Walking with God: A Journey of Intimacy and Faith

 

Summary

Enoch's life serves as a profound example of what it means to walk with God. His story is a testament to the power of intimate fellowship with the Divine, a relationship so close that God chose to take him directly into eternity. Walking with God, as Enoch did, means living in a way that is countercultural, marching to the beat of a different drum. While society may be engrossed in idols and self-centered pursuits, walking with God requires us to be out of step with the world, prioritizing our relationship with Him above all else.

Walking with God is not just a metaphor; it is the essence of living a life in continuous fellowship with Him. It involves taking one step after another, moving toward a divine destination, and depending on God to support us along the way. This walk is characterized by living in the light, as opposed to walking in darkness, and it is a journey of faith because God, though invisible, is very real and present with us.

The story of Enoch illustrates that when we walk closely with God, the transition from this life to the next becomes seamless. God desires such closeness with us that when our time on earth ends, we are ready to continue our journey with Him into eternity. If we find ourselves too attached to the secular world, we risk living a life of confusion and guesswork, out of step with God's plan.

Walking by faith means acknowledging God's presence beside us, engaging in open communication, and sharing our deepest struggles and successes with Him. It is about seeking His perspective through His Word and trusting in His love. If you haven't started this walk, now is the time. God is ready to walk with you, offering a relationship that is rich, intimate, and transformative.

Key Takeaways:

- Walking with God means living counterculturally, prioritizing our relationship with Him over societal norms and idols. This intimate fellowship requires us to be out of step with the world, focusing on the divine connection that enriches our lives. [00:53]

- The act of walking with God is a continuous journey, characterized by dependency and faith. It involves moving toward a divine destination, trusting God to support us with each step we take. [01:48]

- Enoch's transition to eternity exemplifies the seamless journey from this life to the next when we walk closely with God. Such intimacy with the Divine makes the transition to heaven a continuation of our earthly fellowship with Him. [02:44]

- Walking by faith involves recognizing God's invisible yet real presence beside us. It is about engaging in open communication, sharing our struggles and successes, and seeking His perspective through His Word. [03:25]

- If you haven't begun your walk with God, now is the time to start. God desires an intimate fellowship with you, ready to walk beside you and transform your life through a deep, personal relationship. [04:29]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:29] - Introduction to Enoch
- [00:40] - Walking with God
- [00:53] - Countercultural Living
- [01:04] - Intimate Fellowship
- [01:19] - Out of Step with the World
- [01:33] - Walking as Life's Journey
- [01:48] - Dependency and Destination
- [02:02] - Walking in the Light
- [02:12] - Enoch's Transition to Eternity
- [02:28] - Closeness with God
- [02:44] - Ready for Heaven
- [03:10] - Living in Confusion
- [03:25] - Walking by Faith
- [03:39] - Open Communication with God
- [04:02] - Sharing Intimate Aspects
- [04:29] - Invitation to Walk with God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Walking with God Like Enoch

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 5:21-24 - "When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."
2. Hebrews 11:5-6 - "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. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Observation Questions:
1. What does the Bible say about Enoch's relationship with God in Genesis 5:21-24?
2. How does Hebrews 11:5-6 describe Enoch's faith and its significance?
3. According to the sermon, what does it mean to walk counterculturally with God? [00:53]
4. What are some characteristics of walking with God as described in the sermon? [01:33]

Interpretation Questions:
1. What might it mean for someone today to walk with God in a way that is countercultural? [00:53]
2. How does Enoch's story illustrate the concept of living by faith, even when God is invisible? [03:25]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that walking with God can transform one's life and perspective? [04:29]
4. How does the idea of walking with God as a continuous journey apply to modern believers? [01:48]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current walk with God. Are there areas where you feel out of step with Him? What steps can you take to realign your walk with God this week? [03:53]
2. Consider the cultural norms and idols in your life. How can you prioritize your relationship with God over these influences? [00:53]
3. Enoch's walk with God was characterized by faith and intimacy. What practical steps can you take to deepen your faith and intimacy with God? [04:29]
4. How can you incorporate open communication with God into your daily routine, sharing both struggles and successes with Him? [03:39]
5. Identify one area of your life where you feel you are walking in darkness. How can you invite God's light into that area this week? [02:02]
6. If you haven't started your walk with God, what is holding you back? What can you do today to begin this transformative journey? [04:29]
7. Think of a time when you felt closest to God. What were the circumstances, and how can you recreate that closeness in your current walk with Him? [02:44]

Devotional

Day 1: Living Counterculturally with God
Walking with God means living in a way that is countercultural, prioritizing our relationship with Him over societal norms and idols. This intimate fellowship requires us to be out of step with the world, focusing on the divine connection that enriches our lives. In a world that often values material success and self-centered pursuits, walking with God calls us to a different path. It is a path where our values and actions are aligned with His teachings, even if it means standing apart from the crowd. This journey is not about isolation but about finding true fulfillment and purpose in a relationship with the Divine. [00:53]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize your relationship with God over societal expectations today? Identify one specific area where you can make a change.


Day 2: A Journey of Faith and Dependency
The act of walking with God is a continuous journey, characterized by dependency and faith. It involves moving toward a divine destination, trusting God to support us with each step we take. This journey is not a sprint but a marathon, requiring patience and perseverance. As we walk, we learn to rely on God's strength rather than our own, acknowledging that His plans are greater than ours. This dependency is not a sign of weakness but a testament to the strength found in faith. [01:48]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God more fully? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?


Day 3: Seamless Transition to Eternity
Enoch's transition to eternity exemplifies the seamless journey from this life to the next when we walk closely with God. Such intimacy with the Divine makes the transition to heaven a continuation of our earthly fellowship with Him. This perspective shifts our focus from the temporal to the eternal, reminding us that our time on earth is a preparation for what is to come. By cultivating a deep relationship with God now, we ensure that our journey into eternity is not a leap into the unknown but a step into the familiar presence of our Creator. [02:44]

"For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." (Hebrews 13:14, ESV)

Reflection: How does your current relationship with God prepare you for eternity? What can you do today to deepen that relationship?


Day 4: Recognizing God's Presence
Walking by faith involves recognizing God's invisible yet real presence beside us. It is about engaging in open communication, sharing our struggles and successes, and seeking His perspective through His Word. This awareness transforms our daily lives, as we begin to see God's hand in every situation. By acknowledging His presence, we invite Him into every aspect of our lives, allowing His guidance and wisdom to shape our decisions and actions. [03:25]

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalm 145:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you become more aware of God's presence in your daily life? What is one way you can invite Him into your routine today?


Day 5: Beginning the Walk with God
If you haven't begun your walk with God, now is the time to start. God desires an intimate fellowship with you, ready to walk beside you and transform your life through a deep, personal relationship. This invitation is open to all, regardless of past mistakes or current circumstances. By taking the first step, you open yourself to a journey of transformation, where God's love and grace become the foundation of your life. [04:29]

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: What is holding you back from starting or deepening your walk with God? What step can you take today to open the door to His presence in your life?

Quotes


He was so close to God that they hung out together. It speaks of intimate fellowship. Now the context of being walking with God was he was walking counter cultural. He was marching out of step with the culture because he was marching to a different drum beat. [00:40:23]

He was walking with God while the rest of society, they were walking with idols, walking with themselves. They were out of step with God, and God wants us to be in such intimate fellowship with Him that even if it means we have to be out of step with everything and everyone else, it won't matter. [00:60:39]

The fellowship is so rich and intimate and potent and powerful that we wouldn't trade it in for anything else in our lives. The concept of walking is the concept of living your life. When you walk, you take one step after another, so it's continuous. When you walk, you're headed toward a destination. [00:85:52]

It's an act of dependency because you put one foot in front of another to hold you up. Walking is the totality of your life lived in fellowship with God. The Bible says we can walk out of fellowship, we can walk in darkness, but Enoch walked in the light because he walked with God. [00:112:88]

I can imagine them walking together and God looking over to Enoch and saying, "Well, you know Eddie, we're closer to my house than your house, so why don't we just keep on going to my home?" See, he walked with God, so God took him. [00:141:20]

His transitioning to eternity was so close, God did not want to leave him behind. He didn't want to leave him in this life; He wanted to take him to the life that is to come. God wants us so close to Him that when it's time for us to leave earth and into heaven, we don't mind the transition. [00:158:08]

If you are walking too close to the secular society, if you're loving and living for this world and not the world to come, that means you're living life out of step. You're living life in confusion, you're living life as guesswork. [00:184:72]

Why is it walking by faith? Because God is invisible. You don't see Him, but yet He's very, very real. He's walking right beside you, He's hanging out with you. He wants to interact in communication as you journey along together. [00:200:88]

He wants you to bring up the struggles, the stresses, the successes, and the failures because it's a close intimate relationship. So all of us need to evaluate our walk. Are we staying close to God? And you know you are because you're communicating. [00:217:52]

You know you are because you're getting His perspective on things based on His Word. You know you are because you're sharing the most intimate aspects of your life, things that you could never talk to another human being about, but you feel in faith that you can communicate it to somebody who loves you like the Lord loves you. [00:240:56]

If you haven't been walking, start walking. God is ready to walk with you, beside you, because He wants to have an intimate fellowship with you and with me. Keep on walking, walk with God, because God wants to walk with you. [00:261:28]

Walking with God means living counterculturally, prioritizing our relationship with Him over societal norms and idols. This intimate fellowship requires us to be out of step with the world, focusing on the divine connection that enriches our lives. [00:51:76]

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Transcript
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