“…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” – Ephesians 4:1

TO SAY THAT those who make up the non-religious in our world are wearied and fed up to high hilt with all that goes in the name of religion and cults would be an understatement. Undeniably, much of what has taken place in the name of Christianity, particularly over the last forty years, has repudiated many people and contributed to the dubiety of skeptics in taking the gospel message seriously. What this era needs is not so much hearing the gospel as to its witness of living epistles.

What inclines us to think that we, as Christians, have any influence in persuading others to believe we are different to other practising faiths and cults? The cults and other religions are zealous and persuasive; their amount of loyal adherents and followers alone prove it! What then is it that differentiates us from anyone else? Are we any better than they are? Are we superior to any others? Not at all! It is God that calls and through His grace alone that we are made to participate in the riches of His kingdom. The gospel message is that we are all deserving of the wrath of God as His enemies and are helpless (in and of ourselves) in escaping that judgement, but – God demonstrates His righteousness and merciful love by reconciling us to Himself through the death of Jesus Christ His Son. While – not when we decided to get right, but while we were dead (spiritually lifeless) in our sins and hopelessly bound in our enmity to God, Christ died to redeem us from the awaiting judgement. Paul perfectly encapsulates what sets apart the Christian and the DNA of the gospel of Jesus Christ from all other professing faiths in 1 Corinthians 4:20: “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” Who better than the apostle Paul to speak of the power of God in completely transforming a life that was opposed to God?! Listen to him again in the second chapter and verse four: “…my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power…” Again, in 1 Thessalonians 1:5 “because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you…”

It is interesting to note how Paul gives evidence that substantiates or authenticates the gospel message (not in and of itself but validly demonstrated it before others) “…You know what kind of men we proved to be among you…” and the kind of men they showed themselves to be was the manifest power evident through their lifestyle. It wasn’t just mere talk or the typical persuasiveness of charismatic cult leaders that attract so many victims; the apostle Paul came in weakness, in fear and much trembling, whose words were not plausible according to this world’s wisdom, but was empowered to speak the mysteries of God’s kingdom. Without a shadow of doubt, Paul could have impressed his hearers with eloquence just as with the other world renowned philosophers of his day, but he knew that would only win converts to himself, not to Jesus Christ – “…that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5).

This is not to say that other beliefs are void of some form of power, even supernaturally; they certainly are at times fuelled with extraordinary aptitude, but such power is not clean. There was on one occasion when a spiritualist attended one of Dr Lloyd-Jones’ services and commented that she was conscious of a real and infinite power throughout the meeting, something she had never felt before. She went on to say that she was accustomed to encountering supernatural phenomena in her own “church” but their was something notably and unforgettably different at Westminster Chapel; it was a clean power – and that influence cannot be put down to any other than the presence of the Holy Spirit Who is not the personification of purity but the very essence of purity Himself.

This era of Christianity, in the ongoing history of the Church, has yet to know the dynamic power of God that positively impacts the world and will only come when Christ is Lord of our lives. Again, I say, Christians will not have dynamic impact in the world until the Lordship of Christ is exemplified in their lives.

Our present day witnesses the rise and growth of Islam at a phenomenal rate and some of our weak governments indirectly embrace – through ‘multi-culturalism’ – Muslim world domination, which is guaranteed to offer nothing other than totalitarianism and oppression. Non-violent and innocent protestors against the rising tyranny, who care for justice and humane freedom, are penalised as criminals by authorities who swore to uphold the law that guards the welfare of all its citizens and to execute justice on those who oppose and threaten to dispose of it. What once was deemed criminal is now credible and what once was commendable is now deplorable.

These are obvious times, revealing to the discerning Christian that this world is no playground but a battleground. Many sleeping Christians need to wake up. Times ahead will unveil who really belongs to the Lord; many who profess loyalty to Christ will turn away and fall away from the visible Church.

In our current day and hour, Christians all over the world are being butchered alive because they refuse to bow the knee to Islam. Just because we (in America, Canada and Britain) inhabit civilised nations does not ensure our protection and rights from the escalating threat of Sharia Law being implemented within our constitutions; it’s already creeping its way into our code of law. Islam is slowly but surely gaining position and power in and through our education, military and government.

God may well use the influx of Muslim immigration to wake up the Church. Revival may come but maybe at the price of blood; God does spiritually prosper the Church through persecution and grave opposition. Is it not true that while our western societies have prospered in material wealth, a booming economy and greater technology, the Church has digressed rather than progressed? So many evangelicals have become deathly complacent in the midst of ‘Christian’ entertainment. Had we prayed and warred in the heavenlies we may have had a different scenario today. There is a price to pay for spiritual laxity. We’ve lost so much time through being delirious there’s hardly any time left to get serious. We’ve had our ‘crowning’ years of spiritual luxury, but by the mercy of God we’ll grow through the cross of adversity. Saints of old embraced the cross before wearing the crown, so what makes us think we’re any different?

It is beyond time to get serious about our patriotic beliefs and our constitution; it is high time to cry out for the mercy of God, to get down on our knees and be serious about Him – not for our own welfare (many have played that game too often), but the interests of His kingdom; not in order to have material security but to be clothed in the power of His might so that we do walk worthily of His name, what in turn makes our testimony genuine and real in the midst of a crooked generation.

Before the sword of God’s Word (metaphorically speaking) pierces the hearts of Muslims, it may well first entail the sword of Islam (in the literal sense) spilling innocent blood of Christians, but where it looks the most bleakest and despairing will only prove to be one of the Church’s monumental and greatest spiritual victories against the wiles of Satan.

How we need to be often reminded that: “… we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds [of satanic influence]” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

Many Christians today, infatuated with a false sense of spiritual warfare, can ‘bark’ all they want, “In the name of Jesus” against all that would threaten them, but it will not make the slightest bit of difference. “There is power in the name…” many will quote. Of course there is, but only for those who are known by Christ and who know Him personally through obedience in the faith (Acts 19:13-16).

The following scriptures echoed throughout the New Testament, provide the key as to what will dynamically differentiate the Christian who proves worthy to be heard by being a blazing and irrefutably persuasive light that testifies only to the gospel of Jesus Christ – the Light and Hope of the world and by no other name under heaven shall man or woman be saved.

“…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” (Ephesians 4:1).

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:27).

“…walk in a manner worthy of God, Who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:12).

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

The net result of such living shall inevitably lead us to speak in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.