Ephesians - Part 7

  

     This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on 9th August 2026, by Colin. For the audio , please click here.  For the worship, please click here.

Living Worthy of Your Calling: Unity, Maturity, and Purpose in Christ

"Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received." — Ephesians 4:1

As we begin the fourth chapter of Ephesians, the apostle Paul makes a remarkable transition. The first three chapters are filled with the incredible blessings God has freely given us in Christ—our identity, salvation, adoption, redemption, and every spiritual blessing. But chapter four shifts the focus from what God has done for us to how we should now live in response.

Grace is never meant to leave us unchanged. Those who have been called by God are invited to live lives that reflect the greatness of that calling.

Walk Worthy of Your Calling

Paul urges believers to "walk worthy" of the calling they have received. The word worthy carries the idea of balance or equal weight. God has lavished immeasurable blessings upon us through Christ, and our lives should now reflect the weight of those blessings.

Imagine a child who has been rescued from poverty, adopted into a loving family, clothed, fed, educated, and given an inheritance—yet continues to live like a beggar on the streets. That would contradict his new identity.

In the same way, God has brought us into His family and given us a new identity. We are no longer defined by our old life. We are called to live as sons and daughters of God.

Unity Is the Mark of the Church

Modern culture celebrates individuality and personal choice. While choice itself is not wrong, it often makes it difficult to think beyond ourselves. Yet God's design for the Church is very different.

Paul repeatedly emphasizes unity. We are one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.

This unity is not something we create—it is something God has already given us through the Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to protect and preserve it.

Paul tells us that unity is maintained through four Christ-like attitudes:

• Humility that places others before ourselves.
• Gentleness that exercises strength under control.
• Patience that is slow to anger and quick to extend grace.
• Bearing with one another in love despite each other's imperfections.

Every church family consists of imperfect people. Unity doesn't come from everyone being alike; it comes from everyone choosing love over preference and grace over pride.

Sometimes unity is expressed in simple acts of participation—praying together, fasting together, serving together, or standing together as one body. God delights in a people who pursue unity because where His people dwell together in unity, He commands His blessing.

Unity Without Compromising Truth

Biblical unity does not mean ignoring truth.

Paul reminds us that there are foundational truths that unite every believer: Jesus Christ is Lord, salvation is found in Him alone, His death and resurrection are central to our faith, and we belong to one body.

On these essential truths, there can be no compromise.

At the same time, believers may hold different opinions on secondary matters. In those areas, we extend liberty and charity while remaining united in Christ.

True unity is built on truth and sustained by love.

Christ Has Given Every Believer a Gift

Paul goes on to explain that every believer has received grace according to Christ's measure.

No Christian is giftless.

When Christ ascended in victory, He distributed gifts to His people. Among these are leadership gifts—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—not so they can do all the ministry themselves, but so they can equip God's people for ministry.

This is one of the beautiful truths about the Church: ministry is not reserved for a few leaders. Every believer has a role to play.

The purpose of spiritual leadership is to prepare the entire body of Christ to serve.

Growing Toward Spiritual Maturity

As believers are equipped and actively serve, something wonderful happens.

They grow.

Paul describes this growth as increasing in the knowledge of Christ and becoming mature—measuring up to the fullness of Christ Himself.

Spiritual maturity isn't simply gaining more information. It involves putting God's Word into practice through daily obedience.

Jesus Himself modeled this life. Though He was the Son of God, He humbled Himself and learned obedience. As we follow His example, our lives are transformed, and we become more like Him.

Mature believers are also stable believers.

Instead of being tossed around by every new teaching or deceptive idea, they are firmly rooted in God's truth. They can discern error because they know Christ and His Word.

Every Part Matters

Paul concludes with a beautiful picture of the Church as a human body.

Every part has a purpose.

Every member contributes to the health of the whole.

When each person faithfully serves using the gifts God has given, the Church grows stronger, healthier, and more loving.

But when someone refuses to use the gifts God has entrusted to them, the body suffers. Just as a physical body struggles when one part is unable to function, the Church is hindered when believers choose not to serve.

This raises two important questions for each of us:

• Do I know the gifts God has given me?
• Am I faithfully using them to build up the body of Christ?

God has uniquely designed every believer for a purpose. Your contribution matters more than you may realize.

Looking Ahead with Hope

As believers, we have a glorious future.

One day we will receive new bodies. There will be no more pain, sickness, sorrow, or death. We will live forever in the presence of Christ.

But until that day arrives, God has given us a mission.

He calls us to protect the unity He has established, grow in faith and maturity, discover and use our spiritual gifts, and faithfully serve one another in love.

Final Thoughts

The Christian life is not merely about receiving God's blessings—it is about responding to them.

Because Christ has called us, we should walk worthy of that calling.

Because He has united us, we should preserve that unity.

Because He has gifted us, we should serve faithfully.

And because He is transforming us, we should continually grow into His likeness until the day we see Him face to face.

May we live lives that truly reflect the incredible calling we have received in Christ.

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

Ephesians - Part 6

 

     This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on 2ns August 2026, by Andrew. For the audio , please click here.  For the worship, please click here.  

A Prayer That Changes Us from the Inside Out

Lessons from Ephesians 3:14–21

When we think about prayer, our minds often go to asking God for help—healing, provision, guidance, or solutions to life's challenges. While these are good and necessary prayers, the Apostle Paul gives us a glimpse into something even deeper in Ephesians 3:14–21.

His prayer isn't primarily about changing circumstances. It's about God transforming people.

A Prayer Rooted in the Gospel

Paul begins by saying,

"For this reason I kneel before the Father..."

What is "this reason"?

It's everything Paul has been building up throughout the first three chapters of Ephesians. Through Jesus' death and resurrection, those who were once far from God have been brought near. Jews and Gentiles have become one family. The same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead is now at work bringing people into God's family.

Our confidence in prayer doesn't come from using the right words or having a particular style of praying. It comes from knowing who our Father is—a loving Father who knows what's best, hears His children, corrects them wisely, and provides generously.

Paul's First Request: Strength for the Inner Person

Paul's first petition is surprising:

"I pray that... He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being."

Why does Paul pray for power?

Not for influence.
Not for recognition.
Not even for miraculous abilities.

The purpose is much greater:

"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."

The greatest display of God's power is not simply changing our external circumstances but transforming our hearts.

Strength That Doesn't Fade

Our physical bodies grow weaker with time. No matter how fit or healthy we are today, our bodies have limits.

But Paul reminds us that our inner being can continually grow stronger.

The Holy Spirit renews us day by day, producing a faith that matures regardless of age or circumstance.

Perhaps our prayers should increasingly sound like this:

"Lord, strengthen me inwardly so I remain faithful, whatever happens around me."

Rooted in a Love Beyond Understanding

Paul then moves to his second prayer:

"...that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power... to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."

This raises another question:

Why do we need God's power just to understand His love?

Because God's love is not merely an idea to study.

It is a reality to experience.

Knowledge alone cannot heal deep wounds. Only God's love revealed by the Holy Spirit can restore what years of pain have broken.

Many people carry invisible scars from rejection, loss, disappointment, or broken relationships. The Father's love reaches places that human words cannot.

His love doesn't simply inform us.

It transforms us.

Knowledge and Experience Go Together

Christian maturity isn't built on emotional experiences alone.

Neither is it built on knowledge alone.

Paul points us toward both.

We need to know God's Word.

We also need to encounter the God of the Word.

As we grow in both truth and relationship, we become spiritually mature—stable, loving, generous, united, and resilient believers who reflect Christ.

A Bigger View of God

Paul concludes with one of the Bible's most powerful declarations:

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."

How often do we limit God with our expectations?

Sometimes unanswered prayers tempt us to believe that God isn't powerful enough—or perhaps not generous enough.

Paul reminds us that neither is true.

God's resources are limitless.

His wisdom is perfect.

His power has already been demonstrated through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The same power is still at work today.

Let Christ Make Himself at Home

One beautiful picture helps us understand Paul's prayer.

Imagine buying an old house that needs renovation. The walls need painting, the flooring needs replacing, and every room requires attention.

Before moving in, everything is slowly restored.

That's exactly what Christ does when He dwells in us.

He doesn't merely visit.

He takes up residence.

Room by room, He transforms our lives.

Over time, what once looked broken begins to resemble the character of Christ.

Spiritual growth is often gradual, but it is real.

The longer Christ dwells within us, the more our lives reflect Him.

A Prayer Worth Praying

Paul's prayer challenges us to pray differently.

Yes, we can continue bringing our needs before God.

But alongside those requests, may we also pray:

• Lord, strengthen my inner being.
• Let Christ dwell fully in my heart.
• Help me experience the immeasurable depth of Your love.
• Make me spiritually mature.
• Shape me to look more like Jesus.
• May my life bring glory to You.

Ultimately, Paul's prayer isn't centered on our comfort.

It's centered on God's glory.

And when God transforms us from the inside out, His glory shines through His people and His Church for generations to come.

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

Pictures of the Church - Part 5

 

 This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on  March 16th 2025 by Navaz. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

CHURCH AS A FAMILY – PART 3

Last week, we examined God's heart toward His creation made in His image. His heart always wanted to have an intimate relationship with us. But we saw how sin corrupted God’s perfect creation. Yet God made a covenant with Abraham's family and then with the nation of Israel, who was supposed to be a model to the rest of the world, but the rebellion was so deeply rooted in their hearts.

And then, in the fullness of time, as prophesied in Gen 3, God sent His only son to die for us while we were steeped in our sin. Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father and to make way for an orphaned planet to find sonship through the Cross. We have been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus and brought into His family. God has expectations for each of us. We need to live to please the Lord. The Bible asks us to “find out what pleases Him”. It is not just function but relationship. In God’s family, the master and worker are brothers. The Cross brings down every barrier and diving wall.

We then looked at God’s family. What are some of our features and characteristics? God is our father, Jesus is the head of the family, He is our brother, we are His household, and we are a caring community that seeks to live in harmony and unity.

We ended by asking where you are in the family circle of life: an infant, child, young adult, reproducing parent, or grandparent.

Jesus saved us to reconcile us to the Father. We have been transferred from being orphans into a family, from one kingdom to another. Our salvation has a plan and purpose: to bring those who are not yet saved into the family.

So, after salvation, it is not a time to sit around and sing lovely songs. We are called to co-labour, co-create, and collaborate with Jesus. We have a job to do within the family and then get involved in the family business or mission to seek the lost.

The last time, Colin took us through how we live together as a family: Family intimacy, fellowship, encouraging one another, carrying each other’s burdens, praying for one another, growing spiritually together and serving one another.

This is by no means an exhaustive list.

Each member of the family of God has a role to play. There are no spare tyres or parts

WE LIVE IN UNITY AND PEACE

• Ephesians 4:3 – “Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
• Romans 12:18 – “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

While we celebrate our differences, it also gives us opportunities to rub each other the wrong way. The planners can get frustrated with spontaneity; the extroverts might find the introverts boring. We all must learn to accommodate our differences with grace, understanding, and respect.

However, we need to understand that the Cross has saved us, but sanctification is a lifelong process. We live in the now and not yet. So, we will face imperfections in our lives and those around us. This will give us opportunities to practice unity, forgiveness, and forbearance. etc

For this unity to work, we must work on a few things, such as our character and our relationships.

Two things that Jesus highlighted a few hours before His death are – our love for one another (by this shall all men know that you are my disciples). And our unity (that they may be one even as the Father and I are one).

WE FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER

This love and unity are vital if we are to learn how to handle our differences well and forgive well. People will hurt you, and you must learn to fight off offence (real and imagined). At least 20 passages of scripture address our need to forgive each other.

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Mark 11:25 - And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

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.

Matthew 6:12 - And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

WE CELEBRATE EACH OTHER AND ARE THERE FOR EACH OTHER’S SUCCESS.

Though we carry the same DNA as Christ, we are all uniquely shaped. Each one of us has been fearfully and wonderfully made. We have different gifts, talents, temperaments and personalities. We must honour and celebrate our differences and not try to clone each other.

How do we do this? We encourage one another,

James 4: 2—3   You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have it because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive it because you ask with wrong motives that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

1Cor 3:3 You are still worldly. Since you are jealous and quarrelling, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

WE SHARE AND GIVE GENEROUSLY

• Galatians 5:13 – “Through love serve one another.”
• 1 Peter 4:10 – “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.”
• Acts 2:44-45 – “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”
• 2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

At Word of Grace, we circulate everything we can – from furniture to appliances and clothes. There is no shame in this. This is what a family does. So, baby toys, beds, clothes, etc., all make church rounds. In this way, we help the young parents save money.

When someone gets married or is renting a home, we look for what we can bless them with to help with expenses. Whenever we buy new furniture, we give away what we no longer use. We could have sold it, but we chose to give it away.

When there has been a crisis of a major illness, we have often offered to help that family with hospital expenses.

People in the world do not understand this behaviour and so thing that we must have an agenda.

 WE LEAVE A LEGACY

Every good parent plans an inheritance for their children. We leave money and possessions behind for them. And that is required and good. But the best legacy you can give them is a spiritual one.

In the church, our job as brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, and grandparents is to multiply ourselves in someone else. Whose life are you investing in? That legacy will live one for generations to come. The Biblical word for that is discipling.

Titus 2: 3-5 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God.

V6.Similarly, young men should be encouraged to be self-controlled. ⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

2 Tim 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.

FAMILY ON A MISSION

God always wanted a family that would work with Him. That is why He created Adam and Eve—to co-work. He made this magnificent creation and then put us in charge. And we know how that went. But then the power and authority that we lost were redeemed and restored to us on the Cross. The Gen command is echoed in Matt 28:18–20—Go make disciples of all nations. It’s a command to multiply and to steward (make disciples and teach them to obey).

Jesus is waiting for His gospel to reach the ends of the Earth, and then the end will come. We have a job to do. We are the only organisation that exists for the benefit of its non-members. Everything we do and learn here is to prepare us for our real vocation, which is outside these four walls—to be salt that flavours society, prevents corruption, and preserves what is good.

We are to be a light to the nations, showing the way and shedding light on injustices.

 Isiah 61 mandate is upon us.

One day, all imperfections will cease. That is the day when we will meet Jesus face to face, and there will be a final restoration of all things. There will be a celebration of the marriage feast of the Lamb where families from every nation, tribe and tongue will gather before the throne of God and will be invited to this great banquet. This is what we live for. So, let us be encouraged with these words. Let us hold on unswervingly to the faith we profess, for He who promised is faithful. Everything will be made new; no more sin, sickness, imperfections, or sorrow. They will all flee away.

We will continue to live in the now until then. We have a small taste here on earth. Now, we see dimly as in a mirror, but one day, we shall see clearly.

Let us continue to love and serve our Lord and His body, His family. Let us do the good works that He has prepared for us because one day, we will have to give an account of how we have lived. Let our lives give Him glory. Amen.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

Pictures of the Church - Part 1

 

 This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on January 26th 2025 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here. 

Pictures of the Church

Last week we looked at how to become a part of a church. 

The Church of Jesus Christ is not like any other club where you pay thousands and lakhs of rupees to get membership. It is open to anybody who recognizes they're sinners, repent put their faith in Jesus and decide to follow Him. They're born again and added to the body of Christ.

Our salvation is through faith which is called the Justification. But that's not the end of salvation. God now has a plan for our lives which includes becoming His disciples. Many haven't given themselves to obeying Jesus' commands. The Gospel has to transform lives. John the Baptist said to produce fruit by keeping up with repentance. 

None of us are perfect. We're all sinners. There has to be at least an attempt to change our ways. Faith is important but obedience must follow faith. 

Paul says that the Church is the body of Christ. Jesus is the head of the Church and the rest of us are parts of the body. 

1. Unity in the body

When we come here to attend the Sunday service, our whole body is here. We don't leave any part behind. We may have many differences but we are one. If you look around we are all different in several ways. The parts of our bodies are different too. The world divides people based on differences like race, language, region and others. All the wars that take place are because of these differences. 

Ephesians 4:6 NIV - one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

We are united by the Father. 

Jesus' prayer for his disciples is to be one. Before the crucifixion, Jesus prayed that all may be one. 

John 17:21 NIV - that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

We see that there's deep unity among the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus wanted His disciples to be in that deep unity. 

Galatians 3:28 NIV - There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

This unity transcends all social, cultural and other barriers.

Why is this unity important? 

* God says so

When we share the gospel, we can't cause them to believe. That decision is with them. There's no forced conversion to Christianity.

John 17:21 NIV - that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

When we are united, somehow the unbelievers will believe that God sent Jesus. 

John 17:23 NIV - I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

In this verse, the same thing is repeated. 

If we want power in evangelism, we need to work to be one - loving one another and accepting one another. Seeing this, unbelievers will somehow believe that God sent Jesus Christ. 

When we are united, we have Jesus at the centre. That is the common thing. 

So let's have fellowship with one another. 

What can we do to promote unity in our church? 

It starts with greeting one another and then serving, loving, accepting, bear with one another. It is also expressed in doing things together and praying together. 

 

The Bible uses more than 90 metaphors for the body of Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, we see a unified story of God wanting a people for Himself. The story begins in a garden and ends in a city in heaven. Everything will fade, but the church of Jesus Christ will go on forever.

We are the Bride of Christ. Before anything was created, God had a bride in mind for His son.

We have been chosen not because of what we have done but because of what He has done for us.

Who did Jesus purchase with His blood – His body, the church.

What do you value most apart from God, your salvation and your family? It is your body.

Let’s look at 1 Cor 12.

We are far from perfect, but one day, we will be.

Heb 6:2 There are four baptisms – the indwelling of the Spirit at conversion, the baptism of water, the Holy Spirit and the baptism by fire which is suffering.

UNITY

God’s heart is that we all be united Eph4:4.

Ephesians 4:4 - There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called

John 17:21 -  that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Our unity helps others see the Father in heaven; therefore, we need to do all that we can to foster this unity in the church.

What can we do to be united in this local church? It is not just intellectual assent but doing what it takes, viz., participating in whatever the church is engaged in, like prayer, Gym groups, training, etc.

We are different but one. The church is the most diverse grouping of people on the Earth. In Christ, there is no Jew, Greek, or Gentile. What brings us together is Christ.

Let us build on unity and build up the Body of Christ.

DIVERSITY

The body is made up of many parts. We have different gifts, and we are all unique.

1 Corinthians 12:15 - Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.

“I don’t belong” – inferiority complex, and these people can back away from interacting and integrating. We have been placed in this body by the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:21 - ²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

 “I don’t need you” is also a mistake if we think we are independent or superior. This is a sin of pride and independence. We need each other, and we cannot survive on our own.

1 Corinthians 12:22 - On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable

The weaker parts (those not seen) are indispensable.

Ephesians 4:16 - From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The body grows up as each one does its part.

How do we practically work out this diversity? Encourage all who serve.

In India we can see everything that is wrong with everything. Let us be thankful people. It takes humility to encourage someone else.

Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

How am I using my gifts to serve the church? How am I building the church?

Do I value that I am a part of the body of Christ? We are privileged people and should not take this for granted. We cannot be ‘alone’ Christians. We have been placed in a body. God uses the church to put His manifold wisdom on display.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.