The Christian Walk: Lesson 8 : Definitions

Noel Merrick

Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

0 ratings

· 17 views

Notes

Transcript

The Christian Walk: Lesson 8: Definitions

What Does “Walk” Mean?

I. Your walk describes your conduct.

A. When Bible writers tell believers how to “walk,” they are telling us how to live or conduct our behavior (thoughts, words, and deeds).

The Christian walk is the Christian life or lifestyle, the believer’s direction or orientation in life. Behavior stems from belief, and the NT writers repeatedly tell us that correct belief ought to produce correct behavior.

B. The word “walk” suggests continuation and persistence.

The believer is not standing or sitting; he’s walking.

The verb translated “walk” is often used in the present tense in the original language of the Bible, suggesting a continued mode of conduct or behavior.

The Christian walk describes an ongoing, normal pattern of life.

C. The Christian walk is an aspect of sanctification, that is, growth in godliness (cf. 2 Pet 3:18).

2 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The growing, faithful Christian will strive to walk (live) in a way that is pleasing to God.

Believers should desire to “walk humbly with [their] God” (Mic 6:8).

Micah 6:8 KJV 1900

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?

Note the Quote: God has ever been interested in the walk of His saints, desiring that His own character might be reflected in them, and that they might in this way be for His pleasure and glory while passing through the world.

To Abraham God said, “I am the Almighty God: walk before my face, and be perfect” (Gen. 17: 1). …

Genesis 17:1 KJV 1900

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.

Abraham’s life was to be in accord with the revelation that God was pleased to make of Himself to him, and nothing was to be seen in his walk that would be inconsistent with this revelation.

II. Your walk describes the quality of your spiritual life, your “walk with the Lord.”

A. To walk with God describes salvation.

Those who walk in close communion with the Lord experience wonderful blessings. Examples:

1. Enoch walked with God and “God took him” (Gen 5:24).

The implication is that Enoch knew the Lord very closely, walking with Him in fellowship and obedience, and God translated him directly into heaven.

Enoch’s remarkable experience was both a testimony of his deep faith in God (see Heb. 11:5, 6) and a strong reminder at the beginning of biblical history that there is life in God’s presence after death for the people of God.

2. Moses describes Noah as just and perfect among his generation.

Summing up Noah’s spiritual condition, the author says, “Noah walked with God” (Gen 6:9).

Genesis 6:9 KJV 1900

9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

In other words, to walk with God amounts to knowing God or being rightly related to God and enjoying close harmony and fellowship with Him.

3. When God appeared to Abraham, He said, “I am Almighty God; walk before me , and be thou perfect” (Gen 17:1).

Genesis 17:1 KJV 1900

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.

Later, Abraham described himself in the following terms: “The Lord, before whom I walk…” (Gen 24:40).

Genesis 24:40 KJV 1900

40 And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:

Jacob stated that Abraham and Isaac walked before God (Gen 48:15).

Genesis 48:15 KJV 1900

15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

David walked before the Lord by observing (walking in) God’s law (2 Chron 6:16).

2 Chronicles 6:16 KJV 1900

16 Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

The psalmist’s desire was to “walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps 116:9).

Psalm 116:9 KJV 1900

9 I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living.

To walk “before the Lord” implies living in God’s presence, under his guidance, and with his approval.

4. Christians should strive to walk “after” the Lord and to walk “in” his ways.

Deuteronomy 13:4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.

Deuteronomy 13:4 KJV 1900

4 Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Joshua 22:5 But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Joshua 22:5 KJV 1900

5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Jeremiah 7:23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’

Jeremiah 7:23 KJV 1900

23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

5. God sometimes describes himself as walking with or among his people (e.g., Lev 26:12; Deut 23;14; 2 Sam 7:7).

Leviticus 26:12 KJV 1900

12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Deuteronomy 23 KJV 1900

1 He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. 2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord. 3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever: 4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee. 5 Nevertheless the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the Lord thy God loved thee. 6 Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever. 7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land. 8 The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the Lord in their third generation. 9 When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. 10 If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp: 11 But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again. 12 Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad: 13 And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee: 14 For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee. 15 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: 16 He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him. 17 There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. 18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the Lord thy God. 19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: 20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it. 21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee. 22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. 23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. 24 When thou comest into thy neighbour’s vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel. 25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour’s standing corn.

Deuteronomy 14 KJV 1900

1 Ye are the children of the Lord your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. 3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. 4 These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, 5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois. 6 And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat. 7 Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. 8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. 9 These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: 10 And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. 11 Of all clean birds ye shall eat. 12 But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 13 And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, 14 And every raven after his kind, 15 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 16 The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, 17 And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, 18 And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 19 And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten. 20 But of all clean fowls ye may eat. 21 Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk. 22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23 And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. 24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: 25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: 26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, 27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee. 28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: 29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

2 Samuel 7:7 KJV 1900

7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

God’s desire is to dwell among his people and “walk in them” (2 Cor 6:16). Christ promises to walk with his worthy people “in white” (Rev 3:4), referring to fellowship in heaven.

2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV 1900

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Revelation 3:4 KJV 1900

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

6. So it seems to follow that God’s people walk with God. To walk with God implies a saved (regenerate) spiritual condition.

To walk with God amounts to fearing him, obeying him, serving him, and holding fast to him.

B. To walk with God describes the quality of your relationship with God.

1. The prophet Amos asked, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

Amos 3:3 KJV 1900

3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Of course, the answer is “no, they can’t.” Walking together implies agreement, fellowship, and relationship. Cf. Prov 13:20.

Proverbs 13:20 KJV 1900

20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: But a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

2. We might describe the quality of our spiritual condition in terms of how closely we are walking with God.

Our walk with God may be very close and personal, or it may be quite cold and distant.

The believer may be walking closely by the Lord’s side, as it were, or far behind or ahead of him. Every genuine believer walks with God, but experience varies regarding how close to God we are walking.

C. Behavior and spiritual condition are closely related; thus, the Christian “walk” describes both spiritual life and daily conduct.

III. Your walk should be consistent.

A. Biblical writers frequently contrast the walk of the individual before coming to faith and after.

1. OT: God expected the Jews to live differently from their pagan past and from their pagan neighbors. Cf. Deut 8:19; 2 Kings 17:8

Deuteronomy 8:19 KJV 1900

19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

2 Kings 17:8 KJV 1900

8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

2. NT: The walk of the “old man” is significantly different from that of the “new man” (Eph 4:22-24; 1 Pet 4:3-4).

Ephesians 4:22–24 KJV 1900

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

1 Peter 4:3–4 KJV 1900

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

Regeneration is the decisive factor in how one walks in this world. It’s only after the experience of salvation that one begins to walk with the Lord.

Those crucified and raised with Christ by faith must “walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4). See Col 3:5-10.

Romans 6:4 KJV 1900

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 3:5–10 KJV 1900

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

B. Unfortunately, some who claim to hold Christian belief deny it by their unchristian behavior—their ungodly walk (cf. Titus 1:15-16; 1 John 3:17, 4:20).

Titus 1:15–16 KJV 1900

15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

1 John 3:17 KJV 1900

17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 4:20 KJV 1900

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

One’s walk may contradict his talk. When that is the case, one’s profession of faith either comes into question or proves to be invalid.

The Christian Walk: Lesson 8

Part 1: How Not to Walk

We’ll begin our study of the Christian walk with an examination of how not to walk.

The Bible tells us both how to live and how not to live.

We’ll start with the negative first—how not to walk as a Christian.

The Bible presents many examples and admonitions to avoid walking in certain ways.

1.Do Not Walk in the Way of the Ungodly

Texts: Lev 18:3, 20:23; 1 Kings 16:31; 2 Chron 28:2; Ps 1:1; Prov 1:10-15; Isa 8:11; Ezek 11:12 Principles

Leviticus 18:3 KJV 1900

3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

Leviticus 20:23 KJV 1900

23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.

1 Kings 16:31 KJV 1900

31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

2 Chronicles 28:2 KJV 1900

2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.

Psalm 1:1 KJV 1900

1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Proverbs 1:10–15 KJV 1900

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not. 11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; And whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; Let us all have one purse: 15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:

Isaiah 8:11 KJV 1900

11 For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, And instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,

Ezekiel 11:12 KJV 1900

12 And ye shall know that I am the Lord: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.

A significant difference should exist between the walk of the Christian and the walk of the surrounding pagans.

Christians are not supposed to imitate the lifestyle of the wicked.

Believers must not adopt or adapt to the “statutes” or rules of living the heathen follow.

God abhors the corrupt behavior of the wicked, and we should, too.

Jeremiah 10:2 KJV 1900

2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, And be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; For the heathen are dismayed at them.

Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way [lit. “path, road; i.e., manner of life] of the heathen …

It is not a trivial thing to live like the pagans. God hates idolatry, which is what Jeroboam promoted in Israel.

The idols of the heathen should hold no attraction for us. Cf. 2 Cor 6:14-18

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 KJV 1900

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The person who wants God’s blessing must reject the lifestyle of the wicked. He does not go to them for advice, participate with them in their sinful activities, or become like them in their attitude.

Those who accept the counsel of the wicked eventually start living like them and end up being one of them.

This is the danger of trying to adapt secular thinking into a biblical/Christian worldview (cf. how evolutionary and psychological ideas slowly creep into Christian thinking).

Conformity to the wicked world leads to corruption (cf. 1 Cor 15:33).

1 Corinthians 15:33 KJV 1900

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Christians must not yield to the enticements that the wicked use to entrap the unwary. Wickedness may look appealing, but the Christian must keep his foot from that path.

Those who follow the wicked into their sin will find that “the way of transgressors is hard” (Prov 13:15).

Proverbs 13:15 KJV 1900

15 Good understanding giveth favour: But the way of transgressors is hard.

The ungodly world seeks to conform everyone to its own viewpoint and lifestyle.

As our society becomes increasingly pagan/heathen, we must progressively distance ourselves from its evil influence and refuse to be forced into its mold (cf. Rom 12:2).

Romans 12:2 KJV 1900

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Our delight should be in the law of the Lord (Ps 1:2), not in the lifestyles of the rich and famous (and wicked).

Psalm 1:2 KJV 1900

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Question: Are we advocating Christian isolationism or a fortress mentality where we separate ourselves completely from unbelievers?

No, we are to be separate from sin yet still be salt and light, in the world but not of the world. We have to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, holding forth the word of life (Phil 2:15-16).

Philippians 2:15–16 KJV 1900

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Jesus never avoided contact with sinners and neither should we. However, we must not allow the ungodly to influence us for evil.

2.Do Not Walk in Darkness

Texts: Ps 82:5; Prov 2:13; Ecc 2:14; John 8:12, 11:10; 1 John 1:6; 2:11 Principles

Psalm 82:5 KJV 1900

5 They know not, neither will they understand; They walk on in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are out of course.

Proverbs 2:13 KJV 1900

13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;

Ecclesiastes 2:14 KJV 1900

14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

John 8:12 KJV 1900

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 11:10 KJV 1900

10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

1 John 1:6 KJV 1900

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1 John 2:11 KJV 1900

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Darkness in the Bible is a metaphor representing sin, corruption, and falsehood.

Light, of course, signifies truth, godliness, and the presence of spiritual life.

Darkness is the absence of light and the opposite of light.To “walk in the light” implies living in fellowship with God (i.e., spiritual life [regeneration]), leading a godly life, seeking to follow Christ, and living righteously.

To “walk in darkness/night” implies living in sin and/or believing error (i.e., failure to walk in light and truth).

Rejecting the truth leads to accepting falsehood.

Those walking in darkness do not understand; their eyes are blind and they fail to see reality.

Walking in darkness results in “stumbling” (John 11:10), i.e., error, falsehood, and destruction.

John 11:10 KJV 1900

10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

Essentially, walking in darkness implies spiritual death (“no light”) because of rejecting the light of the world, Jesus Christ (cf. John 3:19-20).

John 3:19–20 KJV 1900

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Paul affirms that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not” (2 Cor 4:4).

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV 1900

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

“Our adversary, the devil” (1 Pet 5:8) is doing everything he can to keep unbelievers shrouded in the darkness of sin and enslaved to sin (Rom 6:16).

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Romans 6:16 KJV 1900

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Unbelievers walk in darkness because they are ignorant and deceived.Those professing faith in Christ, yet habitually walking in darkness, are deceived and do not possess genuine salvation. The biblical expectation for believers is that they walk in the light (1 John 1:5f) and produce good fruit (Mt 7:17).

1 John 1:5f KJV 1900

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Matthew 7:17 KJV 1900

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

If one continues to live like an unbeliever (i.e., in darkness), he is not converted, no matter what he may profess about Jesus.

Those professing Christ must not live like unbelievers.

The darkness of sin, ignorance, and error must not characterize the life of a Christian.

John mentions the particular sin of hating one’s brother (1 John 2:11) as an evidence of walking in darkness (i.e., spiritual death).

1 John 2:11 KJV 1900

11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Hatred for others is incompatible with genuine Christianity.

A lifestyle of unrepentant, habitual sin denies “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ” ( 2 Cor 4:4).

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV 1900

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

3. Do Not Walk After The Flesh

Texts: Deut 29:19; Job 31:7; Ps 81:12;Isa 65:2;Jer 7:24, 13:10,18:12; Rom. 8:1, 4; 1 Cor 3:3; 2 Cor 5:7; 2 Pet 2:10, 3:3; Jude 16, 18 Principles

Do not walk according to the sinful inclinations of the flesh.

a)The “flesh” in the Bible can signify the natural human body, but in many cases, the reference is to the sinful human nature, i.e., “unredeemed humanness.

”[1] The flesh is the nature of humankind, apart from the supernatural influences of the Holy Spirit.

[2] Walking according to the flesh, then, means allowing one’s corrupt, selfish, unredeemed human appetites to control his behavior.

Living according to the flesh signifies an immoral lifestyle (often with connotations of sexual sin).

b) Paul lists the “works of the flesh” in Gal 5:19-21 and describes what it means to live according to the flesh in Rom 8:4-6, 12-13. No one habitually living according to these descriptions is saved.

Galatians 5:19–21 KJV 1900

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 8:4–6 KJV 1900

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:12–13 KJV 1900

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

c) Is it possible for a Christian to live according to the flesh?

In certain ways, yes, at least temporarily.

Scriptural admonitions not to live according to the flesh would be meaningless otherwise.

Anytime we behave according to the lusts of the “old man” instead of the godly inclinations of the “new man” (Eph 4:22-24), we are walking according to the flesh.

Ephesians 4:22–24 KJV 1900

If we persist in living according to the flesh, it proves that our salvation is invalid (cf. Rom 8:7-9).

Romans 8:7–9 KJV 1900

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Note: Some conceive of three categories of human existence:[3]

1) Unbelievers are “natural,” i.e., without spiritual life;

2) New believers or immature believers are “carnal”;

3) Mature believers are “spiritual.” Those living in carnality have never matured as Christians and should not be held to the same standards as those who have become “spiritual.”

They continue to live much like the surrounding pagan world, yet they should be thought of as genuine believers.

In reality, only two divisions exist among people.

Men are saved or lost, sheep or goats, wheat or tares, light or darkness, etc.

The true division is between spiritual man (saved) and natural man (unsaved).

To describe a group of bickering, bitter Christians as “carnal” is not to establish a new sub-category of Christian existence.

Christians may behave like unbelievers in certain cases, and for that they deserve sharp rebuke.

But we should not see “carnal” as a label excusing Christians from biblical standards.

By describing believers as “carnal,” Paul is using strong language to force his readers to face up to the inherent inconsistency of their position.

They have the Spirit, but at this junction they are neither thinking nor acting as if they do.[4]

We certainly acknowledge that among believers, some are “babes” while others are spiritually mature in the faith.

We expect to see different degrees of progress in believers’ Christian experience (i.e., their walk).

But those living a habitually ungodly lifestyle must not excuse themselves with the thought that they are merely carnal Christians.

If someone exhibits no evidence of regeneration, his condition is not “carnal,” it is “natural,” i.e., unsaved.

d) Walking “after the flesh” is contrasted in the Bible with walking “in/after the Spirit” (cf. Rom 8:4).

Romans 8:4 KJV 1900

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

You can’t do both. You either follow your own depraved heart or follow the Holy Spirit.

Christians strive to bring greater areas of their lives under the Spirit’s control and to give in less frequently to the lust of the flesh.

3. Do not follow your corrupt heart.

a) The biblical writers describe this error as walking after the imagination of your own heart, walking in your own counsels, walking in your own thoughts, and walking after your own devices. In each case, the error is following the counsels of your own mind (rationalism) without considering God’s instructions.

b) What’s wrong with following your own heart? Jeremiah tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (i.e., terminally ill, Jer 17:9).

Jeremiah 17:9 KJV 1900

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

The psalmist concludes, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Pr 28:26).

Proverbs 28:26 KJV 1900

26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

One sign of a lost spiritual condition is the determination to go one’s own way like a dim-witted sheep (cf . Isa 53:6).

Isaiah 53:6 KJV 1900

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

c) When one refuses to “retain God” in his knowledge, God in response gives him over to a reprobate mind (Rom 1:28).

Romans 1:28 KJV 1900

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

The natural inclination of a mind darkened by sin is to reject the Gospel as foolishness (1 Cor 1:18-21).

1 Corinthians 1:18–21 KJV 1900

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

d) Following your own way amounts to rejecting the way of the Lord.

One listens either to God or to the counsels of one’s own heart.

One’s own way is the wide road that leads to destruction (Mt 7:13f).

Matthew 7:13f KJV 1900

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Believers are those who have left their own way, entered the narrow gate, and now walk along the narrow way that leads to life. Cf. Prov 3:5-6.

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

e) The Christian’s duty is to bring every thought under submission to the Lordship of Christ (2 Cor 10:5).

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV 1900

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The corrupt human heart will lead us astray. Our primary source of truth and wisdom is God’s Word.

4. Do not walk by sight.

a) Don’t judge by external human senses alone.

Our senses may give us an accurate picture of the physical world, but they cannot perceive spiritual things.

Spiritual things are “spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14).

1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV 1900

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Our physical senses/feelings give us little insight into the invisible and eternal realm.

Instead of trusting in our own senses or powers of discernment, we are to submit ourselves to Christ and his word.

b) Don’t judge by outward appearances.

Man naturally looks at the outward appearance (cf. 1 Sam 16:7; 2 Cor 10:7), but looks can be deceiving.

1 Samuel 16:7 KJV 1900

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

2 Corinthians 10:7 KJV 1900

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

Satan himself may appear as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14).

2 Corinthians 11:14 KJV 1900

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

External appearance (grace, beauty) is far less important than inner character (cf. Prov 31:30).

c) Don’t be materialistic.

Walking by sight amounts to following the “lust of the eyes” (1 John 2:16).

1 John 2:16 KJV 1900

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Many things appeal to our sight, and many people pursue such things. The objects we can see often deceive us and provide no lasting satisfaction.

d) Don’t focus on the things of this world.

Instead of loving the world and the things of it, we must focus on eternal realities, the “things above” (Col 3:1-3).

Colossians 3:1–3 KJV 1900

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

The Christian Walk: Lesson 8 How Not to Walk cont

The Christian Walk: Lesson 8 Part 1: How Not to Walk Continued section 2

5. Do Not Walk Contrary to God

Texts: Lev 26:21, 23, 27, 40; Ps 78:10; Ezek 20:16; Gal 2:14; Phil 3:17-19 Principles

Leviticus 26:21 KJV 1900

21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

Leviticus 26:23 KJV 1900

23 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;

Leviticus 26:27 KJV 1900

27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;

Leviticus 26:40 KJV 1900

40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;

Psalm 78:10 KJV 1900

10 They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law;

Ezekiel 20:16 KJV 1900

16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

Galatians 2:14 KJV 1900

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Philippians 3:17–19 KJV 1900

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Walking contrary to God amounts to flagrant disobedience to God’s commands as found in his word.

The term “contrary” implies not merely passive neglect of God and his word, but active opposition, resistance, and refusal.

One walking contrary to God is hostile to the things of God; he’s an active opponent of God

. Walking contrary to God implies a stubborn refusal to obey God’s law.

Even believers can be guilty of failure to walk “uprightly according to the truth of the gospel” (Gal 2:14).

Galatians 2:14 KJV 1900

Paul had to rebuke Peter over his hypocrisy in this case.

The words “walk uprightly” (KJV) is a single word in the original language (used only once in the NT) which means “walk in a straight course; i.e., to act uprightly.”

Paul discerned that Peter’s conduct was not proper or honest.

It contradicted “the truth of the gospel” and thus opposed it.

Christian behavior must be consistent with the gospel and sound doctrine (cf. Titus 2:1).

Titus 2:1 KJV 1900

1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Paul describes “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil 3:18-19) with the following expressions.

Philippians 3:18–19 KJV 1900

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

a) “whose end is destruction” – They are on the highway to hell.

b) “whose god is their belly” – Their highest desire is to satisfy their own corrupt, evil desires.

c) “whose glory is their shame” – Instead of being ashamed of their wicked behavior, they glory in it (much like today’s media stars; cf. Rom 1:32).

Romans 1:32 KJV 1900

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

d) “who mind earthly things” – Their focus and attention is on the physical instead of the spiritual.

Many are secularists or even atheists. Obviously, these descriptions fit the unsaved crowd, those who are on the broad road leading to destruction.

The Christian walk contains none of these anti-Christian lifestyle choices.

Any professing Christian who walks in opposition to God brings his spiritual state into question.

Christians ought to be obedient to God and strive to promote God’s cause in the world, not stand in opposition to it.

6. Do Not Walk According to the Course of This World

Text: Eph 2:2

Ephesians 2:2 KJV 1900

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Principles

Prior to salvation, unbelievers live in harmony with the unsaved world in its opposition to God.

Unbelievers feel perfectly comfortable in an environment of alienation from and opposition to God (cf. Rom 1:22f).

Romans 1:22f KJV 1900

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

The word “course” (KJV) is literally “age,” and describes the world viewed from the standpoint of time and change.

[1] The “course” of this world is the spirit or sensibilities of this corrupt world.

Paul asserts that “God has made foolish the wisdom of this world” (1 Cor 1:20).

1 Corinthians 1:20 KJV 1900

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

The “world” is that evil system of secular society set up in opposition to God, i.e., the wicked, ungodly world under satanic control.

The world represents all that is opposed to God and his children.

The world, the flesh, and the devil are our sworn enemies.

They seek to entrap us, tempt us, and divert us from the right path.Pagans behave in accordance with the spirit of this wicked world because they are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1),

Ephesians 2:1 KJV 1900

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

children of wrath, and without God.

This is perfectly reasonable; unsaved people behave like unsaved people.

They walk “in” trespasses and sin.Clearly, walking according to the course of this world describes the lifestyles of spiritually dead, hopeless, Godless, lust-filled pagans.

Those walking this way fully embrace the spirit of the wicked world in its opposition to God.

For Christians to walk in this way would amount to treason against their Lord and repudiation of the Gospel.

Unfortunately, many professing Christians today seem to find the course of this world very attractive.

Instead of rebuking the world for its “unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph 5:11), worldly Christians adopt many of the practices their pagan neighbors enjoy.

Ephesians 5:11 KJV 1900

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

They may even attempt to bring elements of this evil world into the church and into their families, much to their shame and eternal regret.

7.Do Not Walk According to the Prince of the Power of the Air

Texts: Deut 8:19; 1 Kings 11:33; Jer 7:6, 9, 8:2, 13:10; Ezek 11:21, 20:16; Eph 2:1-2

Deuteronomy 8:19 KJV 1900

19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

1 Kings 11:33 KJV 1900

33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

Jeremiah 7:6 KJV 1900

6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

Jeremiah 7:9 KJV 1900

9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;

Jeremiah 8:2 KJV 1900

2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.

Jeremiah 13:10 KJV 1900

10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

Ezekiel 11:21 KJV 1900

21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel 20:16 KJV 1900

16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

Ephesians 2:1–2 KJV 1900

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Principles

Forsake satanic false gods.

a) To “walk after other gods” is to recognize them as legitimate, to serve them, love them, seek them, or worship them.

The Israelites were constantly tempted to “forget the Lord [their] God” (Deut 8:19) and walk after the local pagan deities—Baal, Ashtoreth, Chemosh, Milcom/Moloch, etc.

Deuteronomy 8:19 KJV 1900

19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.

Besides the local false gods, some of the Israelites took up worship of the sun, moon, and stars.

People who turn from the true God to serve idols are evil and good for nothing (cf. Ps 135:15-18).

Psalm 135:15–18 KJV 1900

15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. 16 They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not; 17 They have ears, but they hear not; Neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18 They that make them are like unto them: So is every one that trusteth in them.

b) Walking after false gods is incompatible with serving the true and living God (Ex 20:3-5).

Exodus 20:3–5 KJV 1900

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

You must forsake the true God to walk after false gods.

God will not share his glory with anyone else (Isa 42:8).

Isaiah 42:8 KJV 1900

8 I am the Lord: that is my name: And my glory will I not give to another, Neither my praise to graven images.

c) Walking after other gods always results in “hurt” (Jer 7:6).

Jeremiah 7:6 KJV 1900

6 If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:

God will recompense idolaters for their evil deeds.

The history of Israel testifies to this fact.

d) Walking after other gods is often mentioned in conjunction with other heinous sins like theft, murder, adultery, and lying.

The false religions of the heathen permitted all manner of wicked behavior for their adherents.

e) Can a Christian forsake the true God and worship false Gods?

Strictly speaking, no, he cannot. To apostatize in this way indicates that one was never genuinely saved in the first place.

However, Christians may walk after false “gods” like money, popularity, career, sports, recreation, and the like.

Anything that usurps the place of God in one’s life may be considered an “idol of the heart” (cf. Ezek 14:3-4; 1 John 5:21).

Ezekiel 14:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? 4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

1 John 5:21 KJV 1900

21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

We must be very careful that our hearts are not drawn away toward idols, whatever they may be (cf. Ezek 20:16).

Ezekiel 20:16 KJV 1900

16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

Forsake Satan, “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2).

Ephesians 2:2 KJV 1900

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

a) Ultimately, those walking after false gods are following Satan (cf. 1 Cor 10:20-21).

1 Corinthians 10:20–21 KJV 1900

20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

Prior to salvation, those dead in trespasses and sin live according their father, the devil (cf. John 8:44).

John 8:44 KJV 1900

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

All those disobedient to the Gospel are ensnared in the trap of the devil and are held captive by him to do his will (2 Tim 2:26).

2 Timothy 2:26 KJV 1900

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

b) The only means of rescue from Satan and his way is regeneration, the quickening wrought by the Holy Spirit upon believers in Christ.

Once a person is saved, he can no longer walk according to the spirit of the world or according to the world’s “prince.”

c) Christians must “put on the whole armor of God” to withstand the wiles of the devil and his associates (Eph 6:11f).

Ephesians 6:11f KJV 1900

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We must “wrestle” against such spiritual opponents and employ all the resources of the Christian life to overcome them.

The Christian Walk: Lesson 8 How Not to Walk Part 1 cont

Disorder is forsaking the apostolic tradition taught to the churches.

Christians are to behave themselves properly in God’s house, the church, “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15).

1 Timothy 3:15 KJV 1900

15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

The church in particular should be characterized by good order—”Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:40).

1 Corinthians 14:40 KJV 1900

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Disorder is departing from the rule of life as given in the Bible.

The apostles and their contemporaries exemplified a pattern of Christian living that we should emulate (Phil 3:17).

Philippians 3:17 KJV 1900

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Paul specifically mentions idleness and gossip as evidence of a disorderly lifestyle.

The Christian Walk: Lesson 8 Part 1: How Not to Walk Continued 8. Do not Walk in Vanity/Foolishness

Texts: Job 31:5; Ps 39:6; Jer 2:5, 8; Eph 4:17, 5:15

Job 31:5 KJV 1900

5 If I have walked with vanity, Or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

Psalm 39:6 KJV 1900

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Jeremiah 2:5 KJV 1900

5 Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

Jeremiah 2:8 KJV 1900

8 The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

Ephesians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Ephesians 5:15 KJV 1900

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Principles:

Avoid the emptiness and futility of the false religion.

People who walk after vanity become vain (Jer 2:5).

Jeremiah 2:5 KJV 1900

5 Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?

Vanity in this case is literally “breath, vapor,” but figuratively refers to anything empty or useless.

Jeremiah records God’s thoughts about the vain, profitless idols and false gods of the heathen.

The people had “gone far” from the Lord by adopting the idolatrous worship practices of the heathen.

Those worshipping false gods become like them—useless and stupid (cf. Ps 135:15-18).

Psalm 135:15–18 KJV 1900

Christianity has nothing in common with the falsehood and error of counterfeit religion, and Christians must “come out from among them” and separate from such unclean things (2 Cor 6:14-17).

2 Corinthians 6:14–17 KJV 1900

Avoid the foolishness of secular human thought.

a) The word “vanity” in the NT means “emptiness, futility.”

Paul is referring to emptiness and futility of thought so common among the “Gentiles,” i.e., the unsaved.

Whatever unbelievers think and do ultimately ends in futility and disappointment.

From God’s point of view, whatever the unbeliever’s mind/intellect conceives is worthless.

Peter uses the same word when describing false teachers who speak “great swelling words of emptiness” (2 Pet 2:18).

2 Peter 2:18 KJV 1900

18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

Unbelieving Gentiles failed to attain the true purpose of the mind, namely, to receive God’s revelation which would guide them in their conduct.[1]

Instead of thinking God’s thoughts after Him, unbelievers fill their minds with worthless, meaningless, foolish thoughts.

b) Paul describes what the futility of the unbelieving mind looks like (Eph 4:18-19): (1) Having their understanding darkened—both intellect and emotions are corrupted by sin.

Ephesians 4:18–19 KJV 1900

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

(2) Being alienated from the life of God—they have no spiritual life due to their separation from God.

(3) Ignorance and blindness of heart—they do not know and do not see (cf. 1 Cor 1:18f).

1 Corinthians 1:18f KJV 1900

(4) Hardening of heart—a medical term signifying callous hardening (cf. John 12:40; 1 Tim 4:2)

John 12:40 KJV 1900

40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

1 Timothy 4:2 KJV 1900

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

(5) Given over to lewdness, uncleanness, and greed—voluntarily yielded themselves up to the power of their own sensuality and lasciviousness, so as to be commanded by it, without resisting it.[2] Quote: Indulgence in vice destroys the intellect as well as the body, and unfits a man to appreciate the truth of a proposition in morals, or in mathematics, or the beauty of a poem, as well as the truth and beauty of religion.[3]

c) The unwise are those who, having no insight into things that pertain to God and salvation, are not aiming to reach the highest goal and therefore do not know and do not even care to know what are the best means to reach it.

They consider as very important what is in reality of less value or may even be harmful, and they do not appreciate what is indispensable.

They conduct themselves as follows.[4]

d) The NT repeatedly warns believers not to adopt the philosophies and vain traditions of unbelievers (cf. Rom 1:21-22; 1 Cor 1:19-20; Eph 5:6; Col 2:8, 18).

Romans 1:21–22 KJV 1900

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

1 Corinthians 1:19–20 KJV 1900

19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

Ephesians 5:6 KJV 1900

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Colossians 2:8 KJV 1900

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Colossians 2:18 KJV 1900

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

The wisdom of unsaved man is empty foolishness compared to the wisdom of God.

Believers must reject any man-made philosophy or rule that contradicts God’s word (cf. Acts 5:29; 1 Cor 1:20, 3:19).

Acts 5:29 KJV 1900

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

1 Corinthians 1:20 KJV 1900

20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1 Corinthians 3:19 KJV 1900

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

Note:

Christians are frequently guilty of seeking approval from the unsaved crowd.

They seem to be about the recognition and respect from mainstream society (i.e., media, politicians, entertainers, educators).

They try to merge Christian thought with secular philosophies.

This is exceedingly dangerous and unbiblical.

Gaining approval and recognition from the unsaved world is not a biblical value; far from it.

We should have no interest in gaining appreciation or support from those who hate God.

In fact, when a professing Christian gains worldly approval, he has made himself an enemy of God (James 4:4).

James 4:4 KJV 1900

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Beware of following any Christian leader who gains approval or respect from the unsaved world. e) Theologians refer to the negative consequence sin has upon the mind as the noetic effects of sin (based on the Greek word for mind, nous).

The carnal (fleshly, i.e., unsaved) mind is hostile to God and refuses to subject itself to the law of God (Rom 8:5-8).

Romans 8:5–8 KJV 1900

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

The result is blindness to the truth and foolishness of thought.

Regeneration reduces some of the noetic effects of sin, yet the believer still must strive to bring his thoughts under the Lordship of Christ (cf. 2 Cor 10:5).

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV 1900

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Avoid the externalism and superficiality characteristic of the unsaved world.

a) To “walk in a vain show” (Ps 39:6 KJV) likely refers to living according to external appearances.

Psalm 39:6 KJV 1900

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

The Hebrew word for “vain show” is literally “image or shadow” and suggests something imaginary instead of real.

Such people “make an uproar for nothing” (Ps 39:6b ).

Psalm 39:6b KJV 1900

6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

That is, they make much of what is essentially trivial, inconsequential, and insignificant.

b) Unsaved people often emphasize appearance/image over substance, costume over content.

Outward show becomes important while the content of one’s character has little value.

What they are so proud about is worthless and empty from God’s perspective.

Examples: TV/movies/video games, sports fanatics, celebrities.

c) Christians must be careful not to adopt this heathen characteristic of valuing what is essentially worthless (cf. Isa 44:14-20).

Isaiah 44:14–20 KJV 1900

14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, Which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: He planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. 15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: For he will take thereof, and warm himself; Yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; Yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; He maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; With part thereof he eateth flesh; He roasteth roast, and is satisfied: Yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: 17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: He falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, And saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. 18 They have not known nor understood: For he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; And their hearts, that they cannot understand. 19 And none considereth in his heart, Neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; Yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: And shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? 20 He feedeth on ashes: A deceived heart hath turned him aside, That he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

Our thoughts should be focused on “things above,” not vain, earthly concerns (Col 3:1-3).

Colossians 3:1–3 KJV 1900

Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (1 Sam 16:7).

1 Samuel 16:7 KJV 1900

The “hidden man of the heart” (1 Pet 3:4) is of true value; that is where our focus should be. Good quote: “There is nothing wrong with frivolous activity for one whose life is not committed to frivolity.

1 Peter 3:4 KJV 1900

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

There is no harm in superficial pleasures for one who also has a knowledge of the tragic and of the transcendent.

The subjectivism of popular culture is impotent for someone whose life is characterized by rootedness in objective reality.

Christians should not fear the idols and myths of our day, as long as they have no reverence for them.”[5]

9. Do Not Walk in Craftiness

Text: 2 Cor 4:2

2 Corinthians 4:2 KJV 1900

2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Principles:

“Craftiness” in this case is not a positive attribute.

The word connotes the trickery or cunning treachery necessary to deceive others.

Satan deceived Eve by employing craftiness (2 Cor 11:3), and he continues to use this strategy.

2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV 1900

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

God promises to catch the “wise” (i.e., fools) “in their own craftiness” (1 Cor 3:19). So the idea seems to be cunning deception.

1 Corinthians 3:19 KJV 1900

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

Craftiness is in the same category as “hidden things of dishonesty.”

Paul refused to deal with people dishonestly or deceptively.

He was honest and full of integrity.

This should be particularly true of Christian ministry (2 Cor 4:1).

2 Corinthians 4:1 KJV 1900

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

One need not use underhanded or deceitful means of convincing unbelievers to be saved or of exhorting believers to be holy.

Simply preach the Gospel and trust God for the results (Rom 1:16; 1 Cor 3:6-7; 1 Thes 2:3-5).

Romans 1:16 KJV 1900

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 3:6–7 KJV 1900

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

1 Thessalonians 2:3–5 KJV 1900

3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

Quote: Trickery is an attribute of the devil, not of the apostles and their helpers.[6]

Much ministry these days is tainted by man-pleasing flattery rather than God-honoring truth.

The church marketing and seeker-sensitive models are guilty of pandering to the sensibilities of the unsaved mind.

Those guilty of craftiness may also be guilty of “handling the word of God deceitfully.”

Some have falsified God’s word to suit their own agenda.

They “lie in wait to deceive” through their “cunning craftiness” (Eph 4:14).

Ephesians 4:14 KJV 1900

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

We must not be among those who “corrupt the word of God” (2 Cor 2:17).

2 Corinthians 2:17 KJV 1900

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Genuine Christians must retain their commitment to “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15) by speaking sincerely and honestly.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

10. Do Not Walk in Sin

Texts: 1 Kings 15:3, 26, 34; Col. 3:5–7;Jer 6:28, 9:4, 23:14; Mic 2:11;Rom 13:13; 1 Pet 4:3; Dan 4:37; 2 Thes 3:6, 11

1 Kings 15:3 KJV 1900

3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father.

1 Kings 15:26 KJV 1900

26 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

1 Kings 15:34 KJV 1900

34 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.

Colossians 3:5–7 KJV 1900

Jeremiah 6:28 KJV 1900

28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.

Jeremiah 9:4 KJV 1900

4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, And trust ye not in any brother: For every brother will utterly supplant, And every neighbour will walk with slanders.

Jeremiah 23:14 KJV 1900

14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: They commit adultery, and walk in lies: They strengthen also the hands of evildoers, That none doth return from his wickedness: They are all of them unto me as Sodom, And the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

Micah 2:11 KJV 1900

11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; He shall even be the prophet of this people.

Romans 13:13 KJV 1900

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

1 Peter 4:3 KJV 1900

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

Daniel 4:37 KJV 1900

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 KJV 1900

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

2 Thessalonians 3:11 KJV 1900

11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Principles:

Avoid the sins of your ancestors or predecessors.

The fact that your family behaved in a certain way does not guarantee that such behavior was right or proper.

The Christian rule of life must come from the Bible, and especially from the NT.

We can learn much from our forebears, but we must be careful to avoid their errors and sins.

Avoid lies, slanders, speaking evil, false stories, gossip, etc.Avoid rioting, drunkenness, lewdness, lust, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, strife, envy, etc.Avoid pride (an over-inflated estimation of oneself).

See Rom 12:3.

Romans 12:3 KJV 1900

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Avoid disorder.

Outline – Daily Walk

1. The Vital Requirements of a Good Daily Walk.

2. When Should I Walk With God?

3. How Should I Walk with God?

4. Some Basic Rules for Bible Study.

5. Some Basic Teaching on Prayer.

Outline –

Daily Walk Bible Christianity is NOT a creed (a set of beliefs), but is a person… the Lord Jesus Christ.

When we receive our Lord Jesus Christ as our saviour, we receive HIM as a real person into our heart and life.

While there are many things to learn about the Lord and the Christian life, we must never forget there is a personal relationship to be enjoyed and maintained.

Personal relationships are maintained by communication.

Every Christian needs a “daily walk” with his or her Lord to enjoy all that God has in store.

This is the battleground where victory or defeat in your Christian life will be decided!

1. The Vital Requirements of a Good Daily Walk.

A. God’s will for you as a young Christian is to grow into spiritual maturity.

2 Peter 3:18

2 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

B. There are a number of essential requirements for physical growth, and there are some essential requirements for spiritual growth.

This study will deal with TWO of the most vital things you will need for a daily walk with the Lord.

insert graphic

2. When Should I Walk With God?

A. In Actual fact, our walk with the Lord needs to be constant.

i) Look up: Joshua 1:8

Joshua 1:8 KJV 1900

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua’s command was that God’s Word would not depart from the mouth of God’s people day and night.

ii) Look up: Deuteronomy 6: 6-9

Deuteronomy 6:6–9:6 KJV 1900

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. 10 And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; 12 Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. 14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; 15 (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. 16 Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah. 17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. 18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, 19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken. 20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? 21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: 22 And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes: 23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers. 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us. 1 When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; 2 And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: 3 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. 6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; 10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. 11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. 12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: 13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. 15 And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. 16 And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee. 17 If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them? 18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; 19 The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the Lord thy God brought thee out: so shall the Lord thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. 20 Moreover the Lord thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed. 21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. 22 And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee. 23 But the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed. 24 And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them. 25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God. 26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing. 1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. 2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. 4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. 5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. 6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. 7 For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. 10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; 16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; 17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. 20 As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God. 1 Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, 2 A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak! 3 Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee. 4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. 5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.

iii) Look up: I Thessalonians 5:17

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Pray without ceasing.

B. Nevertheless, in our busy schedules of daily life, it is necessary for a Christian to set aside a DEFINITE TIME EACH DAY for a devotional walk with the Lord.

i) Daniel prayer 3 times each day. Look up: Daniel 6:10 .

Daniel 6:10 KJV 1900

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

ii) The Bereans prayed daily

(Bereans were the inhabitants of the ancient city of Berea, also known in the Bible as Beroea and now known as Veria in central Macedonia.)

Look up: Acts 17:11

Acts 17:11 KJV 1900

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

iii) The is no prescribed time for your daily devotions – the important thing is that you set aside the time:

It may be:

• early in the morning

• after the family has left home for the day

• during an undisturbed lunch break

• when the family has gone to bed Set the time and stick to it!

Having considered my family, my duties, and my usual activities in light of God’s clear command, I now promise the Lord that I will set aside the following time each day for the purpose of Bible study and prayer:

Signed: _____________ Date: _

3. How Should I Walk with God?

A. Divide your time roughly into thirds.

• 1/3 for Bible reading

• 1/3 for thinking about what God has said (meditation)

• 1/3 for prayer This time, 20 minutes at least, must be deliberately reserved, conscientiously kept, and valiantly defended against the attacks of the devil.

B. Make Habakkuk 2:1 your motto:

Habakkuk 2:1 KJV 1900

1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, And will watch to see what he will say unto me, And what I shall answer when I am reproved.

4. Some Basic Rules for Bible Study.

A. Begin with a short prayer, asking the Lord to teach you.

Look up: Psalm 119:10-19 (but let’s read more!) note v18

Psalm 119:10–19 KJV 1900

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. 17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, And keep thy word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.

. B. Remember God means what He says and says what he means.

Take every word in it’s primary, literal meaning – unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

“When the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense, or it all becomes nonsense” (no author cited).

C. Keep in mind – while all the Bible is written for you, it was not all written to you, nor was it written about you.

To help understand passages, apply the golden key:

• Who is speaking?

• To whom is he speaking?

• About what is he speaking?

• When was he speaking?

D. Commit to a definite Bible Reading schedule.

E. Keep a notebook to write down truths, insights, and questions.

(explain that this is really studying… the only way to learn)

F. Mark your Bible. Underline keys verses. Feel free to mark up your Bible.

G. Treat the Bible as a personal letter from God.

Read it ardently and expectantly as a lover reads a love letter. Jeremiah 31:3

Jeremiah 31:3 KJV 1900

3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

H. Scripture always interprets scripture.

Always interpret an obscure passage in light of a clear passage.

II Peter 1:20 [DISCUSS]

2 Peter 1:20 KJV 1900

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

I. You must resolve to obey the Word of God as you read it and study it. John 15:14 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

John 15:14 KJV 1900

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

J. When you cannot understand a scripture, remember you have a pastor who cares for you, and delights in teaching the Word of God.

Call him, listen to him, and then go back and check the scriptures to see if what he says is so.

5. Some Basic Teaching on Prayer.

In your daily quiet time with the Lord, you will want to pray.

. But we’ll just briefly discuss the basics here:

A. What is prayer?

i) Look up: Matthew 6:5-7

Matthew 6:5–7 KJV 1900

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Prayer is not: a chance to brag to God or to be seem by other men.

ii) Look up: Matthew 7:7a

Matthew 7:7a KJV 1900

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

The word “pray” simply means to ask.

Prayer is asking – it is the cry of a Christian unto God, a request of a child to his Father.

B. To whom do we pray (address our prayers to)? (God the Father) Look up:

• John 15:16f

John 15:16f KJV 1900

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

• John 16:23c

John 16:23c KJV 1900

23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

• Luke 11:2

Luke 11:2 KJV 1900

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

. Note: This verse is not the Lord’s prayer… it is an example (model) Jesus used to instruct the disciples.

See Luke 11:1

Luke 11:1 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Handy way to remember the key elements of prayer: •

A Adoration – praising and worshiping God Psalm 107:8 •

Psalm 107:8 KJV 1900

8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!

C Confession – searching one’s heart and life Psalm 51:10 •

Psalm 51:10 KJV 1900

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.

T Thanksgiving – thanking God for all his blessings Hebrews 13:15

Hebrews 13:15 KJV 1900

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

S Supplication – making requests known to God Ephesians 6:18

Ephesians 6:18 KJV 1900

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

C. In whose name do we pray? We pray in the name of Jesus.

Look up: • John 14:14

John 14:14 KJV 1900

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

• John 16:24

John 16:24 KJV 1900

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

D. What things may we ask for?

• Matthew 6:11 .

Matthew 6:11 KJV 1900

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

• James 1:5

James 1:5 KJV 1900

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

• II Thessalonians 3:1

2 Thessalonians 3:1 KJV 1900

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

• Acts 4:29

Acts 4:29 KJV 1900

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,