Walk With God

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

As D. L. Moody remarked in his sermon on this text, “This...is for those who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, for no man has a right just to walk with God until he is saved.”

There seemed to have been a more literal form of walking with God in Genesis...

We assume that prior to Genesis 3 Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden at times, the Bible doesn’t explicitly state this, but we surmise this from Gen 3:8 that when they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD amongst the trees of the garden.

Handfuls on Purpose defines walking with God simply as, “living in the presence of God.”

I would say it is far more than this - -

The word “walk” in the Bible is often used as a term to designate our conduct in life, general demeanor, and deportment.

“The word translated “walk” is a Hebrew expression that means to live according to God’s lifestyle.”

So we read that Enoch “walked with God” we understand that “they maintained a course of action, conduct, of life, that conformed to God’s will and was acceptable in His sight.”

God has promised and stated over and over in the Old Testament and even in the New Testament his promise to walk with His people

We find that...

Genesis 5:24 “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” - “The first explicit statement of walking with God. The implication is a deep fellowship with God and godly living.”

Genesis 6:9 “... Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” - “Here we find that walking with God is connected with righteousness and obedience even in a wicked world - I HAVE CHOSEN to walk with God”

Genesis 17:1 “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” - A calling to lifelong walk of faith and obedience in covenantal language

To Israel Leviticus 26:11-12 “I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Strong promise of God’s indwelling presence tied to covenant faithfulness.”

The famous exhortation from Micah - Micah 6:8 “8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?”

We also find God’s people, on the other hand, desiring and praying for the influence of the Holy Spirit that they may walk in His statutes.

Galatians 5:16 “16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

To walk in the Spirit is to be guided, aided, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk as God has called us to.

Paul Washer stated there are four pillars of walking with God:

knowledge of the truth,

faith in the truth,

joy in the truth,

obedience to the truth.

But I want us to see walking with God as a spiritual journey that involves maintaining close proximity to God -

While I stress that God is not looking for reasons to throw us out -

God does have expectations and standards for us

When we begin to cease to meet those expectations and standards we can put distance between us and God

We are not walking with God on a tightrope

But we are walking with God down a road with lots of distractions, detours, and slowdowns

If we allow those things to stop us or detour us - we can put that distance between us and God.

The old songwriter put it to verse this way:

1 I saw a wayworn trav'ler In tatter'd garments clad, And struggling up the mountain It seem'd that he was sad; His back was laden heavy, His strength was almost gone, Yet he shouted as he journeyed, Deliverance will come.

Chorus: Then palms of victory, crowns of glory Palms of victory I shall bear.

2 The summer sun was shining, The sweat was on his brow, His garments worn and dusty, His step seem'd very slow; But he kept pressing onward, For he was wending home; Still shouting as he journeyed, Deliverance will come. [Chorus]

3 The songsters in the arbor, That stood beside the way, Attracted his attention, Inviting his delay; His watchword being "Onward!" He stopped his ears and ran, Still shouting as he journeyed, Deliverance will come. [Chorus]

Joseph McCreery that great old time Free Methodist bishop wrote a hymn some have titled The Christian Life - some The Narrow Way but I love the words of it - it resonates with my life choices, with my desires -

I storm the gate of strife, I force my passage through: And all intent on endless life, The narrow way pursue

I leave the world behind, after my Lord to go, Renouncing with a steadfast mind Its pride and pomp and show

My Father is a God My heritage a throne And shall I herd with Fashion’s brood Or put her baubles on?

The tinselry of earth The trappings of its pride Unworthy of my heavenly birth I spurn them all aside

No cumbrous garb I wear My progress to impede My pilgrim robe divinely fair Is fashioned all for speed.

What am I talking about - walking with God will mean walking away from some things - things that bring distance between you and God

That might be friends, devices, types of literature, music, habits,

We are walking with God - walking in the beautiful light of God - staying in the presence of God,

I. Walking with God means to go in God’s direction.

The Hebraism “walking with God” is used to describe God’s lifestyle.

For Enoch to walk with God meant that he had to go in the same direction as God.

If you are going to walk with anyone, you must go in the same direction in which that person travels.

A. God’s way is clearly marked. Enoch responded to God’s revelation. Whatever God disclosed to him he accepted as the way he was to live.

Today one does not have to guess or imagine which way God is walking.

God’s supreme revelation has been given in Jesus Christ. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6).

B. God’s way is always the best way. 

To read Genesis 5 is to be convinced that Enoch found the best type of life.

To look at the life of Abraham, Noah, other who walked with God you find it was the best way

With the passing of Sister Bernice and the last time she sang at church according to Karen - was “Dream About Heaven” well she is no longer having to dream about it - it is a reality - Walking with God is the best way.

The songwriter said, “ I don’t regret a mile, I've traveled for the Lord”

Sometimes walking with God is not the most comfortable or the easiest way to travel because you have to walk in a direction in which others are not walking.

Corrie Ten Boom: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

II. Walking with God means to proceed at God’s pace.

If you are going to walk with anyone, you must travel at the same pace that person travels.

A. God’s pace is a deliberate, determined one.

God wants to lead you. If you want to live according to his lifestyle, you need to commit your life to him. He will then move you in a direction that will allow him to create godly character within you.

B. God’s pace varies on different occasions. 

Sometimes God walked fast, at other times, slow. And sometimes God just waited. Walking with God means that you proceed at God’s pace. You are not to attempt walking ahead of God; nor are you to lag behind. At times you will need to wait patiently and let God lead you.

III. Walking with God means to arrive at a destination.

The Bible speaks of Enoch’s destination: “And he was not.” This refers to Enoch’s translation. “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” (Heb. 11:5). Because Enoch started walking with God, he arrived at his destination.

A. God causes us to reach potential while we live. Enoch did not find the ultimate meaning of life after his translation. No, every day as he walked with God, he discovered the meaning and significance of living God’s type of life.

B. God causes us to reach our final destination. Beginning to walk with God leads to a pilgrimage that ends with ultimate fellowship in heaven with God.

Otis Skilling wrote:

Now walk with God And He will be your dearest Friend Where'er you go In everything you do And may your life Reflect His love to ev'ryone Now walk with God And He will walk with you

Verse

On God's holy Word I challenge you To give to the Lord your life anew My friend make your choice He waits for you For this is the moment of truth

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 7137 No Promise Verse, Only God

Years ago a young missionary had to flee from western China. An infuriated mob hotly pursued him. He hastily boarded a river boat. The mob, too, came on the boat. Then he jumped into the river. The mob began to throw spears at him. Miraculously he escaped, unharmed. When he was telling of the ordeal later, a friend asked him, “What verse from the Bible came to you as you were darting beneath the boat to escape the spears of the mob?” “Verse?” he asked in astonishment, “why, the Lord Himself was with me!”

Will you too choose to walk with God - take the path that he has chosen - deny yourself the things that distance you from him?