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Walking the Walk Ephesians 4.1-3 Introduction:
You have probably heard the phrase, “If you talk the talk,
you had better walk the walk.” Meaning if we claim to be something we
have better be doing it. In the Bible the word walk is used a lot in relation to
how we are to live our lives. I)
What is walking? A)
It is a verb – something we do. 1.
We walk to get from point A to point B. 2.
In our lives we are traveling through time and going to go some where. B)
It is sometimes use to designate a relationship 1.
Enoch walked with God, Genesis 5.24 2.
a. Meaning to keep His laws and commandments
b. To observe all that God spoke 3.
We are warned to not walk or associate with sinners, Ps.
1.1 II)
Our Physical Walk A)
We have to learn how to walk 1.
Develop the muscles and coordination, along with balance 2.
Do this one step at a time. B)
We Have to build strength 1.
After surgery there is apathy of muscles where you have to regain muscle
strength. 2.
In some cases you have to learn to use muscles you have never used before. C)
Break old habits and learn new ones 1.
Bad habits develop due to not learning how to walk properly, or having some
physical problem.
a. Find people favoring one foot in order to protect it.
b. Often do not realize we are doing it 2.
Must replace those “bad habits” with “good habits”
a. Learn how to walk properly
b. This takes time and maybe painful III)
Our Spiritual walk A)
We have to learn how to walk 1.
Before you can walk as a Christian you must become one.
a. Can not start living as a child of God before you are born into the
family of God, Romans 6.3-4
b. Just as a child does not walk in the womb, before it is born; neither
can one live as a child of God before being born again, John 3.3,5-6. 2.
However, being born again does not mean you will continue to live as a child of
God. 3.
A lot of people don’t live the Christian life because they don’t know how
to, Ephesians 2.1ff
a. They had to be taught the Gospel before they could start
following Christ, Acts 19.26 2.
We are compared to new born babes, 1
Peter 2.2
a. You can tell in Paul’s writings that those new converts needed to be
taught how to walk, Ephesians 4.1-3. B)
We are to walk with purpose 1.
Why are we baptized into Christ? 2.
Why are we here at all? 3.
Not to do our will but the will of God. 4.
What does this mean?
a. Galatians 6.16
b. As we live our lives on a daily basis we are to please God, as living
sacrifices. 5.
Ephesians 5.15-17 tells us to pay
attention to how we are walking.
a. One danger is not realizing the danger we face
b. Many warnings in the New Testament are directed toward
Christians. Why? Because we may stumble. C)
We are to walk developing strength, 2 Corinthians 5.7 1.
To do this we must go by God’s word 2.
Galatians 5.16 we are to “walk in
the Spirit”; v. 18 “be led by the
Spirit” 3.
One does not become a “strong Christian” over night but over a number of
days and nights.
a. We start out taking in the milk or basics of Christ and build up to
meat or the harder part of the Gospel
b. This gives us the ability to make wise decisions, Hebrews
5.14 D)
We are to walk breaking bad habits and developing good ones 1.
Explained in Ephesians 4.17-24 2.
Christians are not to be bitter in their out look on life and their trials.
a. We are not to be malicious toward each other
b. We are not to be envious, or hateful
c. The world often misunderstands true Christianity partly because they
don’t see it very much 3.
We are to walk in love, patience, in the Spirit, etc. Romans
8.1
a. This may require us to break some old habits before we develop good
ones but it can be done.
b. The good thing about “true Christianity” in today’s world is it
does
stand out, Ephesians 5.1,8 4.
I remember when my parents first obeyed the Gospel. It was uncomfortable.
a. Going to church on Sunday mornings
b. Our lives changed 5.
Over time our character changed Conclusion:
So while Christians are told to work in the vineyard, be a good soldier, and run
the race with endurance. It all comes down to how we live each day. The one that
walks with God will not be disappointed. Proverbs 28.18.
-- D.T. |