Walking with God

I have been trying to figure out what to post and it finally occurred to me to start at the beginning - Genesis. I started with this sermon written by W.H. Wood and revised by Estelle Wood Nazary. I thought it was a great place to start in the collection of sermons and devotionals.

Walking with God

Genesis 5:21-24

Introduction: The entire authentic story of Enoch is told in 9 verses - 6 in the old and 3 in the new. History outside of the Bible knows nothing of him and yet he was honored as perhaps only one other was by the Lord. He walked with God and he was not because God took him. His greatness was the kind that pleases God. (Hebrews 11:5)
Quite likely his greatness did not win very hearty commendation from his contemporaries, not of military renown, political power, profound scholarship, successful statesmanship, splendid artistic or architectural genius, or even of magnificent other achievements.
It was greatness of a more quiet and less pretentious and visible nature, but of a far more real and lasting nature. It was greatness of character. He walked with God and God so enjoyed his company that He took him to with him permanently.
I want to make it clear to you three things: What it is to walk with God, What are some of the results of walking with God, and How we may get into such a walk ourselves.

I. What it is to walk with God?
For some this question needs no answer, but for others, yea many of us, it does need an answer. The words of the text have charmed us, soothed us, thrilled us, and yet just what does it mean? To live one's life in the consciousness of God's presence, and in conscious communion with him, to have the thought ever before us "God is beside me" and to speak with Him and have Him speak to us as we listen! In other words to Walk with Him means to live the real, constant, conscious presence of God. Genesis 5:22 - Enoch walked with God for three hundred years after the birth of Methuselah. It is possible for us to walk and talk with Him today, and to have Him talk to us. Now - the results of walking with God.

II. The results of walking with God.
A. Great Joy - Psalm 16:11 "In your presence is fullness of joy"
"No greater joy can come than that which comes from right companionship. Heaven will be wonderful because of Christ's presence.
B. A great sense of security and abiding peace - Psalm 16:8 - "I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved" Psalm 46:1 - " God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Isaiah 41:10 - "Fear not I am with thee"
"The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear"
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee"
C. Spiritual enlightenment
Jude 14-15
Enoch - got hold on truth
2nd coming of Christ
D. Purity of Heart and Life - Nothing so cleansing as the presence of God. Things we have tolerated become intolerable when we bring them in to the light of God's presence. Things done in dark or in broad daylight we would not do if we realized that He was by our sides. Many deeds would be left undone, many words left unsaid, many thoughts and fancies we cherish would be speedily vanished. God's presence is with us always.
E. Beauty of Character - We become like those with whom we associate. Husbands and wives. Moses face shone as he for 40 days was conversing with God. - so will ours!
II Corinthians 3:18 - "with unveiled faces reflecting as a mirror the glory of God are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
F. Highest usefulness - If you want to be really, eternally permanently useful, WALK WITH GOD!
Enoch wrought out more good for man than:
Nebuchadnezzar - who built marvelous structures of Babylon
Augustus who found Rome "brick and left it marble"
Egyptian monarch who built pyramids to amaze
Edison - electric lights
G. We please God - Hebrews 11:5
Martha taken up with service for her lord, but Mary taken up with the Lord himself and He said she hath chosen the better part. Possible to so work for God that we forget Him for whom we work.
H. God's eternal companionship

III. How to enter into the walk with God

A. Trust in the atoning blood of Christ - Hebrews 9:22
The blood of Jesus Christ, God's son, cleanseth us from all sin.
B. If we would walk with him we must obey Him. John 14:15, 14:21, 14:23. Amos 3:3 - "Two cannot walk together unless they be agreed."
C. We must cultivate the thought of His presence. God is with me.

Aids to this - The study of God's word. Prayer. Thanksgiving. Worship. So let's walk with Him!