Dr. Bradford Reaves
Crossway Christian Fellowship
Hagerstown, MD
www.mycrossway.org
For this reason also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:9–10)
This morning is Trail Life Sunday. We started trail life because we believe boys and their dads need a powerful way to experience life outdoors and grow together in their faith in Jesus Christ. To be a boy or a man today is a challenge. We live in a culture today that is hostile to men being manly. We live in a culture that teaches that if you are not happy with who you are, you must change it. While that sounds powerful on the surface, deeper into that idea is dangerous and even demonic. I believe God made us the way He made us so that we can glorify Him in our lives.
With that, Paul does not tell us to be ashamed of ourselves or our faith but challenges us to ‘walk worthy’ in light of who we are created in Him to be and the redemption brought to us through His son Jesus Christ.
There are lots of mottos in the world:
In God we trust - United States.
Semper Fi (Always Faithful) - US Marine Corp
Be as you wish to seem. - Socrates
Don’t leave home without it - AMX.
Winners never quit, and quitters never win —Vince Lombardi.
The best a man can get - Gillette
Do or do not, there is no try – Yoda.
To Know, To Live, and to Share the Gospel - Crossway Christian Fellowship
Walk Worthy - Trail Life USA
When I hear the words of the Apostle, ‘Walk worthy,’ that prods me to stand a little taller, be more attentive to my character, and be faithful to my Savior. But we must stop momentarily and ask ourselves, what does that mean? What did Trail Life mean when it made its motto ‘ Walk Worthy.’
At the heart of this, I think God uses our experience in our Christian walk as a learning tool. You don’t learn the truth by just mentally remembering it; you learn it by experiencing it in your life. God will use the experience to teach you His Word. Sometimes, he will use the stresses in life to teach us the most important lessons. What is the difference between a typewriter and a computer? - Memory.
This is how Young David faced the stressful situation of Goliath. He told Saul, “God delivered me from the lion and the bear, and so he will deliver me from the giant. He used his memory from his experience in life to prepare him for his future. He used his memory of past victories the Lord had given him to increase his faith in the present situation.
If God delivered me in the past, I can walk worthy for Him of the things I am facing tomorrow. Maybe that’s a job opportunity. Maybe that’s a chance to be an example to a neighbor. Maybe that is a hard time I’m facing in school. Maybe that’s something scary, like a diagnosis we receive from the doctor or a time when life didn’t seem fair. Walking worthy means standing tall for Jesus, no matter what the situation we face.
In Trail Life, we are walking worthy of the task that is right before us. Maybe it’s carrying the flag during a worship service or learning to set up a camp. It could be we need to walk worthy during a hike, learn to climb a difficult rock face or ride the rapids on a river. Walking worthy might be paying extra attention during a lesson, wearing our uniform proudly, or helping a friend with a need. Walking worthy is giving our BEST for Jesus no matter what the circumstances are around us. So with that, I have a few important reminders about walking worthy.
I. Walking Worthy Means We Need to Get Out of the Boat
In other words, like Peter, we cannot be content just taking up a seat. Our aim is to grow and be more like our Lord in every way, even if that means stepping out of a boat and onto the water.
Immediately, He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 And after He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was already many stadia away from the land, being battered by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 Now, when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly God’s Son!” (Matthew 14:22–33)
In his book “Water Walkers” John Ortberg wrote, “The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort. This means that to be a follower of Jesus, you must renounce comfort as the ultimate value of your life.”
Did Peter fail? That depends upon how you look at it. What about the other disciples in the boat? Failure is not something that happens to us or a label we attach to life’s events. It is what we learn about the outcomes.
Did Peter fail? Well, I suppose, in a way, he did. His faith wasn’t strong enough. His doubts were stronger. 'He saw the wind.' He took his eyes off where they should have been. He sank. He failed.
But look at the untold part of the story. I think there were eleven bigger failures sitting in the boat. They failed quietly. They failed privately. Their failure went unnoticed, unobserved, uncriticized. Only Peter knew the glory of walking on water. He alone knew what it was to attempt to do what he could not do on his own.
And He has told me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, insults, distresses, persecutions, and hardships for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)
For I am confident that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
The first challenge we must learn in order to walk worthy is to start walking. If you only sit on the bench, you will never know the joy of playing the game. Beginning well is a momentary thing, but few people, including yourself, will remember how you begin. People will remember how you finish; even if you don’t finish the way you hope, you won’t know until you begin!
II. Walking Worth Means We Must Walk With Integrity
He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. (Proverbs 10:9)
Integrity can be defined as: "wholeness; uprightness; honesty or soundness of moral principle and character; an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting."
I learned in the State Police Training Academy that “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
Dr. Bob Reccord, president of the International Missions Board, told about a pastor friend in Texas who was in a hurry after his regular office hours at the church. He had to get to the mall to buy some items, go to his daughter's school to pick her up, take her home, get to a church officer's meeting, and then spend the evening in counseling sessions.
Once in the mall, he saw an advertisement on a music store window that said, "2 CDs for $9.99." He loved music and had to take advantage of the sale. He went in, picked up 2 CDs he'd really wanted, and went to the register to pay for them. He threw down his money while talking to everyone around him -- as pastors do. Then he picked up his bag and change and left the mall.
When he threw the bag in the front seat of his car, he noticed for the first time that the clerk had charged him $1.99 instead of $9.99 for those CDs. His first thought was that he didn't have time to go back in to get it fixed. But a small voice kept saying, "You don't have time not to." So, he returned and stood in the same line until it came his time to talk to the clerk again. He said, "Look, I'm in a hurry. You made a mistake. The sign says $9.99, and you charged me $1.99. Please correct this so I can get on with what I must do."
She said, "Sir, I didn't make a mistake."
He said, "Sure you did. There's the sign; here's the receipt. Please make the correction."
She said, "No, sir, I didn't make a mistake."
He said, "What do you mean?!!"
She said, "Can I tell you the rest of the story? Will you let me finish, please?"
He said, "Yes, I will."
She said, "For 17 years, I've been out of church. Recently, my life has been falling apart, and I needed to return to church. I looked around at what was closest to me. I found the church's name, went there Sunday, slipped in, and sat on the back row. The pastor that day was speaking on integrity. Sir, it happened to be your church. And when I saw you in my line, I wondered if this was something you preached on Sunday or lived on Monday. And I determined to find out."
Then she said, "Sir, I don't even know the right questions to ask, but I know that whatever you've got, I need." And then she began to cry.
(Sermon Central)
Now, the truth is that people will not often remember when you do choose to do the right thing, but they will always remember when you chose not to do the right thing. And it will be a direct testimony to your faith.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, and if anything worthy of praise, consider these things. (Philippians 4:8)
III. Walking Worthy Means Walking on the Narrow Path
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is narrow, and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13–14)
When descending the Grand Canyon, a person often has to travel on narrow ledges with only enough room for a mule to get a foothold. The ribbons of rock that run along the edges of these towering cliffs overlook vertical precipices that descend hundreds of feet to the valley below. When one must use these stony paths, the safest course is to let the mule find his own way, for the slightest touch on the bridle may easily throw the animal and rider over the cliff to sudden death. So, it is in the believer’s life. In some circumstances, if he would keep himself from having sinful doubts and falling into despair, he must lay the `bridle’ on the neck of Faith and commit his way to God. No matter how things look, he may take comfort in these words, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." In such trying experiences, the only thing to do is trust in God and walk by faith, not sight.
Someone once said there is a reason we have a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven.
Walking worthy means you make the choice that is based on God’s will for you. You don’t look at what the rest of the world is doing. You follow Him - always. Peer pressure will inevitably take you down a path you will regret and the reason you’re being pressured is because your friends do not want to take the road alone.
IV. Walking Worthy Means You Walk in Steps of Faith
for we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)
The apostle Paul reminds his readers that followers of Christ must not build their lives around things that have no eternal significance. Rather than pursuing the same things the world pursues, a Christian should focus on the unseen realities such as Jesus and heaven.
Walking by faith means living life in light of eternal consequences. To walk by faith is to fear God more than man; to obey the Bible even when it conflicts with man’s commands; to choose righteousness over sin, no matter what the cost; to trust God in every circumstance; and to believe God rewards those who seek Him, regardless of who says otherwise (Hebrews 11:6). (Got Questions)
Three schoolboys were asked to write their definitions of faith. One wrote: "Faith is TAKING hold of God." The second wrote: "Faith is HOLDING onto God." The third wrote: "Faith is NOT letting go!" I would add to that, “Faith is knowing that God has taken hold of you and will not let you go!”
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
The only way to walk by faith is to do all the above: Get out of the boat, put your pride aside, be a person of integrity, and stay on the narrow path. If you do all of that, you will not receive the applause of the world, but I promise you will receive the applause of our Lord.
It’s time to hit the trail, troop, and walk worthy. We will be in the woods, but we will be in the woods together. Be proud of yourself and who you are in Jesus Christ.
