The Evidence Of A Man Walking With God

Look at the word “knowledge” in our text. This is the word “epiginosko.” This word means that they had come to know something with certainty.

WHAT IS IT THAT THEY HAD COME TO KNOW WITH CERTAINTY?

They came to recognize a definite difference had occurred in the lives of these Christians, since they HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

• Without a doubt, these were some of the greatest Christians that ever walked on this earth.

• Without a doubt, never has any group of Christians made any greater impact on the society in which they lived, than these Christians.

Again notice in our text when the lost world took notice that some major changes in their lives had occurred. They noticed it took place when THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

The people we associate with have a tremendous IMPACT on our lives for the GOOD or the BAD!!!

Illus: This is why we warn our children not to associate with bad children.

Why?

Because the BAD will rub off on the GOOD!

Illus: This is why we warn out teens not to date someone that is not saved. They can easily influence them to do something that they will regret of their life.

• John Rohn said: “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”

• Goethe said, “Tell me whom you consort with and I will tell you who you are.”

• Someone else, “No body grows up being smart or wise or successful just by themselves. It is all about the environment they put themselves in.”

• Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn has put these types of relationships at the center of his career and suggests others to do the same. Because as he argues, in this information age it is not about what we know, but who we know.

Illus: For example, Elon Musk is a brilliant thinker and super-fast learner, but he also surrounds himself with the most brilliant people to make his businesses become successful.

Illus: One of the reasons that God established the church was because as Believers during the week we out of necessity mingle with the ungodly. So, God knew it would be important that we have a church we can attend and mingle with the GODLY.

When a Christian ceases to be faithful to the house of God and enjoy the fellowship of God’s people, they start to mingle with the world and get further and further from God.

What we can learn from successful people is that we have to be extremely picky with our time. That is, every minute spent with someone, is a minute we are not spending with someone else. And our time is valuable. So, it’s better to spend it on people that help us achieve our goals.

We live in an age that is known as THE INFORMATION AGE.

Illus: One of the things that many are seeking to get is information on people.

Illus: For example, if you were selected to serve on a jury in a high profile case, the lawyers would get all the information they could gather on you, before selecting you. They would want to know:

• Where do you work?

• What are your hobbies?

• Are you religious or not

• What kind of organizations have you joined?

• What kind of a neighborhood do you live in?

• What kind of a family do you come from?

• How much money do you make each year?

And if that wasn’t enough, they have these experts studying our facial expressions, watching how we walk, how we talk, how we sit, etc.. They get to know a great deal about us in our BODY LANGUAGE.

They know a great deal about us, and that is why, when we come before these lawyers, they will sometimes say, “Your honor, I reject this jury member!”

But one of the best ways to gain knowledge about people is to watch which people they associate with.

For example, if a person hangs around the Ku Klux Klan, it is obvious to everyone they are a racist. They may not talk like one, but their association with this hate group would certainly indicate they are the same.

Illus: People are like water, they always seek their own level.

• That is, I can pour a glass of water on the floor, and every time it will go to the lowest level.

• I can take a rag and wipe up the glass of water that I poured on the floor, and pour another glass of water on the floor, and it also will go to the lowest level.

If you want to know something about people, watch who they associate with. They will always GRAVITATE TO PEOPLE LIKE THEMSELVES, EVERY TIME! Not sometime, but EVERY TIME.