Sermon Central
-
The 7 Characteristics Of Those Who Walk With God
Contributed by John Gaston on Apr 18, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: There are seven characteristics that must be present in those who wish to walk with God in order for them to be pleasing to God and to attempt to duplicate the life of Enoch which in the end caused him to go up in his own private Rapture!
THE 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO WALK WITH GOD
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: BIBLE RIDDLES
1. Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth? A. Ruthless.
2. Q. What do they call pastors in Germany? A. German Shepherds.
3. Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible? A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.
4. Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible? A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.
5. Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible? A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, there was a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.
6. Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? A. Samson. He brought the house down.
7. Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden? A. “Your mother ate us out of house and home.”
B. SCRIPTURES
1. “When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Gen. 5:21-25
2. “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5
C. WALKING WITH GOD: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
The writer of Hebrews equates walking with God as pleasing God. What exactly does walking with God mean?
1. Talking to God in Prayer.
2. It means living in the presence of God.
3. It’s the same thing as abiding in Jesus. He said, “Abide in me, and I in you” Jn. 15:4. The Life Application Bible Commentary says, abiding in Jesus means: Believing He is the Son of God, 1 Jn. 4:15,
a. Receiving Him as Savior and Lord, Jn. 1:12,
b. Doing what He says, 1 Jn. 3:24,
c. Continuing to believe the gospel, 1 Jn. 2:24,
d. Loving others in the Church, Jn. 15:12.
4. It’s a moment-by-moment decision. We can’t be neutral; we have to be actively involved with God.
5. Title: “THE 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO WALK WITH GOD.”
I. WALKING WITH GOD INVOLVES THE WAY WE THINK
A. MENTAL STATE: FRIENDS OR ENEMIES
1. Paul told the Colossians, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds…” Col. 1:21. Noah’s entire generation were enemies in their minds, but not Enoch. If you entertain evil thoughts, you can be an enemy of God in your mind and not know it!
2. Heb. 11:5 says, “Enoch pleased God.” [‘Pleased’ defined: God had the “feeling of pleasure and satisfaction with Enoch’s thoughts and lifestyle.”
3. Paul said, “be not conformed to this world: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind” Rom. 12:2. Enoch must have done that. He thought on things that are “true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report” Phil. 4:8.
4. It’s difficult to do. But walking with God requires us to cooperate with God in the transformation of our thinking. Someone said, “The greatest conflict taking place in the world today is the battle for control of our minds.”
B. INNER, NOT OUTER LIFE
1. The Devil tries to tell us that if our outer life is ok, then we’re fine with God. But God says, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7. Our inner life & our fruit are what’s important.
2. We have a choice; Submit to God and resist the Devil. Paul said, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” Phil. 2:5.
3. Stop thinking like the Devil; start thinking like Jesus! The Psalmist said, “I have hidden Your word in my heart
that I might not sin against You” (119:11). God’s Word will change our outlook. Substitute God’s thoughts for your thoughts.
II. WALKING WITH GOD INVOLVES UNBROKEN FELLOWSHIP
A. STAYING IN FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
1. Gen. 5:22 says, “After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years.”
This implies that Enoch had unbroken fellowship with God for 300 years! What a splendid walk!
2. One might desire a change of company if he walked with anybody else, but to walk with God for three centuries was so sweet that the patriarch kept on with his walk until he walked beyond time and space, and walked into paradise, where he’s still walking in the same divine company.
