Weekly Teaching 45 (RATWG May 27&June 3, Your Calling and Spiritual Gifts Day 1).

Find Rick’s Alone Time with God Blog and Bible Study Materials at MorewithRick.com Prayer Guide Day #1 I will walk in a manner worthy of my specific calling from the Lord! Ephesians 4:1: I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, Lord, I have been called by you to walk in a manner worthy of my calling, so I will draw near you to understand my calling and so you can direct my paths. In the name of Jesus. Amen. Context The context of this scripture about your calling encompasses Ephesians 4:1-16 which covers 3 primary topics: The calling to which you have been called 5-fold ministry gifts of: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds/pastors and teachers The Body of Christ and its unity Paul starts out, likely writing from the prison in Rome, urging us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” And he asks us to do that with these attributes: humility gentleness bearing with one another in love Bearing with one another in love is all about forgiveness as Paul discusses in Colossians: Colossians 3:13: bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians%203%3A13&version=ESV We are not to walk in our calling alone, but to forgive one another in love as we walk in our calling with humility and gentleness. Paul continues encouraging us to maintain “unity of spirit in the bond of peace” with an emphasis on oneness: One body One Spirit One hope (that belongs to your call) One Lord One Faith One Baptism One God and Father of all 1 Corinthians 12:5-6: and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2012%3A5-6&version=ESV Then Paul focuses on the grace he has given us all and the gifts he gives us, including what many call ministry gifts of the 5-fold ministry: Apostles Prophets Evangelists Shepherds/Pastors Teachers Apostles are often people who operate across all 4 areas. All five of these are to be used to build up the Body of Christ and build up other believers, the saints. We are to do this with the goal of achieving unity where we are mature in our beliefs and not like children, being moved by: constantly changing doctrines, man’s cunnings by craftiness or deceitful scheme. Instead, we speak the truth in love and grow up in Christ to where the entire Body of Christ is working together in unity. All parts, when working properly together, “makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:1-16: Read the full context of God’s word here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204%3A1-16&version=ESV Devotional Paul starts out, writing from prison, by urging us to understand and walk in our calling: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The Body of Christ has been divided, but God’s design is a body that has the “unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” This unity is necessary because we are united by one of many things: There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call You have been called to one hope and God wants you to know this: Ephesians 1:18: having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%201%3A18&version=ESV one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ‘ A focus on uniting around the God of the universe may help us all understand our spiritual gifts as well: But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore, it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” This is a quote from Psalm 68: Psalm 68:18: You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2068%3A18&version=ESV Paul then expands on this quote, applying it to Christ’s death and resurrection: (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) Then Paul teaches on the 5-fold ministry and key gifts that