WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.960 This morning, I want to look at what it means 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:07.280 to walk with Christ. We just sang a song about, 00:00:08.119 --> 00:00:10.619 and we sang the words that we said, I walk with 00:00:10.619 --> 00:00:15.400 the King. And we sang another song at the first 00:00:15.400 --> 00:00:18.579 of the service. We said, we sang about taking 00:00:18.579 --> 00:00:21.699 time to be holy. That was also about our walk 00:00:21.699 --> 00:00:25.940 with Christ. There is so much that is. that we 00:00:25.940 --> 00:00:28.699 can look at from the scriptures and we can glean 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:31.359 from the scriptures and understand of what it 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:33.320 means to walk with Christ. And we're going to 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:36.899 take a few minutes this morning to look at this. 00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:39.659 There is so much in the New Testament that we 00:00:39.659 --> 00:00:43.359 could look at and go different routes of what 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.320 it means to walk with Christ. We're going to 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:47.880 look at a few things this morning though and 00:00:47.880 --> 00:00:50.539 hopefully help our understanding. In Matthew 00:00:50.539 --> 00:00:55.619 chapter 16 verse 24, Jesus then said unto his 00:00:55.619 --> 00:00:58.840 disciples. He said if any man will come after 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:04.040 me Let him deny himself and take up his cross 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:10.400 and follow me If we are going to follow Christ, 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:13.920 it's it's absolutely necessary that we deny ourselves 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:19.000 and That we take up our cross and we we follow 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:26.659 him When To follow means that we're going in 00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:31.819 the same way We're not leading we're coming after 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:36.219 but we're along the same path and We understand 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:40.459 though that he is the one who is leading If we're 00:01:40.459 --> 00:01:44.099 gonna follow him we have to put him first And 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:47.000 this world gets it messed up many times and they 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:50.579 they want to lead and they say Jesus come on 00:01:50.579 --> 00:01:54.120 pick keep keep up The times are progressing. 00:01:55.060 --> 00:02:00.140 You know, things are changing. We are following 00:02:00.140 --> 00:02:04.799 after Christ. The phrase, Jesus uses this phrase, 00:02:06.060 --> 00:02:10.120 follow me, 17 times in the gospels. And they're 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:14.139 all found in that phrase that he uses. It's only 00:02:14.139 --> 00:02:16.860 found in the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:20.419 and John. And as we read the rest of the New 00:02:20.419 --> 00:02:25.960 Testament, We see the command to walk To walk 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:28.620 so we're following him. He tells us to follow 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:32.719 him in the Gospels Then after Jesus completes 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:35.280 his mission on this earth. He's in heaven. He's 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:38.080 given his word to his apostles It's been written 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:41.340 down for us to understand and now we can understand 00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:44.699 how to follow him by walking after by walking 00:02:44.699 --> 00:02:49.379 after him We have to understand that this walk 00:02:49.659 --> 00:02:54.039 It starts with with faith. That's the very beginning 00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:58.020 of our walk Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6 says but 00:02:58.020 --> 00:03:00.960 without faith it's impossible to please him for 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:03.400 he that cometh to God must believe that he is 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:06.979 and that he is a rewarder of them that Diligently 00:03:06.979 --> 00:03:11.340 seek him Second Corinthians 5 verse 7 says for 00:03:11.340 --> 00:03:18.139 we walk by faith and not by sight It's not possible 00:03:18.139 --> 00:03:22.620 to follow Christ To live as a Christian without 00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:28.360 faith. It's just not possible It's impossible 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:32.659 to please him without it and by this faith is 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:36.819 that's how we walk Starts with our faith and 00:03:36.819 --> 00:03:39.719 this faith is the scripture says it's the substance 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:42.560 of things hoped for it's the evidence of things 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:47.639 not seen And then in first Peter 1 verse 9 says 00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:51.520 receiving the end of your faith even the salvation 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:56.599 Of your souls our Christian wall it starts with 00:03:56.599 --> 00:04:00.300 faith and it ends with an unending faith and 00:04:00.300 --> 00:04:04.080 that being and Ultimately the salvation of our 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:12.360 souls That's the end of it if we're gonna put 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:15.039 our faith in Jesus if we're gonna walk with him 00:04:15.749 --> 00:04:20.310 Well, then we must then put our faith in His 00:04:20.310 --> 00:04:27.930 words how he lived how he told us to live And 00:04:27.930 --> 00:04:31.329 in the end we put our faith in knowing that salvation 00:04:31.329 --> 00:04:34.889 awaits for us The end of it if we keep this faith 00:04:34.889 --> 00:04:38.170 the end of that is going to be salvation This 00:04:38.170 --> 00:04:41.470 walk will not continue forever. We will ultimately 00:04:41.470 --> 00:04:46.759 reach the goal But we can't give up we have to 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:53.240 keep following after Christ You know ultimately 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:55.699 he's going to come back and we will see him face 00:04:55.699 --> 00:05:00.420 to face There won't be no more of this walking 00:05:00.420 --> 00:05:03.180 in this this going through these mountains and 00:05:03.180 --> 00:05:06.040 valleys and these things we will be in his presence 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:09.779 and The end of our faith will be our salvation. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:14.839 This is a journey. It's a lifelong walk And it 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:18.959 starts with faith. You know, many people, they 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:22.139 worry very much about getting in their daily 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:27.439 steps. They make sure they wear, you know, you 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:29.339 can track it on your phone or whatever, and you 00:05:29.339 --> 00:05:32.060 want to make sure you get in your steps for the 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:34.180 day and you brag about how many steps you got. 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:37.319 But what about our spiritual walk? How many steps 00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:40.060 are we getting in with the Lord? How many times 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:43.740 are we opening our Bibles? How many times are 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:47.420 we casting aside our will and letting his will 00:05:47.420 --> 00:05:51.740 be done? How many times are we holding our tongue? 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:55.620 Instead of saying what we we would like to say 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:59.959 instead we say what God would rather us say That 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:03.459 is walking with Christ We need to be more concerned 00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:07.600 about getting in our spiritual steps If we can 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:10.399 be very concerned about our physical we so much 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:12.560 more should be concerned about our spiritual. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:21.660 In Colossians chapter two, verse six, he says, 00:06:22.180 --> 00:06:25.040 as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:30.819 Lord, so walk ye in him. So this morning, as 00:06:30.819 --> 00:06:34.620 we have received Christ, our Lord, we're gonna 00:06:34.620 --> 00:06:37.439 look at, I wanna look at five ways of how we 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:41.620 can Walk with the Lord. There's many you can 00:06:41.620 --> 00:06:44.579 make this ten ways you can make there is so much 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:49.920 that is in it I would encourage you to Take a 00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:52.879 concordance look up the word walk and look at 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:55.079 it and look how many times it's used in the New 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:59.180 Testament It's used over and over Because it's 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:02.839 talking about our life our life in Christ our 00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:07.920 walk it's compared to walking with him our walk 00:07:08.110 --> 00:07:12.529 First is in newness of life. Romans chapter 6 00:07:12.529 --> 00:07:15.829 verse 3 says here, Know ye not that so many of 00:07:15.829 --> 00:07:18.790 us were baptized into Christ, and to Jesus Christ 00:07:18.790 --> 00:07:23.209 were baptized into his death? Therefore we are 00:07:23.209 --> 00:07:25.529 buried with him by baptism into death, that like 00:07:25.529 --> 00:07:27.709 as Christ was raised up from the dead by the 00:07:27.709 --> 00:07:32.009 glory of the Father, even so we also should walk 00:07:32.009 --> 00:07:38.160 in newness of life. After we have been buried 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:42.120 with Christ in baptism, we're raised to a new 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:48.319 life in Christ. We don't have to wonder about 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:52.800 what this new life means or how we can walk in 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:55.480 this newness of life. We just need to keep reading. 00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:58.839 It says, for if we have been united together 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:02.139 in the likeness of His death, certainly we also 00:08:02.139 --> 00:08:04.180 shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. 00:08:05.740 --> 00:08:08.699 Listen, he says knowing this that our old man 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:12.939 was crucified with him That the body of sin might 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:16.620 be done away with And that we should no longer 00:08:16.620 --> 00:08:21.480 be slaves of sin For he who has died has been 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:24.959 freed from sin Now if we died with Christ, we 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:29.459 believe that we shall also live with him Knowing 00:08:29.459 --> 00:08:32.320 that Christ having being raised from the dead 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:36.000 dies no more death no longer has dominion over 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:39.700 him for the death that he died he died to see 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:42.200 it once for all but the life that he lives he 00:08:42.200 --> 00:08:45.720 lives to God likewise ye also reckon yourselves 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:50.299 to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God in 00:08:50.299 --> 00:08:55.340 Christ Jesus our Lord therefore do not let sin 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:58.419 reign in your mortal body that you should obey 00:08:58.419 --> 00:09:06.240 it in its lust If we're gonna walk as a Christian, 00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:07.980 and we're gonna begin this walk, and we're gonna 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:12.440 have faith, and we're gonna obey His words, we 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:15.220 can't keep doing the same things that we used 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:19.720 to do. The old man has been crucified. A new 00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:24.440 man has been raised. There must be a personal 00:09:24.440 --> 00:09:29.240 transformation. And this transformation, it can't 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:33.059 begin before you're in Christ. It begins after. 00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:38.500 Once he gives you his spirit Then the transformation 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:41.980 can take place and if for some it can it can 00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:44.519 happen very quickly for others Maybe it takes 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:49.159 a little more time But God will prune you he 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:52.360 will work in your life He will put people in 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:54.940 your life and your life will begin to change 00:09:54.940 --> 00:09:59.759 and your mind will begin to change And you will 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:03.029 begin and you will be walking with Christ in 00:10:03.029 --> 00:10:06.230 newness of life. And you will begin to see that 00:10:06.230 --> 00:10:09.409 sin is not raining in my body anymore. The things 00:10:09.409 --> 00:10:13.929 that I used to say yes to, I say no now. And 00:10:13.929 --> 00:10:16.710 the more you do that, the easier it becomes. 00:10:17.750 --> 00:10:20.509 And it's not a struggle. It's just part of who 00:10:20.509 --> 00:10:29.100 you are. That's walking in newness of life. It 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:35.019 begins when we were baptized into Christ That's 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:38.440 when our old man was put to death and there was 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:44.360 a new man then that was risen up And we walk 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:48.419 in newness of life our walk should be in decency 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:52.639 We're gonna look at this in Romans chapter 13 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:57.299 Romans chapter 13 once verse 11 says and That 00:10:57.299 --> 00:11:00.120 knowing the time that now is high time to awake 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:03.460 out of sleep for now is our salvation nearer 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:08.200 than when we believed the end of our faith salvation 00:11:08.200 --> 00:11:12.820 Is nearer now than when we first believed because 00:11:12.820 --> 00:11:15.820 time more time has gone on We're getting closer 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:18.639 to the Lord coming back. We're getting closer 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:22.320 to our death Because when that comes that's the 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:27.519 end Salvation awaits judgment awaits The night 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:30.000 is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:33.279 cast off the works of darkness and let us put 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:37.279 on the armor of light. And let us walk honestly 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.340 as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:42.879 and not in chambering and wantonness and not 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:46.879 in strife and envy. But put you on the Lord Jesus 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:50.039 Christ and make not provision for the flesh to 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:57.799 fulfill the lust thereof. He says therefore do 00:11:57.799 --> 00:12:00.019 not let sin reign in your model body that you 00:12:00.019 --> 00:12:08.899 should obey it in the lust He says I've got a 00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:11.460 cut off there he says he says let us walk honestly 00:12:11.460 --> 00:12:15.539 as in as in the day and he says put on the Lord 00:12:15.539 --> 00:12:17.220 Jesus Christ and may not provision for the flesh 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:20.600 to fill it for the lust thereof and Then at first 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:22.980 Corinthians 14 verse 40 says let all things be 00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:29.019 done decently and in order. The word used in 00:12:29.019 --> 00:12:32.960 Romans 13 honestly is the same word as used in 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:36.159 1 Corinthians 14 verse 40 when he says, let things 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:39.340 be done decently and in order. When he's talking 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:43.100 about the assembly of the church, he's talking 00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:47.340 about how the men should speak one by one. And 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:49.379 if you have something to say, hold your tongue 00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:52.649 until the other finishes. What does this mean 00:12:52.649 --> 00:12:55.309 it means that there's not so there's not chaos 00:12:55.309 --> 00:12:59.929 So there's not confusion Our lives should not 00:12:59.929 --> 00:13:03.210 be lives that are full of confusion and chaos 00:13:03.210 --> 00:13:09.990 There is a lot of chaos in this world there's 00:13:09.990 --> 00:13:16.470 a lot of dishonesty There's a lot of confusion 00:13:16.470 --> 00:13:19.470 this should not be so in the life of a Christian 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:25.279 Our lives should be different Look again at Romans 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:31.379 13 and there and Verse 13 there not in rioting 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:33.539 and drunkenness not in chambering. That means 00:13:33.539 --> 00:13:36.580 cohabitation That means living together before 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:41.120 marriage. That's what the world does These things 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:44.840 these these things are chaotic rioting drunkenness 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:48.299 all these types of things This is what the world 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:52.320 does. Let all be things done decently. We should 00:13:52.320 --> 00:13:56.179 walk in decency, not in lives that are full of 00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:58.240 all these things. Look what he says in First 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:02.460 Peter. He says, for we have spent enough of our 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:04.679 past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:07.899 when we walked in lewdness and lust and drunkenness 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:12.320 and revelries and drinking parties and abominable 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:19.440 idolatries as lives. These things Should not 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:22.440 be so in the life of a Christian our lives should 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:29.360 be clean and and peaceful You know, we may have 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:32.120 come from a life that was full of a lot of chaos 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:37.799 and a lot of turmoil and There may still be some 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:40.620 of that in our even after we become Christians 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:44.250 our lives may still have some of that Much of 00:14:44.250 --> 00:14:47.330 that comes from our past life. It comes from 00:14:47.330 --> 00:14:54.029 that old man. Some of that fruit is still taking 00:14:54.029 --> 00:14:58.210 place in our lives. We're having to face those 00:14:58.210 --> 00:15:02.250 things that we did in our past, those past relationships, 00:15:04.110 --> 00:15:08.870 and our old way of thinking. But in Christ, as 00:15:08.870 --> 00:15:11.950 we begin our walk with Him and we continue to 00:15:11.950 --> 00:15:15.679 walk with Him, Our lives should get more peaceful. 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:19.980 There should be greater peace starting first 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:25.019 and foremost inside of here. And that we've made 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:29.259 peace with our God. And then from that we can 00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:33.720 then begin to see the world differently. And 00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:37.000 we begin to look at things more spiritually and 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:40.830 we begin to look at people. not to try to see 00:15:40.830 --> 00:15:45.110 how we can get back at them or how we can, whatever, 00:15:45.610 --> 00:15:48.370 think bad things about something, but to think 00:15:48.370 --> 00:15:52.870 about their soul and to think about how you can 00:15:52.870 --> 00:15:57.070 get them to the Lord. Our lives should be more 00:15:57.070 --> 00:16:00.610 and more peaceful. Our walks should be in decency. 00:16:01.129 --> 00:16:03.769 In 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17, he says, Therefore, 00:16:03.830 --> 00:16:06.549 if any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:09.860 And old things are passed away, and behold, all 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:15.139 things are become new. I love this verse. Old 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:19.299 things are passed away. When something passes 00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:22.679 away, we use that phrase, you know, they passed 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:27.679 away, they died. Old things die. Our old things 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:30.139 that we used to do, they passed away, they've 00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:36.840 been put to death. And all things are new. That's 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:38.919 the way our life should be in Colossians chapter 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:41.740 2 He says here in whom also you are circumcised 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:43.940 with the circumcision made without hands and 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:47.379 putting off the body Of the sins of the flesh 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:50.139 by the circumcision of Christ He says buried 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:52.539 with him in baptism where he knew you are also 00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:55.100 risen with him through the faith of the operation 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:57.639 of God Who hath raised him from the dead and 00:16:57.639 --> 00:17:00.580 you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:03.720 of your flesh Hath he quickened together with 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:12.589 him having forgiven you all trespasses. God performed 00:17:12.589 --> 00:17:16.950 a work in you when you were baptized into Christ. 00:17:17.809 --> 00:17:22.210 He removed your sin. He did the work that you 00:17:22.210 --> 00:17:26.210 could not do. You only submitted to Him to allow 00:17:26.210 --> 00:17:30.589 Him to perform this operation on you. It was 00:17:30.589 --> 00:17:35.589 nothing. You just submitted to His will. He did 00:17:35.589 --> 00:17:41.630 the miraculous work of forgiving your sin If 00:17:41.630 --> 00:17:47.049 you keep reading you go to Colossians 3 I must 00:17:47.049 --> 00:17:49.430 have missed it here or there it is in Colossians 00:17:49.430 --> 00:17:53.589 3 He says then keep on reading said if ye thee 00:17:53.589 --> 00:17:55.769 been risen with Christ seek those things Which 00:17:55.769 --> 00:17:58.009 are above where Christ siteth on the right hand 00:17:58.009 --> 00:18:00.609 of God. He says set your affections on things 00:18:00.609 --> 00:18:06.539 above not on things of the earth We go back to 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:08.940 Colossians 2 verse 12. He says bury with him 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:12.380 in baptism wherein also you are risen with him 00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:15.599 When you're buried in baptism, you come up you're 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:18.720 risen with him a new man And then what he says 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:21.940 if then if you are have been risen with Christ, 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:24.799 what does he say? He says seek those things which 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:30.599 are above Seek those things which are above set 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:37.890 your affection on those things above God like 00:18:37.890 --> 00:18:40.970 I said, he performed a work in you in your life 00:18:40.970 --> 00:18:45.710 when he forgave your sin He did an operation 00:18:45.710 --> 00:18:51.670 that you could not do But now what are you doing? 00:18:52.650 --> 00:18:55.250 What are you setting your mind on? What are you 00:18:55.250 --> 00:18:58.710 casting off? Are you laying aside the weights 00:18:58.710 --> 00:19:02.130 and the sins that can so easily drag you down? 00:19:03.289 --> 00:19:05.630 God did something in your life that you could 00:19:05.630 --> 00:19:08.250 not do now What are you doing in your life that 00:19:08.250 --> 00:19:11.410 you have the responsibility? To do through the 00:19:11.410 --> 00:19:14.990 power of Christ him working in you. Are you casting 00:19:14.990 --> 00:19:18.690 off? Are you setting your mind on the right things? 00:19:20.369 --> 00:19:23.730 Are you laying aside those weights as you run 00:19:23.730 --> 00:19:26.589 and you walk this this race that we're in that 00:19:26.589 --> 00:19:31.849 can so easily drag you down Are we doing that? 00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:37.660 That's our responsibility to do that Are we? 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:43.980 Am I? Our walk should be in diligence Ephesians 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:47.259 chapter 5 verse 15 says see you then that you 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:51.160 walk circumspectly not as fools, but as wise 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:55.579 Redeeming the time because the days are evil 00:19:55.579 --> 00:20:04.109 We must walk with diligence The word used here 00:20:04.109 --> 00:20:08.490 for diligence is circumspectly circumspectly 00:20:08.490 --> 00:20:14.730 meaning that we Have diligence and viewing all 00:20:14.730 --> 00:20:18.450 around us this, you know, you think about circumspect 00:20:18.450 --> 00:20:22.230 or circum circumference is that the you know 00:20:22.230 --> 00:20:26.950 and full 360 degrees And you're looking you're 00:20:26.950 --> 00:20:30.849 being very diligent all around in all aspects 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:37.519 your life we must be walk circumspectly we was 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:42.420 what we must walk with with diligence and it 00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:46.420 takes wisdom it takes understanding and knowing 00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:52.839 that there is evil in this world and Satan is 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:56.359 seeking to destroy you he's seeking to destroy 00:20:56.359 --> 00:21:01.200 your family our eyes have to be open to these 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:06.180 things that Everything in this world is not good 00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:09.799 Everything everyone does not have the best intentions 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:13.900 Satan wants to destroy you. He wants you to he 00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:18.380 wants to bring you to hell It takes wisdom and 00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:22.099 it takes diligence to see these things in life 00:21:22.099 --> 00:21:29.910 So there are so that we can walk correctly You 00:21:29.910 --> 00:21:34.569 know, it's very easily to waste our time, to 00:21:34.569 --> 00:21:39.730 let our guard down. We have to be aware, though, 00:21:39.829 --> 00:21:43.029 of what we're doing, who we're hanging out with, 00:21:43.990 --> 00:21:49.029 what we're teaching, what we believe. We have 00:21:49.029 --> 00:21:52.630 to be careful in these things and be diligent 00:21:52.630 --> 00:21:56.730 and use wisdom. Acts chapter 18. I want you to 00:21:56.730 --> 00:22:00.349 look at here Acts chapter 18 verse 24 through 00:22:00.349 --> 00:22:05.569 25 And it says here a certain Jew named Apollos 00:22:05.569 --> 00:22:08.769 Born at Alexandria an eloquent man and mighty 00:22:08.769 --> 00:22:12.109 in the scriptures. He came to Ephesus This man 00:22:12.109 --> 00:22:14.690 was instructed in the way of the Lord and being 00:22:14.690 --> 00:22:18.049 fervent in the spirit He spake and taught diligently 00:22:18.049 --> 00:22:22.549 the things of the Lord knowing only the baptism 00:22:22.549 --> 00:22:29.900 of John Says that Paulus was an eloquent man 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:34.380 He was mighty in the scriptures and he taught 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:39.880 diligently what he knew But the problem was that 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:45.200 he was diligently teaching the wrong things He 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:48.180 didn't know of the baptism of Christ he was only 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:51.400 teaching of the baptism of John at this time 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:57.279 Christ Had already been resurrected The gospel 00:22:57.279 --> 00:23:00.859 was the good news of Christ and what he had done 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:03.960 and the fact that he had died and was resurrected 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:07.900 and was sitting at the right hand of God But 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:10.819 he didn't know these things but he was diligently 00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:16.059 teaching the wrong thing and It says and in verse 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:19.420 26 and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:23.279 whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard They 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:26.480 took unto Him and expounded unto Him the way 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:35.920 of God more perfectly. This husband and wife 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:42.759 team, this Aquila and Priscilla, they heard Apollos 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:47.440 teaching, and because they were walking circumspectly, 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:51.130 because of their diligence, they heard and recognized 00:23:51.130 --> 00:23:53.390 this false teaching that was being taught in 00:23:53.390 --> 00:23:58.049 the synagogue. And they took Apollos and they 00:23:58.049 --> 00:24:01.789 taught him the truth. They taught him of the 00:24:01.789 --> 00:24:06.529 fact that Jesus had come and that they were teaching 00:24:06.529 --> 00:24:11.170 about his baptism. What if they had heard this 00:24:11.170 --> 00:24:13.309 false teaching and they didn't recognize it? 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:16.859 What if they weren't walking diligently in that 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:18.720 and their ears were closed and they were sitting 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:21.539 there in there in the pew and the the the man 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:23.920 was up there teaching false doctrine and they 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:27.140 they didn't recognize it and They would go on 00:24:27.140 --> 00:24:29.599 maybe to take that same teaching and go on to 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:32.400 share it with others What if they weren't walking 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:35.940 diligently and they weren't? Having the right 00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:38.880 mindset or what if they did recognize it and 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:42.480 they said well Maybe someone I hope someone will 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:46.980 teach him what's actually true about Christ Surely 00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:49.900 someone will someday will help him. I can't believe 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:52.460 he's teaching these things What if they had just 00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:55.839 done that and not took the time to meet with 00:24:55.839 --> 00:25:05.839 him? Apollos this man that started We read about 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:08.960 him teaching the baptism of John, and he was 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:10.779 an eloquent man, he was mighty in the scriptures, 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:13.460 but he was teaching things that were false. Once 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:16.740 he was taught the truth, he went on to become 00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:23.420 a very great and missionary for the church. He 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:26.960 spent many, much of his time with Paul traveling 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:32.539 and teaching. And it started with this husband 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:38.019 and wife being diligent. Taking the time to see 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:45.119 this man and to teach him the truth You know 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:48.539 the story goes back further with him with them, 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:50.539 you know, you can read this whole story in Acts 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:57.519 chapter 18 Paul the Apostle Paul He had an earthly 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:00.079 occupation. You know, we know he was an apostle. 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:04.670 He was a Jew He was called by the Lord. He was 00:26:04.670 --> 00:26:10.609 an apostle of Christ. But he also made tents. 00:26:11.329 --> 00:26:16.029 That's what he did. He was a tent maker. And 00:26:16.029 --> 00:26:22.430 so was Aquila and Priscilla. The earthly occupation 00:26:22.430 --> 00:26:30.390 that they shared brought them together. And Aquila 00:26:30.390 --> 00:26:33.730 and Priscilla and Paul They began to hang out 00:26:33.730 --> 00:26:37.809 with together and they would hear Paul teach 00:26:37.809 --> 00:26:43.250 in the synagogue every Saturday because he would 00:26:43.250 --> 00:26:45.190 go to the synagogue because that's where the 00:26:45.190 --> 00:26:49.869 Jews would meet and they would be teaching from 00:26:49.869 --> 00:26:52.509 the Old Testament, from the Old Law. And Paul 00:26:52.509 --> 00:26:54.829 would go in to reason with them from the Scriptures, 00:26:54.890 --> 00:26:57.390 from the Old Law and show them how Christ had 00:26:57.390 --> 00:27:00.400 fulfilled the Old Law. And Aquila and Priscilla 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:05.140 were there with him hearing these things. And 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:09.559 they became very close friends with Paul. And 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:12.240 from there, Aquila and Priscilla, they were from 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:16.700 Italy. And we can read this in Acts 18. And they 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:20.519 traveled with Paul on about a 250 -mile trip 00:27:20.519 --> 00:27:28.440 from Italy, from Corinth to Ephesus. Became friends 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:30.599 with him. They were following him. They were 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:34.220 doing what Paul was doing They went from Corinth 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:42.079 To Ephesus And in Ephesus is where they made 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:46.539 a policy They were 250 miles away from their 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:51.980 home They were in a very different country But 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:55.259 they were still walking diligently they were 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:58.980 walking circumspectly And in this different place, 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:01.039 some hundreds of miles away from their home, 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:03.019 they heard this man teaching something that was 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:06.480 not true. And they took him, they took the time, 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:10.099 and they expounded unto him the way of God more 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:17.279 perfectly and more diligently. And then Apollos 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:21.819 goes on to become this great teacher. Their common 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:25.420 job brought them It led to this with this being 00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:28.740 a tent maker God will use and he can use and 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:33.319 he does things in your life to further his kingdom 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:39.240 But he needs willing people to be his hands and 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:42.980 feet He needs people like Aquila and Priscilla 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:46.740 that are diligent and what they hear and when 00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:51.259 they hear something that it's not true They don't 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:55.359 blast him publicly, they took him aside. And 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:59.519 they talked to him on a private level. And this 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:02.619 is also an example. We see a woman teaching. 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:07.319 This was not in a public assembly. This was in 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:11.299 a private setting. And they taught Apollos. And 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:13.980 it was very effective. Apollos goes on to do 00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:17.809 great things. They were walking diligently. We 00:29:17.809 --> 00:29:20.569 must walk in a worthy manner Ephesians chapter 00:29:20.569 --> 00:29:23.670 4 verse 1 says I therefore the prisoner of the 00:29:23.670 --> 00:29:25.930 Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of the 00:29:25.930 --> 00:29:29.549 vocation wherewith you are called With all loneliness 00:29:29.549 --> 00:29:32.089 and meekness with long suffering for bearing 00:29:32.089 --> 00:29:35.930 one another in love Endeavoring to keep the unity 00:29:35.930 --> 00:29:39.849 of the spirit and the bond of peace What does 00:29:39.849 --> 00:29:44.829 it mean to walk worthy? It means to be appropriate 00:29:44.829 --> 00:29:49.119 to be godly To walk in a manner that's appropriate 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:53.180 for someone that claims to follow the Lord, to 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:58.000 be a Christian, to take on the name Christian, 00:29:58.420 --> 00:30:02.539 to follow after Christ, that's a great responsibility. 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:06.940 And if we're gonna walk worthy, it means that 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:09.859 we need to walk in a way that's appropriate if 00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:12.119 we're gonna carry that name. It means to be godly, 00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:21.299 to be godlike, to be the way He would be. You 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:24.920 know, we may think, well, how am I even able? 00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:29.000 How can I be worthy of this, of even being called 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:31.920 a Christian and taking on this name of Christ? 00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:39.039 God in the flesh. You know if you think of worthiness 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:41.559 and the fact that well I'm worthy of this or 00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:44.539 that Because of me because of what I've done 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:47.000 and what I've accomplished in my my life. I'm 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:49.940 worthy of this I'm worthy of you giving me these 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:53.539 things and or or Getting at this praise because 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:58.019 of who I am and what I've done You're missing 00:30:58.019 --> 00:31:02.700 it if that's the idea of thinking of worthiness, 00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:12.730 but if you lower yourself Realize that Jesus 00:31:12.730 --> 00:31:18.230 Found me worthy even to the extent that he would 00:31:18.230 --> 00:31:22.849 die for me You see that your worth to God was 00:31:22.849 --> 00:31:27.009 the price of his son and It should cause you 00:31:27.009 --> 00:31:31.210 to humble yourself to lower yourself and lift 00:31:31.210 --> 00:31:39.569 him up Because he is holy But he deemed you Worthy 00:31:39.569 --> 00:31:44.029 enough to die for you What does that mean to 00:31:44.029 --> 00:31:49.849 it I mean We should not be prideful of that we 00:31:49.849 --> 00:31:55.910 should be in great humility and great have Why 00:31:55.910 --> 00:32:01.150 Lord why did you help But you did this for me 00:32:01.150 --> 00:32:03.309 and I thank you and I will live for you and I 00:32:03.309 --> 00:32:05.569 will praise you and I will give you Glory and 00:32:05.569 --> 00:32:09.390 honor because you did this for me That should 00:32:09.390 --> 00:32:14.650 be our attitude I Will strive then therefore 00:32:14.650 --> 00:32:20.329 to to walk in a manner that is worthy Worthy 00:32:20.329 --> 00:32:24.609 of being called your servant Remembering that 00:32:24.609 --> 00:32:28.049 you I'm not leading I'm only following I'm only 00:32:28.049 --> 00:32:33.750 walking after you Therefore I will be long suffering 00:32:33.750 --> 00:32:38.529 with people I will be kind I will be modest. 00:32:39.730 --> 00:32:44.430 I will try to make my life decent and in order. 00:32:46.589 --> 00:32:50.390 I will strive to show my appreciation to Him 00:32:50.390 --> 00:32:54.130 in the way I live, in the way I think, in the 00:32:54.130 --> 00:32:57.549 way I dress, and in the way I treat other people. 00:32:57.670 --> 00:33:02.430 In all aspects of my life, I will try to be and 00:33:02.430 --> 00:33:04.750 live and walk in a way that's worthy of you, 00:33:05.069 --> 00:33:07.819 Lord. Because of what you have done because nothing 00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:12.460 I have done but what you have done for me Philippians 00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:15.559 1 verse 27 says only let your conduct be worthy 00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:20.180 of the gospel of Christ So that whether I come 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:22.859 and see you or an absent I may hear of your fears 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:25.799 that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind 00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:29.440 striving together for the faith of the gospel 00:33:32.850 --> 00:33:36.690 We walk worthy of the Lord when we strive together 00:33:36.690 --> 00:33:42.029 For the faith for the gospel We should be a church 00:33:42.029 --> 00:33:47.490 without division and without strife Without clicks 00:33:47.490 --> 00:33:53.529 We should be working together to spread the gospel 00:33:53.529 --> 00:33:58.930 God when we do that God sees us and says they're 00:33:58.930 --> 00:34:01.799 walking in a way that's pleasing into me They're 00:34:01.799 --> 00:34:04.099 walking in a way that's befitting to my name. 00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:07.980 They're walking worthy of me He finds great pleasure 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:11.619 in that Colossians 1 verse 9 says for this reason 00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:14.719 also once we also since the day we heard it do 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:17.539 not cease to pray for you and to ask that you 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:20.039 may be filled with the knowledge of it of of 00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:23.559 his will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:26.860 that you may walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing 00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:30.599 him being fruitful in every good work and increasing 00:34:31.590 --> 00:34:36.769 the knowledge of God. We walk worthy of the Lord 00:34:36.769 --> 00:34:41.050 when we strive to be fruitful in good works and 00:34:41.050 --> 00:34:43.269 when we strive to increase in our knowledge of 00:34:43.269 --> 00:34:47.010 Him. When we strive to get in our daily steps 00:34:47.010 --> 00:34:51.409 for Him and we take His Word and we read it and 00:34:51.409 --> 00:34:54.269 as we do that we are increasing in the knowledge 00:34:54.269 --> 00:34:57.230 of God. We are then walking worthy of Him. It's 00:34:57.230 --> 00:35:03.619 pleasing to Him. That's what He wants. You know, 00:35:03.619 --> 00:35:07.420 one of the reasons that we covered the topics 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:11.239 that we did in our recent meeting, in our summer 00:35:11.239 --> 00:35:14.960 meeting, was so that we could increase in the 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:20.360 knowledge of God. It should be something that 00:35:20.360 --> 00:35:24.599 we strive for all the time. If we have questions 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:27.920 about something, about why we do what we do, 00:35:28.139 --> 00:35:30.900 whatever it is, we should look for the answers 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:37.750 in His Word. And when we do that, we're walking 00:35:37.750 --> 00:35:41.630 worthy of Him because we're trying to increase 00:35:41.630 --> 00:35:45.730 in His knowledge. His knowledge is beyond our, 00:35:46.329 --> 00:35:54.090 we cannot fully understand and comprehend fully 00:35:54.090 --> 00:35:59.650 who God is. But He finds it pleasing when we 00:35:59.650 --> 00:36:02.940 strive to learn more and more of who He is. And 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:05.400 we become more knowledgeable in His Word. And 00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:07.800 when we become more fruitful in doing good works, 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:11.199 He finds great joy in those things. And we're 00:36:11.199 --> 00:36:14.719 walking worthy when we do those things. Our walk 00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:19.619 finally should be in truth. 3 John chapter 1 00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:38.599 verse 3 says, and truth. Third John is one chapter 00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:43.360 in the New Testament. It's the shortest book 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:46.420 in the Bible, in the New Testament, in Scripture, 00:36:46.760 --> 00:36:50.739 by word count. And the word truth is used six 00:36:50.739 --> 00:36:55.300 times in this book, in Third John. The truth 00:36:55.300 --> 00:37:01.820 is the good news of Jesus. We must walk in a 00:37:01.820 --> 00:37:07.280 way that agrees with the scripture and the doctrines 00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:13.239 that we profess The Lord says I have no greater 00:37:13.239 --> 00:37:16.460 joy than to hear that my children walk in truth 00:37:16.460 --> 00:37:20.780 If we're going to walk in truth, it simply means 00:37:20.780 --> 00:37:27.579 that we must practice what we preach We must 00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:32.710 not give lip service To the Lord There's no greater 00:37:32.710 --> 00:37:36.630 testimony than to live out what you say you believe 00:37:36.630 --> 00:37:43.170 It's very effective to actually live it out That's 00:37:43.170 --> 00:37:46.389 what the other early church did When there was 00:37:46.389 --> 00:37:49.550 great persecution, they didn't deny the Lord 00:37:49.550 --> 00:37:53.269 They suffered even to death when they were when 00:37:53.269 --> 00:37:55.550 they were punished They just spread and they 00:37:55.550 --> 00:37:57.690 continued to preach the gospel wherever they 00:37:57.690 --> 00:38:00.760 went Just like Aquila and Priscilla they went 00:38:00.760 --> 00:38:03.579 some 200 miles away and they were still teaching 00:38:03.579 --> 00:38:10.500 the truth even from their homeland There's no 00:38:10.500 --> 00:38:13.139 greater thing testimony then we then that we 00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:17.320 can give then to live out and actually practice 00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:22.199 what we preach People see that and as people 00:38:22.199 --> 00:38:26.119 see that conversations develop relationships 00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:33.280 can be Started and people can be led to the Lord 00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:36.579 Because they're seeing that these people are 00:38:36.579 --> 00:38:44.699 real they're not being hypocrites I Heard it 00:38:44.699 --> 00:38:47.900 put it I heard it put this way, you know, what 00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:52.179 happens when you walk in the dust and the mud 00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:56.400 There's been a lot of that this week because 00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:58.139 of all the rain what happens when you go out 00:38:58.139 --> 00:39:01.219 and you walk in it you get dirty You get that 00:39:01.219 --> 00:39:04.059 on you. What happens when you walk in the rain? 00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:09.699 Well, you get wet What happens when you walk 00:39:09.699 --> 00:39:15.059 in truth It gets over us it gets all over us 00:39:15.059 --> 00:39:19.739 it should become a part of who we are It's not 00:39:19.739 --> 00:39:21.940 like the mud though. We shouldn't try to avoid 00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:25.980 it It's not like the rain, we shouldn't use an 00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:29.179 umbrella to try to keep it off. We should want 00:39:29.179 --> 00:39:33.280 the word, the truth, to get all around us, all 00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:38.900 inside of us, and deep within us, as the scripture 00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:41.360 says, so that we might not sin against the Lord. 00:39:41.719 --> 00:39:44.500 It should be a part of who we are. We should 00:39:44.500 --> 00:39:49.780 want the truth in all to become a part of who 00:39:49.780 --> 00:39:53.940 we are. And when we walk in truth, That's what 00:39:53.940 --> 00:39:57.679 will happen. It will become a part of who we 00:39:57.679 --> 00:40:00.840 are. Second Corinthians 13 verse 8 says, for 00:40:00.840 --> 00:40:04.539 we can do nothing against the truth, but for 00:40:04.539 --> 00:40:12.500 the truth. Jesus said that he is the way, the 00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:18.780 truth, and the life. He is the truth. Our concern 00:40:18.780 --> 00:40:23.690 should be what can we do for him? We can't do 00:40:23.690 --> 00:40:26.989 nothing against him. What can we do for him? 00:40:27.429 --> 00:40:31.030 What can we do for the truth? We shouldn't fight 00:40:31.030 --> 00:40:35.489 against it We should maintain our correct position 00:40:35.489 --> 00:40:37.829 and are following after him. Make sure we don't 00:40:37.829 --> 00:40:43.090 step ahead Make sure he's leading now. We're 00:40:43.090 --> 00:40:45.730 following him and we're taking up our cross and 00:40:45.730 --> 00:40:52.030 following after him You know truth is much more 00:40:52.030 --> 00:40:56.190 than just knowing what is true. It's actually 00:40:56.190 --> 00:41:03.829 being true True to Jesus true to his words True 00:41:03.829 --> 00:41:06.469 to your conscience true to the way that you live 00:41:06.469 --> 00:41:11.469 It's not just enough to know it we have to live 00:41:11.469 --> 00:41:16.630 it out and that It's what we're looking at this 00:41:16.630 --> 00:41:18.469 morning. When we live it out, we walk in this 00:41:18.469 --> 00:41:20.710 way and we walk it in a way that's decent, in 00:41:20.710 --> 00:41:23.550 a way that's worthy, and we're striving to gain 00:41:23.550 --> 00:41:31.250 more knowledge of Him. In our recent meeting, 00:41:31.690 --> 00:41:37.570 as I mentioned earlier, we studied in depth about 00:41:37.570 --> 00:41:42.070 how we can and we should be in the business of 00:41:42.199 --> 00:41:46.940 restoring New Testament Christianity. You know, 00:41:46.940 --> 00:41:52.440 in those lessons, the focus was on our assemblies 00:41:52.440 --> 00:41:58.300 of why we have communion the way we do, why we 00:41:58.300 --> 00:42:02.760 strive to give the Lord the correct worship in 00:42:02.760 --> 00:42:06.139 our music, why we teach the way we teach, why 00:42:06.139 --> 00:42:08.920 we don't divide ourselves when we come together. 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:14.900 We study those things depth. But there's so much 00:42:14.900 --> 00:42:18.519 more to Christianity than just our assemblies. 00:42:19.159 --> 00:42:25.139 It's our lives. Are we living daily for Christ? 00:42:25.780 --> 00:42:31.179 Are we walking with Christ every day? That's 00:42:31.179 --> 00:42:35.219 the question we need to ask ourselves because 00:42:35.219 --> 00:42:37.860 we could come together for the worse and people 00:42:37.860 --> 00:42:40.719 did that and we read about that in Corinthians. 00:42:41.050 --> 00:42:45.170 We don't want to do that. We need to strive to 00:42:45.170 --> 00:42:49.130 walk personally every day for the Lord, to walk 00:42:49.130 --> 00:42:55.909 in these ways. We're walking with diligence, 00:42:55.969 --> 00:43:02.170 knowing that we have been created a new person. 00:43:02.190 --> 00:43:05.530 We have newness of life. So we walk diligently. 00:43:05.789 --> 00:43:08.030 We walk in a worthy manner. We walk in a way 00:43:08.030 --> 00:43:17.260 that's truthful. We must strive to live every 00:43:17.260 --> 00:43:22.619 day In a way that's pleasing to him help we should 00:43:22.619 --> 00:43:24.659 wake up with a prayer on our lips and thanking 00:43:24.659 --> 00:43:30.519 him for the day and Asking him to guide us To 00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:37.760 help us Because this walk will continue on Until 00:43:37.760 --> 00:43:40.800 the end and what's the result of our faith the 00:43:40.800 --> 00:43:43.579 end result? It's the salvation of our souls as 00:43:43.579 --> 00:43:51.340 we read about this morning. Revelations chapter 00:43:51.340 --> 00:43:53.699 three verse four says they shall walk with me 00:43:53.699 --> 00:43:59.920 in white for they are worthy. In verse 24 in 00:43:59.920 --> 00:44:01.980 chapter 21 he says those who are saved shall 00:44:01.980 --> 00:44:10.449 walk in its light. We walk in this life we go 00:44:10.449 --> 00:44:14.050 through the hills and the valleys and the the 00:44:14.050 --> 00:44:17.489 hard times and the difficult times but if we 00:44:17.489 --> 00:44:21.130 continue steadfast and if we Maintain that we're 00:44:21.130 --> 00:44:24.130 gonna walk with him now. We will walk with him 00:44:24.130 --> 00:44:29.530 in heaven He's made that promise He will create 00:44:29.530 --> 00:44:32.630 all things new. We will see him face to face 00:44:32.630 --> 00:44:37.920 and there will not be no more faith We will be 00:44:37.920 --> 00:44:41.619 benefiting from the end of our faith, the salvation 00:44:41.619 --> 00:44:47.019 of our souls. I look forward to that day, and 00:44:47.019 --> 00:44:50.840 I want you to look forward to that day. If you 00:44:50.840 --> 00:44:53.039 have not begin your walk with Christ, you can't 00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:56.940 look forward to this day. Your walk with Christ 00:44:56.940 --> 00:45:00.679 begins with faith. It begins with submitting 00:45:00.679 --> 00:45:04.980 yourself to His will. Allowing Him to perform 00:45:04.980 --> 00:45:09.280 a work in you that you cannot do. As was put 00:45:09.280 --> 00:45:12.699 in Colossians chapter 2 that we read. The operation 00:45:12.699 --> 00:45:16.579 of God. The removal of your sin. You can't do 00:45:16.579 --> 00:45:20.320 that. God does that. You just submit to Him. 00:45:20.500 --> 00:45:22.760 You repent of your sins. You say, I'm not going 00:45:22.760 --> 00:45:25.980 to do what I used to do. I'm going to do what 00:45:25.980 --> 00:45:30.349 God wants me to do. You submit to his will you 00:45:30.349 --> 00:45:33.110 allow yourself to be buried with him in baptism 00:45:33.110 --> 00:45:39.090 you allow then him to raise you and Then once 00:45:39.090 --> 00:45:42.650 we're raised with him. What do we do then? We 00:45:42.650 --> 00:45:45.250 begin our walk. We begin to set our affections 00:45:45.250 --> 00:45:50.550 on things above We begin to cast off we begin 00:45:50.550 --> 00:45:55.230 to lay aside those weights and our walk with 00:45:55.230 --> 00:46:00.230 him We'll begin. You can have that. God wants 00:46:00.230 --> 00:46:03.849 you to have that. We will help you begin your 00:46:03.849 --> 00:46:06.130 walk this morning if you need that. If you're 00:46:06.130 --> 00:46:08.650 a Christian here this morning and you need prayers 00:46:08.650 --> 00:46:11.670 of this church, you can ask for prayers and God 00:46:11.670 --> 00:46:14.409 will hear our prayer this morning as we come 00:46:14.409 --> 00:46:17.309 to His throne on your behalf. If you have a need 00:46:17.309 --> 00:46:20.030 this morning, won't you please come as we stand 00:46:20.030 --> 00:46:20.449 and sing.