Walking
With God Genesis 5:24
1. What does it mean to walk with God? Have you
ever given it any serious thought? To walk with God is more than going to
church, or reading your Bible or saying a prayer on occasion. Our verse of
scripture tells us very little about Enoch but it does tell us something very
important - He walked with God. - but what does that mean?
2. First let me say that man resists God at
every turn - why? - because God makes demands that are contrary to the flesh
3. 1960’s it was
proclaimed GOD IS DEAD. Today there is a resurgence of interest in the four
major religions of the
world: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism
- interest in GOD IS NOT dead
4. Interest in God and walking with God are two
very different things: COL 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy
and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each
other and forgive whatever grievances you
may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And
over all these virtues put on love, which
binds them all together in perfect unity.
A.
Enoch lived for God and by God’s Standards not society’s - He didn’t fit
in
1.
When you find yourself fitting in, you are out of step with God
2.
Christianity is counter-cultural. It is meant to be different.
Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship.
3. To be in Christ is to be IN
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
B.
Let’s examine your life
1. What do you wear? Physically -
what you wear gives a good indication of if you walk with God
a. The 70’s - men open chest
shirts, gaudy jewelry, women mini-skirts
b. today - tattoos, Bling-Bling,
tight-fit belly showing - SEX
c. now listen to COL 3:12: Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy
and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
d. WHAT YOU WEAR - PHYSICALLY INDICATES WHAT YOU
WEAR SPIRITUALLY
2.
Second - are you a moral person? - most of you say yes - but morality is
a good indication of if you are walking
with God or not
a. Gen. 19: 1-8
b. unwittingly - have you given
into society it and fallen to society’s level - the things of society & culture
are
more important than
WALKING WITH GOD
3.
Does God have a standard for relationships? YES “Do unto others as you want them to do to
you”
a. Gossip? Rumors? Back-biting (two-faced)?
b. Reality TV - how to be mean
and get away with it!
c. God teaches that People are not disposable,
throw-aways - family, marriage, the poor, the sick, the outcasts
II. To Walk with God is to let God live in you.
A. Eugene Peterson in his book, The
Resurrected Life, comments, “The resurrection life is a practice…we engage in a
life that is filled by the presence
and companionship of the resurrected Jesus in the company of friends.”
1.
What he meant was that we are actually living the resurrection life now
as Jesus is living in us and he has been
Resurrected..
a.
peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
B.
Dan Kimball interviewed hundreds of college aged people “What they wish
the church were like”
1.not sermon or a lecture but a
discussion 2. respect my intelligence 3. weren’t about the church building
4. less programmed and allowed
time to think and pray 5. were a loving place 6. cared for the poor and for the
environment 7. taught more
about Jesus
(notice that each of these is
centered in a self-need of what I want not what God wants)
III. To walk with God is to put GOD first AND SELF LAST!
1. Jesus - Luke 14:7 - if you are invited to a feast, take the lowest seat, if you are due any honor the host will give
you a place of honor.
2. As long as you are thinking of self, you aren’t walking with God
3. Seek first the
1. will you walk with God or will you walk alone - ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD AND GOD TOOK HIM