The Joy of Walking with God

 

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The Joy of Walking with God 

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • January 19, In the year of our Lord, 2014

 

Prelude: 

  1. Young children fear the dark even when with a parent. 
    1. The parent reassures the child, but
    2. sometimes that does not calm the child.
  2. The fear in their hearts overcomes their trust in their parent. 
    1. God tells us repeatedly in the Bible
    2. that He is with us,
      1. that we are walking with Him, but
      2. fear in our hearts makes us forget that we are walking with God.

Persuasion: 

  1. What It Means to Walk with God 
    1. To live with God.
      1. The Christian abides in God and
      2. God abides in the Christian.
    2. To have communion and fellowship with God.
    3. To speak with God.
      1. Not much of a walk if no conversation.
      2. Pray to him and listen to him through His word.
    4. To so trust Him that you do what He says.
    5. To walk worthy of God.
      1. This should be our constant prayer

        9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light (Col 1.9–12).

      2. Walking in such a way that is compatible with His nature

        6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked (1Jo 2.6).

  2. The Privilege of Walking with God 
    1. Walking with God shows agreement with God.

      3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Amos 3.3).

      1. Agreement with God is peace with God.
      2. Walking with God brings peace.
    2. Walking with God is for the humble.

      8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
      And what does the Lord require of you
      But to do justly,
      To love mercy,
      And to walk humbly with your God?
      (Mic 6.8)

      1. You have to believe He is God, not you.
      2. Who am I that God would walk with me?
  3. The Joy of Walking with God 
    1. A partner through death
      1. Enoch was translated because of walking with God.
      2. Enoch did not die (Heb 11.5).
        1. Christians walking with God do not die (John 11).
        2. Physical death made easier (Heb 2.14–15).
    2. Find favor
      1. Noah found favor by walking with God – Gen 6.8–9
      2. Noah did what God said – Gen 6.22
    3. Great promises
      1. Abraham walked with God and received a covenant and promises – Gen 17.1–2
    4. New life
      1. Rom 6.4
    5. The ultimate blessing

      16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

      “I will dwell in them
      And walk among them.
      I will be their God,
      And they shall be My people.”
      (2Co 6.16)

Exhortation: 

  1. Walking with God is walking with Jesus. 
    1. Walking with Jesus, you can walk in the dark.
    2. Cling to Him as a young child clings to his dad in the dark.
      1. He will lead you through the valley of the shadow of death.
      2. Stay with Him and you will be where He is now.
  2. However, we want to see the way. 
    1. We want it lit up.
    2. Why? If we walk with God, we shall be secure.
      1. He can see the way.
      2. He knows the way.
        1. Nothing frightens Him.
        2. Everything fears Him.
  3. We can sit in the back of a plane. 
    1. We can sit in someone’s car and sleep.
    2. Yet, we fear to trust Him, the Great Navigator!
      1. Do I trust an airline pilot more than I trust God?
      2. Do I trust a driver more than I trust Jesus?
  4. Look at Jesus and His life experiences. 
    1. He made it back to heaven.
    2. He suffered horribly, but
      1. He trusted His Father, and
      2. the Father delivered Him.
        1. We shall suffer, but
        2. if we trust His Father,
          1. we shall make it to heaven,
          2. although death tries to frighten us.