Have you ever heard the phrase “Walking with a mission?” I better get out of the way because he is "walking with a mission".
Last week was an introduction to our quest of walking with GOD. Today, we shall reinforce our lesson with an added emphasis on being on a mission.
This quote by Dr. Charles Stanley describes our walk with God “To walk with GOD is to keep HIM in the center of our thinking….in everything we do, say, and think; in our relationships, finances, planning and every area of life.”
There were five individuals who are quoted in the Bible as one who walked with GOD.
Abram
Noah
Enoch
Levi
Zacharias.
Their virtues set them apart to the point that one of the five did not see death but was taken up by GOD.
That man was Enoch who lived beyond simply existing; he lived a full life with great faith and a searching spirit for GOD which was pleasing unto HIM.
Also, they had similar spiritual values....
· listened to GOD…to hear the words of GOD.
· honored and revered GOD’s name…defended those who disrespected HIM
· helped others see the light…showed them the pathway to freedom
· spoke truth and preserved the information concerning GOD
In walking with GOD, we need to march with:
· Purpose
· Urgency
· Unity
· Communication
· Dedication
· Honor
· Perseverance and resilience
· Truth
So what is truth?
It is accepting Jesus as LORD and Savior.
· It takes faith, hope, love, and trust wrapped around action
action = obedience
walking with GOD through obedience
Obedience is a sweet aroma to GOD
Christians obey through:
1. Prayers
· These particular prayers, in fact, are so pleasant and precious to God that HE lovingly collects them in “golden bowls” in heaven (Revelation 5:8).
2. Repentance
· Psalms 51:17 states that GOD delights in the heart of the broken or the repented. The principle is the same for today’s believers. God does not want “vain” confessions — mere remorse — but genuine repentance that comes from truly humble and contrite hearts (Psalm 51:17).
3. A Witness
· In 2 Corinthians 2:14–16, the apostle Paul charges Christians to spread “the fragrance of the knowledge of [Jesus Christ] everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those
who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”
The word "witness" can be associated negatively with a religious organization. However it is not a dreadful word...
The knowledge that we proclaim is that Jesus Christ was crucified for the sins of humanity, and all who repent and appropriate his sacrificial death on the cross through faith will be saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8–9). We are witnesses of the knowledge that Jesus died to bring us to God forever, for our greatest joy (1 Peter 3:18).
· But, unfortunately, not everyone likes the scent of this truth, even when it is spoken “with gentleness and respect,” as it always ought to be (1 Peter 3:15). While our witness always spreads the fragrance of Christ, it is not always received the same by its hearers. To those who are being saved, it is the lovely perfume of life everlasting; but to those who are perishing, it is the sour stench of death eternal.
· Regardless of recipients’ reactions, however, our testimonies produce a powerful fragrance which God delights in, for truth always smells good to God. Nothing pleases him more than to see his Son glorified in the courageous testimonies of those he came to save.
4. Obedience embalmed with love
· Christ gave up his life willingly (John 10:18); and in being crushed, Christ’s loving sacrifice gave off the sweetest, most sacred of fragrances (Ephesians 5:2), for Christ’s death is able to “make many to be accounted righteous” (Isaiah 53:11).
· we are called to demonstrate Christ’s suffering and sacrifice through our own emotional, spiritual, and even physical sufferings on behalf of others, however that may look in our daily lives (Colossians 1:24)
walking with GOD in the same beat
When the commander says, “Forward march,” it looks good when everyone is coordinated and in rhythm.
However, there is always “One” who listens to his own beat. The commander says forward march and he remains until nudged. When the commander says right face, he turns left. About face commands usually means that he will run into someone.
· Another important facet of military is the uniform
o Everyone can tell if you are in the military or marching band based upon the uniform that you have on.
o Wearing that uniform means something. For some it means a commitment to our country.
· Same with the uniform of Christ.
· In Gal 3:27 it states “…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
o How do we do that?
hearing and faith,
obedience and repentance,
confession,
baptism
and being faithful
Walk with GOD in the same direction at the same pace.
Do not try to get ahead of ourselves and predict what GOD would have us do. GOD wants us to be in step with him.
To walk with GOD is synonymous with Ministry.
what is your ministry, what do you do?
Examples of Ministry (these are just a few examples)
o Advocacy Ministry: Animal rights, human rights, civil rights …. betterment of humanity.
o Cake Ministry: Good friend of mine bakes and delivers a cake for just about everything. Fix his car, and he will give you a cake.
o Music – singing at senior citizen homes or veterans’ homes
o Youth –Camp Manatawny or trap pond
o Administrative – birthday cards, bible correspondence course
o Helper, encourager like Barnabas
o Prayer ministry…. I want to be a person of prayer
Tabitha is a biblical example of ministry found in Acts 9:36-43. Tabitha was known for her good works and charity.
Are you walking with GOD?
· Have you accepted Jesus?
· Are you growing in faith, hope, trust, and love?
· Are you acting on your faith?
· Is your mission strong and connected to GOD’s purpose?
If you are not walking with GOD, you are going against the grain…. the bible stated that if you are not fully committed to HIM, you are against Him.
Walk with HIM in newness of life…. with purity that pleases GOD. DO it today!
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