WALKING WITH GOD
Introduction
Walking with God begins with knowing the Lord. It supposes that the person has a unique relationship with God. A relationship of love, reverence and trust. It means the person obeys God like Abraham did. Abraham believed God and each time he receives instruction from the Lord, he moves with despatch to accomplished the assignment. Abraham believed the word of God as well as the promises of God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
We can learn a lot of things from David, son of Jesse, who also distinguished himself as Servant of God, His Prophet and King of Israel. God testified of David as a man after his own heart. It is not easy for God to testify about a mortal being, that he has a heart and thinks like God. David believed God from his youth while tending the flocks of his father.
David tendered the sheep with faith in God for his protection and that of the animals. When the other sons of Jesse were doing 'Big boys', and showing off their masculine and well-built bodies, David was in the bush believing the God of Israel to protect him and the animals, and God saw his heart. David was able to invoke the presence and might of God when a Lion and a bear came to attack the animals. David went after the dangerous animals by the power of the Spirit of God, and killed both of them, not by his power.
Again, when God chose him ahead of his brethren and anointed him, he returned to continue tending the sheep of his father in the bush. He did not grumble neither did he complain, he returned to continue taking care of the animals. It was until someone mentioned his name in the Palace, as a boy cunning in playing the flute, that King Saul asked that David should be brought to the Palace to play the flute for him when the evil spirit comes to torment him.
David had so much respect for the things of God, and His anointing. David will not kill Saul, an enemy pursuing him because the anointing of God was upon his head. David decided to walk in a way that pleases the Lord, which was the reason why he would always behave himself wisely. Whenever he commits sin, he would repent and cry to God for mercy. He was ever grateful to God for choosing him, and being with him. His trust in the Lord is seen in his asking the Lord what to do, during a period of war and waiting to hear what the Lord says.
Though a Warrior, he never went to battle in his power or the ability of his strong men, he will always face battle depending on the Lord. His gratitude and love for God was seen by his desire to build a house for God in Israel, a proposal that made God so happy that God entered into a covenant with David, to preserve his kingship forever. Psalm 89:19-37.
What is walking with God?
Walking with God takes personal conviction. You know for sure who your God is, and what He can do for you. You know His ways, how He sees certain things and how He will respond to certain things. Having known all these, you resign to following Him, believing His word and obeying them and doing everything He says you should do.
You love the Lord, you understand His plans for your life and humanity and you love it and you are determined to contribute your part till you leave this world. God becomes your Lord and mentor. You hate sin and would not permit any appearance of evil before you. You are willing and available to show the light in a dark world, to teach and guide the multitude on the ways of the Lord and how to serve Him.
You become married to the work of God so that you sleep and wake up with it, do the work throughout the day, dream about it, talk about it and watch it progress. Finally, I believe that as Christ prayed fervently for His disciples that will take the message to the whole earth, you will also be a prayer warrior, praying not only for the success of the work but also praying that the fruit will endure before God.
Enoch walked with the Lord
The Bible tells us about a man who walked with God for many years. His name was Enoch. In the whole of the Bible, only five passages refer to Enoch, two of which are genealogies. Although we don’t find a lot written about Enoch, what we do have is significant.
Genesis tells us, “Enoch lived sixty-five years and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:21–24 NKJV).
Enoch lived during a unique time in human history, just before God’s judgment of the world by the flood. In the case of Enoch, the bible says he had a wife and children, and none of that disturbed his walk with the Lord. Young believers always see their wife and children as limiting their ability to fast, pray and go for soul winning. But, they will discover that once they prove that God and His work is their priority, wife and children becomes a lesser burden for them. The wife will either follow him or allow him to have his way.
Enoch pleased the Lord
So what set Enoch apart? How was he able to live a godly life in an ungodly world, in a time that was characterized by sexual perversion? We find three important principles at work in Enoch’s life.
1. Enoch was determined to walk with the Lord. He walked with the Lord. But what does it mean to walk with God? It is to live by rules and regulations? The bible says in Amos 3:3. “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” It means that Enoch met some important criteria before he could walk with God. Enoch was well-pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:5 says, “He had this testimony, that he pleased God”. Man in his fallen state thinks that God is very hard to please, because of sin.
So how do we please God? God is pleased when, in spite of the fact that we are in the right, we patiently endure when misunderstood (1 Peter 2:19-20). When you do what is right and patiently endure suffering for it, that is called meekness, and it pleases God.
God is also pleased when children obey their parents (Colossians 3:20); when we worship Him and help others (Hebrews 13:15-16); and when we give financially to the work of the kingdom (Philippians 4:17-18).
Enoch was a witness for God. Enoch walked with God, and pleased Him, he had a testimony and a witness. Every Christian has a testimony. People are watching and observing us everywhere, in the office, church or at home.
The Secret of Walking with God
Enoch was the first man to uncover the secret of walking with God. He found something even Adam didn't experience. He pressed into God until he learned how to commune with God through every facet of life. I believe it would have taken an intense spiritual pursuit to get there, but watch this, I believe Enoch got to the point of perfection in his love for God and dedication to whatever God asks him to do.
Perhaps Enoch's heart longed so deeply for more of God that God grew weary of withholding himself. Maybe God's heart was saying, "Enoch, you love me with such a pure and sweet passion, I don't want to say 'no' to you anymore. I'm going to answer your prayer and show you my face. Come up Now!" When we walk with God, we enter the dimension where God unfolds the secrets of his kingdom to us.
Different ways to serve the Lord
Walking with God could mean different things to different people. God created us with different capacities, so our walk with the Lord is according to the measure of grace we have received from Him. What is important is that you be the best in what God has called you to do, serving Him in humility and bearing fruits.
Everyone will not be a Pastor or Prophet, but everyone can serve the Lord. You can use the platform you have to serve the Lord. You can live by example, and win souls in that your office. If you see the school as a platform for serving God, you will be amazed at the number of souls you will win to Christ. We have a good number of such men in the old and new testaments of the bible.
In the New Testament, Mathew 27:57-60, we have the story of Joseph of Arimathaea, a rich man working in the government of Pilate, a follower of Jesus Christ. He was a disciple of Christ, though not a visible one, yet Jesus knew him and he continued to work with the government of the day. It was Joseph of Arimathaea that went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus Christ to give Him a befitting burial. In verse 60, the bible recorded that he laid Jesus in his own tomb, which was newly hewn out of the rock, which nobody has EVER used.
In the old Testament, we have the story of Daniel in the book of Daniel. He was not a pastor. but He served the Lord in a strange land and his love for God led to his many exploits in Babylon. He began to serve the Lord as a youth, identifying with God and giving Him all the glory for all things. He lifted the name of the Lord high among the Eunuchs and before the Kings that ruled Babylon during his days. Dan 1:8
As you would expect, God's promise in 1 Corinthians 15:58 that our labour of love in the Lord will not be in vain, God gave him favour before men in authority continually. Dan 1:9. Daniel remained steadfast in praying for Israel and God's people and was known for his honesty, integrity and truthfulness.
He served the Lord continually by labouring in the Word and ministering to the Lord in prayers that God began to open his spiritual eyes to see vision and mysteries to the extent that he had to interpret several dreams of the kings of Babylon, which their wise men could not interpret. Daniel ended up becoming a Prophet of God due to his faithful and consistent service unto the Lord.
Benefits of walking with God
The benefits of walking with the Lord are enormous. People who walk with God always experience extraordinary grace, which their life will show forth. A close study of those people shows they considered themselves priviledged, and they are indeed priviledged.
Walking with God is a worthy dream for a child of God to desire. Walking with God is an experience that will not depart from the person forever. This is because it is the gateway to eternity. It is the path to good. The journey of life becomes easy when we walk with the one who has the road map. It is a journey in which you cannot miss your way, or be stranded.
It is surprising that people do not know that God is calling each and every one of us today, just as He called Abraham. The difference, being the way and manner of call. In Abraham, God started a new family, and a nation, but in us, He wishes to continue and fulfil his purpose before the coming of Christ. God is calling you and me to walk with Him today, as He did in Genesis 17:1.
Here are some of the Benefits
1. His presence will go with you and success is guaranteed.
2. God will make you a name, among the saints. As the righteous are in everlasting remembrance, so you will be.
3. Prosperity in all things - Abraham was blessed in all things, and every promise of God made to him was fulfilled in his lifetime. He saw his promised child Isaac and the sons of Isaac. He had all things in abundance. It was not easy for Abraham, but the grace of God was sufficient for him to overcome the challenges of life.
4. Divine Direction - There will be divine direction, which comes with obedience to every word and instruction of God. To enjoy divine direction, your faith must never fail along the line. Challenges will confront you, troubles will come, but in all these, your faith must never fail. Abraham faced disappointments and frustrations, but he believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. The reason is that the situation where he believed God, nobody in the flesh will believe God.
5. Grace to finish well - You receive the Eagle anointing with all its discernment, precision and grace. No bird or hunter can deceive the Eagle, because it has the aerial view and can spot danger afar off and avoid it. With its natural strength to sower above all other birds, he has the advantage other birds do not have, that how it is for those that walk with God. You will have the advantage other people do not have, the Lord will no longer hide things from you. Those who walk with God find their purpose in life, and they finish well.
FIRE...
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