Testimony Time
Genesis 5: 18-24
Intro: Play song “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”
. Just a closer walk with God. If you are a Christian this morning, that should be your goal, your plea as the song states.
. You know more that anything else, that is our testimony.
. How is our walk with God.
. How do people see us walking with God or do they see us walking with God at all.
.There was a well-known professional golfer playing in a tournament with President Gerald Ford, fellow pro Jack Nicklaus, and Billy Graham. After the round was over, one of the other pros on the tour asked, "Hey, what was it like playing with the President and Billy Graham?" The pro said with disgust, "I don't need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat!" With that he headed for the practice tee. His friend followed, and after the golfer had pounded out his fury on a bucket of golf balls, he asked, "Was Billy that rough on you out there?" The pro sighed and said with embarrassment, "No, he didn't even mention religion."
. What a testimony.
. He didn’t even have to open his mouth in order to testify.
. We are back in Genesis this morning and our scripture highlights such a man.
. A man whose walk with God was so impressive that he is singled out among all the begats.
. Adam beat Seth and Seth begat Enosh and Enosh begat Kenan and so on all the way up to Noah. Ten generations are laid out for us.
. Many of us just read right by this stuff don’t we.
. But in the middle of all these begats is one of the most amazing stories of the Bible.
. Genesis chapter 4 ends with this statement:
. “At that time people first began to worship the LORD by name.”
. A better translation says that they began to call on the name of God. They began to worship and sacrifice in a formal way of worship.
. Church started folks.
. Adam had children and they had children and the first family church was established.
. We know God was active because there was worship.
. But we don’t hear anything else about their worship or serving of God until the seventh generation.
. That where we start this morning. Genesis 5: 18-24.
. When Jared was 162 years old, he became the father of Enoch.
19After the birth of Enoch, Jared lived another 800 years, and he had other sons and daughters
.20Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.
21When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah.
22After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters.
23Enoch lived 365 years,
24walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.
. This scripture gives us a glimpse of the life and testimony of Enoch.
. The first thing we see here is that it is never too late to start a relationship with God.
. Look at verses 21&22.
. 21When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah.
22After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters.
. The understanding here is that Enoch was 65 when he was saved. When he started walking with God.
. What he had been doing for the first 65 years, we don’t know. We do know however that when he was 65, he started walking with God.
. How many of you have heard of Mickey Mantle.
. Some will say that he was one of the greatest baseball players to ever put on a uniform .Mantel is Known as the greatest switch hitter in baseball.
. He was much like Enoch. He came to faith late in his life.
. Mickey was, to say the least, was a hell raiser. He spent his entire baseball career as an alcoholic. Can you imagine what he could have achieved without the addiction.
Mantle was diagnosed with liver cancer due to his heavy drinking and eventually died from this disease.
. He called a friend who he had played with and knew to be a Christian. His friend had talked with Mantle about God for years but to no avail. Mantle called him before he died and asked him to come and see him. He shared with his friend that he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. His friend asked him how he was so sure and Mantle quoted John 3:16 to him and they rejoiced in his salvation.
. Mantles salvation was the focal point of his funeral.
. Folks, it’s never too late. People over 65 are the fastest growing demographic in our country.
.Enoch’s testimony models this for us. We don’t see any more about Enoch in the old Testament but the writer of Hebrews and Jude, the brother of Jesus tell us that he was a mighty man of God.
. God can use us, no matter how old we are.
. Next we see another aspect of Enoch’s testimony.
. He walked with God.
.Look at verses 23&24 again:
. 23Enoch lived 365 years,
24walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.
. Enoch walked with God.
. What does it mean to walk with someone.
. I will use my wife to illustrate various ways that are either appropriate walks or inappropriate walks.
. Pam is going to help me illustrate what a walk with someone really is.
. When you are walking with someone, you are located where you can see each other. If not, you are on a stroll by yourself.
. You can’t walk fast and get ahead of them nor can you walk slow and lag behind.
. In order to be walking with someone, you must be near them or it doesn’t count as a walk together.
. You could be in close proximity to them and still not be walking with them.
. Use smart phone as you walk to illustrate that you are there but not really there.
. Verse 24 said that Enoch “walked closely with God”.
. They were intimate.
. Have you ever seen a couple walking along holding hands.
. They are cherishing their time with each other.
. Each one is acknowledging their love for the other.
. That’s what walking closely with God is.
. An intimate relationship where we show our love for God and He shows his love for us.
. Enoch’s testimony was that he walked closely with God.
. Enoch had a close relationship with God.
. Christian, do you have an intimate relationship with God.
. Do you walk closely with God or do you just play catch up on Sunday morning.
. Or maybe you play catch up about two times a month when find time in your busy schedule to think about him or spend time with him or worship with him.
. I’m not necessarily talking about coming or even going to church. Many times even when we are at church, we are still not walking in a relationship with God.
. We bring all our baggage with us to church and it’s not possible to walk with God because of all that baggage.
. Thaat song we started with said that he would bear all of our burdens. No one but God can do that.
. When we allow Him to bear or burdens and pain and shame and sorrow, then we can walk closely and intimately with God as Enoch did.
. Lastly we see that when we walk with God, there is a destination.
. Look at verse 24 again.
24walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.
. Enoch was the first person raptured into Heaven. He did not experience death.
. God took him. Where did God take him, heaven of course.
. A little child gave the best explanation of this. She went home from Sunday School, and the mother said, “Tell me what you learned at school.” And she said: We talked about a man named Enoch who liked to take walks with God. You did, said the mother, what did they talk about? I don’t know said the little girl but, one day they went for an extra long walk, and they walked on and on, until God said to Enoch,
‘You are a long way from home; you had better just come in and stay.’ And he went.”
. You see when we walk with God, we will eventually wind up going home with him.
. Enoch walked with God for 300 years, then he went home with God.
. That is Enoch’s testimony.
. What is your testimony this morning?
. First of all, do you even know what it is like to walk with God?
. That walk start s with Jesus. When you accept the free gift of salvation that God has provided for you.
. That’s when your walk starts. You cannot walk with God without first starting out with Jesus.
. Christian, have you lost your way. Have you gotten out of step with God?
. If you are walking behind, call out to him and he will let you catch up.
. If you are walking ahead of him, call out and he will slow you down until you are walking closely again.
. Are you distracted, even though you are going through the motions? Turn your eyes and heart back to God and you will develop that closer walk with Him.
. How is your testimony this morning, Can you say that you are walking with God?
Invitation
*** To my Christian brothers and sisters, thank you for taking the time to read this sermon. I ask that you take another second and score this for me. I am always open to feedback so that I can continue to grow in the proclamation of God’s word.
May God bless you as you continue to strive to walk worthy of His calling.
Sources: The Holy Bible, NLT
Illustrations from sermon central
