Key Takeaway
We are called to walk in humility, unity, and faith, living lives worthy of the calling we have received and believing that God can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.
Read Ephesians 3:20-21.
God can do whatever He wants, whenever He wants, however He wants.
And He wants to do immeasurably more through the church—through our church.
But here’s the question we need to ask ourselves today: Am I believing for more?
It’s one thing to read this verse, agree with it, or even memorize it—but do we actually believe it?
We want to be a church that believes for more, longs for more, and expects more.
We want to live with high expectations that God can surprise us with what He is able to do. With God, all things are possible.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Ephesians 4:1
Paul was in prison, yet he was still convinced that God was able to do MORE.
So what does this mean for us?
You may be facing incredibly difficult circumstances, but don’t let your circumstances dictate your calling. God often uses the hardest times in our lives to produce the greatest fruit.
On the other hand, don’t let your struggles cause you to lose sight of your calling. What you have received in Christ will always outweigh what you can earn in this world. What has happened for you through Christ will always be greater than what has happened to you in this world.
As a prisoner for the Lord, Paul still encourages us to believe.
God will do immeasurably more through the church when we walk and work together.
Notice the word “then” at the beginning of chapter 4.
That word points us back to chapters 1–3. We can’t separate Paul’s instructions in chapters 4–6 from the truth he lays out in the first half of the letter.
We often fall into the trap of thinking Christianity is a list of demands. But it’s not—it’s a response. We must grasp all that God has done for us before we can respond to Him.
So when Paul writes, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received,” we have to ask:
What have we received? And does our walk reflect that calling?
None of us is perfect, but following Jesus is a process—day by day, we are being shaped into His image so that our lives reflect what we believe.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
God wants to do immeasurably more, and He does it when we walk together. But let’s be honest—doing life together is not always easy. It’s messy.
That’s why the very first thing Paul tells the Ephesians is to be completely humble.
“Humility starts with seeing God.” – Louie Giglio
When we catch even a glimpse of how big God is, how could we not be humble?
“It’s not about you.” – Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life
Pride puts self at the center. And that’s the root of so much dysfunction.
Humility, on the other hand, is magnetic. Pride repels.
True humility isn’t about thinking less of ourselves—it’s about thinking of ourselves less. It’s shifting from being self-centered to being God-centered, from pushing for our own way to looking out for the good of others.
And Paul says not just a little humility, not false humility, but complete humility. All the time. Not as an occasional choice, but as part of our character.
In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5
“Humility is the displacement of self by the enthronement of God.” – Andrew Murray
Clarity comes when we see God for who He is, and then see ourselves in light of Him.
“In every Christian’s heart there is a cross and a throne. The Christian is on the throne until he puts himself on the cross. If he refuses the cross, he remains on the throne. Perhaps this is at the bottom of all our troubles today: self sits enthroned in our hearts.” – A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
God can move, will move, and wants to move through us.
He wants to do the immeasurably more through you and me.
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” – President Truman
We all want to accomplish things and be admired. But if we learn not to care who gets the credit, we can go so much further.
And when the credit goes to God instead of us—He gets the glory.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called.
Ephesians 4:3–4
God calls us to oneness, not sameness.
Read Psalm 133:1 and Romans 15:5-7.
God has gifted each of us in different ways, and He calls us to work together.
As our church grows in diversity—with people from different countries, backgrounds, and circumstances—God will use our differences for His glory.
Read Ephesians 4:11-13, 16.
So, what role is God calling you to play? How has He gifted you? How are you continuing to grow?
We want to be a church that goes into the world, serving and ministering to people, believing that God can do immeasurably more in and through us.
We need the whole body.
Discussion Questions
What does it mean to truly believe that God can do “immeasurably more” in and through your life?
How does Paul’s situation in prison challenge the way you view your own circumstances?
Why is it important to understand Ephesians chapters 1-3 before applying the instructions in chapters 4-6?
In what ways have you experienced God using difficult circumstances to produce fruit in your life?
How can humility transform the way we live and interact with others in the church?
What’s the difference between humility and false humility?
Why do you think pride disrupts unity, while humility strengthens it?
How do the gifts God has given you fit into the larger picture of the body of Christ?
What does it look like for the church to pursue oneness without sameness?
What role do you believe God is calling you to play in building up the church?
