Walk Worthy

Ya see, we are to be a walking, talking, living testimony of God’s goodness and love for the world to see. In fact, we’re to be a living example of what a Believer looks like.

Q: What is the TL Motto? Walk Worthy

To help us understand the message today I found a great Illustration written David C. McCasland –

They meet every year, a group of ordinary and unassuming veterans who have one thing in common – their nation’s highest military award for bravery. Almost all of them agree that the Congressional Medal of Honor has transformed and redefined their lives. For many, it has thrust them into the public eye. One recipient, assessing its effect on his thought and behavior, said, “You’re representing everybody and everything the medal represents.” As Christians, we share a distinguishing mark more defining than any medal – the name of Christ. We profess to be followers of Jesus, servants of the Lord. For that reason, the apostle Paul prayed for his fellow believers to “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him”. He urged Christians to be “fruitful” in good works and to be characterized by such qualities as patience, joy, and thankfulness. Our conduct should not be guided by expectations that come from ourselves or the people around us. They must come from the Lord, who has redeemed us, called us, and given us His name. Rather than feeling trapped by a set of external standards, we can celebrate the honor of bearing Christ’s name and the freedom of pleasing only Him. -David C. McCasland

If you would… please turn with me to Col 1:10

BIBLE VERSE

Colossians 1:10 HCSB

so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.

The purpose of Paul’s prayer was that the believers at Colossae might walk worthy of the Lord so that all their conduct would please Him. Ya see, Christian behavior that pleases the Lord involves the performance of good deeds; along with continuous spiritual growth; and dependence on His power. Which results in the ability to endure, patiently and joy and expressing gratitude for all things because God enables believers to share in this inheritance.

Listen, when we Walk Worthy before the Lord, He pours out His grace on us and through us which is like rocket fuel for the work of His Kingdom through us.

WALK WORTHY

1 Cor 1:18 says

1 Corinthians 1:18 HCSB

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.

The apostle Paul is pointing out here that the Cross of Christ divides the human race. Those who are perishing and those that are not. Those that are perishing are those that do not know God and those that are not perishing are those who do know God - and we love Him! This is why we must walk worth of the name so that those that are perishing will see Jesus in us.

AMEN?

Yet we must understand that our ability to walk worthy isn't because we're better then anyone else, it is a direct result of ouor relationship with The Lord!

Turn with me to John 15:4-5

John 15:4–5 HCSB

Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.

Jesus said "Remain in Me and I in you". that speaks of a deep relationship and Jesus reminds us that we can't produce the Fruit of the Spirit or any good work without being in relationship with Him.

He then goes on to explain the results of our relationship. We will bear fruit.

We're not called to fruit-loops and nut jobs...

Q: So, What kind of Fruit are we talking about?

Turn to Gal 5:22-23

APPLICATION

Commentary pg 2021

Galatians 5:22–23 HCSB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Q: Who causes us to Walk Worthy? The Holy Spirit, right!

So, The Fruit of the Spirit is producing in our lives because we're in relationship with God, in Christ Jesus!

Everyone shout BOOM!

When we are in relationship with the Holy Spirit this is what happens

Turn to Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 HCSB

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

ILLUSTRATION

Commentary pg 1859

So to Walk Worthy is to be a witness of Jesus Christ./

Next turn to Acts 17:30

Acts 17:30 HCSB

“Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent,

Paul built up his argument here from a natural theological view to show a dimension of God's mercy and patients with us. WHen He said God had overlooked the times o ignorance, but now commands all human-beings to acknowledge and repent of our sins.

Listen, Jesus is coming and all will be judged according got His righteous standard that He showed us while He was here.

Again this is why we believers must Walk Worthy - the Word must see the way is narrow, Jesus is the ONLY WAY. Listen it is our job to lead everyone we can to Christ...

we do that best when we Walk Worthy of the name of Christ.

The Apostle Paul goes on to say in 2 Cor 9:8

2 Corinthians 9:8 HCSB

And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

The Greek word used here for “all” is used four times, translated as

every grace every way everything you need and every good work.

Let’s focus in on the word excel here… the word Excel is verb – it means to (‘be exceptionally good at or proficient in an activity or subject’

Let me ask you –

Q: Does the ability to excel come from us or from the Holy Spirit? From the Holy Spirit, right? From His Grace up our lives adn that is a result our our abiding relationship with the Holy Spirit.

This is how we Walk worthy!

Alright let's keep going - please turn to Eph 4:17

Ephesians 4:17 HCSB

Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts.

Q: Did you see that?

You should no longer Walk as the Gentiles do (Those are those who do not know God)In the futility of their thoughts.

Colossians 2:6 HCSB

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him,

Ya see, Paul’s primary concern was for us believers to grow into spiritual maturity. Ya see the basis of our conduct must a result of our relationship with Christ Jesus and His lordship in our lives. The command to Walk in Him is followed by expressions of what this involved being rooted built up and established in the faith and overflowing with gratitude.

Q; Are you starting to see why the Lord has called us to be separate from the worlds systems and conduct?

We must walk worthy - Jesus is coming!

CONCLUSION

As I wrap this up

Please turn to Eph 5:15

Ephesians 5:15 HCSB

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—

Paul encourages us to:

Pay careful attention on how we walk/liveNot as unwise but as wise

That leads me to another question... Where does wisdom come from? Prov 9:10 says

Proverbs 9:10 HCSB

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

So to boil all this down... To Walk Worthy Glorifies God and is a result of our relationship with The Holy Spirit.

Finally please turn to 2 Thess 1:11-12

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 HCSB

And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling, and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Walk/Live Worthy of His glorious name

In Closing: I have a poem for you - written by D J De Haan

Lord, may I live that all may see The love of Christ revealed in me; And help me flee all sin and shame, Lest others scoff at Your dear name. -D J De Haan

My brothers and sisters -

YOU HONOR GOD’S NAME WHEN YOU CALL HIM YOUR FATHER AND LIVE LIKE HIS SON AND DAUGHTERBe a Walking, Talking, Living Testimony as sons & daughter of God