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…This Fall our Men’s Fraternity had the joy of studying John Bunyan’s book,
Pilgrim’s Progress. This great Puritan book depicts the Christian life as
one of a journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City.
Christian makes the journey by walking on the “narrow pathway.”
…The Christian life is a life-long walking with the Lord, who has promised,
“to never leave us or forsake us.” Our Lord goes with us and is
for us. It
is the Holy Spirit, Who is the Spirit of Christ, who is within us, and who
desires to use our lives for the glory of God.
…The Bible tells of “the filling of the Holy Spirit.” This filling signifies
the control of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Paul commands us to be filled
with the Holy Spirit. To do so is to walk with the Lord.
THREE
EVIDENCES REVEALING WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE WALKING WITH THE LORD.
For such a walk is God’s will for you as a believer.
…We
walk with the Lord when we are “filled with the Holy Spirit.” This means that
we are to live our lives under His control…just as alcohol controls a person.
We have Him, but does He have all of us? (v. 18)
I. You
Are Walking With the Lord If Your Life Is Filled With Worship. (v.19)
…”Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
A. The
first way we do this is to gather together with God’s people in worship.
1.
Paul tells that we are “to speak to one another with psalms, etc.”
2.
This is the church gathered. It is the church saying and singing of the
truths of God’s Word. It is beautiful.
3.
“Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” are the various types of music found in
the church.
4.
So, to walk with the Lord, under the control of the Holy Spirit means that you
will assemble together with God’s people for worship.
B. It
also means that you will have a song in your heart to the Lord. (v. 19b)
…This points to your daily walk with the Lord…as you go through your
activities you will find yourself singing a song to the Lord. God
delights
in hearing us sing to Him. You can only do this if you are surrendered to the
Lord in every area of your life, allowing the Holy Spirit to have all of you.
Are your days filled with both private and public songs of worship?
II. You
Are Walking With the Lord If Your Life Is Filled With Thanksgiving To The
Lord.(v.20)
The Holy Spirit ‘s control of you will result in a thankful
heart.
…”always giving thanks to God the Father for everything…”
A. A
heart filled with gratitude to the Lord reveals God’s work in our lives.
1.
Today, many give thanks to
themselves, for their hard work, education, good choices, intelligence, or
good fortune.
2.
The Bible tells us that God has provided all things for His own. Therefore,
we owe all of our thanks to our Heavenly Father, who has provided all things
for us.
B. A
man or woman walking under the control of the Holy Spirit exudes with
gratitude to God for everything. We can do this because we know God is
ordering our steps, and is working all things out for His glory. So we can
rest content and secure in Christ, no matter what happens to us.
…Jesus is our
example as He continually gave
thanks to His Father.
…Do you exhibit this quality in your life? What would those
who know you say about you?
III. You
Are Walking With The Lord If Your Life If Filled With Submission To One
Another. (v. 21) …for
God’s world has various authorities and submission to them is required.
…”submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
A. “To
submit” means to voluntarily place yourself under their authority. This
cannot be ordered.
B. Here
it means we are to willingly serve others and be under them rather than
dominating them and exalting ourselves. We must humble ourselves, and
consider others “better than ourselves.” We are to do this because of our
reverence for Christ.
…Paul next tells the
specific relationships where submission
is a must.
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1. If you
truly know the Savior...your life will be markedly different from the world!
2.
Walking with the Lord means you will have a song in your heart for Him!
3. A
thankful spirit gives evidence that you are walking in the spirit.
4. A
spirit controlled person has no problem with God given authorities in life.
5. If
unsaved...today...you are invited to come to the Savior to be saved...to begin
the journey that ends in Heaven!
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