Has a Proper Walk
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I am continuing the sermon series I have titled “A Great Church.” As I have said in this series, a great church is not determined by the size of the church, the wealth of a church, or even the location of a church. A great church is not determined by how the leaders dress, the way a building is designed or decorated, or the music that is played and sung. In fact, it may surprise some in the church movement today, but shiplap, blackout walls and colored lights do not make a church great. A great church is determined by the people who make up that body. It is determined by their commitment, individually and collectively, to pursue a growing relationship with Christ, thus becoming more mature disciples; which simply means follower of Christ.
When we talk about being a follower of Christ, we should understand that it is more than just believing in Him. Following Christ means that we seek His will and desires for us, then do everything we can to do His will. Like James said, one should not be a hearer only, but a doer.
I have been asked, and it is a legitimate question; what is His will for me? The honest answer is that I can only offer a partial answer. If you want to know the will of God, begin with His stated will for all people in His word. Sometimes we get so focused on what he might want us to do individually, that we overlook what He wants us to do collectively. Once we have a handle on that, then He will make more clear what His individual will is for us.
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Christian Life, Daily Walk
Imagine a field covered with freshly fallen snow. Off to the one side you notice two figures entering the field. The first is larger than the second—perhaps they are a father and his son. As they walk across the field, you notice that the father pays no particular attention to where he is going, but his son, on the other hand, follows directly behind, making a special effort to step in his father’s footprints. After the two figures pass off the scene, you notice that there is only one set of tracks visible in the field, although two people had walked across it. The Christian life is that way. In our daily walk we ought to be following Christ’s example, particularly in times when we are suffering. If someone were to observe the snow-covered fields of your life, would there be one set of tracks, those of Christ? Or would he see two sets, one belonging to Christ and the other distinctly yours?
This morning I want to talk about a proper walk. A great church is filled with people who endeavor to walk properly. A number of times, Paul encouraged believers to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, or in a manner worthy of their calling.
A great church has a proper walk.
Prayer
A Proper Walk is Learned
A Proper Walk is Learned
1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Having reminded the believers in Thessalonica about how their relationship with Paul developed, how important that relationship was to him, and how pleased he was to hear how well they were doing; Paul now moves to reminding them about some things he and his ministry partners taught them. Specifically, how they taught them to walk in a way that pleases God.
Paul begins this passage with the word finally. Another rendering that is more descriptive of the original text might be “what is left to say, other than we ask and urge you.” Perhaps even, “there is nothing left for me to say, other than we ask and urge you.” The report of the Thessalonians is a good one, they are on the right track. The only thing left to say is to encourage them to remember what they have been taught.
They learned how to walk in a way that would please God. They were taught by Paul himself how to walk properly. He taught them that it was not optional, rather an obligation. The idea being that God has done His part, we should do our part.
Warren Weirsbe said
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Six: How to Please Your Father (1 Thessalonians 4:1–12)
Christians cannot go through life pleasing only themselves (Rom. 15:1).
We must also be careful when it comes to pleasing others. It is possible to both please others and honor God, but it is also possible to dishonor God. “For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10). This had been Paul’s attitude when he ministered in Thessalonica. “Even so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who trieth our hearts” (1 Thes. 2:4).
Pleasing God ought to be the major motive of the Christian life. Children should live to please their father. The Holy Spirit works in our lives “both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). Enoch walked with God, and before God called him to heaven, Enoch “had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Heb. 11:5). Jesus said, “I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29).
A great church is filled with great disciples who have learned to walk properly.
A Proper Walk is God’s Will
A Proper Walk is God’s Will
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
A proper walk is God’s will because it is part of the sanctification process. The word sanctification is not simply defined one way. There are a number of senses which contribute to its definition. Sometimes it refers to being sanctified or holy. In scripture animals, things, and sometimes people are set aside or sanctified for a specific purpose. Sometimes it is used in the sense of an ongoing process. That could be defined as God’s people progressively growing in holiness until the Day of the Lord, at which point all believers will be completely sanctified. As Paul uses the term here we should understand the term “your sanctification” as meaning “the act of becoming more personally dedicated to God; by becoming more distinct, devoted, and morally pure. In fact Paul lists a number of attributes and behaviors of the person who is walking to please God, actively participating in the sanctification process. He basically tells the Thessalonian believers to lead different lives than those who do not have a relationship with God through Christ. To live a life that is not vengeful or impure, but holy, trusting in Him. To do otherwise is to disregard the will and desire of God.
At the very center of a worthy walk is unity.
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
In that passage Paul outlines some key attributes of a worthy or a proper walk walk that pleases God. The cornerstone is humility. That speaks to the value we place on ourselves and our desires and preferences and the value we place on lowering ourselves for the benefit of the church and the kingdom. Gentleness speaks of maintaining a temperament that does not get mad, lash out, or seek vengeance. Patience is especially seen when something is happening we are not happy or are not enjoying something. The overall sense of this passage is that a proper walk is one that is always looking Christ. What does He want? What benefits Him? He has brought this family of God together and we are bound by the same Spirit, therefore the focus is on Him.-
This is not always easy to do. We still live in a fallen world and exist as fallen humans with two natures battling for control. We are susceptible to temptation and human nature. Paul himself said
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
That passage closes a section of Romans in which Paul is completely transparent about his own daily struggles with sin. Even with Paul, the flesh sometimes got the better of him.
But God did not leave us alone to accomplish His will. He gives each of us His Spirit, the person of the Holy Spirit to help us.
The Holy Spirit of God is omnipotent, omniscient, and ever present. The first work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin. But his indwelling provides us with direction, encouragement, empowerment, and contributes to our sanctification. We have the choice to follow His direction and allow his work to benefit us or not. In other words we have the choice to walk properly.
The Spirit, along with His word lets us know that a proper walk is the will of God.
A Proper Walk is Ongoing
A Proper Walk is Ongoing
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
Even though Paul is writing to these believers about the basics of brotherly love. He knows that God, through His Spirit have taught them how to love each other. Believers are taught to love each other by the word of God. We are taught by the example He set for us. We are also taught by the indwelling of the Spirit.
Before I was saved I really did not love many people. Beyond my closest family, the love I had for people was based on how that relationship could benefit me. If you had something I wanted, then I loved you as long as you were willing to give whatever that something was. If a relationship of some kind benefitted me everything was fine. If it didn’t then you had no value to me. After I began a relationship with Christ I noticed that I truly cared about people. In some cases they were people I did not even know. As I think about that, I did not take a class or read a book that taught me how to love. I simply began a relationship with God through Christ and He taught me how to love. Loving God and loving people are the most important commandments we have been given. Paul knew the Thessalonians knew that. He also knew they were demonstrating it.
At the same time, some people are much easier to love than others. Because of that human nature, loving those people who cause us pain or oppose us can be difficult. Even more difficult is actively and freely demonstrating that love toward those who are difficult to love. Paul understood that as well. That is why he encourages the Thessalonians to continue demonstrating the love of Christ more and more. Love more often. Love bigger. Focus on living and walking in a way that not only sets an example for those who do not know Christ, but in a way that demonstrates the sufficiency of God’s grace and indwelling Spirit.
This is a continual and daily effort. We will have good days and bad days. A proper walk is an ongoing process with peaks and valleys. But a proper walk continues to make progress.
Conclusion
Conclusion
A proper walk is a learned skill. A proper walk is the will of God. Finally a proper walk is something we continually strive for and make progress in every day.
To walk properly and in a way that is pleasing to God, is to walk with God. I read a book that talked about walking with God. In it, the author outlined nine reasons why Christians should walk with God
We are commanded to walk as Christ walked. If we have have a relationship with Him we will want to obey Him.
After all He has done for us, we have an obligation to walk with Him; in fact it is the least we can do
If we walk with God, we can be certain we are on the right path
If we walk with Him, we can do so without fear.
If we walk with Him we will never be alone; in fact we will always be in the best company
If we walk with Him, He serves as a restraint from sin.
If we walk with Him we are less likely to become spiritually lazy or complacent
If we walk with Him it please Him and all of heaven
If we walk with Him, we are His grace and mercy are assured and affirmed
Before we can walk with Him we must have a relationship with Him. He desires that relationship and has done everything He can do to make it possible. Will you place your faith and trust in Christ this morning.