT CHRIST
Ephesians 5:21 says:
“Submitting
yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
This is important for a growing church.
There will be different:
·
personalities,
·
opinions,
·
gifts,
·
leadership
styles,
·
experiences,
·
ministries,
·
generations.
Unity does not mean everyone thinks
exactly the same.
Unity means Christ remains greater
than our differences.
“I don't have to win every argument. Sometimes I need to protect the
relationship and the unity of the body.”
Ask:
Am I building unity or creating division?
Am I protecting the body or protecting my pride?
Am I seeking God's will or simply trying to prove that I am right?
6. JCRC, LET OUR MINISTRY LOOK LIKE CHRIST
Paul's ultimate example is Christ.
“Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
— Ephesians 5:25
Leadership in God's Kingdom is sacrificial.
It is not:
“What can I get from ministry?”
It is:
“What am I willing to give so that others can
grow in Christ?”
Jesus gave Himself.
Paul gave himself.
The early church gave themselves.
Therefore, ministry cannot simply be about:
·
position,
·
title,
·
recognition,
·
authority,
·
platform,
·
appreciation.
·
“Lord, make me more concerned about people
becoming like Christ than about people recognizing me.”
Not merely through our preaching.
Not merely through our missions.
Not merely through our programs.
But through our character, relationships, love, holiness,
humility, unity, and obedience.
LET US DECLARE:
WE WILL WALK IN LOVE.
WE WILL WALK IN LIGHT.
WE WILL WALK IN WISDOM.
WE WILL BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
WE WILL PROTECT UNITY.
WE WILL SERVE SACRIFICIALLY.
WE WILL CARRY THE HEART OF CHRIST.
AND WHEREVER GOD SENDS US,
CHRIST WILL BE SEEN IN US.
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PASTORA
AGNES – JCRC
Thank you Lord for this powerfil message 🙏
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