The Test Of A Testimony

"The Test of a Testimony"

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

INTRODUCTION: Enoch is one of the most interesting characters in the entire Bible, who did not experience physical death, Elijah being the other who was caught up in a whirlwind. The thing that stands out for me as I read about the life of Enoch is the last two phrases in our key verse; "...he had this testimony, that he pleased God..."

ILL - The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves at home here on earth.

Malcolm Muggeridge

I suspect that the reason God "took Enoch" was that He found a man who was more at home in heaven than He was on earth!

I. Does Our Walk Please God

Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

a. He walked in faith

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

ILL - God our Father has made all things depend on faith so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.

Martin Luther.

b. He walked in fellowship

Twice in Genesis 5 we find the preposition "...with..." Enoch walked in fellowship with God.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

c. He walked in faithfulness

Notice that chapter 5:21 says that Enoch "...begat...Methuselah at age 65 and that he "walked with God" for 300 years after the birth of this child who would be the oldest living human ever.

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS

ILL - A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications, he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows." This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and hired him. A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things out to see if all was secure. They found that the shutters of the farmhouse had been securely fastened. A good supply of logs had been set next to the fireplace. The young man slept soundly. The farmer and his wife then inspected their property. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage shed, safe from the elements. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well. The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows." Because the farmhand did his work loyally and faithfully when the skies were clear, he was prepared for the storm when it broke. So when the wind blew, he was not afraid. He could sleep in peace. There was nothing dramatic or sensational in the young boy's preparations -- he just faithfully did what was needed each day. Consequently, peace was his, even in a storm. Paul says "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."

II. Does Our Worship Please God

No man can come into fellowship with God without worshipping God but much of what passes today as worship is not worship at all. The weakness of the modern concept of worship is that it is egocentric and not Christocentric! If you want to know what worship should be like you turn in your Bible to Isaiah 6 and you will find the Biblical pattern for true worship. When you compare the prophets experience in worship with what passes for worship today you will find that there is no comparison. Real worship is characterized by four things:

Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphim's unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.