Walking in the Lord
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· 14 viewsIn this study, we will note the biblical topic of walking in the Lord and how he directs our steps
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Walking in the Lord
Walking in the Lord
Introduction
Introduction
Father Covers Overdraft for Daughter
A father was called by his bank about his daughter’s overdraft and subsequent fees. “What should I do?” he asks. “Send her an angry letter? Admonition might help her later, but it won’t satisfy the bank. Phone and tell her to make a deposit? Might as well tell a fish to fly. I know her liquidity,” the father thought. “Zero.”
In His book, Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado talks about the time the bank sent him an overdraft notice on the checking account of one of his daughters. He says, “I encourage my college-age girls to monitor their accounts. Even so, they sometimes overspend.
In His book, Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado talks about the time the bank sent him an overdraft notice on the checking account of one of his daughters. He says, “I encourage my college-age girls to monitor their accounts. Even so, they sometimes overspend.
A father was called by his bank about his daughter’s overdraft and subsequent fees. “What should I do?” he asks. “Send her an angry letter? Admonition might help her later, but it won’t satisfy the bank. Phone and tell her to make a deposit? Might as well tell a fish to fly. I know her liquidity,” the father thought. “Zero.”
“What should I do?” he continued to ask. “Transfer the money from my account to hers? Seemed to be the best option.” He decided to replenish her account and pay the overdraft fee as well. Since she calls me Dad,” he thought, “That’s what dads do. Cover their children’s mistake and use it to teach a lesson.”
“What should I do?” he continued to ask. “Transfer the money from my account to hers? Seemed to be the best option.” He decided to replenish her account and pay the overdraft fee as well. Since she calls me Dad,” he thought, “That’s what dads do. Cover their children’s mistake and use it to teach a lesson.”
When he told her she was overdrawn, she said she was sorry. Still, she offered no deposit. She was broke. She had one option, “Dad, could you…” “Honey,” the father interrupted, “I already have.” He met her need before she knew she had one.
“Honey,” the father interrupted, “I already have.” He met her need before she knew she had one.
So it is with our Heavenly Father. Long before we knew we needed grace, He made an ample deposit. Before we knew we needed a Savior, we had one. And when we ask him for mercy, he answers, “Dear child. I’ve already given it.” He offers us grace, mercy, and forgiveness when we need it. He also offers guidance for our lives. In the New Testament, this lifestyle is referred to as “walking in the Lord.”
Through our obedience to the gospel, he made us new and challenges us:
To learn from our mistakes. Illustration: This week I was reading about sniper training. When practicing one sniper stated, “You learn more from the misses than you do when you hit the target.” Sin is missing God’s target and can be a great teacher. God can strengthen us even in our failures.
Turn to him for provision and guidance. God provides strength () and equips us to live faithfully.
To walk in the Lord (; ; ; Col. 2:6-7). Walking in the Lord refers to living by Christ’s influence.
Transition: Walking in the Lord is living by Christ’s direction. Because we are united with him we live in newness of life.
Walking in newness of life ().
Walking in newness of life ().
In , we walk in newness of life following our baptism.
In , we walk in newness of life following our baptism.
We are a new creation ().
We are a new creation ().
In , we walk in newness of life following our baptism.
When we are baptized, the old person is united with Christ in his crucifixion. He has been put to death to live no longer and allow sin to reign over us.
We are a new creation ().
What does it mean to walk in newness of life?
We are
We are a new creation ().
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
We do not allow sin to reign over us (). Illustration: , - Ahab “sold” himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Newness of life breaks the bond of slavery to which we have sold ourselves.
Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord.
(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
What sin have we allowed to derail us in the past year?
Have we allowed discouragement to weaken us? ()
Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up.
Illustration: We learn from Josiah that walking in newness brings revival, repentance, and a renewed focus on the Lord’s guidance ()
Hearing the Law brought revival (22:8-13)
After hearing the Law, Josiah renewed the covenant (23:3).
Renewal brought revival and repentance as & 24 note the reforms Josiah brought to Israel.
Transition: Walking in newness of life demands we walk by faith and not by sight.
Walk by faith and not by sight ().
Walk by faith and not by sight ().
Walking by faith refers to living the direction of God’s instruction. Faith is rooted in the Word of God ().
Faith is rooted in the Word of God ().
How do we walk by faith and not by sight? We long for heaven but live obediently in the present (2 Cor. 5:1-21).
We long for heaven but live obediently in the present.
We long to be with the Lord but realize we can only be in one place at a time. One day faith will be sight (vv. 1-4).
We make it our aim to please the Lord realizing there will be a reckoning. Judgment is not something a Christian fears (vv. 9-10).
We serve the Lord striving to persuade others (v. 11).
We are controlled by Christ’s love (v. 14).
We are Christ’s representatives to a lost and dying world (v. 20).
We strive to walk by faith so as not gratify the f
Walk by the Spirit and not the flesh ().
Walk by the Spirit and not the flesh ().
Walking by the Spirit refers to:
Walking by the guidance of the Spirit which he does through living the Scriptures.
Living spiritually minded instead of focusing on the flesh.
Illustration: What does a person who walks after the flesh do? They are opposed to God’s instruction in every capacity. Note the example of Jonadab (). “Crafty” is the same adjective used to describe Satan in .
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man.
This adjective is used in Proverbs to describe someone who is “wise” in his own eyes (; , , ; ).
This person has no interest in God’s instruction which is rooted in the very nature of God.
God expects to walk in his light and avoid darkness ().
Transition: Walking in the fear of the Lord challenges us to live by his direction.
Invitation
Invitation
Walking in the Lord requires:
Walking in newness of life
Walking by faith and not by sight.
Walking by the Spirit’s instruction
Are we willing to allow the Lord to determine the direction of our life?
Becoming a Christian leads to Christ.
Living as a Christian leads to heaven.