Walking with God: Faith, Consistency, and Consequences

 

Summary

The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of walking with God, drawing from the scripture Micah 6:8. He underscores the significance of choosing the right company and the influence it has on one's life. The pastor then shares a story about a man visiting a nuclear plant, drawing a parallel to how the power of God is released in our lives through faith. He uses the biblical figure Enoch, who walked with God for 300 years and was eventually translated into heaven, as an example of the importance of walking with God and knowing Him personally.

The pastor then discusses the consequences of sin, likening it to a credit card where one may enjoy it in the present but will eventually have to pay the consequences. He emphasizes the mortality of man and the inevitability of judgment. The pastor then shifts focus to Enoch, whose life is referenced three times in the Bible, emphasizing his faith and his ability to please God. He also discusses the concept of fear and its role in motivating individuals, distinguishing between unhealthy fear and healthy fear, which can be a positive motivator.

The pastor then discusses the importance of putting God first in our lives, using the analogy of a father and son crossing the street to illustrate that God is the one who has been holding on to us all along. He also discusses the motivation to serve and walk with God, suggesting that Enoch's family may have played a role in his decision to walk with God. The pastor shares his own experience of becoming a father and how it made him realize the greater responsibility he had as a role model and example for his children.

The pastor then shares a story about a church member who initially rejected the gospel but eventually had a change of heart after hearing the passion and conviction of a church member. He emphasizes the importance of walking with God and aligning oneself with Him, using Enoch as an example of someone who was in alignment with God and pleased Him. The pastor concludes by emphasizing the importance of committing to a lifestyle with God and having a personal relationship with Him, and not substituting religion for a relationship with God.

Key Takeaways:

- Walking with God is not just a metaphor, but a way of living in alignment with His will. When we prioritize God and put Him first, the benefits are far greater than we can imagine. Many people claim to believe in God and Jesus, but their lives do not reflect this belief. It's important to not just talk the talk, but to also walk the walk and prioritize Jesus above all else. [49:33]

- Knowing about God is not the same as having a personal relationship with Him. Just as knowing facts about someone does not equate to having a personal relationship with them, knowing about God is not the same as having a personal relationship with Him. We should not substitute religion for a relationship with God. [52:12]

- The greatest thing a person can discover is God's plan for their life. It's important to seek and follow God's purpose for each individual. This requires a commitment to a lifestyle with God and having a personal relationship with Him. [54:45]

- The story of Enoch serves as an example of walking with God in faith. Despite the prevalent evil and the judgment of God in the form of a flood, Enoch remained consistent in his walk with God. This shows that a perfect environment is not necessary for a consistent walk with God. Problems are inevitable in life, but we can remain consistent with God even in the midst of numerous challenges. [57:30]

- The consequences of sin are inevitable. The pastor likens sin to a credit card where one may enjoy it in the present but will eventually have to pay the consequences. This serves as a reminder of the mortality of man and the inevitability of judgment. [59:15]

Study Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
2. Hebrews 11:5: "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."
3. Genesis 5:24: "Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Micah 6:8 tell us about what God requires from us?
2. How does Hebrews 11:5 describe Enoch's relationship with God and its outcome?
3. What does Genesis 5:24 reveal about Enoch's life and his relationship with God?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Micah 6:8 relate to the concept of walking humbly with God and how might this look in our daily lives?
2. In Hebrews 11:5, what does it mean that Enoch was commended as one who pleased God? How might this relate to our own relationship with God?
3. Considering Genesis 5:24, what can we learn from Enoch's faithfulness and the result of his walk with God?

Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on Micah 6:8, what is one specific action you can take this week to walk more humbly with God?
2. Considering Hebrews 11:5, what is one way you can demonstrate your faith in God in a way that pleases Him, even when faced with challenges?
3. In light of Genesis 5:24, how can you strive to walk faithfully with God in your daily life, even when circumstances are not ideal?
4. Can you think of a specific situation in your life where you can act justly and love mercy, as required by God in Micah 6:8?
5. Reflecting on Enoch's life, what is one change you can make in your life to ensure you are walking faithfully with God, regardless of the societal pressures around you?

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Prioritizing God

When we prioritize God above all else, we align ourselves with His divine plan and purpose. This is not just a figure of speech, but a genuine relationship with Him. God created us to worship and please Him, as it benefits us greatly. When we worship and please other things or ourselves, it ultimately destroys us. Many people claim to believe in God and Jesus, but their lives do not reflect their beliefs. [49:33]

Bible Passage: Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Reflection: What are some practical ways you can prioritize God in your daily life starting today?

Day 2: The Importance of Personal Relationship with God

Knowing about God and Jesus does not mean having a personal relationship with them. Prioritize your relationship with God over religious practices. When you are in step with God, He is pleased with your ways. The greatest thing a person can discover is God's plan for their life. [52:12]

Bible Passage: Jeremiah 9:23-24 - "This is what the LORD says: 'Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the LORD."

Reflection: How can you deepen your personal relationship with God this week?

Day 3: The Consequences of Disobedience

Reflect on the significance of giving up a whole garden for the sake of one tree, highlighting the consequences of disobedience. When God created man, they were meant to live forever, but their disobedience in eating from the forbidden tree brought death not only to them but to all mankind. [55:45]

Bible Passage: Genesis 3:17-19 - "To Adam he said, 'Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.'"

Reflection: What is one area of disobedience in your life that you need to surrender to God today?

Day 4: The Power of Faith

Pleasing God is more important than pleasing others and faith is the key to pleasing God. Enoch's faith was so strong that he had an intimate relationship with God and was ultimately taken up to heaven without experiencing death. Enoch serves as an example of someone who remained consistent with God even in the midst of a perverted society and numerous challenges. [58:33]

Bible Passage: 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."

Reflection: How can you strengthen your faith in God and remain consistent in your walk with Him amidst challenges?

Day 5: Consistency in Walking with God

A perfect environment is not necessary for a consistent walk with God. Even Adam and Eve, who lived in a perfect environment, still sinned. Problems are inevitable in life, but Enoch serves as an example of someone who remained consistent with God even in the midst of a perverted society and numerous challenges. [61:12]

Bible Passage: James 1:12 - "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

Reflection: What is one specific step you can take today to remain consistent in your walk with God despite the challenges you are facing?

Quotes

"Enoch is kind of a prefigure of the church...one day when we're walking with God, who knows, one day God just may Rapture you and all of a sudden you're not going to be here anymore." [35:57]

"God is encouraging us today to keep our focus in him...if you walk with God, your whole life will change." [36:43]

"When you're walking with God, it's reflected in your life. You can begin to see the reflection of God in you. That's why it's important to put a distance between you and ungodly people because the people you walk with will influence your life." #!!01:18!!#

"Walking with God is not just a one-time event, it's a lifestyle. It's about being in alignment with God and walking in the spirit." #!!02:43!!#

"As long as you keep your options open that there's something better than God, then you're never going to commit to a lifestyle with God because you're always looking for something better." #!!16:06!!#

"It's easy to substitute religion for a relationship. When you're in step with God, God is pleased with the way you're walking. That tells me today that God has a plan for all of us. The greatest thing that you can discover today is God's plan for your life, that God had the destiny." #!!18:04!!#

"Could it be that after the birth of his son that something clicked? I don't know if you've ever had children, but I can tell you the first birth of my first son really just kind of sobers you up. I got a bigger responsibility all of a sudden, man. I got to be a role model, I got to be an example." #!!22:18!!#

"A lot of times we think we're holding on to God, but God's holding on to you. God's the one that's been holding on to you this whole time." #!!20:10!!#

"Enoch's testimony was that he pleased God by his faith." #!!04:11!!# This highlights the importance of having faith in God and trusting Him, as it is what pleases Him the most. It reminds us that our relationship with God should be based on faith and trust.

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Transcript
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