A Believer's Walk

Q: What does the Bible say about a believer's walk?

The Bible teaches that a believer's walk should be circumspect and in accordance with God's will, reflecting wisdom and love. In Ephesians 5:15-17, Paul emphasizes that believers are to walk circumspectly, meaning they should take great care in how they live their lives. This walking is not merely physical; it encompasses the whole tenor of one's life, including attitudes and actions. It is markedly different from the walk of those who are foolish, who disregard God’s will. Walking wisely entails understanding the times we live in and redeeming each moment for the glory of God, particularly in a world that is increasingly evil. As believers, we are called to make our lives a reflection of Christ, walking in love as He loved us, and ensuring that our daily conduct is a testimony to our faith.

Q: How do we know Christ died for us?

Christ died for His chosen people, as the Bible teaches that He laid down His life specifically for the elect. The doctrine that Christ died for His people is firmly rooted in Scripture. Ephesians 5:2 states that Christ gave Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God. This offering is not universal but particular to those whom the Father has given Him. In John 17:9, Jesus makes it clear that He prays for those whom the Father has given Him and not for the world at large. This indicates His sacrificial death was intended for His sheep, the elect, who are granted eternal life through His atoning work. Thus, we can conclude that Christ's death is effective and embraces those who were chosen before the foundation of the world, guaranteeing their salvation.

Q: Why is walking in love important for Christians?

Walking in love is crucial for Christians as it reflects Christ's nature and our relationship with God and others. Ephesians 5 emphasizes the importance of walking in love, mirroring the love that Christ showed us when He sacrificed Himself. To walk in love is intrinsic to being a child of God. It is the outworking of our new nature that God instills in believers upon regeneration. Having been loved by God while we were still sinners, Christians are called to love others genuinely, not out of obligation but as a natural expression of the new life in Christ. This love is foundational in maintaining unity in the body of Christ and is a witness to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel. As 1 John 4:19 states, 'We love because He first loved us.' Therefore, walking in love is essential in revealing the character of God through our actions.

Q: What does redeeming the time mean in the Bible?

Redeeming the time means making the most of every opportunity for God's glory, particularly in a world filled with evil. In Ephesians 5:16, Paul instructs believers to redeem the time because the days are evil. The concept of redeeming time signifies buying back opportunities and using them wisely for God's purposes. Time is a precious commodity; therefore, how we spend it matters immensely. This involves prioritizing activities that glorify God, serve others, and contribute to our spiritual growth. We are reminded that life is fleeting and opportunities are limited, calling us to be intentional and proactive rather than passive and careless. By redeeming the time, we reflect our understanding of the Gospel and our commitment to live in light of eternity, ensuring that our life choices align with God's will.

Brother Muse's Bible. And that
was his theme song on the radio. He pastored Harts Harbor Tabernacle
in Louisville, Kentucky the last 20 years of his life. I preached
for him, he preached for me over at Pollard Baptist Church. Never
will forget the first time he came to visit us. He loved coffee
almost as much as Milton Howard. And Doris made the coffee one
morning, and Old Brother Muse came in the kitchen. He said,
Sister Mahan, it doesn't take near as much water to make coffee
as you think it does. God enabled me to cross the path
of A lot of his choice servants way back there when I was very,
very young, and they were very important to me and a great blessing
to me. A young man's foolish who doesn't
profit by age and experience. I hope all you young folks will
listen to me. Not many do, but I hope some
will. But I learned from Brother Clarence
Walker Brother D.B. Estep, Brother George Fletcher,
Brother B.B. Caldwell, Brother Ralph Barnard,
Brother A.D. Mews, who were all twice as old
as I was at that time when God was rejuvenating and reviving
what we call the message of grace back in the early fifties. And I profited greatly. It took me some years to find
out what they were telling me, and to put it into practice,
but at least I heard it then, and God was pleased to bless
it when He was pleased to bless it. I want you to turn to Ephesians
chapter 5 with me tonight, Ephesians chapter 5. I'm going to preach tonight on
the believer's walk. And of course, when you talk about a walk, you're
not just talking about an outward, natural walk. You're talking
about a life, the believer's life, the believer's attitude,
the believer's spirit. the tenor of life, the bent of
the will. I know we all have our ups and
downs and ins and outs and so forth, but this Believer's Walk
is the general bent of the will. It's the tenor of life. It's
what I usually am, how I usually walk, how I usually talk, and
how I conduct myself in this world. is Ephesians 5, verse
15 through 17. Now this is what I'm going to
talk about for a little while. Ephesians 5, 15. See then that
you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, wise men
and women, redeeming the time. Redeeming the time, because the
days are evil. These are evil days. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is. Now let me say in the beginning
that this is not a message for everyone. This is not a message
for everyone in the world. It's probably not a message for
everybody here. And someone may be alarmed at
my saying that, but it's just fact. It's not a message for
everyone. It's not a message that everyone
at this time is interested in or prepared to receive. It's
not a message for everyone. It's for a particular, peculiar
people for whom God has sent it at this time. You know, our
Lord Jesus himself said this, I pray not for the world. in that great priestly prayer,
John 17, talking to his father, he said, I'm not praying for
everybody. I'm not praying for everybody. I'm praying for those
whom you've given me. And that's, I want to be one
of those for whom he prays, because he's not praying for everybody.
And then I remember on another occasion that he said to the
Pharisees, these were religious people with great heritage and
great ancestry and credentials. They were men who had earned
their credentials in religious training and our Lord said to
them, He said to them deliberately, He said, I told you and you didn't
believe me. You didn't believe me because
you're not of my sheep. I didn't send it to you, I sent
it to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me. They do what I say, and I give
them eternal life. So it's not for you. It's like
our Lord says so often, ho everyone that thirsteth come to the water, and he that hath no money come
and buy. And he said, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden, come to me. So it's not for everybody.
Even the call of Christ to come to him is not for everybody.
It's for those who labor and are heavy laden. Isn't that what
it says? Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I'll give you rest. I'm not going to give rest to
everybody, but to those who labor and are heavy laden. And so the
message I'm preaching, it's not for everyone. It's for those
for whom God has designed it. And I think chapter 5 verse 1
tells us, clearly designates the people to whom the apostle
writes and the people to whom I speak. Verse 1 of Ephesians
5, Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children. This message is for the dear
children. The dear children, the what?
The children. God never calls us anything but
children, children of God. And our Lord said to the apostles
in their pride, he said, if you are not converted and become
his children, you won't enter the kingdom of heaven. The Lord is known to them of
a broken heart and a contrite spirit, those who are broken.
These are dear children. These are learners. These are
children. These are those whom the Lord
teaches. They're dear children of God.
Everybody's not a child of God. The Pharisees said to our Lord,
we have one father, God. He said, the devil's your father.
If God were your father, you'd love me. If God were your father, you'd
believe me, Christ said. So God's not your father. God's
the father of those who are born of God. As many as received him, to them
gave he that privilege to become children of God, who were born
not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, not of the will
of man, born of God. This is for children of God. This is for those who are born
of God. This is for those who have been
made children of God by the Spirit, by the Word, verse 2, and for
those who walk in love. Those who walk in love, they love Christ. They love each
other. If any man love not our Lord
Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Anathema, Maranatha, let him
be accursed when Christ comes. This is not for a man, a woman,
a young person who doesn't love Christ. This message is for the
dear children and for those who walk in love. They love Christ. They love each other. They manifest
that love. He said, He that loveth not knoweth
not God. God is love. How can I love God
whom I've never seen if I don't love you whom I have seen? This
is for those who love God. As Christ loved us, how did Christ
love us when we were sinners, when we were unworthy of his
love? when we made no return of that love. He just loved us
because that's his nature. God is love. And when a man's
born of God and has the nature of God, he doesn't have to have
a particular reason to love except that he loves God. Isn't that
right? It's his nature. He doesn't have
to have a return on that love either to love. He's going to
love anyway because God's given him the nature of love, the nature
of God. That's the reason they say, he that loveth not knoweth
not God, because God is love. And if you know God, you have
the nature of God. And he hath given himself for
us. This message is for those who
love God, who are dear children, who love God, who love one another,
and those for whom Christ died. He gave himself for us. He gave
himself for the children of God. He gave himself for those who
walk in love as he loved us. He gave himself for those who
are his. He gave himself for us. Christ
didn't die for everybody in the world. If he had, everybody in
the world would be saved. Well, that's just plain common
sense, let alone scriptural. Christ died for the sheep. Christ
died for those for the elect. Christ died for those who were
given him by the Father. He said, I pray not for the world,
I pray for those whom thou hast given me. He died for those for
whom he prayed. He's our mediator, he's our intercessor. That's not deep, that's just
so. If he paid the bill, I don't owe it. If he put away my sins,
they're put away. If he separated my sins from
me as far as the East is from the West, to remember them no
more, then he won't remember them anymore. This is to those for whom he
died, for whom he gave himself, listen, an offering, an offering
and a sacrifice to God. Our Lord Jesus Christ did not
offer that sacrifice to you. for you to reject or accept,
for you to consider or not consider, for you to walk under your feet
or either believe, Christ gave that sacrifice to God as a sweet,
listen, a sweet smelling fragrance. That's right. When that old high
priest, back down in the Old Testament, went into the Holy
of Holies, you know, Brother Dan read over there in
Psalm 57. I put a line under this. In Psalm
57-1. I want you to look at this. Psalm
57-1. Psalm 57-1. You would be amazed at how many
scriptures. Now the average preacher doesn't
know anything about the Bible, doesn't know anything about the
gospel. You can't listen to the average preacher who says, Jesus,
amen, hallelujah, because he doesn't know anything about the
gospel. It's amazing how much in the scripture is said about
the mercy seat, how many references are made to the mercy seat, to
the temple. to the place in the Holy of Holies
where that sacrifice took place when Jonah was in the belly of
the whale. He said something about looking again towards the
temple. There's no salvation in looking to the temple. It
was what went on, Cecil, in the temple. And he didn't even know
which direction it was. He was in the darkness of a whale's
belly with a seaweed about him, and he said, I'm going to turn
and look one more time towards our temple. But what he's talking
about is in our faith from the heart, looking to the atonement,
the mercy seed. Now, what's this first one? Be
merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth
in thee, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge,
until these calamities be over. What wings is that? Well, I know
he gathers us as a hen doth gather her brood under his wing. But
let me tell you something. There was an ark in that Holy
of Holies in which there was a broken law. And over that ark
was a mercy seat. And on either end of that mercy
seat were the cherubim's, what was it Cecil, their wings stretched
over that mercy seat. And there in the shadow of the
wings, the blood was put on the mercy seat. Atonement. Redemption. That's the only place
God can have mercy on a sinner, is under the shadow of his wings,
overshadowing the mercy seat. The mercy seat. The mercy seat. Oh, I tell you, these are folks,
Christ gave himself for us an offering, Ephesians 5, 2, an
offering, a sin offering. By one offering, he hath perfected
forever them that are sanctified. But this man, after he had offered
himself unto God, obtained eternal redemption for us. One offering
to God! The Lord Jesus Christ didn't
die to win your pity. He died to win acceptance for
you before God. Christ didn't die to get your
sympathy. Preachers talk all the time trying to get pity and
sympathy for the Lord Jesus Christ. When they followed him, those
women followed him as he carried his cross to Calvary, they wept
and lamented, and he stopped with the blood dripping from
his head and from his back, carrying that heavy cross. He stopped
as they wept and lamented, and he turned and said, Don't weep
for me. Don't weep for me. Don't feel
sorry for Jesus Christ. I'm glad he died. If he hadn't
have died, I'd have died. I'm glad he gave himself for
sinners. He said, you weep for yourselves.
You weep for yourselves and for your children. For if they do
this in a green tree, what are they going to do in the dry season?
Burn. He offered himself an offering.
A perfect offering. Those Old Testament priests came
into the Holy of Holies with the blood of others, animals.
He came into the very, not the Holy of Holies made with hands,
but into heaven itself with his own blood. They offered many
sacrifices which were nothing but pictures and could never
take away sin. He offered himself one offering
and redeemed everybody for whom he died with that one offering.
right then, and sat down. These Old Testament priests never
sat down. They never finished what they were doing. He sat
down, having obtained already eternal redemption for us. That's
who this is for. Those people for whom he gave
himself an offering, a sacrifice to God. See, he died to enable
God to be just and justified. Salvation, not something God
only, something God does for you. When Christ died, he died
for us. But salvation is something God
has to do for his own justice and holiness and law and righteousness
to enable him to forgive sinners like us. That's right. Man doesn't
see that, doesn't see the gospel. Why did Christ die? He died that
God might be just and justified. Also something else that Daniel
read over that psalm, you see these things, if your ears ever
become, it's like certain, it's like a mother has a baby born
of her own bowels, her own, somehow she hears, that baby can be seven
doors away. And she knows that baby's crying.
And there can be a half a dozen children in that nursery, and
she knows her baby's voice. You know, that's instinct. That's
that innate instinct. And I tell you, when God gives
a man, and these religious folks argue doctrine, argue religion,
there may be people sitting right here who think you know as much
as anybody about the Bible, and you don't know nothing. You don't
know enough to even ask questions. But a man whose instinct and
whose discerning powers and whose heart's been anointed by God,
he sees things. As a man's reading it, he sees
it, he sees it. And you look right here, let
me show you something here in this scripture right here about
this, what he was reading a while ago. You see it, it comes right out
to you. I lost my train of thought there.
Let me see this psalm here and see what I was looking at there
when he was reading while ago. Among thy people. Let's see if
I can find that. I'll come back to it in a moment.
That's what happens when you get old. You lose your train
of thought. You lose your train of thought.
Oh, here it is in verse 3. I got it back. Because I saw
it again. Watch, and that's what happens,
you know, you get it back. All right, verse 3, listen. Heal
sin from heaven, send Christ, and save me from the reproach
of him that would swallow me up. Selah, selah, when you read
selah in the Bible, that's a musical term. You're not supposed to
read that any more than when Mike's singing. Isn't that a musical term? Well,
you don't say that, you just know to do what pianissimo means.
And so scela, you don't read that, you do what it says, what
it means. It means repeat this. It means
this is worth saying again. That's exactly what it means.
It's a musical term. This psalms is a hymn book of
the church, and it's a musical term that says go over that again. So that's what he's saying. And
then he said in verse 3, look, the last line, God will send
forth his mercy and his truth. And what scripture came to your
mind then? Mercy and truth are met together. Righteousness and
peace have kissed each other. Where did mercy and truth ever
meet? Where did righteousness, pure
justice, righteousness, truth, ever get along with mercy, love,
and forgiveness. That's Calvary. Isn't that right,
John? That's where they met, mercy
and truth. And that's the only way he can send mercy and truth.
And so that's what he's saying. This thing's for folks who are
dear children, who walk in love as Christ, Ephesians 5 again,
gave himself for us, an offering, a sacrifice to God as a sweet-smelling
fragrance. Oh, I tell you, you know what
goes up to God from us? A stench. God says that about
us several times in the scripture. You're stinching my nostrils,
he said. He said, I'll spit you out of
my mouth. Our nature, our guilt, our by birth practice, nature,
this religious hullabaloo that's going on today is a stench in
the nostrils of God. You know what's a sweet-smelling
savor? The word savor, S-A-V-O-R, that's
not savior, that's savor. That means fragrance. That means
aroma. And you know what's a sweet aroma
in the nostrils of God? The blood of Calvary. That's
right. That's it. And outside the blood
of Calvary, you stink. And I do too. And that's the
reason he believed it not on the Son, the wrath of God is
upon him. And there's preachers running
around saying, God loves everybody, God loves everybody, God can't
be holy and love everybody. Can't do it. You're a stench
in God's mouth. I don't love stinking things,
do you? That's not my nature. I don't
love the garbage dump. You love sweet smelling things.
God's holiness. In his holiness, he loves that
which smells good, and that's Christ. That's what this says. He gave himself to God for us,
an offering and a sacrifice for a sweet-smelling savor. And now
God in Christ can accept us and receive us and love us and fellowship
with us, because when he receives us, it smells good. And then
these people desire to glorify God. That's what they desire. They're willing to be instructed.
They truly want to know God's will. They want to know His word.
They're always saying like the prophet, teach me. Just a child,
teach me. If any man will to know God's
will, he'll know God's will. Now look at verse 15. So that's
where it's fine. And this is what it says about
us. He said, see that you walk, see
to it, see to it. Now, I want to say something
here that I believe very strongly, that we should give as much attention
to how we build on the foundation as we give to the foundation.
I really do. Now, I hear folks that would
disagree with that. They would say that our character
and our walk and our witness and our testimony and our attitude
is just something that is not really important, but I believe
it is important. I believe he's saying here, you
see to it, you give diligence and see to it that you walk circumspectly. Now, what does the word circumspectly
mean? Well, it has two or three meanings.
One is walk diligently. carefully. Walk carefully. And remember when I said walk,
that includes the general tenor of our lives. That's the bend
of the wheel. That's the daily conduct and
conversation and attitude. See, see to it that you walk
diligently, that you walk in a dedicated fashion, that you
walk carefully. There's many a witness and many
a testimony and many a doctrine that has been severely damaged
by a careless walk. When Nathan was sent by God to
David, and this is what a lot of people deal with, and they
don't mention this last line, but when Nathan was sent to David
concerning his great sin, and talked to him about it, and he
said this, he said, God has forgiven you, God has accepted you, and
the sword though will never leave your family, God's going to deal
with you over this sin, but here's a statement that most people
don't mention, listen to it. How be it? Now first he said,
David, God's forgiven you, and David, God's put away your sin.
And David, the child will die, and the soil will never leave
your family. But here's another thing. Listen to what he said
in verse 14. How be it? Because by this deed you have
given great occasion to the enemies of our Lord to blaspheme. What David did, and David's attitude
in this whole matter, David's destroying another person to
save himself, has brought reproach on the gospel, and caused the
enemies of Christ to blaspheme. So that's what he's saying here
in verse 15. See that you walk circumspectly. See to it. Don't
walk as a fool. What is a fool? Well, a fool
is one who cares nothing for the future, only the present.
What is a fool? A fool is a person who has an
eye only to himself and not to others, myself. That's a fool. A fool is a person who will give
up an inheritance for a present toy. That's what our Lord said
to the rich fool. He said, the man said, I'm going
to build greater barns The Lord said, this night you're going
to die, and die a fool, and then whose are these things going
to be? A man give up an inheritance for a present toy is a fool,
and a fool, the scripture said, makes a mark of sin. So see to
it that you walk diligently, dedicated, carefully, not as
a fool, but as a wise man. Now look at verse 16, redeeming
the time. You know what that means, redeeming
the time. When you redeem something, you
buy it. You purchase it. You pay for it. It becomes yours. You redeem the time. Buying the
time. So here's what he's saying. We
don't have, we have some time here on this earth. It's not
a lot of time. It's a short walk. But what he's
saying here, make the most of it. Redeem that time. If God gives me on this earth
65 years or 55 years or 70 years or whatever, redeem that time. Make full use
of it for God's glory and for the good of others. He says walk
while it's day. The night's coming when you can't
walk and can't work. We have only so much time, so
much opportunity, it is so valuable and precious, then let's, he
says, let's redeem it. Let's redeem the time. Let's
buy it. Let's use it for our good and God's glory and to be
a blessing to others. Redeem the time. Walk carefully,
not like a fool. But as a wise man, redeem the
times. Why? Because the days are evil.
These are evil days. I know a lot of folks would disagree
with that, but I believe we're living in this country in some
of the most evil days this country has ever known. I really do. I believe as far
as principle, as far as integrity, Oh, I know we cover our sins
well, but the general attitude of people today is greed, dishonesty,
covetousness. There are not many statesmen
today, are there? There are not many honorable
people today. A man couldn't borrow a thousand
dollars on his word today, could he? Nobody trusts you. And they have a right not to
trust anybody. It's an evil day, it's a wicked day. And it's imperative
that we walk in such a way that we might be a blessing. He said,
these days are evil, so don't throw away your time, don't throw
away your influence, don't throw away your life by a bowl of beans.
He said, remember old Esau. He saw, after he had sold his
birthright for a mess of beans, he sought it with tears, never
redeemed it. Gave it up, gave it up, threw
it away. So, you dear children, for whom
this message is designed, see, give diligence, that you walk
diligently, carefully, circumspectly, in this world, not like a fool.
Don't be a fool. Redeem the time. Buy it back. Maybe, what have I got? A few
more years? A few more years? May be a blessing to you, to
my children, to my grandchildren, to the people I meet in my spirit
and attitude and walk. Redeem the time. How much longer
you got? Well, who knows? But it sure
would be wise, sure would be wise to use it for God's glory. Wherefore, verse 17, be not unwise,
don't be unwise, search the scriptures. Is this for you? Is this for
me? Work on your attitude, work on your spirit, work on your
walk, work on these things. You know, I'm up here preaching.
And there's not any preacher in this nation that believes
more in the effectual, sufficient righteousness and blood of Christ
Jesus. But that's all I hope. I'm saved
like the thief on the cross, just the same way. Nothing I
do can take away from or add to the sacrifice of Christ. But
I'll tell you, what I do can add to or take away my influence
and my usefulness. and a lot of other things. And
it can either bring glory to God or reproach on the gospel.
That's right. I can either help the unity of
the body of Christ or I can be a stumbling block. Isn't that
right? I can either be used of God to
be a blessing or permitted by God to be a thorn. Isn't that
right? Permitted by God to be a thorn. That would be unwise, wouldn't
it? Don't be unwise. Look at verse 18. Don't be drunk
with wine, wherein is excess. Now this is important here. Give
me a hearing right here just a moment. Excess. Excess. And you know the scriptures by
focal. The scriptures by focal. You
who are aware of them know what I'm talking about. There's a
primary meaning. And that's what it says, do not
be drunk with wine wherein is excess. Don't be dominated by
wine or hilarity or so forth, but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
But this word excess is not only temperance in food and drink,
it's temperance in other things. A man can look at that scripture
and who doesn't touch wine or anything intoxicating, anything
alcoholic, say, well that doesn't refer to me, but it does. It
most certainly does. Because there are other excesses that are just as damaging as
the drunken. There are other excesses. I'll
show you one right here, foolishness. Excess and foolishness. Now I
want you to turn to a scripture over here in Ecclesiastes. Now
I want you to turn over and read this. Ecclesiastes, it's chapter
10. Ecclesiastes chapter 10. And
I think every preacher ought to read this. And do like I've
done, underscore it. And in case I forget it, I wrote
it down here in the back of my Bible. Listen to this, Ecclesiastes
10 verse 1, and this is one of those scriptures you just read
right over it if you're not looking. Dead flies, dead flies cause
the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking smell.
There's that word savor again, fragrance. Here's an apothecary,
pharmacia, drug store. It's got the ointment and other
healing things of value, and the flies get in and die, and
it sends up a stink. So, doth a little folly him that
is in reputation for wisdom and honor. Here's a man in reputation
for wisdom and honor and godliness that's always talking foolishness. It's only serious in the pulpit.
It's only serious in times of death or taxes. And the rest
of the time he talks foolishly and acts foolishly. And what
this is saying, you can't miss it, it's right here. Dead flies
cause the ointment that is very valuable ointment, that's healing
medicine, that's worthy to take, that's worthy to pay attention
to, causes it to stink. And so does a man whose hell
in reputation, his reputation is for wisdom, spiritual wisdom
and honor. But if he's got too much folly
and excess foolishness, it makes it stink. And nobody's going
to pay attention to it. You see, that's excess. Also,
this word excess not only applies to drunkenness, it applies to
folly and foolishness, it applies to materialism. and waste. Indulge in our fancies while
others go without. Indulge in our fancies and our
wants and all of these things of the flesh and luxuries of
the flesh while we could be helping someone, lifting a burden or
helping someone, but now we sow to the flesh, sow to the flesh.
Also, this excess in conversation Let your conversation, the scripture
says, be seasoned with grace. Grace, all the time. I don't
mean to become morose and everybody run when they see you coming.
But I mean that we need to not be drunk, drunk either with intoxicating
whiskies. Drunkards are not going to enter
the kingdom of God. But we're not to be drunk with
foolishness. And we're not to be drunk with our own pride. We're not to be drunk with materialism. We're not to be drunk with the
wild things of this world. We're not to be drunk with all
of this fancies and desires. We're not to be drunk with the
music and the entertainments of this world. Our conversation
is to be seasoned with grace. I tell you, you know, we talk, look at verse 19. Let me read this and come back.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing, making melody in your heart to the Lord. You know,
here at church, we talk about the things of Christ. Well, let's
don't limit it only to the church. He's talking here about us. regularly
talking about the things of the Lord, speaking to yourselves
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and spiritual matters,
singing, praising God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Share these things. Talk to one another about the
gospel, about the gospel. Speak to one another. And verse
20, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And submit yourself.
Submit yourself. Now all of this that I've said
is to those for whom God sent it. Because they're willing to
submit. We're willing to work on these
things. We're willing, we know we need work. It's like after
I preached that message on words to live by, one of my dear friends
here said, well, I got trouble with all seven of those words.
I said, that's why I preached it, I do too. And I intend to
do something about it. I intend to do something about
it. And that's what he said, submit yourself. I had a young
man visit me not long ago, a young man I know quite well. He lives
in another part of the country, came all the way over here to
visit with me and to talk. He's a young man with a messed
up life. Keeps talking about his infirmities
and all of that, you know, but he wanted to sit down and talk
to me. And so we did, we sat down and talked. His life's all
confused and messed up, but he claims to be a believer. He's
been quite religious all of his life. One time or other had some
thoughts of preaching. But he's divorced and life's
messed up and he's in some kind of rigmarole, I don't know what
all, which direction he's going, but we sat there and I looked
at him and I said, all right, I'm going to give you four things. I'm going to give you four things,
kindly but positively. I'm going to give you four things.
Number one, you find you a godly wife and get married. You find you a godly wife and
get married. Get off the streets and get out
of this fast lane and you marry your good woman and love her
and worship God together. That's number one. Number two,
you find you a church where the gospel is preached. I don't care
if you have to move. I don't care what it takes. You find you a church. where
the man in the pulpit preaches God's word, God's truth, God's
gospel and the people there love God and you find your church
fellowship and you make that your family. Number three, you
find your job and you go to work and you give yourself to that
job and to that work just like God was your foreman. Just like
Jesus Christ was your owner on that business. You work. Give
yourself everything you've got to that job. Make a success.
Do your dead level best. You get up in the morning. Don't
you miss a day. Don't you be late. You go down there and work.
Give them eight hours of toil and labor and sweat. And fourthly,
you order your life and walk for God's glory. Is that too
hard? Now you just tell me, what's
hard about that? It's not hard if you're one of
His dear children, and you love Him, and you love others, and
you're willing to live for His glory. Ain't nothing hard about
that. That's the way God ordered us
to live. Because He says, and why don't you read this yourself,
Ephesians 5, 22, Wives, submit yourselves to your husband. Verse
25, husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church. Chapter
6, verse 1, children, obey your parents. Is that too hard? Obey your parents. Love your
parents. Respect them. Say yes ma'am, no ma'am. Yes
sir, no sir. Obey them. If they tell you something,
do it. Quit murmuring, complaining and grumbling and griping. The
world doesn't owe you anything. Everybody thinks the world owes
them a spot. No, they don't. No, they don't. You remind your
parents, obey them, respect them in the Lord. Verse 4, you fathers,
don't be unreasonable. Don't be a dictator. Don't provoke
your children to riot. Don't hit them just because you've
got the right. Don't suppress them just because
you're the boss. A man doesn't demand respect,
he earns it. So don't provoke them to wrath,
be kind. Remember what you were like when
you were that age. Verse 5, Servants, be obedient
to them that are your masters, according to the flesh, with
fear and trembling and singleness of heart, as unto Christ. Isn't
that what I said? Work like Christ with your boss.
That's what I said. Verse 9, Do the same thing unto
them, to those who serve you. Be a good master, be a good worker,
boss, forbearing threatening. Don't mistreat them just because
you've got the upper hand.

A Believer's Walk

What does the Bible say about a believer's walk?

How do we know Christ died for us?

Why is walking in love important for Christians?

What does redeeming the time mean in the Bible?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

Joshua

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Music

Recent Comments

About

Legal

Subscribe

Account

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Recent Comments

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Collections

Music

About

Legal

Subscribe

A Believer's Walk

What does the Bible say about a believer's walk?

How do we know Christ died for us?

Why is walking in love important for Christians?

What does redeeming the time mean in the Bible?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

More from Henry Mahan

Related Sermons

Same Scripture

Articles by Henry Mahan

Books by Henry Mahan

Joshua

Where this book stands in the tradition

Plato

Augustine

The Western Christian Tradition

This Book