Work It by Larry Perry

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.

It is a mistake to think this only applies to vocational workers such as pastors, preachers, teachers, deacons and elders. This applies to all of us. I admit there are times when I do not feel my fellow believers are doing their part. Bear with me, as I bear with you. None of us are perfect but we should not allow that knowledge to hamper our efforts to at least try.

Granted the immature in Christ need a little more grace but they also need instruction, correction and discipline. That takes work on everyone’s part to promote that bond of peace. Unity in the Spirit does not happen by accident. It takes work on everyone’s part.

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The repeated emphasis on One is unity. You are one part of one body but that does not make you different because we are called to be fitted into place jointly together, so the whole body is not missing any one part.

Colossians 2:18-19  Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

We are not made to be more as individuals but rather more together.

Romans 16:25-27 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

Paul sums up all of Romans with these last three verses of that epistle. There are many powerful meaningful words here and many teachers has been focused on each one. Power, establishment, gospel, preaching, revelation, mystery, secret, manifestation, scriptures, prophets, commandments, knowledge, obedience, faith and last but not least by any means glorification.

For years I focused on the obedience of faith, knowing that all that came before that point was for that point, compliance. It occurred to me this morning as I set out to write about being compliant, that obedience of faith is not the end product. Glory is the end product. Not our glory by God’s glory.

Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Called, justified, and then glorified. See how it was God who called, God who justified and God who is glorified. God thru the power of the Holy Spirit enacts His will towards that end.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

The potter (God) makes the lump of clay (us) compliant by soaking the clay in water (Holy Spirit). Image making begins with making the lump compliant first, not last.