In this sermon on Ephesians chapter 4, the speaker encourages the audience to live a life worthy of their calling. He emphasizes the importance of humility, patience, and love in maintaining unity among believers. The speaker highlights the oneness of the body of Christ, emphasizing that there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. He also discusses how Jesus' sacrifice on the cross provides the raw material for building the church. The sermon concludes with a reflection on the characters of Peter and Andrew, highlighting the importance of forgiveness and attentiveness in our relationships with others.

Will you please turn to the Gospel according to Matthew. 请我们翻开马太福音 Matthew, Chapter 16. 马太福音第十六章 We will read verse 18. 我们读第十八节 Matthew, Chapter 16, verse 18. 马太第十六章第十八节 Matthew, Chapter 16, verse 18. And I also I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and Hades' gates shall not prevail against it. 我还告诉你,你是彼得,我要把我的教会建造在这盘石上。 阴间的权柄不能胜过他。 Matthew, Chapter 16, verse 24. 第二十四节 Matthew, Chapter 24. Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 于是耶稣对门徒说,若有人要跟从我,就当舍己,备起他的十字架来跟从我。 For whosoever shall desire to save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. 因为凡要救自己生命的必丧掉生命,凡为我丧掉生命的必得这生命。 For what does a man profit if he should gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul? 人若赚得全世界,赔上自己的生命,有什么益处呢?人还能拿什么换生命呢? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is about to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to each according to his doings. 人子要在他父的荣耀里,同着众使者降临。 那时候他要照个人的行为报应个人。 我们再翻开以佛所书第四章。 我们读一到十六节。 我为主被求地劝你们既然蒙照,行事为人就当与蒙照的恩相称。 凡事天须温柔忍耐,用爱心互相宽容。 用和平彼此联络,建立保守圣灵所赐和而为一的心。 身体只有一个,圣灵只有一个,正如你们蒙照,同有一个指望。 One faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in us all. 一神就是众人的父,超乎众人之上,贯乎众人之中,也住在众人之内。 我们个人蒙恩都是照基督所量给个人的恩赐。 And has given gifts to men. But that he ascended, what is it? But that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth. 既说升上,岂不是先降在地下吗? 那降下的,就是远升诸天之上,要充满万有的。 And some evangelists and some shepherds and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, with a view to the work of the ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ. 为要成全圣徒各尽其职,建立基督的身体。 直等到我们众人在真道上同归于一,认识神的儿子,得以长大成人,满有基督长成的身量。 By every wind of their teaching, which is in the sleight of men, in unprincipled cunning, with a view to systematize error. 使我们不再做小孩子,众人的诡计和欺骗的法术,被一切异教之风摇动,飘来飘去,就随从各样的异端。 唯用爱心说诚实话,凡事长进,连于元首基督。 全身都靠他每一步的合适,百节各按各职,照着个体的功用彼此相助, 便叫身体渐渐增长,不断增强,不断增强,不断增强,不断增强,不断增强,不断增强,不断增强,不断增强,不断增强,不断增强。 在爱中建立自己。 我们再有一点的祷告。 亲爱的主,我们再一次聚在你自己同在的跟前。 我们心里面满了感谢。 我们感谢祢在过去几天里面是那样以信实待我们。 我们感谢祢带我们进入最后一整天的聚会。 我们祈求祢与我们同在。 我们求祢挪去我们心中仍有的怕惧。 我们求祢的话实在能够透入我们人的深处。 把我们带进祢那永远的旨意。 我们承认离开祢我们不能够做什么。 我们知道我们愿尽一切所能的。 我们知道我们是一般无望的人。 但是我们感谢祢祢是那样的要得着我们。 主我们祷告就算在如今这个最后的时刻。 祢把我们带上这条十字架的路上。 这条路就把我们带进祢那永远的旨意。 我们奉主耶稣基督的名祷告。 我们一直在教通道,通道那神永远旨意的道路就是十字架。 如果我们真是能够看到神的心。 你想你会在那里看到什么? 我实在相信在神的心中只有一位。 就是祂的爱子我们的主耶稣基督。 神的心思是集中在祂儿子的身上。 祂爱祂的儿子祂为祂儿子做一切的事。 但是当我们看我们主耶稣的心。 你以为你在主耶稣的心中找到什么呢? 你会看到在主耶稣的心中你找到的是祂的教会,祂的身体。 根据神的话,整转的圣经告诉我们这两件事。 基督和祂的教会。 这是神永远的旨意。 那唯一能够认识基督和祂教会的那条路, 那是借着启示。 神要把祂的儿子启示在我们心中。 而神的儿子要把祂的教会启示给我们。 如果没有这样活的启示。 不然我们对于基督,我们对于教会的观念就非常的不够。 唯一的我们能够认识基督认识教会,就是我们要求神把启示给我们。 我们能够从上面得到启示是一件事。 认识教会,认识基督是一件事。 那真正要得到基督跟活出教会,那我们需要十支架。 所以这一次我们所重点的,乃是讲到,进入神永远旨意的道路,十支架。 十支架把基督给了我们。 十支架把教会带出来。 昨天我们讲到基督与教会,我们开始在于讲到十支架是教会的根基。 我们的主耶稣基督对彼得说, 你是彼得,一块石头,一块小石头。 我要把我的教会建造在这盘石,这大块的石头上。 阴间的权柄不能胜过他。 教会的根基,那个盘石,是我们主耶稣基督。 因为我们除了耶稣基督,就不能立其他的根基。 我们昨天早上提到, 我们的主耶稣基督是被父所差遣。 父差他来有一个指示。 如果他不上十支架,他就不能够完成父所差遣他的。 他就要来到这个世上,成为一个人。 他在地上活了三十三年半的时间,一个完全的人。 那一个生活是完全照着神的心意来活。 他就是这样活过这三十三年半,就升到天下。 弟兄姊妹们, 他就会在他的指示上面没有成功。 对于他个人来讲是成功了。 但是从他的指示上来讲是失败了。 弟兄姊妹们, 弟兄姊他对我们那奇妙的爱。 他没有顾到他自己。 对他自己来讲,如果他能够从变幻山上升天,那是好的无比。 但是为了我们的缘故。 他为我们去了迦勒山,为我们上了十字架。 在他被钉十字架最后的时刻, 他喊出来说成了。 那个指示已经完成了。 哦,救赎已经完成了。 他已经完成了他被掺起来的使命。 昨天我们也讲到, 当兵兵拿枪扎他的额旁的时候, 从他破碎的心中流出了血和水。 从我们主耶稣的十字架那里。 在那里得到了他教会被建造的材料。 我们记得在创世纪二章里面。 谁说那人独居不好。 我要为他造一个配偶,他的同类。 当神把各个活物带到亚当的跟前。 亚当在所有的活物当中没有找到他的同类。 所以神叫他沉睡。 神把他的额旁打开。 神从亚当里面取出一些的东西。 用着那些的东西,他在那里建造了一个女人。 当神把夏娃带到亚当跟前。 亚当马上看到这是我。 他们就联合而为一。 对亚当来讲, 他身上被动的手术是没有痛苦的。 因为那是在罪进入这个世界之前。 但是对于我们主约书记中来讲, 当他被钉在十字架上的时候, 他经过了那极大的痛苦。 因为罪已经进到世上来。 感谢神。 他的血是为我们赎罪。 水那是他的生命给了我们。 这个生命就会被建立。 今天我们一同来思想,十字架跟我们被建造在一起。 我们记得当父向西门彼得启示之后。 当耶稣基督是基督是永生神的儿子启示显明之后。 我们的主就启示出,他要上耶路撒冷,他要被杀,第三天要复活。 换句话说, 这条能够完成他成为基督使命的这条道路,乃是上十字架。 对我们主约书来讲,十字架是必须的。 这是耶稣基督和他钉十字架。 你不能够把基督跟十字架分开,也不能够把十字架跟基督分开。 是十字架把基督给了我们。 是十字架是基督他给了我们十字架。 我们的主继续的对他的门徒说, 若有人要跟从我, 他就当舍己背起他的十字架来跟从我。 换句话说,十字架对于基督来讲是必须的。 十字架对于我们来讲为了建造基督的教会也是必须的。 这些的材料是在这里。 怎么样这些的材料这些的原料被建立成为神的家? 没有十字架,教会就不能被建立。 那是借着十字架。 没有十字架,教会就不能被建立。 弟兄姊妹们, 我们的主耶稣说,你要舍己背起你的十字架来跟从我。 我们的主耶稣是教会的根基。 这个跟我们建造一个普通的房子的根基是不一样。 但是那个根基跟房子可能用的不同的材料。 当我们的主说我要建造我的教会, 他是在那里建造一个属灵的一个民工。 他是在那里建造他自己的身体。 所以我们看到那个根基跟这个被建造的房子当中的关系是有机的。 换句话说, 这个房子乃是从根基上面长上来的。 是基督的森严。 所以根基是什么,房子里面的本质也是什么。 所以圣经就告诉我们说,我们要向上来扎根,在他的上面生根建造。 我们的主他是盘石,他是那根基。 在以色亚书二十八章里面,第十六节, 以色亚二十八章十六节, 所以主耶和华如此说, 神说, 神说, 这个根基乃是一块石头, 不单止这样, 是试验过的石头, 是经过试验的, 是完美的。 这是讲到我们的主在地上的生活, 他是如何的受过各样的试验, 他在各样的事情上受过试验而没有犯罪, 他是那稳固的根基, 不单止这样, 他是宝贵的房角石, Not only a stone, a tri-stone, But a precious stone, And he is the sure foundation. Now if the foundation is of this manner, 如果那个根基是这种的光景, 那那个房屋也是同样的本质。 弟兄姊妹们, 你记得西门彼得的故事, 在约翰的一章, 他的兄弟安德烈把他带到耶稣的跟前, 圣经告诉我们, 我们的主看着他, 那个看就是从上到下来看, 他是看进他的里面去, 然后主说, 你是西门, 是西门巴越纳的儿子, 你要被称为基法, 称为一块石头。 弟兄姊妹们, 你知道西门本来是一个很喜欢讲话的人, 一般来讲他都是比别人先发言的, 他比基督还先讲话, 但是很奇妙当他被带到主的跟前, 他无话可言, 因为当我们的主看他的时候, 因为当我们的主看到他里面去的时候, 他无话可说, 我们的主说你是西门, 当然他自己知道他叫西门, 他不需要主告诉他说你叫西门, 但是那里有一个这样的意思, 主说你是西门, 这是你天然的所是的, 你是从你属地的父亲生出来的, 所以你就被起名叫做西门, 这是你本来的就是这样, 所以你要被称为彼得, 换句话说, 换句话说主说我在你的生命里面要工作, 我要把你从西门变成彼得, 西门乃是出于尘土的人, 因为我们都是天然的人, 是尘土所造的, 那我们的主说你要成为一块石头, 当我们来到主的跟前, 当我们真是真正地相信他的时候, 一个新的元素进到我们生命里面, 把我们改变从尘土变为石头, 所以当西门承认你是基督是永生神的儿子的时候, 我们的主说你是彼得, 如今你是一块石头, 你现在是一块活的石头, 彼得他明白, 因为在彼得前书第二章那里, 他说当我们来到神的跟前, 我们都要像活石, 被建造成为明宫, 石头, 但是是一个粗糙的石头, 我们知道彼得是一块粗糙的石头, 让这块石头给建造进入明宫, 要经过试验, 要受过训练, 要经过一些的痛苦, 要能够成为一块被试验过的石头, 一块宝贵的石头, 所以当我们的主呼召彼得做他门徒的时候, 经过大概那三年的时光, 我们就看到我们的主在西门彼得的生命里面工作, 我们经常看到在彼得里面的西门跳出来, 当主刚刚说完你是彼得之后, 我们就发现这个人, 主对主说, 你不可以上十字架, 主说我要上十字架, 彼得说不要, 你要照顾好自己, 天然的爱, 天然的心思, 天然的心思, 天然的心思, 不要我们去受苦, 我们的主要对他说, 撒旦退我后面去, 撒旦在西门彼得的身上有一块踏脚石, 弟兄姊妹们, 当我们信了主耶稣基督之后, 感谢神我们是活死, 在我们里面有一个新的生命, 一切潜在的力量都在里面, 但是很可惜, 我们发现我们的旧生命还在那里, 我们本来的天性还在那里, 我们的自己,我们的肉体还在里面, 在我们里面有一个宝贝, 但是在宝贝外面还有这个瓦器, Oftentimes we find what comes out is not Christ in us, It is our old self. 我们经常发现在我们身上出来的不是基督, 乃是我们的老我, 这些不能够被建造成为教会, 我们看见在那些年日当彼得跟从主耶稣的时候, 我们就看到主许多次彼得在那里受主的对付, 因为他在那里,他是一个就是这样的一个人, 他是一个就是这样非常喜欢讲话的人, 你发现在门徒当中他是受对付最厉害的一个, 很多时候我都很同情彼得, 彼得如果你不讲话就好了, 那多好啊! 弟兄姊妹们, 那是人的智慧, 不然的话他就没有失去这样的机会被试验被炼精, 一再又再再而三的在彼得里面的西门出来了, 我们的主在那里要对付他, 你记得在变化山上, 他说我们在这里真好, 我们在这里搭三座棚, 一座为你,一座为摩西,一座为尹利, 那我们就露天都可以了, 因为在这里实在太好了, 圣经说他不知道他讲什么, 他以为他一定要讲一些话, 不然的话摩西跟尹利就不会离开, 天上的父亲要切断他的话, 弟兄姊妹们, 你也看到当收税的人来的时候, 当然也是收丁税, 你说夫子付丁税吗? 他没有问过主, 人说你夫子付不付丁税, 他说付, 他对人说答应了别人以后, 他就来找主, 主就对他说, 谁付税啊? 儿子是要付税吗? 我们的主再一次救了他, 他说你去钓鱼吧, 头一个上钓的鱼, 那里面有一块钱是够你我丁税用的, 彼得是一个渔夫, 他在那里是撒网的, 他就会捕到很多的鱼, 但去钓一条鱼, 我想他实在没有耐耐性, 主对付他, 你看到他又来到主的跟前, 他说我的兄弟得罪了我, 我都饶恕他, 那七次够不够啊? 他实在希望主能够赞赏他, 对于彼得这样的人, 去忍耐七次那是一个神迹啊, 他的兄弟是谁呢? 是安德烈, 你知道安德烈是怎样的人呢? 安德烈是一个很安静的人, 很细心的人, 他可以查验到很小的事情, 有那种上千上万的人, 他可以在千万人当中看到 那个小孩子有五饼二鱼, 这样的人是一个很细心的人, 我相信他很少得罪人, 一般来讲都是这样, 那个他以为别人得罪他的那个人呢, 他就是得罪人的人, 很多时候, 那个他以为别人得罪他的那个人呢, 他就是得罪人的人, 我们的主说不是七次, 是七十个七次, 弟兄姊妹们, 那是没有可能的, 对西门来说这是不可能的, 这是死, 这是主在他身上做的, 他是一个大有自信的人, 他爱主, 他真的是爱主, 所以他对主说, 别人都离开你, 我愿意为你舍命, 我们的主说, 西门, 撒旦要得罪你, 他要像筛麦子那样筛你, 但我已经为你祷告, 当你回头, 回到你弟兄们当中的时候, 弟兄姊妹们, 他是在那样觉得他是有这样的爱心, 但他否认主名三次, 他来到他自己的尽头, 他流泪, 感谢主, 主在那里恢复了他, 亲爱的弟兄姊妹, 彼得虽然是一块活石, 他是一个那么粗糙的石头, 满了他的自己, 我们的主要对付他, 用爱来对付他, 用耐心来对付他, 直到彼得成为一个宝石, 所以在信仰上, 在那里有十二个根基, 是有十二个宝石, 头一个宝石是红宝石, 红宝石, 很可能是讲到彼得, 头一块是毕玉, 毕玉就是当你看到神的时候,神像毕玉, 弟兄姊妹们, 这些的石头要经过试验, 这些石头要被改变成为宝石, 然后才能够建造成为灵功, 我们在这一切的过程中里面, 可能相当的痛苦, 但是这都是正面的, 都是积极的向着神的旨意, 弟兄姊妹们, 彼得当他经过对付以后, 当他在那里写彼得书信的时候, 在彼得前书第一章, 第六节, 因此你们是大有喜乐, 但如今在百般的试验中暂时忧愁, 你们的信心既被试验, 就比那被火试验仍能坏的金子更显宝贵, 可以在耶稣基督显现的时候, 得着称赞,荣耀,尊贵。 然后在第四章, 第十二节, 亲爱的弟兄啊, 有火焰的试验临到你们, 不要以为稀奇, 似乎是遭遇非常的事, 但如同他在耶稣的痛苦中分享, 祂也在祂的荣耀中, 祂也能够享受荣耀。 因此,在彼得的生命中, 在他所经历的, 在我们的身上也要经历, 我们的主要我们, 被建造成为他的教会, 所以他要在我们的生命里面, 做这样的工作, 如果我们拒绝, 他在我们身上做功, 那我们在神的家里面, 就不能够被建造。 弟兄姊妹, 对于教会来讲,十字架是必须的。 今天为什么教会没有被建立, 是因为神的儿女们, 是因为我们逃避十字架。 我们的主说, 若有人要跟从我, 这是他的途径, 这是他要走的路, 这是十字架的道路, 如果有人愿意跟从我, 你要舍, 背起十字架来跟从, 十字架是我们都要背的, 十字架也是我们可以避开的, 你可以把它背起, 或者你可以绕它而过。 那十字架是什么? A cross is when God's will and your will cross each other. 十字架乃是 你的旨意跟神的旨意 相冲撞的时候。 如果你坚持 要走你的路, 你就逃避了十字架。 那你就丧失掉 你的浑生命。 如果你为了 主的缘故,为了他福音的缘故, 你愿意 叫你自己死, 让神的旨意 从你身上走过去, then you win yourself. 那你就得到你的生命。 弟兄姊妹们, 在这里我们看到我们必须 要背起我们的十字架。 那我们怎么样能够背起我们的十字架? 对于我们来讲 那是与我们相反的。 这个是要杀死我们的。 这个是要我们被减少的。 这个是要我们被破碎的。 从天人 来讲,我们是 永远不会背起这个十字架。 我们可以像彼得那么勇敢, 我愿意为你死。 说是一件事, 真正的能够 活出来是另外一件事。 我们做不出来。 弟兄姊妹们, 秘诀在这里。 主说, 背起你的十字架, 跟从我。 如果我们不舍己, 我们没有可能 背起十字架。 我们的难处, 是我们没有舍己。 这个 是跟奉献有关系。 我们的弟兄昨天已经提到, 我们把十二章, 说亲爱的弟兄, 我以神的慈悲 劝你们, 将身体献上 当作活迹。 是圣洁的, 是神所喜悦的。 你们如此侍奉, 乃是理所当然的, 是属灵的敬拜。 这是我们基督徒生活 最基本的。 当我们信了主以后, 如果我们愿意跟从主, 有一件我们必须要做的, 乃是将身体献上当作活迹。 为什么这里用到将身体? 因为这里所注重的, 乃是我们日常生活 一些具体的事情。 这个就包括了 我们整个的人。 我们需要把我们 整个的人当作活迹 献给我们的主。 当我们这样做的时候, 这是舍弃。 我们要 为我们自己而活。 我们要 抓住我们自己的权利。 但是当你 把自己献上当作 活迹的时候, 就是说 你放下你自己。 就是说 你愿意 把你自己 一切的权利都放弃。 意思说,你愿意 做你生命的主。 你愿意他的旨意成就。 弟兄姊妹们, 这是奉献。 奉献不是 为神做什么事。 那是后面的事。 奉献那是 把你自己完全的 交给主。 这是舍弃。 我不再 知道我自己。 我说 我不认识你。 Because I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live. It is Christ who lives in me. He has every right over me. His will be done, not mine. 弟兄姊妹们, 奉献 is not just once for all. It has to have a beginning. One day you have to be moved, constrained by the love of Christ. You are willing to give up yourself to him. Allow him to work out his purpose. And then daily, as the burn offering, is repeated morning and evening. And is being added when there are festivals. When you are under testing, and when the cross is before you, and you have to decide whether you will take it or you will escape it. Only by really dedicate, give your life to the Lord. You are able to take up the cross and follow the Lord. Many times there are strugglings. But finally, his love overcomes. You are willing to let go yourself. That's consecration. Consecration is a way. It goes in the way of the cross. So dear brothers and sisters, you find that the cross is a must to us. But there is more to it. Because it is not just making you a model. Making you a monument. This is not God's purpose. God's purpose is not just to make you a spiritual giant. To be admired by people. As a monument standing there. God wants a body. He wants a house. Therefore you find that all these living stones have to be built together. There is not only the work that needs to be done to each stone. Turn the raw material into useful material. But afterwards, you need to fit them together. You need to fit them together. Build them together according to the design of God. So there is much more working of the cross needed. Now we find that in the Old Testament times, we find that in the Old Testament times, God let his people out of Egypt. He brought them to Mount Sinai. And there he shared his heart. Why did God deliver them? What was the reason behind it? God said, because I want to dwell among you. Build me a sanctuary that I may dwell in your midst. And you find that when God the people, to build him a sanctuary. He showed Moses the design. But where are the materials? He called the people to offer his offering. You know the children of Israel, they were slaves in Egypt. They owned no property. They did not even own their own lives. But when God delivered them out of Egypt, you remember God made them people in the world. They spoiled all the riches of Egypt. They carried all the riches of Egypt out with them. And then God said, give me a heave offering. Out of what I have given you. You give back to me out of love. Legally, all is God's. But God will rather that his people will give willingly than lovingly. So they began to give. Gold, silver, iron, brass, and all these lilies and purple and scarlet. And acacia woods and also other things. And precious stones. And oil. All these things actually came from God. But out of the abundance they gave willingly to God. Now that is a figure of consecration. After our Lord Jesus has come, he brings us to the very origin. And that is present our bodies living. The redeemed belongs to the Lord. So it is but right for us to do it. Not your silver and gold. But yourself. But after all these materials are given, much work has to be done. All these woods have to be cut. And all these clothes have to be weaved. And all this gold has to be beaten. Everything has to be done so that it will take form. And you'll find all the furniture in the temple. Now the same thing is true with Solomon's temple. David prepared much material for the house of God. Out of his affliction, he gave. Out of his affection for the Lord, he gave out the Lord. He gave according to all his power. And everyone who is touched, they give. And then we find the workmen had to come and work on these things. So dear brothers and sisters, not only individually the Lord has to do much work, but in putting us together we have to do it sincerely. So these three best practices is concerned with the eternal purpose of God. Especially in this matter of the church. In the first three chapters maybe, we can say that it is a revelation of the church. How the church is the body of Christ. In Ephesians chapter 1 verse 22, 23. Christ is head to the church which is his body. The fullness of him who fills all and in all. And how the church is the new man. Neither Jews nor Gentiles. Because God has bring them into one new man. The church is the house of God. The foundation and the cornerstone. The twelve apostles are the foundations and Christ is the cornerstone. And it is the household of God. And brothers and sisters, we find that in the first three chapters, it tells us what the church is. Revelation. Now, when there is revelation, we find the heading of that letter is Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ. As an apostle, he passed on the revelation that he had received. But then when it comes to the building of the church, we were once being captured by the enemy. We were in captivity. He cannot do what he wants to do. He cannot go where he wants to go. He has lost his freedom. He is under someone. And brothers and sisters, unless we take that position, there is no way to build a church. So, are we willing to take that rightful place? Then the apostle Paul, the prisoner in the Lord says, in chapter 4 verse 1, I, the prisoner in the Lord, exhort you therefore to walk worthy of the calling wherewith ye have been called. Thank God we have been called. Now, what is our calling? The calling here does not refer to our individual calling. It is an overall calling. All of us are called. We are all called into this. Now, what is that calling according to Ephesians? That calling is we are called to be the body of Christ. Now, what calling that is? It is a holy calling, on high calling. It is a heavenly calling. We are called to be the body of Christ. We are not just called to be saved. We are not just called that we may go to heaven. We are called to be the very body of Christ. All the fullness of the head dwells in the body. All the riches of Christ dwell in the body. And the glory of Christ manifested through that body. It is one with him. As the head is, so is the body. Brothers and sisters, we are called to be the body of Christ. Now, since this is our calling, we shall walk worthy of our calling. Are we walking worthy of our calling? Are we walking worthy of our calling? Now, how can we walk worthy of our calling? With all loneliness and meekness, with long suffering, bearing with one another in love. Now, these are the qualities, the character of our Lord Jesus. Because he is meek and lowly in heart. He calls us to yoke with him. To learn of him. Because he is meek and lowly in heart. There is no resistance in him towards his Father. That's meekness. He is lowly in heart. And that lowliness means there is no self in him. That is what Christ is. And that is what we should be. It is his life in us. It is his character in us. With that kind of attitude, we are able to be built together. How we are resistant to God. You know, the Bible says Moses is the meekest of men. Now, that doesn't seem to be right. Because even all the artists, when they draw the picture of Moses, he was so majestic. So strong. Powerful. And the Bible says he is the meekest of men. Why? Because there is no resistance in him towards God. Absolute submission. Absolute obedience. Brothers and sisters, how about us? Is there still resistance in us towards God? Are we ready at all times to obey? Are we lowly in heart? Selfless. Willing to take the lowest place because that's what we are. And then it says, with long suffering. Long suffering. It means suffer long. Now, do you expect that? To be built into the body of Christ means long suffering. You remember 1 Corinthians chapter 30. It is a chapter on love. But it is related to the church, the body of Christ. And the first quality of love is love suffers long. How God suffers long with us. And the church, because it is a place of love, it is a place of long suffering. Are you ready to suffer? And suffer long. If you are not ready, then don't try to be built into the church. No wonder there are people today who want to keep to themselves. We can seek the Lord. The Lord and I and nobody else. It seems very spiritual. But brothers and sisters, they are not built into the body of Christ. They miss the eternal purpose of God. And then it says, bearing with one another in love. Now all these are the qualities of Christ. Only when we are standing in Christ, we are able to begin to be built up together. And the first thing is using diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace. Why? Because the body is one. As the head is one, the body is one. Therefore, we have to keep diligently the unity of the Spirit. What is the unity of the Spirit? That unity has already been given. It has been given to all of us. So what we need is to keep it. Diligently keep it. Why? Because it is so precious. You can easily lose it. Now what is the unity of the Spirit? That has already been given to us. It is in the seven ones that follow. There is one body and one Spirit as ye have been also called in one hope of your calling. The first three relates to God the Spirit. Because in one Spirit that is in one Holy Spirit, we have been baptized into one body. And we all drink of one Spirit. So we have been baptized by the Holy Spirit in the Holy Spirit into one body. I think this is evident as soon as you believe in the Lord Jesus. Immediately you find there is not only a bond between you and God. You find there is a bond between you and all the other children of God. Because we belong to each other. We are one body. And we drink of one Spirit. The same Holy Spirit dwells in us. And teaches us and brings us to Christ. And what is the hope of our calling? What is that hope? What is the hope of the body? Oh! The hope of the body is that the body is fully matured and become the bride of the Lamb. This is our blessed hope. And we have all these three. And then it says One Lord, one faith, one baptism. That relates to God the Son. Our Lord Jesus is our Lord. He is Lord to every one of us. And it is one faith. And that one faith means we believe He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Because that is the faith that saves us. One baptism. It is not the manner of baptism. It is the meaning of baptism. We have all been baptized into Christ. We belong to Christ. All of us belong to Christ. And then God the Father. One God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in us all. We have the same Father. So brothers and sisters, where is the unity of the Spirit? The unity of the Spirit is in the Triune God. In the world we have all differences and distinctions. But in God we are one. In our Lord Jesus we are one. In the Holy Spirit we are one. Let us keep diligently that unity. Do not allow anything to come in and break that unity. Whether it is national distinctions, because there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Whether it is cultural difference, the civilized or the barbarians. There is no social difference. The bondman or the freeman in Christ Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, in God the Father, we are one. And let this oneness surpasses all differences. We may have different ideas. We may have different interpretations of the Word of God. We may have different experiences of the Son of God. But all these are secondary. The foundation is the unity of the Spirit. So let us continue to fellowship with one another. Not because we have differences. Therefore we are divided. And we do not belong to one another. Even become enemies to one another. Brothers and sisters, the cross must work in each one of us. Cross out anything that will conflict with the unity of the Spirit. In spite of all the differences, let us be one. Let us continue to fellowship with one another. And through fellowship, one day, we will arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. The unity of the faith is different from one faith in verse four. One faith refers to the basic faith. The faith that saves us. The faith refers to the whole truth of God. The faith that is once delivered to us. Today, we may have different understanding, interpretation of our faith. But if we are willing to continue to fellowship with one another, not isolate one another. If we are willing to be humble and open to one another, until the Lord will lead us into the unity of the faith. And save these two with the knowledge of the Son of God. And this refers to the experiential knowledge of the Son of God. And we will experience Christ together. What you experience of Christ will help me. And what I have experienced of Christ will help you. Then we will grow up together. Until we come to the full measure of the statue of Christ. And that's the time when the bridegroom will come to take his bride. So, brothers and sisters, there's much work of the cross in us corporately. Are we willing to humble ourselves not only before God, but before one another? As our brother mentioned last night in Philippines, esteeming the others as more excellent than we are. Brothers and sisters, the cross is a must in the building of the church. Let us pray. Dear Lord, we want to thank Thee because Thou knowest what we need most. Thou knowest that we need to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Thee. Thou knowest that we need to bear one another's cross. So, Lord, we look to Thee for grace. Knowing that Thy grace is sufficient for us. We ask in Thy precious name. Amen.