4 Landmarks of the Christian Walk
Notes
Transcript
4 Landmarks of the Christian Walk
4 Landmarks of the Christian Walk
1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
2 And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.
3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
2 Kings 2:1-78
One Day Thomas Edison Came home and gave a paper to his mother. He told her, “My teacher gave this paper to me, and told me to only give it to my mother”. His mother’s eyes were tearful as she read out the letter aloud to her son : Your child is a genius. This school is too small for him and doesn’t have enough good teachers for training him. Please teach him yourself.Many years after Edison’s mother died and he was one of the greatest inventors
“My teacher gave this paper to me, and told me to only give it to my mother”.
His mother’s eyes were tearful as she read out the letter aloud to her son : Your
Many years after Edison’s mother died and he was one of the greatest inventors
child is a genius. This school is too small for him and doesn’t have enough good
teachers for training him. Please teach him yourself.
Many years after Edison’s mother died and he was one of the greatest inventors
of the century, one day he was looking through the old family things. Suddenly he saw the folded paper in the corner of the drawer in a desk. He took it and opened it up. On the paper it was written: Your son is addled (mentally ill). We won’t let him come to school any more.
saw the folded paper in the corner of the drawer in a desk. He took it and opened
it up. On the paper it was written: Your son is addled (mentally ill). We won’t let
him come to school any more.
Edison cried for hours and then wrote in his diary: “Thomas Alva Adison was an addled child that, by the hero mother, became the genius of the century”
addled child that, by the hero mother, became the genius of the century”
P.S. Thomas Alva Edison invented the electric light bulb.
Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.”
He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.”
As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied,“I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
bulb.
When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied,
“I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
Our Christian walk has numerous steps. it may seem like it's closer to 1000 or it may seem like it's closer to 500 . We may start our journey devoted to the Lord and continually and grow in the Lord walking the straight and narrow or we might need to be knocked off our donkey to get us turned in the right direction.
1. Gilgal – Separation
Phil 3:6-7
6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which
is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted
loss for Christ
There has to be a place to start. This was the base of operations when the
Israelites first entered the promised land after crossing the Jordan River. A
beginning when we separate ourselves from the world and unto God.
2. Bethel – House of God
8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ
Phil 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowl
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
This is the 2nd landmark. The first part is where did you meet God? Where was the spot and time when you came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
your special time with the Lord?
The 2nd part is going to the house of God. Spending time with fellow believers. We need to be able to set our sword and shield down and know
believers. We need to be able to set our sword and shield down and know
we are safe and be refreshed. This is where we sharpen our sword which is grow in understanding of the Word of God and draw closer to the Lord. This is also where we oil our shield. We pour the oil of Holy Spirit and our faith becomes stronger. We lean more on the Holy Spirit for comfort and wisdom. We allow ourselves to be taught.
3. Jericho – Walk by faith
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.
Phil 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is o
law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is
of God by faith:
We walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is the substance or foundation of things hoped for. Our Christian walk is a combination of faith and works.
things hoped for. Our Christian walk is a combination of faith and works.
We do not have faith because of our works, but we do works because of our faith. Our Christian walk is completely individualized. We all serve the same God through salvation in Jesus Christ. But we are not robots. Our experiences affect our perceptions and how we view the world. The Lord
our faith. Our Christian walk is completely individualized. We all serve the same God through salvation in Jesus Christ. But we are not robots. Our
experiences affect our perceptions and how we view the world. The Lord
works with each one of us in areas of our life that have been marred by sin. Each one of us have a different prescription for glasses. Part of growing
Each one of us have a different prescription for glasses. Part of growing
together as a body of Christ is fine tuning those spiritual lenses so we eventually see the same way. Through the eyes of Christ.
eventually see the same way. Through the eyes of Christ.
4. Jordan – Resurrection
10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death,
Phil 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
This is the most exciting. The Resurrection. We know that either we taste death or we will be raptured. Either way, we will be going home. This is
death or we will be raptured. Either way, we will be going home. This is
not our home. This is just a rental until Jesus has our mansion finished. Do you ever think about what your mansion looks like? I use to think a lot
you ever think about what your mansion looks like? I use to think a lot
about that. As a child, I would imagine it coated with chocolate which I could eat on for all of eternity. As I grow more and more in the Lord, I look
could eat on for all of eternity. As I grow more and more in the Lord, I look
at it completely differently and the pains experienced in this life have affected that vision. I know think of sitting at the feet of Jesus for all of
affected that vision. I know think of sitting at the feet of Jesus for all of
eternity and learning everything worth knowing. I also look forward to being united with family who have gone on before including the baby I lost.
being united with family who have gone on before including the baby I lost.
This is not our permanent body. We are just using it for a while. At the Resurrection, we will receive a heavenly body without the limitations of the
Resurrection, we will receive a heavenly body without the limitations of the
present shell we are using. Where are you at in your walk with the Lord? Are you struggling? Do you ever find yourself looking back to Gilgal and questioning your choice? No matter what you are facing, serving the Lord is the best decision you could ever make. This is where life and peace are at. This is the beginning of true wisdom.
Where are you at in your walk with the Lord? Are you struggling? Do you
7 Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood observing them at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan.
8 Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
ever find yourself looking back to Gilgal and questioning your choice? No
matter what you are facing, serving the Lord is the best decision you could
ever make.
and they two stood by the Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped
it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and
thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. Vs 7-8
Do you ever feel like there are those who are just watching you to see what will happen or if you will fail? Walk out in faith. Elijah had to have faith
will happen or if you will fail? Walk out in faith. Elijah had to have faith
before the waters parted. Action always follow our faith. He knew those other 50 prophets were only watching at a distance. He did not just touch
other 50 prophets were only watching at a distance. He did not just touch
the water with his mantle, but he hit it hard and then the miracle happened? We have to walk in faith. But we do not walk alone. We are
happened? We have to walk in faith. But we do not walk alone. We are
walking this road together holding onto the hand of our Lord. He has never failed me yet.
failed me yet.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us. For I am persuaded, that
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.