JOY OF WALKING WITH JESUS
1 John 1:7 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.
What is it really like to walk with the Lord on a constant basis ?
1. YOU GET TO KNOW THE LORD BETTER.
THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN READING ABOUT SOMEONE AND SEEING THEM FROM DAY TO DAY.
A. YOU SEE THE REAL STANDARDS.
CAN’T REALLY TELL MUCH BY HEARING A PERSON IN A RELIGIOUS CONTEXT. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW THEIR STANDARDS WHEN IT ISN’T AROUND CHURCH. THERE IS A SIGN THAT SAYS, “INTEGRITY IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN NO ONE IS AROUND.” There is also some truth to the saying that , “YOUR TRUE RELIGION IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN CHURCH.”
B. YOU SEE WHAT THE PERSON’S DESIRES REALLY ARE.
—SEEK & SAVE THE LOST. Matthew 18:11 “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
—JERUSALEM.
—COME TO REPENT OVER UNBELIEF. John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” (You don’t see such emotions while doing your own thing).
C. HIS FRUSTRATIONS.
—PEOPLE WHO DON’T GROW IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD. “HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN WITH YOU ?”
John 14:7-11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
—PEOPLE WHO OUGHT TO HAVE FAITH, WHO DON’T EXERCISE IT.
Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
—PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE TRUSTING GOD, BUT TRY TO REASON THINGS OUT LOGICALLY AMONG THEMSELVES.
Mark 8:16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
D. YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD IS UNIQUE TO YOU.
There were two children raised by same father. One says their father was a strict disciplinarian. Said he was always pointing out ways to improve,and the need for faithfulness and consistency in life. The other child saw father as a person who was always talking about how to love others better, and wanted the child to think about another person’s feelings. Both had the same father, yet each saw their father in a slightly different way. John walked with the Lord. James walked with the Lord. Yet both had very distinctive impressions of him as He ministered to them. It makes us appreciate the fact that God treats us as individuals.
2. YOU GET TO SEE HIS FRIENDS.
IF YOU GET OFF BY YOURSELF AND DON’T FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD IN TRUTH, YOU WILL MISS OUT ON SEEING AND TRULY KNOWING THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CHRIST’S FAMILY. YOU GET TO UNDERSTAND THEM, KNOW THEIR WEAKNESSES, BE CHALLENGED BY THEIR STRENGTHS, AND REJOICE TOGETHER IN KNOWING THE LORD.
A. THE PEOPLE WHO WALK WITH HIM.
UNLESS YOU ARE WALKING WITH HIM, YOU MIGHT NOT SEE THEM. SOME SAY, “I’M THE ONLY ONE SERVING THE LORD.”
Acts 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
B. YOU SEE WHO ISN’T WALKING WITH HIM, BUT PUT THEIR OWN DESIRES AND WAYS AHEAD OF HIS. THEY SIMPLY WON’T BE THERE.
1John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
3. YOU GET TO SEE WHAT GOD DOES.
A child often has no idea what the parent does at work unless they go there and walk with him. The same is true of the Christian life.
A. WHAT HE SAYS & DOES, HE DOES WITH POWER, NOT RELIGION.
NOT AS THE RELIGIOUS CROWD.
Mark 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
DEMONS OBEY.
Luke 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
B. HIS COMPASSION.
—THE HUNGRY CROWD.
Matthew 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
—THE CHILDREN THAT OTHERS REJECTED.
Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
–FOR THE LOST.
Ephesians 2:4-8 But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
”The Joy Of Walking With Jesus”
A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams
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