Walking by Faith
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Good Morning, please turn in your Bibles with me this morning to and .
This morning, were talking about faith. Faith is simply believing and standing on the promises of God.
The more we spend time in the word of God the greater our faith becomes and the more faith we have the more hope that we have, and the more hope we have, the more we understand that the future us brighter for those people who follow Jesus Christ.
So we start with the word of God and then we build our faith in God until we have hope in God until we know everything is gonna be alright. It’s like the song says:
“GOD IS IN CONTROL”
I pray that you are growing in faith, I pray that you are walking in faith, that’s what were gonna talk about this morning walking by faith.
There are only 2 people in the Bible who did not die, both of their names begin with the letter E one of them is named Elijah another is named Enoch.
Were going to be looking at Enoch today, we know alot about Elijah but we dont know much about the guy were looking at today, named Enoch.
Im gonna read to yuo just about all the Bible says about him as we learn about walking by faith.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
This man Enoch walked with God in such a way that God just loved him so much he just took him up. It is the same word we use in the Bible to refer to the rapture. It means to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, he was caught up!
Adrian Rodgers used to say:
One day God and Enoch went out for a walk and they kept walking and walking, and walking and finally God said to Enoch “Enoch were closer to my house than we are to yours why dont you just come home with me.
Enoch was a great man of God, we look back in Genesis and here is what the Bible says about him
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Let’s learn what it means to walk by faith.
God Recognizes Walking by Faith
God Recognizes Walking by Faith
God honors those who walk by faith, He points out He points to, He brags on people who walk by faith. He recognizes walking by faith
By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. For prior to his removal he was approved, since he had pleased God.
When you read the book of Genesis you are reading the book of beginnings and when you read you are seeing the many geneologies of the Bible. You see 10 men and 8 of them are just basically talked about that they didnt really do much in life, 2 of them are regarded by God, 2 of them are bragged on by God.
If you read chapter 5 it says that Adam lived and when you sum up his life, he had children and he died now thats the you can describe alot of people in our day they just live have kids and they die.
They dont really walk with God and then Enosh lived had children and died Canaan lived and had children and died then Jarrod lived and had children and died.
But then as you go through this monotenous list of people who lived had children and died there is this man who jumps of the page at you. Instead of saying Enoch lived the Bible says ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD!
He didn’t just live, God recognized him as someone who walked with Him He didn’t just walk with God, He walked with God 300 years.
The Bible never says that he died bc he didnt instead he was not, one moment he was the next moment he was not, he did not exist on this Earth anymore, He was taken up it is the same word used for taking up Elijah in the whirlwind in 2 kings 2 God took him up, he did not experience physical death.
One commentator said: Man was not born to die, he was born to live, life comes by walking with God, walking with God is the key that opens the chians of the curse of Adams sin.
Then right after you read about Enoch walking with God being taken up he was no more god took him up you go right back into that same boring pattern MEthuselah lived and had children and died and then Noah lived and had children and eventually he died.
Now we know that Noah also was a great man of God the Bible tells to the Lord he was a righteous blameless in his time, NOAH WALKED WITH GOD.
So you’ve got only 2 out of 10 people who were recognized by God who were walking by faith, I wonder were there many people that walked by faith with God in the Bible.
in the Bible relativley speaking there were very few, in the Bible there were many people who claimed to walk with God just as in Jesus’ days the gate was wide and path was wide that lead to destruction and many were they who went therby but He also says the way was narrow and very few were found there on the path of eternal life.
Now there was a man named Abraham who would later be called the father of the faith and he would later be called
When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be blameless.
He had a grandson named Jacob whose name was changed to Israel, Jacob had 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel, and Jacob was blessing one of his sons joseph one day and when he was doing that notice what he said
Then he blessed Joseph and said:
The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
Genesis
He says thats the God I want to bless you with, and Jacob was just saying I walk with God, my father walked with God, my grandfather walked with God what does Micah say about walking with God?
Micah
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
God wants us to walk humbly with our God, when people look at you, when they talk about you, what do they say, what do they think. Do they think now theres somebody who walks with God, theres somebody who walks by faith.
Is that what they say?
The people that are dearest to me aint wealthy people, they are not all that super intelligent, there not big strong people the people who are my heroes:
Keith Wallace- my pastor
Nathan Mcpherson- deacon
Uncle Frank Mitchell
Johnny Hunt
Ryan Pate
THEY WALKED WITH GOD
God recognzes people like that, god doesnt recognize you bc you have alot of money God doesnt recognize you bc you have a high IQ or are a hard worker He recognizes you when you walk with God, when you walk by faith, I am asking you are you walking by faith?
Do you spend time with God daily in prayer?
bc when you pray your saying God I am trusting You. ...
Do you pour over the pages of the Word of God everyday feeding your soul in faith?
Do you ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit afresh that there might be love, peace patience, Kindness, Goddness, and selfcontrol
Do you fellowship with other believers?
Do you tell other people about Jesus sharing the gospel?
Have you asked God if you are supposed tobe discipling someone?
Mentoring someone?
Do you tithe to your church, so that we can minister to anyone who has need and share the gospel?
Do you seek to live a holy life?
Are you recognized as someone who walks by faith or are you recognized as someone who walks seperatly from God are you recognized as someone who flips and flops from one side of the fence to the other, or are you recognized as someone who runs from God,
OR
Are you recognized as somebody who walks AGAINST God I dont wanna walk against Him, seperatly from Him, I WANNA WALK WITH GOD!
When you walk like that it pleases the heart of God, ONLY 2 MEN OUT OF 10 were bragged on by God and they were bragged on by God bc they walked by faith.
(students)
ag convention
MEN RISING UP
WOMEN RISING UP
A couple weeks ago I asked the congregation who was willing to do whatever it took to follow the Lord and make disciples I had Misty in the back ready to take down names, by in large the entire congregation stood.
I haven’t forgotten, expect to hear some more about that soon.
Listen I don’t want us merely coming to church I am begging God with a sweeping movement across our church and across our town that will develope such a ground swell that it will spill out into Cottonwood, Dothan, and even further.
I pray God does this for His glory, and I am asking God to let true world changing revival start with us. Let it begin here Lord LET US BE A PART OF WHAT YOU WANNA DO IN THIS COUNTRY LORD!
I WANNA WALK WITH GOD!
God recognizes walking by faith
GOD REQUIRES WALKING BY FAITH
GOD REQUIRES WALKING BY FAITH
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
YOU CANNOT PLEASE GOD ANY OTHER WAY THAN WALKING BY FAITH!
When Moses tried to make excuses for why he couldn’t go to pharoah, and he said: “who shall I say is sending me to pharoah and the Egyptians? God said you tell em the I AM sent you.
Now look at me, Im a simple guy if His name is I AM HE IS!
If He is I am then HE IS and I must believe that He exists if I am going to walk by faith.
But I am not capable..... HE IS
But I am not worthy.... HE IS
But I dont have the MONEY… HE DOES
But this is never gonna work… HE WILL
But weve never done it this way before… HE HAS
It is essential you cannot be in Gods will unless you believe He exists, you cant be saved if you do not have faith to believe God is.
You have to believe to be saved
But to all who did receive Him,
He gave them the right to be children of God,
to those who believe in His name,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Unbelievers are not saved bc they do not believe
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
God requires He demands walking by faith.
Somebody said I just dont believe that He is how can you prove that He is?
I’d like to talk with you about that longer and ask you how can you prove He is not.
You know there are many times I have been to the hospital to see someone or to their home and let’s say I get there and they have gone down for a procedure or they have ran to the store I ususally try to leave them a card or a note just letting them know I was there.
God leaves His calling card all over the place.
To let you know I have been here and I am here.
Have you seen his calling card? I saw His calling card this morning, when I walked outside and watched the sun come up.
I heard the birds chirping, squirrels, running in their own little world… thats Gods calling card HE IS
I look at my children and I know He is
WHEN I LOOK AT A BABY THATS NOT RANDOM MUTATION THATS NOT CHANCE THAT LITTLE BABY WAS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD! WOVEN TOGETHER BY HIS HANDIWORK!
YOUR NOT AN ACCIDENT YOU WERE FORMED IN YOU MOTHER WOMB, YOU WERE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE BY A GOD WHO IS!
God demands that you believe it.
We might prefer to walk by what you can see but God says not if your going to walk with me, your going to have to trust me.
Thats what Peter is referring to
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
How many of you love God this morning, you havent seen Him personally! But you love Him…
Oh we are believers today
We believe in God the Father and in His Son Jesus Christ we belive that He is and we believe Jesus died on the cross to provide salvation for our sins, we believe god has raised Him from the dead, we believe Jesus is alive and He Himself said if 2 or 3 have gathered together there I am right in their midst, you know what I believe with all of my heart that though I cannot see Him, I believe Jesus CHrist is in this room right now.
bc we have gathered in His name
Jesus Christ has provided salvation for anyone at anytime if you will repent of your sins and put your faityh in Jesus whosoever shall call upon His name shall be saved!
We believe that when you die thats not it, we believe theres more to come, we believe that if you know Jesus you will be with Christ in paradise.
ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND PRESENT WITH THE LORD
Are you obeying God’s call, He is requiring you to walk by faith.
Well He recognizes walking by faith, He requires walking by faith but heres some better news.
HE REWARDS WALKING BY FAITH
HE REWARDS WALKING BY FAITH
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
He is One who pays thats what that means.
God is One who pays
When we seek Him by faith He blesses He rewards....
Thats exactly what you see in the life of Enoch.
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Genesis 5:21-22
Let’s see how God rewarded Enoch for walking with Him:
A family that loves God
A life spent with God
Going to Heaven is great but it is a blessing to learn how to interact with God here on this Earth as well.
While He was on this Earth He enjoyed talking WITH GOD.
you know when you walking with someone your bound to say something dont you think?
I love talking with my wife because I love her, I love talking with my Jesus bc I love Him.
I wanna say this to ya if you dont love the Lord after awhile you’ll get tired of talking with Him, but when you really love somebody its not hard to talk to them.
When you love somebody the hours go by quickly dont they.
He was blessed by talking WITH GOD but He was also blessed to talk FOR GOD
Theres two verses in the NT where we hear the voice of Enoch he was a great preacher of righteousness
It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
HE DIDNT JUST TALK WITH GOD HE TALKED FOR GOD!!
HE ENJOYED LIFE
Then He was blessed and rewarded with an
An eternity spent with God
He WAS NOTfor God took Him
Walking by faith is not easy but it is the blessing that shows you that its worth doing.
You know I think many people forget sometimes, that this is the first church I have ever pastored. UHBC is the church who gave e my chance. I have grown and I am growing, weekly yearly.
But I remember when Amy and I were about to move over here there was a scripture the Lord lead me to when I was afraid to let me know if I was obedient in faith He would bless our family.
Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”
Mark 10:28
Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,
who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Jesus was telling Peter you need to walk by faith, yes you have left everything but you have got to trust me.
We left a wonderful church, our family, the town where we met, we left all that and went to a place we had never known and God has blessed us.
I cant even think about life without Cottonwood Alabama now.
When you WALK BY FAITH GOD REWARDS YOU!
I look back
You know hindsight is 20/20 when your trying to walk you cant always see whats out in front og you, but when you look back you can see GOD DOES ALL THINGS WELL!
I read an article once about 40 Roman soldiers who lead an imperial army and they walked by faith. Their captain had informed them their emporer licenius had made a decree that all the Roman soldiers had to bow down to his pagan god.
But like shadrack MEshack and Abednego this was in Ad 320 this was 300 years after Jesus had gone back into Heaven. these 40 Christian Roman soldiers rfused to worship Licenius God they said and I quote,
“you can have our armor, you can take our bodies, but our hearts belong to Jesus.”
Emporer licenus heard their words of defiance he condemned them to death He said take off all their armor and all their clothes and make them stand out on that frozen pond tonight until they all freeze to death.
One of them recanted His faith in Christ, but one of the soldiers who was watching them freeze to death bc they loved Jesus He stood UP TOOK OFF HIS HELMET AND SAID I BELIEVE IN JESUS!
HE TOOK OFF HIS ARMOR TOOKOFF HIS CLOTHES AND RAN OUT THERE AND SAID ILL BE NUMBER 40 ILL TAKE THAT COWARDS PLACE!
He died along with the rest of them.
the next morning they went out there and looked at their frozen bodies a few of them were twitching just a little they burned their bodies and cast their ashes in a river.
You say what a waste of life, it wasnt a waste of life!
The gospel exploded and not long after that happened Christianity was legalized just a few years later bc of the edict of Milan in 325 and what happened was this people like this walked by faith and they gave a sermon even in their death!
You know what happened with them the same thing that happened to Enoch. Enoch didnt taste physical death but Enoch walked in the arms of God.
You know what happened to those soldiers they left this Earth and they walked into the arms of God!
WHY?
BC THEY WALKED BY FAITH!
Without FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM FOR WHOEVER COMES TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE I AM THAT HE IS!
And
THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.
UHBC I PRAY THAT WE ARE IN THE SELECT GROUP THAT CHOOSES TO WALK BY FAITH.
(Let’s pray)