The Ideal Walk
I Thessalonians 4:1-8
Get all 4 parts w/ PowerPoint here:
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/IdealWalk.html
So far it has been personal- The Ideal Church [ch. 1], The Ideal Servant [ch. 2], The Ideal Discipleship [ch. 3].
Now it gets very practical.
v. 1 “beseech” = beg “exhort” = command
“Walk” is the key word. [also in v. 12]
Why compare the Christian life to a walk?
Enoch walked with God, and so did Noah. And Abraham told his servant to walk before God.
Walking requires life. Dead people cannot rise up and walk. But many try thru what we call ‘reformation’. But they need transformation.
Ill.—they try to turn over a new leaf, but they need a whole new tree.
Reformation is like a bottomless cup. Because you are trying to fill yourself WITH yourself, and nothing plus nothing still equals nothing. We need to tap into something else outside of us, something much more potent, something which can change us from the inside out and something big enough to fill us and fulfill us.
Walking also requires growth. It’s not only dead men that cannot walk...also babies cannot!
1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Chapters 4 and 5 give us several areas we need to walk in. And it’s a sure sign of maturity and growth when we are willing to walk in these ways. We’ll be looking at, over the next couple weeks:
Walk in holiness, love, obedience, honesty, hope, gratitude.
Growing spiritually is not a process of gaining things you did not have before you got saved. When a baby is born it has legs already, but they have not grown strong enough to work, and they haven’t learned the coordination to use their legs yet. And God has already given you the capacity and the capability to walk in new ways, but you need to develop the strength and coordination to use what He has given to you.
When you got saved you got the mechanism you need, but now you need nourishment and practice for the mechanics of it all to work.
Watch out for that which will stunt your growth: self will and disobedience. When we say no to God we throw a big monkey wrench into the mechanism! God is under no obligation to continue blessing us and continue nourishing us if we fiddle w/ the contraption. He loves to reveal truth to us but He doesn’t have to. He doesn’t reveal truth to us so that we may consider it...but so that we may OBEY it!
How can some who have been saved for decades can still be so spiritually immature? Somewhere in their past they moved in their own direction of self will. They took a detour from pure truth onto a fork in the road, to go their own way. Maybe they are still heading in a good direction, but not the best direction. They aren’t heading toward the world, but also not heading toward Jesus, but rather to another goal of their own design. Or maybe there’s something they aren’t willing to obey...and the train stops right there!
So, walking requires life, and walking requires growth...
Also, walking requires liberty. If your legs are bound, they cannot walk, even if they have strength.
Psalms 119:45
And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Galatians 5:13
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Walking also requires light.
Ever tried to walk thru the house in the dark, or find your way to bed? The other night we were trying to keep the kids asleep as we made our way to bed and I was finding every toy, box, and piece of furniture along the way, and even a vacuum someone left in the way. My wife said, “Could you possibly make ANY more noise?”!
Another time I was carrying one of our babies down the stairs in the middle of the night and I slipped and hit every step on the way down like a washboard!
Walking requires light, and I’m so glad that Jesus is the light and we can walk in the light, in the midst of a dark world.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Finally, walking requires progress. You aren’t really walking unless you are going somewhere.
Ill.—a walk on a treadmill is a walk to nowhere. There’s no forward progress. There may be a lot of effort involved, but it is futile and fruitless!
Are you making progress spiritually? You ought to be able to look back and see progress over the years, as well as just this past year, and even in recent days!
So, what kind of walk should the Christian walk be?
1. A walk of holiness. [4:1-8] (More next week...)
v. 5 ‘concupiscence’ = evil passions
When Paul exhorts about holiness he is very specific about a certain brand of sins: sexual sins. They were the prevalent sins in that culture, and they still are today! Adultery is extra marital. Fornication is any sexual sin of any kind.
A sexual sin is 3 pronged:
· A sin against God—let’s use adultery as an example. In the OT adultery was punishable by death.
Leviticus 20:10
And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Proverbs 9:17-18
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Proverbs 6:28-29
28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
The result is always broken hearts, much collateral damage, and usually divorce. And it’s such a serious sin that it’s the only sin for which God permits divorce.
· A sin against your neighbor—the atmosphere of that day was lust and selfishness. What happened in Greece stayed in Greece and nobody cared because everyone was doing it! When people of that region got saved they had these bad habits and a filthy lifestyle. They needed to realize it was not only a sin against God, but against the one you are sinning with. They needed a lifestyle change that could then be a witness to their neighbors as they saw their change of life. Ill.—When David sinned w/ Bathsheba it was a sin against God, but also against Bathsheba and against Uriah, her husband.
· A sin against your body—
1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
The body is a holy temple of God. In the OT only 1 man was allowed to enter the temple...that was the High Priest. And we need a revival of ladies recognizing the importance of only allowing 1 man into their body. Yes! It can be done, and some are still practicing abstinence until marriage, and then fidelity throughout marriage. My wife and I are proud to enjoy that rare and precious gift, and we want the same for everyone else. We need some men who will commit to holiness and purity as well. And it’s not just about the sexual act, it’s about our eyes, and our thought life, and our habits. Some men are only faithful by force...meaning, they lack opportunity to act out physically what they have thought about mentally all the time. But Jesus says lust is adultery for this reason.
Ill.—a teenage girl was teased about her innocence by a girl who really got around. She replied, “I can be like you anytime I want, but you can never be like me!”
STD’s today are rampant, and it only takes 1 immoral act to sign your death warrant, or to gain a most painful condition at the least. You do the math, a few minutes of pleasure compared to years of pain or an early death...does that add up? There’s a high price to pay for low living.
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Safe sex is not the object to focus on. There is no safe sex outside of God’s plan for sex, which is 1 man w/ 1 woman for a lifetime. “If you can’t be good, be careful” is a motto which is destroying Christian young people all the time. We don’t preach safe sex, we preach purity!
v. 4 hold onto your purity.
v. 5 adultery doesn’t begin in a bed, but in your mind.
v. 8 If you don’t like what I’m saying, your argument isn’t with me, but with God!
-----
The Ideal Walk, pt. 2
I Thessalonians 4:9-12
Last time we looked at 5 reasons the Christian life is compared to a walk. Then we started looking at several kinds of walks we need to take.
We covered just the first kind of walk, which is the walk of holiness, illustrated in vv. 1-8 by sexual sins. [Our home life]
Tonite:
vv. 9-10 The walk of love. [Our church life]
vv. 11-12 The walk of honesty. [Our work life]
Paul begins by saying, I don’t have to say much on this, because you already know what God says about this.
1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
It’s a proof that you are saved, that you love fellow Christians. You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep.
1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 John 4:11-12
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
To the world much of how a Christian believes and behaves is foolishness. When we preach against sin we are labeled as archaic, narrow minded, and old fashioned. When we preach prophecy we are called dreamers, escapists, and visionaries. Separation? Fanatics! Tithing? Selfish money grubbers! That much money could easily increase your standard of living! [they say]
But here’s one coin that is always taken at face value. Here’s one quality that is undeniable and unmistakable. It is brotherly love! They will know we are Christians by our love.
Ill.—that’s the reason that fighting within a church do more damage than all the infidelity in America put together. Battling egos within the church do more to paralyze the church than atheists and pornographers and drug dealers. Personal agendas in the church do as much disgrace within the church walls as phony televangelists that have been unmasked!
I thank God for the spirit of joy and unity here, but I also shake in my boots because of it...for I know there’s a big bulls eye atop this place because of it! I thank God for great deacons who are neither yes men or power crazed, but part of a team that works together w/ no agenda other than to find and do the will of God! We have great s.s. teachers who aren’t building their own following but God’s! I’m blessed w/ a wonderful staff holding onto the same rope I hold and pulling in the same direction toward no goal other than God!
Egos are checked at the door at GBC, and good thing, because otherwise the world would conclude we’re no different than the secular business world, and would use us as their excuse not to believe. “Same old dog eat dog world at that church!”
1 Corinthians 3:3
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
When the church acts just like the world they cease to be a church, for a true church is built with the bricks of brotherly love.
What words describe a lack of this love? Discord, jealousy, selfishness, envy, anger, quarreling. We may excuse them as personality traits but the Bible is not so charitable. The Bible calls these things sin!
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The birthmark of the Christian is walking in love.
· God is for restraint, not vengeance.
It is not my job to get even or teach somebody a lesson. The graduate level of Christianity teaches us to bless those who curse us, love those who hate us, pray for those who use us, and do good to those who are evil to us.
Ill.—Joseph of the OT looked at his brothers who were responsible for throwing him to the wolves, now standing before him begging for food. He had in his hand the power to make them pay, and starve them out. But he gave life to those who wished him death. He gave grace to the graceless. He chose restraint over vengeance.
· God is for deference, not selfishness.
We get ourselves into so much trouble when we have to have our own way. Half our problems come from wanting our own way and the other half come from getting it!
Many live their lives cafeteria style: self serve only
Ill.—little boy and sister were on a toy rocking horse, cramped, trying to share. The boy said, “If one of us would just get off there’d be more room for me!”
Some Christians are only content if they get their own way.
Ill.—Abraham opened his home to Lot, clothed, fed, and housed him. And when it came time for them to part company Lot chose the best land as Abraham showed deference to him.
Harmony flourishes in the church where each prefers the other over himself.
Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
1 Peter 3:8
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Next, walk in honesty:
vv. 11-12 Shut up and mind your own business. Tend to your own affairs. Don’t be a busybody. If you aren’t part of the problem or part of the solution then shu ... ummm ... be quiet!
A butcher and a surgeon are alike, but different. They both cut meat, but for different reasons. So it is with a gossip and a true friend. Both cut on one another, but w/ different motives and much different results.
Proverbs 27:17
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
v. 11 ‘to work with your own hands’
Here’s the background: these new believers were living in light of the Lord’s coming and quit their jobs, and had to be taken in by others who still had means. Look at the parallel passage here...
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
You can be a great Christian testimony by just being a hard worker.
Romans 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Even Christians lie and cheat in business, on their taxes, and sometimes for hypocrisy and appearance sake.
v. 12 ‘them that are without’ can be reached thru your good honest integrity.
Ill.—a guest preacher was speaking in Nashville, TN. The next day he took a city bus, giving the driver a dollar bill, he sat down and looked at his change. He had a dime too much. At first he thought it trivial. He knew the bus company would never miss that dime. Then he realized that wasn’t honest and approached the driver. “You accidentally gave me too much change.” “It was no accident,” he replied. “I was in church yesterday when you preached thou shalt not steal...I just wanted to make sure you really believed it.”
Ill.—Teddy Roosevelt was a cattle rancher in his younger days. One day he was riding across the ranch w/ one of his cow hands in the days of open grazing...no fences. He came across a stray calf. His helper started preparing to brand it. “What are you doing?” Roosevelt asked. “I know my duty...always put your boss’ brand on stray calves. “Pack it in and get your pay and leave,” Roosevelt said. “Anyone who would steal FOR me would steal FROM me.”
Walk in holiness, in brotherly love, and in honesty. The home, the church, the workplace. 24 hours a day walking with God.
-----
Part 3 is here only:
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/IdealWalk.html
-----
pt. 4
The Ideal Walk, pt. 4
I Thessalonians 5
Chapter 4 taught us to:
Pt. 1 – Walk in holiness
Pt. 2 – Walk in love, walk in honesty
Pt. 3 – Walk in hope [2nd coming]
Now chapter 5:
Pt. 4 – Walk watchful [1-11], respectful [12-13], mindful [14-15], thankful [17-18], careful [19-21], faithful [22-28]
1. Walk watchful.
v. 1-8
We are not to be just waiting for Christ’s return, but watching for it. What’s the difference?
It’s the attitude of expectancy. It’s a much more active attitude. I wait for the mail each day, but sometimes I watch for something in the mail.
These verses contrast light and darkness, drunkenness and sobriety. Part of this world has the light on, but most does not. Part is alert and watching, but most is slothful and carefree.
If watching, you’ll not be surprised.
But the world doesn’t seem to have a care.
Ill.—The Coast Guard wired the Titanic several iceberg warnings, but it fell on deaf ears.
The signs of the times are everywhere, but the world is willfully ignorant of the warning signs. The labor pains grow closer together and more frequent, and more intense. The earth will soon deliver!
2. Walk respectful [12-13]
Submission to authority. Spiritual authority.
“Admonish” = earnest advice or warning given in a gentle, respectful way. Are you correctable? Or is your current spiritual level as high as you can go?
God gives the church leaders as gifts. Now you can go out of here saying, Bro. Jerry thinks he’s just God’s gift! In a way...yes!
But while I am ‘over’ you, the same verse says I am ‘among’ you. This is a tough balance to strike. It takes some grace to prevent this from straining relationships.
v. 13 Some translate ‘esteem’ as ‘steam’...that doesn’t work! But when you submit then the end result is peace.
3. Walk mindful [14-15]
This is a family, a body, and we must think of all the other members, not just ourselves.
The unruly: this is a soldier marching out of step or out of line. We need some standards to go by. But we don’t want to overdo this and stifle the spirit of a person, which leads them to rebel outright.
The feebleminded: this has nothing to do w/ mentality. It literally means ‘little souled’. This is the negative person who is tempted to quit trying. The word ‘comfort’ here comes from the Greek para muthos which means ‘near speech’. Instead of scolding them from a distance, we must get close to them and speak tenderly. This will enlarge the ‘little souled.’
The weak: means ‘don’t let them fall!’ Hold them tight! Weak Christians are afraid of the liberty in Christ. They live by rules and regulations alone. In Roman assemblies these weak Christians would not eat meat and held to the Jewish system of holy days. And oh how they judged the mature saints who walked in liberty. We need to hold onto those as well, no matter what they may think of us, we love them and count them as dear brothers.
v. 14b It takes patience to put up with others!
v. 16 Joy takes the burden out of living the Christian life.
Nehemiah 8:10
... this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Every church has its doubting Thomas, gloomy Gus, or Debbie Downer. To spend time with them is like watching an autopsy. Life’s too short, and the Christian life is just too grand for such distractions.
4. Walk thankful [17-18]
The key to prayer is praise. Not requests alone. Not just complaints, ailments, and such. Those who truly want to pray are thankful people, and the blessings they recognize so well encourage them to also request for future needs, as we will tonite.
5. Walk careful [19-21]
They didn’t have the full Bible as we do. They prophesied and preached ‘immediately’ from the Spirit. I have the Bible and so I prophesy ‘mediately’...I’m just a medium of the Word. They were foretelling...I am ‘forth’telling. We never want to squelch and quench the Spirit, which is why we need to prove all things, we can easily be done today by comparing what someone says or does to the Bible.
6. Walk faithful [22-28]
v. 22 is the negative, and oh how we need a revival in this area. It’s not just what you do, but how you come across. Perception is reality for the one perceiving you. This you do for the benefit of man as a good testimony.
v. 23 is the positive, focusing on what God thinks. Not man. If you preach only the negative as rules you get out of balance.
We encourage one another with our faithfulness. We need each other. When you are not here you are missed, and we are all less blessed.
Our fellowship is sweet around here...in some churches when you dismiss people run like rats from a sinking ship!
The ideal church is about fellowship as well as discipleship...man as well as God.
v. 26 This kiss could be summed up “give a handshake all around the room among the brotherhood.”
Get all 4 parts w/ PowerPoint here:
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/IdealWalk.html
