WALKING WITH GOD
(week 39/17)
DEOYE OBE, OLUBI JOHNSON AND GBOYEGA ADESIYAN
Walking with God means staying in constant communion and fellowship with God in all we think, say and do, but especially at the thought level.
God desires that we walk with Him daily. We see the example of Enoch:
Genesis 5:22, 24 AMP: Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. (24) And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him].
Also Noah:
Genesis 6:9 AMP: This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his [evil] generation; Noah walked [in habitual fellowship] with God.
And the Lord Jesus, our Pattern
John 8:29 KJV: And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
What hinders us from walking with God habitually?
- The unsubdued sin nature in the soul and body:
Galatians 5:16-17 KJV: [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
- The acts of sins we commit:
Isaiah 59:1-2 KJV: Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
Hence the scripture in:
Amos 3:3 KJV: Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
We cannot walk with God to the degree we should, because of the unsubdued sin nature in the soul and body which is not in agreement with the nature of God in our born again human spirit nor with the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts.
Galatians 5:17 AMP: For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do. (Rom. 8:6-7).
Romans 5:5 KJV: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Why should we walk with God?
- Walking with and in the fear of God helps us depart from evil (Pro. 23:17; Prov. 16:6)
- As we walk in the fear of the Lord, we tap into the secrets of His heart.
Psalms 25:12,14 KJV: What man is he that feareth the LORD? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. (14) The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
It is those that learn to walk with God that will escape the temptation that has come to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Revelation 3:10 KJV: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Those that walk in habitual fellowship with the Lord will be caught up in this 7th day from Adam like Enoch the 7th man from Adam.
Jude 1:14 KJV: And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
How to walk with God is revealed in the scripture:
John 14:21-23 KJV: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (22) Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? (23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
So we are to keep God’s commandments which are 2 fold:
(1) The commandment of eternal life:-
John 12:50 KJV: And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
(2) And by loving one another as He loves us:
John 13:34 KJV: A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
We keep the commandment of receiving eternal life by believing on the Name of Jesus.
John 20:30-31 KJV: And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: (31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
And then use that life to obey the commandment to love one another as the Lord Jesus loves us.
1 John 3:22-23 KJV: And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (23) And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
Then, we also keep God’s word by obedience to His instructions and commune with the Holy Spirit!
It takes praying with all kinds of prayer (travail (Gal.4:19), using the Blood (Heb. 13:20-21), the Word (1Jn. 2:5; 2Pet.1:4-10) and power of the Holy Spirit (1Jn. 4:12-13; Rom. 8:10-11) to perfect the love of God , which takes us from the Outer Court through the Holy Place and the veil into the Most Holy Place where Love (GOD) dwells. In the Most Holy Place is where two now come into agreement: the individual and God.
In the Old Testament, only one person, the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies to meet with God on the Mercy seat and only once a year! But in New Testament dispensation, because of the access granted us by the death and shed blood of the Lord Jesus, we have DAILY access and not yearly access to the Holiest of All.
Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].
Hebrews 10:19-22 KJV: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And [having] an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
So we too daily, like our High Priest (Jesus) praying daily with prayers, supplications and strong crying and tears enter into the Holiest of All where we with God (Two) become (One) in love commune with Him on the Mercy Seat through the grace of God:
2Corinthians 13:14 KJV: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
