Who Are You? Best Supporting Roles in the Bible Series (Part 3 of 4)
Enoch: He Walked with God
Gen. 5:22
Mar. 18, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction:
A A German writer wrote about a villager who, wherever he went, brought his unseen companion.
1 Entered a room, at a table, choicest bits of food.
2 Died, an empty chair by his bed
3 Unseen presence...everyone knew it.
a Enoch was that way
b Everyone knew Enoch walked with the unseen
4 Dante, when he walked the streets of Florence, "There goes a man who has seen hell." Enoch-walked with God.
B When our life is done-battles fought-where will people say you walked?
1 Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Gen 5:22-24 (NASB)
I Enoch’s life was deepened by experience.
A Enoch’s life was changed in a moment.
1 He lived for sixty-five years & became a father.
a He was 7th in line from Adam
aa I can just imagine him hearing stories of the garden, fellowship with & lov of God, anger of heaven & the curse.
bb He had a kid!
b When his child was born life deepened for him.
2 He discovered the love of God. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters
B Many times our walk with God is deepened with an experience.
1 I think they come in all shapes, sizes.
a Child, fired, cancer, heart attack, loss of a child/spouse/parent, divorce, etc.
b Prayer becomes real, sin becomes abhorrent.
aa Realize we need God, mercy, saving grace.
bb Our spiritual life is deepened
2 Walking with God will have a starting point, a beginning.
II Enoch walked with God during very evil times.
A These were pre-flood days.
1 The next four chapters talk about humankind’s deeper decent into depravity.
a Men were wicked, people were full of hate...Enoch walked with God.
b Men had stopped trusting God, forgot about God...Enoch walked with God.
2 We don’t know what Enoch did for a living, we do know he lived/worked/walked in evil times.
B Some arguments go out of style, antiquated.
1 1984, Orwell; Plato’s Republic; Skinner’s Beyond Freedom and Dignity; Votaire, Einstein, Copernicus...come and go.
a Sometimes popular, controversial, damning, inspiring-dated.
b Serve their day & become obsolete & antiquated (Marx).
2 There is one proof that is never antiquated, loses power/appeal.
a A life walking with God (admiration, respect)
b We don’t know what Enoch did for a living, but his life did more for the glory of God than 1,000 sermons!
III Enoch walked with God in the real world.
A He lived, had a kid, walked with God...and kept living.
1 He didn’t become a hermit...he built a home!
a He didn’t leave his family, or ordinary life.
b He took up his cross daily, played with his kids-but people say he walked with God.
2 Enoch’s walk is found in the middle of his family.
a Not Moses (Mt. Sinai), Joshua (walls of Jericho), Abraham...Enoch.
b Raised his kids, loved his wife, worked hard...walked with God.
B Most of us are not going to be the most influential people of our time (normal people).
1 For the Christian, it’s not about doing extraordinary things.
a It’s about doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
b (IL) When I was Justin’s age, I wanted to be the President of the SBC, pastor of a big Baptist church...be somebody.
aa I know now...it’s not about being recognized, power, influence.
bb About doing my best for God where I’m at!
cc Loving God & loving people with the love of God.
2 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:12-13 (NASB)
a Not heroic, nothing that’s going to make the papers...
b Enoch lived at home, played with his kids, loved his wife, walked with God! (Ordinary stuff in an extraordinary way).
Conclusion
A Suggestions to walk like Enoch
1 Deepened experience
2 Very evil times
3 In the real world
B Enoch walked with God.
1 That testimony didn’t stick because Enoch walked with God for a few days, weeks, months...years.
a Youth, manhood, and into old age
b Few people we’d describe...blessing to know them.
2 We don’t forget them, we learn from them!
C Are you going to be one of those who will be said to "have walked with God"?
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Mike Fogerson
