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[0:00] Walking worthy Talking on the theme of walking worthy, walking worthy.

[0:11] Colossians chapter 1 verse 10. It says, Talking about a way to walk, a way to walk.

[0:29] And you know, there was a time when I could not walk. I wasn't old enough. I hadn't learned how to walk. Can you imagine if you were old enough to walk and you couldn't walk? I know there's some folk here today who have trouble walking.

[0:41] They need a walking stick. They need maybe a wheelchair. I know there's a lady that wants to come to church. In fact, she's looking for a wheelchair because she's had some trouble. Walking is something we take for granted, don't we, as we grow older.

[0:56] But there was a time when we didn't know how to walk. And I know young Daniela as well, some of these other youngsters, maybe they've only just started to walk or they're just learning to walk and will one day be walking.

[1:06] But I'm still learning to walk with God, to walk with Him, aren't you? The Bible says it's something that we need to learn to do, something to practice, something to do.

[1:17] And sometimes we stumble and fall, we're crawling still, we're still stumbling and slipping and sliding. Life itself is a walk. It's a journey. And we're still learning as we, a new Christian or an older Christian, every day is a learning experience, isn't it?

[1:33] We're still learning how to walk with God, to walk by faith. And 1 Thessalonians 2.12, it says similarly, that you should walk worthy of God, who hath called you to His kingdom and glory.

[1:48] In 1 John 2.6, it talks about walking as He walked, talking of the Lord Jesus. We want to walk like Him. We want to walk as in 1 Peter. It talks about any steps, following any steps.

[2:03] How are we walking? And how can we learn to walk more with God? In the Bible, it talks of numbers of folk who walked with God. For example, it says, Enoch walked with God, and God took him.

[2:16] It says of Noah, that Noah walked with God. Of course, we know Noah had mistakes too, but he didn't walk with God. And that can be true for any Christian too. We might walk with God, and sometimes we might stumble and fall.

[2:30] But the Lord says in His Word that, though the righteous fall, God picks them up again. And that's what the Christian life is about. In Micah 6.8, it says, He hath shown 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.

[2:51] One of the key things about walking with God is humility. It's having humility. Having that humble spirit. You know, it says in the Word that, we're not to have pride, but to have humility.

[3:04] And the moment that any of us get pride, that's when God knocks us down. To knock us down a peg or two, I believe. And it says, Woe to him that thinks he stands, that take heed lest he fall.

[3:17] You know, sometimes when you think, everything's going fine for you, and you've got it all together, you've got your acts all together with God, sometimes really, that's when you're in the most danger. When you get too proud and too selfish.

[3:31] You know, even the great men of God, and women of God through history, have experienced that. You know, John Bunyan, the writer of Pilgrim's Progress, said this. He said, When I saw John Bunyan, as God saw John Bunyan, I did not say I was a sinner.

[3:46] I said that I was sin. From the top of my head, to the soles of my feet. It's getting into context, isn't it? Realising that it's only his great mercy, that has saved us.

[3:57] As was referred to in the praying earlier, that all our righteousnesses, are as filthy rags. The best thing that we can do, is no good enough for God. We all fall short. The Bible says that we come short of the glory of God.

[4:10] None of us, by our own trying or effort, can attain to the glory of God, to that perfection that He would want for us. We can't attain to it by our own strength, or our own doings.

[4:23] But we can walk with God, walk humbly with our God. The Bible talks much about this walking. Some of the many verses refer to, for example, walking in love.

[4:34] That we should walk in love. That we should walk with wisdom. That we should walk in a way that's pleasing to God. And when you walk with God, it could be that God will take you through the wilderness.

[4:46] It could be that, as He did with the children of Israel, He took them on a long walk, didn't He? That was a long distance event. It could be that God will take you through the valleys in your life.

[4:59] You might go through some valleys, as we read in Psalm 23. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Even in the valley, He's with you.

[5:10] If you're a Christian, He's with you. He's holding your hand. He's going before and after you, and beside you. Through the valleys, and through the trials of life too. We all can have trials, whether trials in family, in health, in our everyday encounters, with the trials of life.

[5:29] He will walk with you through those times. And as a Christian, we know that it's not just about talking about it, it's about living it, living it out.

[5:40] As the saying goes, don't just talk the talk, learn to walk the talk. Walk the talk. There's an expression, words are cheap.

[5:52] I've had people make promises to me, they have it fulfilled. And it hurts. You feel sad when that happens, especially when they seem to be strong Christians, and they let you down.

[6:04] People do that through life. We know that Christians let other Christians down, and that's a sad reality. Of some, they're told that they profess faith, but they don't have the reality of it.

[6:15] As many say, as the Bible says, Lord, Lord, in glowing, eloquent language, very spiritual language, Lord, Lord, and he says to them at the end, I never knew you.

[6:28] I never even knew you. Of some, they profess faith, but they don't have it. For example, it says, Titus 1.16, they profess that they know God, but, in works they deny him.

[6:39] In works they deny him. People are watching you, as a Christian. They're watching you, they're judging you. It happens all the time. We know as Christians, you're always in the spotlight. It's as if the, I don't know, the advertiser, newspaper reporters, just got his binoculars out, looking at Brother Stuart when he's down there at the workplace.

[6:59] Is he going to swear? Is he going to lose his cool? Is he going to get angry? Is he going to blow his witness? You know, or Brother Jim there, as he's, walking past his neighbour's house, people are watching you, looking out.

[7:12] Are you going to slip? Are you going to fail? Are you going to mess up? Are you going to mess up? And, words are cheap. Sometimes you can say you're a Christian, but does it happen in the day by day when the rubber hits the road?

[7:27] They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him. Lots of Christians I've come across, Christians in name only, I think, nominal Christians, when the rubber hits the road, they're not the fair dinkum, they're not the real deal.

[7:40] And we need to practice what we preach. You know, I used to work with some dentists some years back. I used to work alongside some dentists. In fact, the most senior dentists in the government dental service and it struck me as these very senior dentists, I watched them.

[8:01] And when it came to lunchtime, they got their toothbrush out and their toothpaste and they went and brushed their teeth. And I never struck that before. I thought, these men practice what they preach.

[8:13] They practice what they preach. They're out there, they took their teeth seriously. They took it seriously enough. They'd seen enough dental decay and rotting guns and bad teeth to know that they had to look after their teeth.

[8:29] They had to get that toothbrush out whenever they could. And they did after their mealtimes. They believed in looking after their teeth and other people's teeth. They practiced what they preached.

[8:40] And Christian, do you? Do you practice what you preach? Do I? Sometimes I fail. I'm faulting and human. But there's no excuse.

[8:52] And we need to strive harder to walk the walk. Not just talk it. And the question is, if you are in court, if they make Christianity illegal, as this popular saying goes, would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?

[9:12] If Christianity was declared illegal, would there be enough evidence out there on how you've lived, on how you've gone about your witness and your walk and your life? Do you walk worthy? Do you walk with integrity?

[9:24] Are you a Christian? It'll be evident by the changed priorities in your life. Because you are a model, so be careful how you walk. It's been said, you are the best Christian someone knows.

[9:38] They're judging Christ by you. They're judging Christ by how you live, by what you do. They're judging Christ by you. You're the best Christian someone knows.

[9:49] And how are you walking? We can all improve our walking and learn to walk more closely with the Lord. And walking, it indicates movement. It indicates forward motion. It indicates progress.

[10:01] Are you walking with the Lord? You know, sometimes when we walk, it's a bit like two steps forward and three steps back, isn't it? Sometimes in the Christian life, it's like we're not making that progress. We're not progressing.

[10:13] How is your closeness, the closeness of your walk to the Saviour? It's like it's been said, someone that we're feeling like God was very far from them and God said to them, who moved?

[10:28] Who moved? It's not God that moves away from us, but we move away from Him. And it's our closeness to the Saviour that we've got to work on, work on that walk. Others are following you, they're watching you.

[10:38] And how do you become a Christian? It's a change of direction, isn't it? The Bible talks about repenting. It means you were going that way once and now you're going that way. It means you're doing a U-turn.

[10:50] It's the meaning of the word repent. It's a change of direction. So to walk with God, you must change direction. Proverbs 3, it says, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, lean not on thine own understanding.

[11:05] In all thine ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy past. He shall direct thy past. He gives you a new way of walking. He gives you a new direction for life. He gives you a new purpose, a new hope.

[11:16] And we should all walk in newness of life, it says. Romans 6, 4. Colossians 4, 5. Walk in wisdom, redeeming the time. A closer walk. Don't you want that today? Don't you want to have that closer walk?

[11:28] I do. I need to have that closer walk with Him. How do we grow in that walk? That personal devotional life. That personal walk with God. It means opening His Word.

[11:39] It means praying. It means being a witness. It means living the life. Walk the walk. Don't just talk about it. Walk it. It says in Ephesians 2, 10, You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

[11:57] God's created you unto good works. Your life is meant to be a workmanship and working for Him. God has before ordained it.

[12:07] We should walk in there. Think of the direction that you're walking in. Ask God to help you walk in His direction. You know, in the Bible it talks about there's a voice behind you saying, Don't go to the left or to the right, but walk straight ahead.

[12:20] The direction that you're walking in will determine where you end up. Don't you want to walk in His steps?

[12:32] Even if it be walking the path to the cross. Even if it be a path of sacrifice to follow Him, to follow Christ. Walk with Him. Follow Him today.

[12:42] As some, it says in Jeremiah 18, 12, they said, There is no hope, but we will walk after our own devices and we will everyone do the imagination of His evil heart.

[12:54] Some people say, There's no hope. There's no hope. We will walk after our own devices. No wonder. No wonder there's no hope if you walk after your own devices. Instead, walk after God's way.

[13:06] Walk according to His will. In the Word it says that you should stand in the path and ask for the old path. Where is the good way? It's like you're at the fork in the road.

[13:18] Stand at that crossroads and ask for the old path, it says. Where is the good way? And walk therein. But they said, We will not walk therein.

[13:28] Some people, they hear it and they might hear it from childhood to later in life and yet they say, No, I'm not going to walk therein.

[13:39] I'm not going to walk in that. I'm going to go and do my own thing. I'm going to do it my way. And friends, it's His way or there's no hope for you.

[13:52] He says, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me. He's the only way to heaven. You can't make it on your own steam.

[14:04] How's your walk with God? Your personal relationship? Sometimes it takes patience. It's been said, Vance Haffer, an old time preacher, said, He who waits on God loses no time.

[14:20] Wait on God. Sometimes it's about patience. We've had some learning of that, haven't we? Waiting for this place to be ready. Learn to wait on God. Wait for God's timing.

[14:31] for whatever it is you're longing for. Another truth about walking with God is go the distance. Go the distance. And that might mean putting yourself out for other people.

[14:44] What did the Lord Jesus say in Matthew 5, 41? He says, If someone compels you to go one mile, go with them two. Go the second mile. Go the extra mile. As the saying goes, they got that from Matthew 5, from the Lord Jesus Christ.

[14:58] Go the second mile. Think about others. Are you wearing their moccasins as it's been said? Walking in their shoes. Here's what someone wrote.

[15:09] Before you criticise someone, walk a mile in his moccasins. Then when you do criticise that person, you'll be a mile away and have his moccasins. But seriously, walk in other people's moccasins.

[15:24] Think about the others around about you that you're sharing life's journey with. The people that you can impact. And consider then, walk the extra mile for them. Someone said this, Not what we gain, but what we gave measures the worth of the lives we live.

[15:40] Life does not consist in what a person possesses, but in what possesses him. What possesses you? Are you concerned about the kingdom of God? Are you walking in his way? Have you got your shoes on?

[15:53] Another important truth is when you're walking with God, the Bible talks about the kind of shoe wear, the kind of footwear that you need. It says that we should have our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

[16:05] So, it talks about, as a Christian, wherever we walk, we should take the gospel with us. We should take the message to others. Get your shoes on and be his messenger. Get your shoes on.

[16:17] Eric, Ephesians 6, 12, 15, your feet shod with the gospel. And, are you going to be his messenger? It means taking the message to others. In Proverbs 25, 25, it says, as cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

[16:34] Oh, someone did think of me. As cold water to a thirsty soul, aren't you thirsty? There's people out there thirsting for the water of life, for Christ and his salvation.

[16:46] And, it says, it's like water to a thirsty soul. This message is going to help those parched, dry lips to have that refreshment, to have that new life.

[16:58] so, bear the message to others around about you. You know, this has come a long way. It's come long distance, this message, for you to hold it in your hand from an extraterrestrial, from outer space, as it were.

[17:10] this has come supernaturally to man, to you and me, for us to be the communicators of it on this planet. So, be a messenger. Choose your shoes and watch who you walk with too.

[17:23] It says that we should walk not in the counsel of the ungodly. Psalm 1, verse 1, it says that we should walk in the light.

[17:34] John 8, verse 12. Who will you walk with? Who will you walk with? Who will you follow? There's many people you can follow. There's many voices out there saying, follow me.

[17:45] But there's one in here that says, follow me. And he's one who cared enough to bleed and die, to take your place and to carry the weight of your sin, your shame.

[17:59] And he calls to you, he says, follow me, follow me. He's one you can depend on. He's never going to let you down. And his presence will go with you. As you walk this walk of life, consider who will you walk with.

[18:12] Who will be your human company? In Proverbs 13, 20, it says, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Consider who you're walking with on this journey.

[18:26] Now, some people walk with wise men, some people are a companion of fools. You know, they might be all laughing and joking and having a wow of a time, but don't be a companion of fools. Find those wise men and women that you can come shoulder to shoulder with and walk arm in arm with, with them.

[18:47] Because who you walk with has a big influence on you, as we know that evil communications, corrupt, good manners, having that companionship with those who are going in the wrong direction.

[18:59] It's not healthy for you as a Christian. There's many other verses we could talk of. Think of it just a close. Walking is good for you.

[19:10] Walking is good for you. I know where I work in the health scene, there's walking groups that are run by the heart foundation because walking is good for you.

[19:22] It's good for your heart. It's good for your health to walk. And the question is though, which direction are you walking in? Who are you walking with?

[19:34] Who are you following? Are you walking with God? As Noah, as Enoch, as the people of God is called, he says, follow me.

[19:47] Are you following the men and women of God or are you following the fools? And who are you setting the pace for too?

[19:57] Because when you're a Christian, people will follow you. They'll do what you do. They'll put you ahead of them and copy you. Christian, be an example that Christ will be pleased with.

[20:13] To close, 1 John 1.7 it says, But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanseth us from all sin.

[20:27] Walk in the light. Walk in fellowship. Walk in faith. It's been said, the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

[20:40] God's will is the best for you. Choose his way. Take the path less travelled. Walk with the Lord. And of the destination it says, The eye hath not seen, nor hath the ear heard, neither hath the ends been to the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for those who love him.

[21:00] Let us pray. Dear Lord, we thank you that we can take to heart the journey of life and consider the fork in the road whether we've chosen the path of life or not.

[21:13] Lord, that we might choose it wisely, the journey we take and the direction we head. And Lord, we know as your people we can be assured that eternal life is our destination and assured by your blood, by your work on the cross for our sin.

[21:30] Lord, we thank you for everyone who've gathered and for our lives that they might be lived in that sense of what is right and what is your way and that we might find that and do it we pray in Jesus' name.

[21:42] I love to tell the story of haunting things above of Jesus and his glory.

[21:56]  Amen.