This is the 2nd part of a 4-part discussion on God’s Expectations of us – the first was to Acknowledge God – we encourage you to take this, read it and use it as a discussion guide with your family and others as you get together. Your interaction is welcome…
I. What does it mean to Walk In Him?
Colossians 2:6 says:
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, strengthened in faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness. (Notice what this walk looks like and consequences)
1 John 1:6-7
If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son, purifies us from all sin. (looks like – consequences – “fellowship” = partnership with each other)
In regards to walking in Him James 4:17 says…
… one who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (If we are not walking in HIM we are in sin!)
Simply –
What are we to do? Walk In Him
What does the Word say about this?
We are talking about OBEDIENCE:
God requires whole hearted obedience
Jesus said in Matthew 22:37
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart … soul … mind”
(Sound familiar? That’s the Deuteronomy 6:5 passage)
Obedience is the price of success
Joshua 1:8
Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Obedience is better than sacrifice
1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, (witchcraft – deserved death) and arrogance like the evil idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
Obedience secures entrance into the kingdom.
Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, But only he who does the will of my Father …”
Obedience is the duty of life.
Acts 5:29
Peter and apostles when told not to preach by the powers to be responded…
“We must obey God rather than men!”
To walk in Him means that
obeying Christ and His Word becomes a way of life.
II. How then are we to walk?
The best way to discuss this is to look at what Jesus has said – look at these passages don’t get side tracked with any one command or issue – I want you to see the overall picture of what God expects of us in Walking in Him. Just let the Word speak.
We will begin in the Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-7
“but I say…” 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44
“when you…” 6:2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 17
What is Jesus saying? Can one come to Him and sit back and relax – living in any way he wishes? Does HE have expectations of us?
Look at what Jesus says in
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Let’s look further at what Jesus says:
Matthew 25:31-45
How are we to walk? Reach out to those in need!
Sometimes we can become so heavenly minded that we become no earthly good.
Next, how about Christ’s command to all believers in
Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great commission)
It says “teaching to obey everything”
– you need to walk by being in His Word
Philippians 2:3-4 says “do nothing from selfishness or vain conceit”
:14 “do all things without grumbling or disputing”
Read Colossians 3:1-17
How are we to walk?
In obedience to the love of Christ!
Read: 1 John 1:6-7
Read: 1 John 2:3-6 “Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.”
This is our accountability!
III. What are the consequences of our walk?
There are consequences for those who are saved and don’t walk in obedience…
Read: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Some approach the Christian life saying I’m saved – and I’m free I can do what I want – we are really good at justifying our actions and way of life …
You might have your fire insurance and it will take care of the house – that it will be rebuilt – Fire insurance can never replace those priceless possessions created in love. Those pictures hanging on the fridge, the scrap book your child made just for you…
The same is true with our relationship with God – we might have eternal life but it doesn’t stop there – and if all you care about is “eternal life” then I question your salvation? Because all the evidence points to so much more …
In John 10:10 Jesus said: “I come that you might have life and have it abundantly – to the full”
What can we do?
Recognize that we have an enemy who wants to get us off track – to take us away from all that is of God – and if he can’t take away our salvation – he’s going to try and ruin our lives by getting us to go in a different direction.
Read: 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
The place to begin is your mind: Philippians 4:8-9
TALK ABOUT OBEDIENCE
- Define obedience? What does it look like?
- Is obedience difficult? Easy?
- Do you struggle with obedience? In what way?