Learning to Walk
Message by Jimmy Gross
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a
sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (For the fruit of the Spirit 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Christian growth may not matter to some people, but it should. We are not to be content to do nothing after we're saved. All we give is nothing compared to what He gave Here are some things we'll hear about Christian growth.
Coming to church shouldn't be termed as "I have to go to church." We don't "have to" but we should yearn for it. There is nothing like the fellowship with God's people. There is a difference in church and God's church.
We would not have salvation if not for the cross. Some churches see the crucifixion as gory and won't allow it to be talked about. Without that blood, we'd have no salvation.
Some say let's not talk about hell anymore. It's a bad place and puts people in a bad mood when you talk about it. There is a hell. When we hear it spoken of, we should be in a good mood for we don't have to go to hell.
Some are backsliders or in a spiritual rut. They have become worn down and don't want to do it. They feel God doesn't really care. There is no end to God's rope. We see some who come to God when emergencies strike but are gone almost as soon as they are taken care of. We need God in the good and bad times.
Christian growth is normal. Growth follows being born again. After a child comes from the womb he feeds on the bottle first and then meat. He doesn't go to first grade to senior. We don't get saved and know it all either. Even when we leave this world we'll not know it all. People should see us as a growing Christian.
We are to walk in love. The Bible is the greatest story of love there has even been. It tells us of His love; we see we do not have to go to hell. Until we realize God's love we don't really know love. We have been loved and should not be ashamed of that love. Let God's love shine through us. The choice is ours to be made. It is by love that others know we are His disciples. The Bible says we will know we are passed from death unto life if we love the brethren.
This love and our growth affect our disposition and conduct. We should care about others, have a greater kindness and compassion for each other. Our example is Jesus himself. He had nothing here in this life. He knew much hardship. Yet at the cross He asked for God's forgiveness for those who crucified Him. We ought to brush off words that hurt us.
Leave the world outside and come in and worship. We are the light of God; those without Him are in the darkness of Satan and sin. Our Salvation is nearer than we think. It's just around the corner. The night is far spent. We must let our light shine. We must walk honestly before others. In verses 3-5 we see the contrast between the following verses. We are not to walk one way and are to walk another. Be circumspect about our walk. Always look around. Keep our eyes open to the needs of others. Seize opportunities to help the lost be saved. The devil walks to and fro; we should do the same and spread the light and love of Jesus.