Walking Properly
Romans 13:11-14 (NKJ)
Time to wake up, shape up, look up! Paul’s teaching about faith should motivate Christians to “wake up” and seek victory over sin, for the Lord’s return is near.
It’s time to walk properly.
Day by day, the time available for the development of truly Christian character grows shorter and shorter.
As a Christian how do I walk properly?
1) Watching your Time.
Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. (NKJ)
Paul urges Christians to wake up before it is too late.
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (NKJ)
When John say’s, “the time is near,” he is urging his readers to be ready at all times for the Last Judgment and the establishment of God’s kingdom.
We do not know when these events will occur, but we must always be prepared.
1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. (NKJ)
The final great events of the world’s history could begin at any time.
Christians should be alert.
They should control themselves, pray and act with love at all times.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. (NKJ)
The life of the non-Christian is likened to a dark night of moral laziness and ill-discipline.
The life of the Christian is likened to a bright day of watchfulness and self-control.
Christian’s of the day should not act like non- Christians of the night, otherwise they will be both surprised and ashamed when Christ returns.
2) Dress Properly
Ephesians 6:13-20 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (NKJ)
*Belt: A soldier girded in such a manner would be recognized as being on active duty. Paul wanted believers to gird themselves with “truth,” the foundation for all spiritual activity.
* Body armor: The soldier’s body armor, made of bronze scales or plates sewn on leather, protected his front and sometimes his back. Paul exhorted believers to find their protection in righteousness.
*Shoes: Roman soldiers prepared for battle by putting on shoes that had short nails in their soles. These enabled them to stand firm and avoid slipping on the ground. Paul wanted believers to prepare themselves for spiritual battle with the gospel of peace.
* Shield: Two types of shields were used by Roman soldiers: a large shield that protected the whole body and was carried by the infantry, and a smaller shield, made of wood overlaid with leather, which was carried by the archers. Paul wanted the believers to take up the shield that consists of faith.
* Helmet: The soldier’s helmet, made of metal or leather, was designed to protect his head, the most vital part of the body. The helmet of “salvation” is the helmet that consists of salvation and protects the believer’s spiritual destiny.
* Sword: The sword, a two-foot, double-edged blade, was the soldier’s most important weapon. He was trained to stab instead of swing and cut. The “sword of the Spirit” is the only offensive weapon mentioned. It is supplied by the Holy Spirit and is identified as the utterance or spoken word of God.
Although Paul was under house arrest during his Roman imprisonment, he was probably chained to a Roman soldier and had these images before him as he wrote this letter.
3) Act Properly
Colossians 3:5-10 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (NIV)
Put to death: Refers to a conscious effort to slay the remaining sin in our flesh.
We should consider ourselves dead and unresponsive to: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, we must make a conscious, daily decision to remove anything that supports or feeds these desires and to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power.
Get ride: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Do not lie to each other: Don’t exaggerate statistics, pass on rumors or gossip, or say things to build up your own image. Be committed to telling the truth.
Put on the New man: Your conduct should match your faith.
There is no justification for drifting along.
1 Corinthians 4:12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; (NIV)
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (NKJ)
If people refuse to work, others should not support them, because this only encourages them to remain idle. Paul was writing here about the person who is lazy.
When it is time to work, Christians should jump right in.
Rest when you should be resting, and work when you should be working.
4) Speak Properly
Psalm 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, oppression (fraud); under his tongue are trouble and sin (mischief and iniquity). (Amplified Bible)
The Power of Words
I love you, you’re important to me, thank you so much, how can I repay you, you look really nice today, I like your new haircut, great job, this place wouldn’t be the same without you, I’m proud of you, you are irreplaceable,
I hate you, you disgust me, I wish you had never been born, I wish I were dead, you make me sick, I want a divorce, nobody cares about you, I’ll never speak to you again…
Sticks and stones can break my bones… but words can break my heart
Words are a powerful thing
The power of the tongue –
James says that the tongue, or the words that come out of our mouth, is the most powerful thing in our body.
Our words can bring about loving relationships, and it can end them.
James 3:5-6 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. (NKJ)
James 3:9-10 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. (NIV)
As Christians we are called to bless others, in the sense of seeking the best for them, no matter how we may be treated.
Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. (NKJ)
Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (NKJ)
Are you walking properly?
• Watching your Time.
• Dress Properly.
• Act Properly
• Speak Properly
Remember people are watching you daily, are you living properly as a child of God?
Do you believe we are in the last days, than live properly!
