Keep on Walking

intro

giving all glory to God, our creator, who sent his son

giving Honor to the pastor of this Church, the angel of this house, Dr. West,

honor to Pastor Emeritus Horton, and all clergy

Thank WMBC, my wife . . .

it is a privilege to be here and to celebrate what God has done through the Good Hope Baptist Church for

This morning I want to encourage you, encourage Good Hope, encourage WMBC to Keep on Walking

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

let me summarize verses 1-9, to see how we get to verse 10

if you study these verses, will see:

before becoming Christians, we were sinners who walked (lived) according to the ways of this world

walked according to how satan would want us to walk

goal was to satisfy our lustful desires

and we were headed towards the wrath of God

But God loved us and had mercy on us, and through Christ gave us a citizenship in heaven.

and in the ages to come, God is going to show us off as a demonstration of just how amazing his grace is

for we have been saved by grace through faith

no one can boast that I earned my salvation because I performed some type of works . . . . .salvation is a gift

then in verse 10, the Apostle Paul writes . . .

Ephesians 2:10 NASB95

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

For we are His workmanship

This salvation things is not about our work but God’s work.

not only did Christ do the work that made our salvation possible when he suffered, bled, and died on the cross . . . but WE are his work

he calls it His workmanship: which means that those of us who are saved are God’s handiwork, God’s work of art, His creation, His masterpiece . . .

You are not from an assembly line, you are handmade by God, hand crafted by God, an original from the hand of Almighty God . . . God has made you something special

yes you, there’s no on like you that can do what you can do

and since that is true for each believer, then when the believers come together as congregations, that makes each congregation something special

there is no church like Good Hope BC than can do what Good Hope can do

there is no church like WMBC that can do what WMBC can do

Good Hope is handmade by God, a work of hart

World Missionary is hand crafted by God, a masterpiece

We are his workmanship

Created in Christ Jesus

God is able to transform us into this masterpiece because of Christ

The foundation is Christ, it starts with Christ

don’t let your talents, gifts, abilities, skills, and know-how, throw you off

we are God’s work of art, not because of our talents, gifts, abilities, skills . . . No, we are works of art because of Christ

our identity is in Christ: we belong to Christ and our purpose is in Christ . . . it’s all about Him

and we are created in Christ Jesus for good works

for good works

We’re not saved just to be able to say, “I’m saved” . . . there is a purpose behind my salvation . . . there are good works that need to be done

I am not saved because of good works, but I am saved to perform good works

we don’t just have church, so we can say, “we go to church” . . . . there is purpose in our going to church . . . there are good works that need to be done by the church

what are these good works?

good works includes living right

You were created in Christ Jesus to be kind, giving, forgiving, loving, live morally, treat people right

but taken in context, this verse is more so referring to jobs, tasks, achievements, accomplishments, purposes

you were created in Christ Jesus to accomplish certain tasks, complete certain jobs, reach specific achievements, fulfill certain purposes

and not just any old works, jobs, or task, or achievements . . . but good ones

remember God is on a higher level, so doing good works for God translates into doing great things in our eyes

he called making the sun, moon, and starts . . . . good

he called creating every creature in the sea . . . good

creating every animal and insect on land . . . good

when God says good, it means awesome, great, phenomenal

the religious leaders were trying to kill Jesus and Jesus sarcastically said, “which one of my good works are you trying to kill me for”

what were good works for Jesus: opening blinded eyes, lame to walk, deaf to hear, the dumb to talk, healing from diseases, raising dead

Let me say it simply, God created you to do great things: noteworthy, significant, impactful things, phenomenal things

God did not create you into a masterpiece, so that you could do something unimportant, regular, or just decent

God created you for great things.

Which God prepared beforehand

KJV - ordained

NLT - he planned for us long ago

NIV - prepared in advance

in other words, the good works, the great things, the awesome accomplishments that God created you in Christ to do have already been prepared

prepared means ready

when food is prepared, it’s time to eat

when your hotel room is prepared, it’s time to move in

as far as these great works are concerned . . . . God has taken care of it

they’re already done

Example: Dr. West’s successful tenure as the pastor of Good Hope is already done, it’s already been taken care of

Good Hope’s success as a church is already done

World Missionary’s success as a church has already been taken care of

God planned them out long ago

God set everything up a long time ago

God prepared it a long time ago

all we have to do is walk in it . . .

so that we would walk in them

the only thing you have to do to reach the greatness God put in you . . . .is to walk in them

The only thing you must do to fulfill your God ordained purpose . . . is to walk in it

walk in the good works that God created you for and prepared beforehand

in other words, it is all laid out before you . . . you just have to walk it out . . . walk the path God has prepared

How do I find the path?

First, Follow the path that God has revealed through His Word

The Bible says “thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”

Next Follow the path that God has revealed to your mind

God speaks to his children

if you seek him, you will find

note: it will be in agreement with His word

Thirdly, follow the path that’s before you

sometimes God will put you in a position where there is only one path . . . . follow that one

Seems pretty straight forward and simple, so what messes us up? Why don’t we simply follow the path God reveals through his word, reveals in our hearts, and sets before us?

What goes wrong?

some of us won’t get on the path God has for us, we try to choose our own path

Bible path, the path revealed in the Bible doesn’t look to fun

appears to too many restrictions

even though if you live long enough, you will learn that they are not restrictions but protections

so we try choose our own path

though it’s popular to say, choose your own path . . . the Bible teaches us to choose God the path God has for you

some of us stand on the path but won’t walk on it

we’re on the path, but just standing on the path . . . stuck at “I got saved and was baptized”

not moving forward at all

just watching people pass them by

somehow we got in our minds, that after baptism we were done

but being saved, getting baptized is just the beginning of the path

if you are just standing on the path, it’s like someone graduating from high school and thinking I have completed life. And they do nothing but walk around with their cap and gown on for the rest of their lives

no graduation was the commencement, the beginning, the start of the rest of your life. Hallelujah that you graduated, and they cannot take your diploma away, but you’ve got lots to do and a long way to go

don’t just stand on the path

some of us get off course because we are too busy comparing paths

their path looks better, easier, shorter

and instead of walking purposefully down our path, we slow down or wander around, because we are daydreaming about the path of someone else

or we might even try to jump to their path

problem is that it’s THEIR path: and their path is for them, and your path is for you

and their path won’t work for you

don’t get off course comparing paths

some of us try to adjust the path because it doesn’t seem like its heading in the right direction anymore

based on your understanding, it seems like the path should go this way, but instead the path is leading that way . . . doesn’t make sense to you

but you have to remember Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

you’ve got to trust in the Lord and follow Him . . . don’t try to adjust what God is doing

some of us try to take a shortcut because we think the path is too long

You’ve have been walking for a while, and have yet to see the promised “good works”

you begin to cut corners, make some compromises in your character

but you must remember that God will do things in the proper season, at the right time

he may not come when you won’t him

he may not show up when you expected him

but he will be on time!

don’t take a short cut

some of us quit the path because the path became difficult

we ever thought it would be easy, but never thought it would be this hard . . . through difficult terrain, through dark times, unexpected twist and tuns

the path can be difficult, and even unfair

but don’t quit

some of us are afraid of the path because we see giants on the path

and walking the path seems impossible

“I would walk it, but I see a giant”

but we walk by faith and not by sight

it takes faith in God to face the giants on your path

this is a faith walk

so the encouragement this morning is to keep walking on the path God has for you

first of all get on God’s path for you

if you are on it, don’t just stand on your path . . . walk

don’t compare your path to others . . .

don’t try to adjust your path

don’t attempt to take a short cut

don’t quit the path

don’t be afraid of the path

keep walking on the path God has for you

keep walking

through the wilderness

through the valley

through the dessert

when the way gets hard

when the road is rough

and the going gets tough

though the journey gets long . . . just keep walking

though there are unexpected twist and turns . . . just keep walking

though people talk about you . . . just keep walking

resources get low . . . just keep walking

see a giant . . . just keep walking

because the good works are ALREADY DONE, ALREADY PREPARED, ALREADY FINISHED, SUCCESS IS GUARANTEED

We just have to keep walking . . . even if you just have to focus on putting one foot in front of the other

Abraham had a long path (25 years), unexpected twist (Sacrifice what was promised to you) but he kept walking and now the whole world has been blessed through him

Joseph had an unfair path, but he kept walking, saved his family

Esther had a scary path, it was the only path before her, but she walked it . . and saved her people

David had a hard path, got so hard that he had to encourage himself, but we walked it . . . and we are still reading his words today

Ruth had to travel a path of poverty, but she walked it, and it led to a husband, riches, and a son

Jesus’s path led to the cross, but he walked it, and though it led to the cross, it finished at resurrection . . . all power . . . . all authority

all of this was prepared beforehand, ordained

each of us has a path

Good Hope has a path

WMBC has a path

we just have to keep on walking