A Faith That Walks
Griffith Baptist Church – 10/26/08
A.M. Service
Text: Hebrews 11:5-6
Key verse: Hebrews 11:6 – But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Premise: Our faith should be demonstrated in a close walk with God that grows stronger every day.
The Introduction
I remember teaching our daughters to walk. Those little legs were wobbly at first and they spent more time falling down than actually standing up or walking. But eventually they got the hang of it, and with mommy and daddy’s help, they learned to put one foot in front of the other. Soon they didn’t need our help to physically walk. Incidentally, isn’t it amazing that we can’t wait for our children to walk, and then when they actually do walk, we wish they would sit down and behave themselves.
But now they need our help in a different type of walk. They need to know how to walk through life and be taught how to walk with God.
Enoch walked with God. Let’s turn to Genesis 5:18-24
In this text we notice two things about Enoch and his faith:
• It was consistent (300 years of walking with God – 22)
• It was exceptional (he experienced the first rapture – no death – 24)
Enoch walked with God!
• What an interesting phrase.
• So how does that relate to us?
• What does it mean to walk with God?
There are four distinct qualities we need to have in practice so that we can have a proper faith walk with God.
Body
1. To Walk With God Is To Know God
A. The more you know God the more you will have faith in God
B. Howard Hendricks shares this insight about the value of learning: When I was a college student -- I worked in the college dining hall, and on my way to work at 5:30 every morning I walked past the home of one of my professors. Through a window I could see the light on at his desk, morning after morning. At night I stayed late at the library to take advantage of evening study hours, and returning home at 10:30 or 11 o’clock I would again see his desk light on. He was always pouring over his books. One day he invited me home for lunch, and after the meal I said to him, "Would you mind if I asked you a question?" "Of course not." "What keeps you studying? You never seem to stop." His answer, "Son, I would rather have my students drink from a running stream than a stagnant pool." (Knowing God every day is a running stream – Psalms 42:1 - As the deer panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
C. To know His character
i. What do you know about God?
ii. Colossians 1:10 – That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
D. To know what pleases and displeases Him
i. It is about responding to His Spirit - Galatians 5:16, 25 - 16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
ii. Every action and reaction should be geared towards pleasing Him
iii. Every thought that we have should come from knowing God and desiring to please Him alone – 2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
E. To have an ongoing commitment to Him
i. This is a daily spending of time with the God you love
ii. This is getting to know Him better, deeper, and higher than the day before
2. To Walk With God Is To Obey God
A. The evidence of our faith is seen in our obedience to Him
B. Another minister related this story - I used to have problems getting my son to clean his room. I would insist that he, “Do it now,” and he would always agree to do so, but then he wouldn’t follow through – at least, not right way. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps, which is where he is now. When he and I were on the plane together coming home for his leave after Boot Camp, he said to me, “My life makes sense now, Dad. Everything you said and did when I was growing up now makes sense. I really, really understand.” “Oh yeah, Dad,” he added. “I learned what ‘now’ means.”
C. Obedience is submission
i. It is not always easy but it is always necessary
ii. To submit to His sovereign control is the call of every believer
D. It is how we are designed - Ephesians 2:10 – For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
E. It demonstrates our love for God - 2 John 1:6
F. It keeps us where we need to be - Psalms 1:1-2 - 1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
i. Off the wrong path (Ps. 1:1)
ii. In the path of joy (Ps. 1:2)
3. To Walk With God Is To Honor God
A. Our faith is made stronger in the worship of God
i. Worship does something for the soul that nothing else can do
ii. If you do not feel like you have worshipped, than something inside of you has to change.
B. In Praise
i. Hebrews 13:15 – 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
ii. In song, in speech and in living
C. In Looking Forward to His Coming
i. Another pastor tells this story - When I was about six years old, I heard the pastor preach a message about the "Second Coming" of Christ. He emphasized the initial part of Christ’s return, what we like to call the "Rapture of the Church". He explained in great details the events that would transpire: people disappearing, worldwide panic, etc. As a young lad, it scared me nearly to death! For the next several nights, I stayed with my Grandfather Oscar and slept in the bed with him. My thought was: that if this "rapture" happens, that I would grab onto his legs as he was going through the ceiling! Pastor David Daniels Foley Church of God Foley, AL.
ii. We ought to look forward to the coming of Christ
iii. The Rescue of the Rapture - 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 - 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
iv. The heartbeat of the Christian in five words – Rev. 22:20 - Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
4. To Walk With God Is To Proclaim God
A. Sharing the gospel is the greatest way to show that our faith is real
i. You share what you really believe in
ii. You rest in the Holy Spirit’s power to change lives
B. There is the story of a Christian who prayed this prayer every morning: "Lord, if you want me to witness to someone today, please give me a sign to show me who it is." One day he found himself on a nearly empty bus when a big, burly man sat next to him. The timid believer anxiously waited for his stop so he could exit the bus. But before he could get off, the big burly guy next to him burst into tears and began to weep. This big but contrite man then cried out with a loud voice, "I’m a lost sinner and I need the Lord. Won’t somebody tell me how to be saved?" He turned to this Christian gentlemen and pleaded, "Can you show me how to find the Lord?" The believer immediately bowed his head and prayed, "Lord, is this a sign?" (We don’t need a sign when we already have a command – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
C. By a holy life
i. We ought to be a holy people, set apart and different
ii. It is a shame that so many Christians see “holy” in such diverse ways
D. By a wise life
i. Living life God’s way is wise
ii. Because of the days we live in - Ephesians 5:15 – 15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
iii. So that others can see the wisdom of coming to God on His terms - Colossians 4:5 - 5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
E. By living and giving the gospel
i. Telling others about Christ is a privilege
ii. Proverbs 11:30 – The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
iii. Mark 5:19 - Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Conclusion:
Have you trusted Jesus Christ as Savior? The first step of faith is coming to Christ and believing in what God says and that He will reward your seeking Him. (v. 6)
Christian, how is your walk with God?
