Sermon Mark S. Aites 9/14/14 P.M. "JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE" (some thoughts from Gene West)

Transcription

1 Sermon Mark S. Aites 9/14/14 P.M. "JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE" (some thoughts from Gene West) INTRODUCTION: 1. There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God. 2. Nearer still nearer, close to Thy heart, draw me, my Savior, so precious thou art. 3. Nearer my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee! E ve tho it be a cross that raiseth me. 4. Walking with thee from day to day. 5. Song after song, we treasure the idea of drawing closer to God. 6. I especially want us to note the words: 1) "I am weak but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep my from all wrong. I'll be satisfied as long, as I walk, dear Lord, close to Thee. Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea. Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be." (Song #406) 7. Great men of the Bible are said to have "walked with God"; men such as Enoch (Gen. 5:22,24); and Noah (6:9). 8. The original word from these Old Testament texts lit. means "to walk along side of; to behave oneself; to be conversant with; to follow; to grow with, to run along side of." (Strong's, via G.West) 9. In a lit. sense, In life we often walk with our friends, see husbands/wives out walking, or friends. 1) Certainly not every time someone is out walking is it with a close friend. 2) But often it is, and it is but an evidence of a close relationship. 10.Thought--echoes from song: "My God and I go in the field together, we walk and talk as good friends should and do, we clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter, My God and I go through the meadow's hue; we clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter, My God and I walk through the meadow's hue." 11."There s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No not one, no not one." 12."What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear; what a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer." 13.Earthly/physical sense: We understand that closeness between friends -- but much more is involved in walking with God. 14.To help us understand, this evening, I want us to look at the lives of some Bible characters. DISCUSSION: I. ABRAHAM: THE FRIEND OF GOD. A. Abraham was a righteous man; a descendant of Seth. 1. Recall: Cain killed Abel; after his death Adam and Eve had another son: Seth. 2. Descendants then came from Seth and from Cain; those from Cain were not as spiritually inclined. 3. Abraham was also a descendant of Shem, one of the sons of Noah. 4. Again the descendants of Ham were not as spiritually inclined as those who descended from Shem; Ham's son--canaan; his descendants were defeated by the children of Israel. 5. If you study the family tree of Abraham a little closer, you find a righteous family tree; Seth, Shem, Terah, Abram.

2 - 2 - B. Scripture would seem to indicate that Abraham's faith may have exceeded his fathers: 1. Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2. It is here that we begin to understand the close relationship between Abraham and God. 3. God did not tell Abraham where he was going; to obey such a command implies trust and faith and a close relationship. 4. Today if a close friend were to ask you to leave your family to go to another place -- obedience to that request would have to be based on a significant level of trust/love. 5. Heb. 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. C. Application: we must trust God implicitly, completely. 1. When God calls us, through the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14), to be His child, and we accept that invitation; we in essence are saying, no matter what comes my way, no matter what you want me to do, I will accept it and do it by faith. 2. Some early Christians faced torture and execution. They could not have endured what they faced without a close relationship with God. 3. If we really want to have a closer walk with God, then we must accept that He knows what is best for us; we must accept the trials of this life. 4. James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 5. None of us can know the outcome of tomorrow. But if we have a close relationship with God, there is no reason to fear tomorrow. D. Abraham walked close to God, in that not only did he leave his family and country; but he accepted and trusted the promises made to him. 1. Gen. 12:2-3 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 2. These two verses contain seven promises, all of which Abraham accepted by faith/trust. 1) I will make of you a great nation 2) I will bless you 3) Make your name great 4) You will be a blessing 5) I will bless those who bless you 6) I will curse him who curses you. 7) In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. E. Application: the Hebrew writer says that we are part of the New Covenant which was established upon better promises (Heb. 8:6) Peter 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2. Song: Standing on the promises of God.

3 - 3 Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Thru eternal ages let His praises ring. Glory in the highest I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God. 3. Abraham was able to stand on the promises of God because of his closeness and trust in God. 4. When we stop to realize that God has and will completely continue to keep His promises, it should cause us to draw closer to Him. 1) The promises made to Abraham were fulfilled with the nation of Israel. 2) The ultimate fulfillment was seen through Christ with the establishment of spiritual Israel -- the church (Gal. 6:16). 5. And just think of how wonderful it is, to know that as part of the New Testament Israel of God; we are blessed with salvation, redemption; no condemnation (Rom. 8:1). 6. And most certainly the wonderful promise of heaven. 7. All of this should draw us nearer to God. F. Abraham's close walk with God afforded him one of the highest honors any man could have: to be called the friend of God. (James 2:23). 1. In 2 Chron. 20:7 he is referred to as God's friend forever. 2. The Old Testament word for friend in 2 Chron. 20:7, means to have affection for. 3. James 2:23 - means to to hold dear, to be fond of, to love as a brother; to be a neighbor to. (West) 4. These definitions suggested that not only did Abraham have a relationship with God; but that this relationship involved a mutual, special affection; a fondness, a relationship as brothers. 5. This conveys trust, love, support, friendship. 6. God and Abraham walked together. II.NOAH: THE PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS/A MAN OF INTEGRITY. A. Gen. 6:9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. 1. The word perfect does not signify absolute perfection; but rather means that one is a man of integrity. 2. The text says: 1) He was a just/righteous man, one known for fairness/honesty, and justice. 2) He was perfect: blameless, a man of integrity, willing to stand up for what is right. 3) Walked with God -- really puts emphasis upon his obedience to God; his willingness to obey God's commands despite the pressure from the world. B. Noah was very different from his generation. 1. The thoughts of men's hearts were only evil continually (Gen. 6:5). 2. Noah: his thoughts were for service/love toward God-- a closer relationship with the God of absolute holiness. C. Noah's faith allowed him to walk closer to God. 1. Heb. 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he

4 - 4 - condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 2. Noah was faithful to every direction that he received: Gen. 6:22 Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. 3. Of interest: we do not read of how Noah tried to improve on God's directions, nor do we read of how he deleted or regarded any commandments of God as unnecessary. 4. Noah's close walk with God was made possible through his willingness to be obedient to all of God's commands. D. Application: each of us can draw closer to God by being careful to obey all of God's commands for us. 1. John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments. 2. John 15:14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 3. One of the clearest points that comes through in scripture is that God is wellpleased when His children obey Him. 4. Samuel-Saul: 1 Sam 15:22-23 So Samuel said: Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king. 5. Scripture also teaches us not to add to or take away from God s word: Deut. 12:32 Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. E. Noah's close walk with God is evident in that he did not allow anything to deter him from doing the will of God. 1. For 100+ years the people heard the words of Noah; but they rejected his message. 2. Through the years, as construction of the ark was in progress, the people ignored the warnings. 3. Suggested: the people must have paid little attention to Noah and what he was doing, based upon the Lord's comments in Matt. 24:37-39: But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. III. PRACTICAL APPLICATION. A. To walk close to God we must continue to do God's will and not allow the things or people of this world to deter us. 1. For 120 years work, Noah saw the salvation of his family (certainly something wonderful), but for many it would have been long and difficult labor with a small reward. 2. It is not for us today to be deterred by the conversion of small numbers.

5 - 5 - Matt 7:13-14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 3. Few is not a pleasant prospect, as I am sure we could wish that most would be saved. 4. But in comparison to the history of man, the idea of few is far better than none. B. For those old enough to obey the Gospel, I would say that none of us warrants heaven. 1. We are certainly not good enough to get there without God s help. 2. Isa 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. C. Noah was also closer to God because of his worship. 1. When the flood was over, Noah built an altar to the Lord. 2. Been suggested: that God has always wanted 2 things from man so far as worship is concerned: (Gene West) 1) He has wanted people who have given their hearts to Him. 2) He has wanted them to worship Him with pure and righteous hearts. 3. Such is the case with Noah: Gen. 8:21-22 And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. 22 While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease. 4. A further evidence of God's pleasure we still on occasion see today: the rainbow (Gen. 9:11ff). D. Here again we find the application for us today: that a closer walk with God involves meaningful worship. 1. We cannot draw close to God, if we do not pay attention to the words that we are singing. 2. We cannot draw close to God if we do not pay attention to the prayers offered. 3. We cannot draw close to God if we do not give of the fruits of our labors, or give of necessity. 4. We cannot draw close to God if we do not commemorate the Lord's death through the taking of the communion; of remember the significance of the emblems. 5. We cannot draw close to God if we do not pay attention to the sermons, and check to make sure that the things taught are true and right; --and that of course is provided that what is taught comes from scripture. CONCLUSION: 1. Consider what we then have learned from these two men of God: 1) Abraham: trust, obedience, and dependence upon God. 2) Noah: integrity, an obedient faith, and the love to worship God.

6 Time does not permit another of the wonderful Old Testament characters -- David. 1) A study of David reveals a love for God's law, trust in God, the willingness to repent, and the wonderful mercy of God -- which keeps us walking close to God. 2) Even though David faltered; he repented and drew near to God: earned another of the most honored titles in scripture: a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). 3. The goal of every child of God should be a closer relationship with God. 4. May we all walk in faithful obedience to His will. 5. Tonight: How is your relationship with God? 6. Christian: Are you as close to him as you once were? Have you drifted in your relationship with Him? 7. There is an old saying that if things are not right between you and God, who moved?