Moving Closer To The Lord In 2006
Part 4: God Wants Us Closer In Our Walk With Him
INTRO
: Three weeks ago I started a series. Moving Closer To The Lord In 2006. If we ever need to move closer to the Lord it is today. We need to have a closer walk with the Lord. Can anyone say this is not so? This is what God wants for us and He expects us to seek a better closer walk with Him. Will He make us, force us, twist our arms, or even worse to "make" us serve Him better? No, I think not. But He will speak to us through His Spirit. He will speak to us through His Word. He will speak to us through other's lives and godly example. The choice is yours this day.In the first message of this series I dealt with the fact God wants us closer through His Word. It is God's Word that can become alive in our lives. It is His Word that can lead us down the paths we need to follow. It is God's Word that can enhance us and prepare us for the life to come. Then I dealt with our need to be closer through worshipping Him. Last week we looked at how He wants us to get closer is by moving away from the sin that causes us to be far from Him.
Today, I want to look at our need to simply walk in His ways so we can be closer to Him. It is not just about getting rid of sin in our lives. It is not just about cleaning up so we look good. It is not just about keeping all the rules. It is about walking close to Him. Walking where He wants us to walk. It is about walking close to Him. God help us to walk close to Him at all times.
Once again I have much scripture for you. I know that a great amount of scripture reading can be tiresome, but I want you to have these. The handout will save you some time and also help you keep them handy for more study latter on.
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
First, we need to know…
When we walk with Him, we are pleasing to Him.
We have Christ for an example…
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
He wants us to walk with Him - it is His plan
He has made a way for us to walk with Him - Hebrews 7:19
He is pleased when we walk with Him (just as we are with our children)
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
He shows His pleasure when we walk with Him
Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Next, we need to know…
When we walk with Him, we want to please Him.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
We want to do our best for Him
We want to live close to Him
We want to represent Him well
Also, we need to know…
When we walk with Him, we are pleased.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
We know his great love
We know His closeness
We know His blessings
I would like to consider one question…
What happens when we walk closer to Him?
Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
We think of Him, not our selfish ways
Fear Him
Walk in His ways
Love Him
Serve Him
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Micah 6:8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
We think of others, we serve others, we love others
(Love, not our plans or benefits or rewards drive this)
Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Ephesians 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
And, most will be surprised when I say…
We think of ourselves - yes I said ourselves
We think…
How can I be better (for Him)?
Have you ever thought," How can I be better for the Lord?"
Do His work
Care about others
Do ministry "hard" (addicted) - help others fervently
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Job 29:15 - 16 15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
1 Corinthians 16:15 - 16 15I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) 16That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
How can I serve Him better?
Stay close
Call upon Him
Seek Him - He is close by
Psalms 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalms 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
How can I know Him better?
Know Him in worship
Know Him personally
Seek forgiveness often (daily)
Trust Him
Abide in Him
Walk in Him
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 012906am