WALKING WITH GOD

 

 

Genesis 5:21-24

 

Prayer

 

Walking with God means living in the presence of God.

Itís the same thing as abiding in Jesus.

 

 

He said, ìAbide in me, and I in youî (Jn. 15:4).

My Life Application Bible Commentary says, abiding in Jesus means:

 

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Believing He is the Son of God (I Jn. 4:15),

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Receiving Him as Savior and Lord (Jn. 1:12),

 

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Doing what He says (I Jn. 3:24),

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Continuing to believe the gospel (I Jn. 2:24), and

 

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ Loving others in the Church (Jn. 15:12).

 

 

Itís a moment-by-moment decision.

We canít be neutral and walk or abide at the same time.

 

 

We have to be actively involved in the things God wants us involved in.

With this in mind, I will point out eight things about walking with God.

 

 

1^st---Walking with God involves the way we THINK.

Paul said, ìbe not conformed to this world:î

 

 

 

 

 

 

ìBut be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove Ý

what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of Godî (Rom. ÝÝÝÝ 12:2).

He said think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good ÝÝ

report (Phil. 4:8).

 

 

Itís difficult to do.

But walking with God requires us to think like God.

 

 

One preacher (Pentecost) said, ìThe greatest conflict taking place in the ÝÝÝÝÝÝ

world today is the battle for control of our minds.î

The Devil is trying to con us into thinking it doesnít matter whether we attend ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

Church or not;

 

 

Trying to con us into thinking it doesnít matter whether we live by the

Scriptures or not;

Trying to con us into thinking everything is alright, if weíve been baptized ÝÝÝÝ

and joined the Church.

 

 

He wants us to ignore the fact that the real evidence of salvation is fruit;

That the real evidence of salvation is not baptism and Church membership, ÝÝ

but what weíre doing for God.

 

 

We have a choice;

Submit to God and resist the Devil.

 

 

Or submit to the Devil and resist God.

Paul said, ìLet this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesusî

(Phil. 2:5).

 

 

Stop thinking like the Devil.

Start thinking like Jesus.

Change your outlook.

Bring your way of thinking in line with the Scriptures.

 

 

2^nd---Walking with God involves unbroken fellowship.

John said, ìif we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship ÝÝÝÝÝ

one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us ÝÝ

from all sinî (I Jn. 1:7).

 

 

Some people walk for exercise.

Itís a good thing to do.

 

 

We can walk in the light of day;

Or the darkness of night.

 

 

The Bible is saying we can walk with Jesus.

But we have to walk in spiritual light not spiritual darkness.

 

 

We have to fellowship one with another.

We canít be at odds with those at Church.

 

 

Amos asked, ìCan two walk together, except they be agreed?î

ìNo!î

 

 

We have to be willing to walk together;

To walk at the same time;

 

 

To walk in the same direction, etc.

A homeowner said there was a lot of dust and noise in his neighborís corral.

 

 

 

Two oxen were fighting.

His neighbor was urging them on with a stick.

 

 

He asked, ìInstead of urging the oxen on with a stick, why donít you stop ÝÝÝ

them?î

His neighbor said, ìI canít use them to pull my ox cart until they decide ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

which one is boss.î

 

 

ìIf I harness them together before they fight it out, they will pull in different ÝÝ

directions.î

ìI will have trouble controlling them.î

 

 

Thatís the way it is with God.

If weíre going to walk with God, we have to learn whoís boss.

 

 

We canít walk our way.

And walk with Him.

 

 

Two men were walking on the road to Emmaus.

Jesus joined them.

 

 

They had never seen Jesus before.

They didnít recognize Him.

 

 

He asked, ìWhy are you so sadî (Luke 24:17).

They said, ìWe thought Jesus was the Messiah.î

 

 

But He was crucified.

His body was missing.

 

 

Some women say, ìHeís alive.î

ìWe donít know what to think.î

 

 

Jesus said, ìO fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have ÝÝ

spokenî (Luke 24:25).

Then, He explained what the Old Testament says about His death, burial and

resurrection.

 

 

They approached Emmaus.

Jesus acted like He intended to walk on down the road.

 

 

But the men asked Him to stay with them.

He went in;

 

 

Ate with them.

And while they were eating, their eyes were opened.

 

 

They learned who Jesus is.

Then, He disappeared.

 

 

ìAnd they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he ÝÝÝÝÝ

talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scripturesî ÝÝÝ

(Luke 24:32)?

Notice, two things:

 

 

1) ìWhile He talked with us by the way,î and

2) ìWhile He opened to us the Scriptures.î

 

 

Walking with God involves talking with God.

And walking with God involves the Scriptures.

 

It involves praying,

And learning the Scriptures.

 

 

3^rd---Walking with God involves steady progress.

Many walkers walk for a certain time: thirty minutes or an hour;

 

 

Or a certain distance: one mile or two.

Some keep up with how long and how far they walk.

 

 

They try to walk a little longer or a little farther each week.

Peter advised us to, ìgrow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and ÝÝ

Saviour Jesus Christî (II Pet. 3:18).

 

 

ìGrowing in graceî requires increasing our spirituality.

ìGrowing in knowledgeî requires learning the Scriptures, listening to sound Ý

teaching and preaching, getting to know Jesus better and better.

 

 

It involves spending more time with Jesus than we used to;

Going farther with Jesus than we used to.

 

 

There are those who used to walk with the Lord;

Who were fervent in the Spirit.

 

 

But Satan hindered their walk.

Theyíre walking less not more;

 

 

Growing weaker not stronger.

Peterís advising us to resist Satanís efforts to retard our growth.

 

 

 

Heís advising us to keep moving;

To keep pace with God;

 

 

To stay by His side;

To not fall behind;

 

 

To not quit or sit down to rest.

To grow in grace and knowledge, we need to read our Bible and pray Ý

regularly.

 

 

One good way is to start by reading and praying for just three minutes.

Do that for a week.

 

 

Increase your reading and praying to five minutes.

Do that for two weeks.

 

 

Increase your reading and praying to ten minutes.

Do that for three weeks.

 

 

Itís like increasing your walking from thirty minutes to an hour, from once a Ý

week to once a day;

Like increasing your distance from one mile to two.

 

 

It will cause you to grow in grace and knowledge.

In 1970, David Kunst decided to walk around the world.

 

 

He walked every day.

He walked for four and one-half years.

 

 

 

He walked 15,000 miles.

He wore out twenty-two pairs of shoes.

 

 

But he actually walked around the world.

Godís not asking us to walk around the world.

 

 

But He is asking us to make progress.

Anyone in this room can be a spiritual giant.

 

 

But you will have to commit yourself to it.

And stick with it.

 

 

4^th---Walking with God involves separation from the world.

King David was dying.

 

 

He wanted to give some final advice to his son Solomon.

What should he say to Solomon at the close of his life?

 

 

ìBe thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;î

ìAnd keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his ÝÝÝÝÝ

statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it

is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest,

Ýand whithersoever thou turnest thyselfî (I ÝÝÝ Kings 2:2-3).

 

 

Be strong.

That Chevrolet commercial says ìLike a rock.î

 

 

Chevrolet isnít talking about Jesus.

But Jesus is the Rock.

 

 

Did you ever wonder about the physical attributes of Jesus?

He walked everywhere He went.

 

 

Walking stimulates the heart and lungs;

Strengthens the bones and muscles;

 

 

Increases the blood flow in our body.

Jesus was a carpenter.

 

 

He probably built furniture and houses.

He probably was strong.

 

 

David was saying, ìWalk in His ways.î

Be a person of conviction.

 

 

Keep His statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies in the Ý

Scriptures (Law of Moses).

Notice, this.

 

 

Keep His Commandments ìthat thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest,î

Keep His Commandments ìWhithersoever thou turnest thyself.î

 

 

ìWhithersoever thou turnest thyselfî means ìwherever you walk.î

If you want to succeed in everything you do, keep the commandments of God ÝÝÝÝÝÝ

wherever you go.

 

 

Hereís something else.

Jesus said, ìwhatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his ÝÝÝÝÝÝ

commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sightî

(Jn. 3:22).

Some people are offended when we display the Ten Commandments.

Some people donít want to live by them.

 

 

A court recently [fall of 2003] ordered Judge Roy Moore to remove the Ten Ý

Commandments from the courthouse in Alabama.

When he refused they removed him from office.

 

 

But King David said, if we keep the Commandments we will succeed in life.

And Jesus said, if we keep the Commandments and do things that are

pleasing in His sight, we will receive the things we pray for.

 

 

5^th---Walking with God involves unfailing perseverance.

Some people stop walking.

 

 

Adam and Eve stopped.

They walked with God in the Garden of Eden.

 

 

But they stopped long enough to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good ÝÝÝÝÝÝ

and evil.

God came down to walk with them.

 

 

They were afraid and naked.

But it was not so with Enoch.

 

 

He walked with God three hundred years.

Spring and summer;

 

 

Fall and winter;

Hot and cold;

 

 

Rain and snow;

In times of trouble;

 

 

And times of peace;

In times of need;

 

 

And times of plenty.

Martin Luther said, ìI know not the way God leads me.î

 

 

ìBut well do I know my Guide.î

This great man of God was saying, ìI donít know which way God wants me ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

to go.î

 

 

ìBut I know He will get me there.î

When life gets difficult;

 

 

When we get sick or lose a loved one,Ý those who are walking with God can say,

ìIím not alone.î

ìIíll persevere.î

 

 

ìHe knows the way.î

ìAll things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are ÝÝ

the called according to his purposeî (Rom. 8:28).

 

 

6^th---Walking with God gives intense satisfaction.

Iíve heard elderly people say, ìIím ready to go;î

 

 

Iíve stood in front of caskets and heard people say, ìMy loved oneís better Ý

off.î

Thereís a lot of satisfaction in a life lived for God.

 

Someday, weíll be in that casket.

We need to do something about this before we get there.

 

 

Paul said, Enoch ìpleased God.î

Thatís the right attitude.

 

 

Thereís something wrong, if we donít want the summary of our life to be that ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

we pleased God;

Something wrong, if we donít want to hear God say, ìWell done, thou good

and faithful servantî (Luke 25:21).

 

 

I want to give you some quick pointers on pleasing God.

For one thing, ìNo man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

life;î

 

 

ìThat he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldierî (II Tim. 2:4).

Christianityís not a playground.

 

 

Itís a spiritual battlefield.

And some are losing the spiritual battle because theyíve managed to get ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

tangled up in extracurricular activities;

 

 

Tangled up in hobbies, sports, or whatever.

We should never think that we can replace God with these things.

 

 

And please Him.

Those who do are losing not winning.

 

 

 

 

 

For another thing, ìI will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify

him with thanksgiving.î

ìThis also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath ÝÝÝÝÝ

horns and hoofsî (Psa. 69:30-31).

 

 

We please God with songs of praise and words of thanksgiving.

We can do this wherever we go.

 

 

But weíre more apt to do it when weíre in Church.

For another thing, may God ìMake you perfect in every good work to do his ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sightî (Heb. 13:20-21).

 

 

How do we please God?

Not by SAYING weíre a Christian,

 

 

Not by putting an angel, a ceramic church or a Bible on a table in our house,

Not by putting a needlepoint or plaque with a verse of Scripture on the wall.

 

 

We please God by doing His will.

By being doers of the Word and not hearers only.

 

 

7^th---Walking with God brings future blessings.

Moses said, ìEnoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took himî ÝÝ

(Gen. 5:24).

 

 

Paul said, ìEnoch was translated that he should not see deathî (Heb. 11:5).

The Latin word for ìtranslatedî means ìcarried over,î ìcarried across,î or ÝÝ

ìcaught up.î

 

 

 

One minute Enoch walked with God.

And the next minute God ìcarried him over,î ìcarried him across,î or

ìcaught him upî into heaven.

 

 

God plucked him up into heaven.

This will happen to the Church at the Rapture (I Thess. 4:13-18).

 

 

Jesus told the Church at Sardis, ìThou hast a few names even in Sardis which ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ

have not defiled their garments;î

ìAnd they shall walk with me in white:î

 

 

ìFor they are worthyî (Rev. 3:4).

Some Sardis Church members just pretended to be faithful.

 

 

Some just lived off of the Churchís reputation;

Some were sinning.

 

 

But Jesus said, ìI know that a few of you havenít defiled yourself.î

ìYouíre worthy to walk with me in heaven;î

 

 

ìAnd wear robes of righteousness.î

8^th---Walking with God involves faith.

 

 

Paul said, ìWithout faith it is impossible to please Godî (Heb. 11:6).

Without a living faith;

 

 

Without an active faith;

Itís impossible to please God.

 

 

 

He told the Thessalonians, we donít try to please men, we try to please God

(I Thess. 2:4).

Our faith doesnít cause us to try to please people;

 

 

To try to be popular;

To try to make a name for ourselves.

 

 

Our faith causes us to try to please God.

Will anyone make a commitment to walk with God today?

 

 

You take one step that will bring you closer to God.

Then, a second step,

 

 

A third, a fourth, etc.

And before you know it, youíre on the trip of a lifetime.

 

 

That first step could be a first step down this isle.

But you have to decide whether you will listen to God.

 

 

Or listen to the Devil.

Will you listen to God?

 

 

Will you do what He wants you to do today?

ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ