6-28-09

WALKING WITH GOD

Text:  Eph. 5:1-18

“Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.  And coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.  For know and recognize this: no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.  Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient.  Therefore, do not become their partners.  For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light—for the fruit of the light [results] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.  Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead, expose them.  For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.  Everything exposed by the light is made clear, for what makes everything clear is light.  Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.  Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making the most of the time, because the days are evil.  So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  And don’t get drunk with wine, which [leads to] reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit.”

Amos was speaking God’s Word against Israel when he posed this question?

 “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?”

 It was a question concerning their lack of fellowship with God, but relates to how fellowship works with others.  Donald Stamps in the Fire Bible noted, “No real fellowship can exist between two people unless they agree on fundamental truths; thus we can have no genuine relationship with God unless we accept His Word and agree with it.  It is impossible to call yourself a believer and at the same time not believe God’s Word.”  

Paul, in our text, gives three important areas related to our walk with God.  We are to walk in love, walk in light and walk in wisdom.

1.       Walk in Love—

A.      The greatest gift is love.

B.      God is love and love is of God.    You cannot walk with God and not walk in love.

C.      God’s love is expressed in our love for others.  You cannot say you love God and hate your brother.   You cannot love God and be racist or prejudiced.  1 John 4:12,  “No one has ever seen God.  If we love one another, God remains in us and His love is perfected in us.”

D.      It is the proof of discipleship and obedience is the proof of our love for God.   If we love God we will strive to keep His command and His great command is to love.   Read 1 John 4.

2.       Walk in Light—

A.       Darkness and light cannot agree, therefore they cannot walk together.  You will walk in darkness or you will walk in light.

B.      1 John 1:7  “…if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

C.      John 8:12  “I am the light of the world.  Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

D.      Text.  “We were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord.”  We are children of the light.  Walk accordingly.

E.       John 11:9-10  Jesus said, “If anyone walks during the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world.  If  anyone walks during the night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him.”

F.       Light produces righteousness, goodness, and truth.

3.       Walk in wisdom—

A.      By faith, not sight.

B.      Worthy.    Eph.  4:1-3  “I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds [us].      Col. 1:10  “…walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [to Him], bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.”

C.      The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

D.      In the Spirit.  “Be filled with the Spirit.”   Live and walk in the Spirit.

E.       Knowing the will of God.

Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden before the fall.  Enoch walked with God, pleased God and was translated to heaven.  Noah walked with God.  He and his family was spared in the flood.

Walking with God involves