NJ - Walking with God

Open in prayer: Father I Pray that as I Preach your word today, Your Holy Spirit will bring revelation to our lives Amen

Opening: Today I will be sharing with you on the subject of walking with God. When we walk with God it refines us and brings our character to be more Christ like. We will see in the scriptures that when people communicate and spend time in the presence of God their lives and character are changed.

Point 1

To walk with God, is to put God first:

We will look at the story of Enoch and how he always put God first. Let us turn to:

Genesis 5:21–24 NKJV

21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

Hebrews 11:5–6 NKJV

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

“It is not how much is said about Enoch that counts, but what is said.”

· Enoch walked with God

· God took him

· By faith Enoch was translated

· He had this testimony, that he pleased God

Enoch was able to walk with God because in everything he did he put God first.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary states:

Enoch was the seventh from Adam. Godliness is walking with God: which shows reconciliation to God, for two cannot walk together except they be agreed, Amo_3:3. It includes all the parts of a godly, righteous, and sober life. To walk with God, is to set God always before us, to act as always under his eye. It is constantly to care, in all things to please God, and in nothing to offend him. It is to be followers of him as dear children. The Holy Spirit, instead of saying, Enoch lived, says, Enoch walked with God. This was his constant care and work; while others lived to themselves and the world, he lived to God. It was the joy of his life. Enoch was removed to a better world.

Point 2

Walking in God’s presence:

When we walk in God’s presence we have the opportunity to share in the benefits that God has given us. Walking with God means we are a friend God and we are in relationship with Him. Here are some results of walking in God’s presence:

Joy:

· Psalms 16:11 you will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

· Act 13:52 and the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

· John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and thatyour joy may be full.

Security and Peace:

How safe does a child feel when he knows his or her Father is near, even at their side?

· Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

· Psalms 46:5 God isin the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

· Psalms 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

Healed and made whole:

· Matthew 10:1 and when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power overunclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

Our Future is assured:

· John 14:2-3 In My Father's house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Point 3

Giving God your all:

Giving God your all is allowing Him to have full access in to your life. To know someone is to allow them into the intimate place of your heart. David knew God intimately and through that intimacy he knew he could not get away from God. Let us turn to the book of Psalms 139:1-8

· Psalms 139:1-8 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me. (2) You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. (3) You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. (4) For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. (5) You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. (6) Such knowledge istoo wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. (7) Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? (8) If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

Point 4

Walking in the Fathers love:

Walking with God, means accepting Him as your father. And walking in His love! The bible tells us in 1John 3:8

· 1John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

God loves us so much that He calls us His own children; we have become joint heirs with Christ.

· Gal 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" (7) Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Conclusion:

In concluding today I would like to ask you this question, are you walking with God? We have covered the following points:

· To walk with God, is to put God first

· Walking in God’s presence

· Giving God your all

· Walking in the Fathers love

In finishing I will read you a quote from John Eldredge’s book “Walking with God”

‘Whatever our situation in life—butcher, baker, candlestick maker—our deepest and most pressing need is to learn to walk with God. To hear his voice. To follow him intimately. It is the most essential turn of events that could ever take place in the life of any human being, for it brings us back to the source of life. Everything else we long for can than flow forth from this union.’