The Spirit-Led Walk In Jesus Alone Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

Tony Evans spoke of being on an elevator in a high-rise building. He said he’d never been particularly comfortable on such elevators. He worried that something would go wrong and he would get stuck in the elevator.

One day it did. The car he was riding in got stuck in between floors way up on the higher floors. Some of the people in the car became frantic. They began to beat on the door hoping to get someone’s attention. Others began to yell in the hopes that their voices would get someone’s attention. But nobody heard their noise or their cries.

Then Evans quietly made his way to the front of the car, opened a little door in the wall, and pulled out a telephone. Immediately he was connected with someone on the outside. He didn’t need to beat on the wall to get their attention. He didn’t need to speak loudly on the phone to receive their help. He could have whispered and they would have heard him.

Evans said that - in this world, we’re going to get "stuck" in places we aren’t comfortable with. Some people begin to beat against the walls, others cry out in dismay. But the person who trusts in the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit has nothing to worry about. (Credit: Jeff Strite, Sermon Central).

Have you ever been spiritually stuck? Maybe you are that way right now. It seems that coming to church, worshipping, serving, singing, praying, and reading your Bible is far more of a drudgery than giving us life. And when that happens, our worship becomes flat, our Bible reading is sporadic, and our prayer life is flaccid.

Last week, we talked about being awakened and living in the light. This week we continue with that thought as we move through walking as children in the light and becoming unstuck. The way we do that is a lifestyle of worship that should be evident in the believer.

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. ?(Ephesians 5:15–21)

I. A Believer's Walk is a Life of Wisdom

Years ago when I was a young pastor at the beginning of my ministry, I spent most of my time trying to amass the necessary skills for an effective ministry. But as the years have gone by I found myself looking for something beyond skill, I wanted wisdom. I had the facts, but I was concerned about how to use them. I had acquired the skills, but I wanted wisdom to apply them rightly. Today, when I pray, I pray for wisdom far more than anything else.

Paul tells us that we are to walk our Christian life with wisdom. If you were to Google the definition of wisdom, you would come across something like this, The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting;

We can find wisdom in God’s Word and being biblically literate is paramount to living in the light and not getting stuck. There is a difference between godly wisdom and worldly wisdom. Worldly secular wisdom tends to be self-centered. It exalts us. When our hearts are not submitted to God, we will harbor pride, jealousy, and selfish ambitions and use our wisdom against others. God’s Word calls such wisdom “earthly, unspiritual, demonic“.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. (James 3:14–16)

Our lives are the result of all the choices we make. It takes wisdom to ensure that our choices come together so that we end up at the narrow gate of eternal life, not the wide gate to eternal destruction. To find the path to the narrow gate, we need to seek wisdom and guidance from God. He will show us the way.

?“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13–14)