The Way We Walk pt 1

Ephesians 2:1–10 HCSB

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, 7 so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Intro

The way we walk.. This is gonna be a 3 parter, and your gonna have to watch for them because they are scattered in our preaching schedule, but as I was looking over the book of Ephesians, I saw this theme on our walk being used. In fact this idea is used 8 times that I had counted in the book of Ephesians. A large theme about our walk that I’d like to reflect on with you.

Walking is a biblical expression showing a believers consistent and normal progress with God.

Illustrate:

Let’s think about this just from a physical standpoint for a moment. Have you ever noticed how differently people walk. Maybe you’ve watched it in your kids. As a toddler when they first begin to walk, they fall down alot, as they get older their walk gets alittle more confident. Soon enough if you have an upstairs in your house all you can here is them running around making noise. Some people walk with a heavy step, some with a limp, some walk like they own the place, some don’t walk at all. You get my point. Our walk can differ greatly from others can’t it.

But Paul isn’t talking about our physical walk, he’s talking about our spiritual walk. Our spiritual walk can look alot like the examples I just gave, but it is clear that our walk should be much different as a follower of Christ, then it was before we knew Christ.

Ephesians 2:1–3 HCSB

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

Literally here my friends, before Christ redeemed us, we were dead men walking. We moved around or atleast thought we did, but our walk led us in a direction of death and destruction.

To walk is to walk in a direction

It’s literally impossible to walk but not in a direction. We walk to move somewhere. If I was to break up the book of Proverbs, which is a book of wisdom into two paths, or thoughts I’d have to say it’s the path of the fool, or the path of the wise.

The path of the wise is a narrow path.

Matthew 7:13 HCSB

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.

The Christian walk, walks in this direction

In contrast though, the path of the fool is broad

it’s an easy path to find, but listen, it’s a hard path to get off.

Verse 2 speaks to us of a ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens. Some translations call him the prince of the power of the air.

Who is this? The adversarial spirit is Satan friends.