Together we can walk in the truth
Discipleship it's for me and for you • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsAim: Looking at walking in the truth as a disciple of Jesus Christ
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“Walking in the Truth”
“Walking in the Truth”
Discipleship, that is what this series is all about as we continue in the next installment of this series, walking in the truth.
Previously:
Together we can be disciples and make disciples
Discipleship was always the intentions of God; Discipleship is commanded; and if honest discipleship is lacking these days.
Together we may define, describe disciples
Discipleship is more than just being a follower of Jesus; it is being an adherent of Jesus
Together we can be free in the truth to be a disciple not just a fan.
It was pointed out that there are many fans, but God calls us to be more than a fan, to be free in Him by Him and for Him to be a true disciple to be a true follower of Jesus.
Together we are responsible for the truth
Discipleship is accepting responsibility for the truth. For God’s word in you for God’s work through you.
(Transition) - Discipleship is transforming, to be like Christ. It is evident by your life. Evident by your holiness, for we are called to be holy.
God calls for us to be holy (Lev11:44; 1Pt1:14-16)
To walk in the truth, is to walk in holiness
44 ‘For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth.
To walk in the truth is to consecrate, to set yourself a part, a part to be holy.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Walking in the truth is a decision on direction and direction as dictated through the Word of God which is truth (see Jn17:17 and Ps119:160)
160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.
And add what Jesus said to the disciples
17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
Tonight we are looking at together, you and I, can walk in the truth, in the truth of God’s word.
Our focal passage is 1Kn2:4
4 so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
In 1Kn2:4 He says to be careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth!
Now I would not be doing right just to use that verse, have to bring in the context.
1 As David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.
3 “Keep the charge of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 so that the Lord may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
One thing is evident in this passage, walking in the truth takes commitment, it takes knowledge and it is evident.
There was a quote I read when it comes to holiness, but I think it displays commitment too. It is from Jeff Bridges in his book on “Pursuit of Holiness.”
“Holiness is not a series of do’s and don’ts but conformity to the will of God”
Walking in the truth is walking in holiness
Walking in the truth is walking in obedience
Walking in the truth, walking in holiness, in obedience is what God desires and it is not a one day, one time thing, walking in the truth is to be a daily thing, state of being, being conformed to the image of the Jesus (see Rom8:29)
Why walk in the truth?
Why walk in the truth?
Scripture is clear on the who, what, why, where, how on many topics and this is one of those clear topics. May we explore together some of these answers?
We will get to the how in a few minutes, first lets look at the who, where where and the why.
Why walk in the truth, because the command to do it (Deu5:33)
33 “You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.
The instruction is to do it, the reason is that it is a command, it is a command with a promise. So it will be well with you and may prolong your days
12 “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?
Command to obey, the why, further defined (Deu10:12-13; Mk12:30-31)
Obey in fear of the Lord your God, reverence!
Obey by walking in his ways and love Him, not only love Him but serve Him
Jesus said it like that, since we are no longer under the law, but the royal law which is love
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 “The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The spirit of the law is alive and well today in the heart of the one who walks in the truth.
(Transition) so we have the command, the why, maybe give another thing to consider
Why, the truth is the truth and don’t exchange it (Rom1:20-25)
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
How did they do that you ask? Glad you asked
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
God has made the truth known, made the truth evident, man traded it for lies, to the point God gave them over!
So, the who is YOU, it is ME it is US, it is commanded so there is the why. The What the truth we have not looked at and the how we have not looked at yet.
Know the truth to walk in it
Know the truth to walk in it
Definitions and instructions are needed for application. We are now at the point of looking at truth, that which we are to walk in together.
Jesus defines truth (Jn14:6)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Only one way into heaven, it is through the truth and Jesus is the truth.
The Psalms sums up truth (Ps119:160)
160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.
I know we used that one before, but it fits here too. and the Word is true, the word is truth and it is everlasting.
Knowing truth demands knowing and believing truth (Jn8:31-32, 18:37)
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
add to that
37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Jesus testifies of the truth, testifies of Himself and calls for others who believe to hear the truth. And as mentioned last week when you have the truth you are responsible or the truth.
Walking in the truth
Walking in the truth
Who? you, me; What? Truth; Why: Commanded: Where? Everywhere in everything as you will see and the how to, too.
Walking in the truth is walking in the Light (1Jn1:7)
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
So it is walking as Jesus walked, in the Light
Walking in the truth is walking as He did (1Jn2:6)
6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
Walking in the truth is walking in a manner that is pleasing to God and walking honestly (1The4:1-12)
The passage is long but I want to pull a few verse out of it, you can read it all in its context which is all about Christian living, living and walking in the truth.
1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
Walk in a manner to please God
For God called us to holiness
7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
God called for us to love one another
9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
Not only told to walk in love for the brethren, to walk in truth He teaches how to do it!
He describes it
11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
A quiet life, minding your own business working with your own hands so that you walk properly and lack nothing!
Walking in the truth, is speaking truth (Eph4:25)
25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
Walking in truth is walking in love (Eph5:1-15)
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
You can read all the passage for further detailed instructions in walking in love which is walking in the truth, well maybe a couple more on walking from this passage.
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
Walk at children of light
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
Walk in wisdom, be careful how you walk!
Some more passages to consider about application of the truth, walking in the truth:
Walk in your actions with a grateful and thankful heart (Eph5:19-20; Col3:17)
Walk with wise words giving grace, that are also kind and forgiving (Eph4:29, 4:32)
Walk to prove yourself to be blameless (Php2:14-15)
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
Walking in the truth is burden sharing and burden bearing (Gal6:1-2)
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
Walking in truth is being fruit of the Spirit (Gal5:22-23)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
To walk in the truth it is evident. walking in the truth is being transformed, it is taking on the characteristics of the teacher as a disciple, we are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ who are being transformed by seeking the truth through the Word so to walk in holiness.
(invitation slide- walk in the truth) invitation (Song) (Prayer)