Walking With God
Introduction
The desire for approval is a strong motive. Sometimes it is appropriate. Sometimes it is not. Have you ever wanted the approval of a policeman who stopped you for speeding? Listen to these following comments from actual police car videos around the country.
#15. "Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile."
#14. "Take your hands off the car, and I'll make your birth certificate a worthless document."
#13. "If you run, you'll only go to jail tired."
#12. "Can you run faster than 1200 feet per second? In case you didn't know, that is the average speed of a 9mm bullet fired from my gun."
#11. "So you don't know how fast you were going. I guess that means I can write anything I want on the ticket, huh?"
#10. "Yes, sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. Oh, did I mention that I am the shift supervisor?"
#9. "Warning? You want a warning? O.K., I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket."
#8 "The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?"
#7 "Fair? You want me to be fair? Listen, fair is a place where you go to ride on rides, eat cotton candy, and step in monkey Doo.
#6 "Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven."
#5 "No, sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we want."
#4 "Just how big were those two beers?"
#3 "In God we trust, all others we run through CPIC/NCIC.."
#2 "I'm glad to hear the Chief of Police is a good personal friend of yours. At least you know someone who can post your bail."
#1 "You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right, we don't. Sign here."
The desire for approval is one of the strongest motives that affect peoples' attitudes and actions. In early childhood a child desires the approval of his or her parents. As that child enters school he or she labors to receive the approval of teachers.
It is normal for teenagers to desire the approval and the applause of the group to which they belong, and this inward desire for approval explains many of the attitudes and actions that often bring bewilderment to parents. In the process of courtship both the young man and the young woman eagerly seek to win each other's approval that they might be acceptable as marriage partners.
This desire for approval is one of the basic drives of human nature. It is of vital importance that we use great wisdom in our choice of those whose approval we desire. If we seek only our inward selfish approval, this will vitally affect our happiness and our actions and attitudes. If we seek the applause of the wicked and not the godly, it will be necessary for us to do those things that are contrary to the will of God to win approval.
Our time together today will point to a life, which sought approval in the appropriate way. Hopefully, we will reaffirm our commitment to the same endeavor.
Read with me Hebrews 11:5 and Genesis 5:21-24.
I. Note The Walk of Enoch
The words of our text declare that Enoch lived and labored that he might have the approval of God. It is said that " For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God" (Hebrews 11:5b).
Enoch did not win the approval of God accidentally or incidentally, for it was under the most unfavorable circumstances that Enoch walked with God in such a manner as to hear the words of divine approval. Notice also that Enoch walked with God and enjoyed his approval and praise while walking a common way of life. There is nothing to lead us to believe that Enoch was a professional, vocational servant of God. Very definitely he did not retire from society as a recluse to spend his time in selfish prayer and meditation.
The writer of Hebrews says as he gathers these great heroes of faith into a position where they can bear their testimony concerning the faithfulness of God that it was by faith that Enoch had pleased God. Just what does this mean? Is it possible for us to please God today? Is it possible for us to have the inward testimony, like Enoch, that our life and ministry is pleasing to our heavenly Father?
If Enoch could walk with God, then you and I can walk with God. The passage was not written merely that we might have the historical record of what happened in the past. It was written to show us what we an do if by faith we make the same response that these characters who walked through the pages of the Bible made.
A. His Life Was One Of Living Sacrifice
In this Genesis 5 we see Enoch's different stride.
B. Enoch Was Well Acquainted With God
To him God was real. Instead of having some information or knowledge about God, he knew God.
C. Enoch Acknowledged Both The Person and Presence of God
To him God was something infinitely more than a principle behind the universe. To him God was a personality. The writer of Hebrews states this most forcefully in words that contain one of the best definitions of faith to be found in the New Testament. The writer declares that "God...is" (Hebrews 11:6). God not only is, but He is vitally concerned about us and responds to our faith by richly rewarding us.
Enoch did not ignore God. Enoch did not forget God. The writer of Proverbs tells us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight " (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Many of us miss the joy of walking with God because we ignore Him and forget Him. Consequently, we walk in our own way, which often leads to disappointment and disaster.
D. Enoch Was In Agreement With God
Repentance is the response in which a man pledges to agree with God and accepts His divine viewpoint.
Individuals must be in agreement with God if he wants to walk with God. We will never be godly in our conduct until we accept the mind of Christ and think like He thought. When we agree with our Savior in our habits and attitudes it will follow like day follows night that our actions will remind others of Jesus Christ.
E. Enoch Appreciated and Adored The God With Whom He Walked
We believe that he walked with God because he found a deep joy and satisfaction in His presence.
It is in the gospel, the good news of God's love for sinners, that we discover the loving character and gracious Spirit of the God with whom Enoch walked. To know Him as Savior is to love Him. To know Him through continued fellowship is to love Him more and more.
F. His Death Was One of Spiritual Transformation
Even in Enoch's death, his walk with God was evident. And he was not means that he suddenly disappeared and could not be found on earth. Without knowing death as we experience it, he was translated to be with God. Herein is the ideal fate that God must have had for Adam if he had not sinned. The passage is placed here to offset the pessimism of Genesis 3. At last someone is permitted to enter the spiritual Garden of Eden. Enoch walked with God. This became the ideal that guided future generations. In Psalm 73:24 the true believer declares, "You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." The verb translated "receive" is the same one rendered took in verse 24. God is no respecter of persons. If he took Enoch, who walked with Him,
He will take any true believer.
II. See God's Wish For Our Walk
In the Old Testament we read that "Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). God said to Abraham, "Walk before me" (Genesis 17:1). The psalmist vowed, "I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 116:9).
In the New Testament the walk of the believer is described in a number of ways. If we are acquainted with God through faith in Jesus, if we will acknowledge His living presence, and if we are in agreement with Him, it is possible for us to walk with an abiding awareness of His presence. The characteristics of the believer's walk are described in a number of different ways in the New Testament.
A. It Is A Walk of Faith
If we want to walk with God, we must believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and arose victorious over death and the grave, and that He has come into our heart as Savior and Lord.
B. It Is A Walk of Newness of Life
The walk of the believer will be different from the walk of the unbeliever. Paul declares that because of the believer's death to a life of sin and the burial of that old way of life, "like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).
C. It Is A Walk In The Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
By walking in the Spirit we are to progress from one stage of life to another and from one place to another consciously led by the Holy Spirit who came to dwell within the heart of each believer at the time of his conversion. God is a Spirit, and they who would walk with Him must have faith to believe in His eternal abiding presence. The Holy Spirit provides counsel and courage as well as wisdom and strength for the task of life if we will but trust Him.
Conclusion
How is your walk? Is there sweet fellowship between you and our Lord?
There are some who wish that there were more about Enoch's life. Maybe it's best the way it is. If there were an outline in his life, we would want to mimic his behavior. God wants you...the real you...the new you...the you molded in the Father's image...the you remade by the Holy Spirit.
May we be changed by faith.