The Missing Walk

Ephesians

Frustration point: “let your Christian walk match up with you Christian Talk” How do you do this? Some of us get determined to do this. Determination becomes dedication; but dedication gets distracted, and distractions lead to disappointments. Then disappointments lead to disillusionment which leads to defeat.

Why? Our walk does not come from emotion, but encouragement. And encouragement always comes with an explanation.

Observations:

1. Lowliness – Ephesians 4:1-3; 4:17-20

I am to walk worthy – negative side in 17-20…not like the world

2. Loveliness – Ephesians 5:1-3  

I am to walk in love

3. Light – Ephesians 5:8

(these three build up – Lowliness is the inward look; Loveliness is the upward look; and light is the outshine of both working in our lives)

4. Leadings – Ephesians 5:15-17, 18

I am to walk circumspectly – wise & confident in the will of God – His will? V 18…ever filled and stimulated with the Spirit. (AMP)

Not just a crises experience – but a daily experience

Here is the missing walk – 18

(only place in Scripture we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit – look what’s next in the Bible: practical outgrowth of the filling – not tongues, not charismatic expression, not emotionalism: the proof and purpose is human relationships: husband/wife; parent/child; management/labor.)

1. MEANING – if I don’t know what it means I cannot obey

Not me having more of the Spirit – it is the Spirit having more of me!

(Belief and growth pattern: say of a child of 8…gives heart to Christ! Heart is the human personality! The personality (heart) at 12, 16, 30 is much larger in scope than at 8 – more experience, capacity for living is greater, wider and deeper and more challenging) You don’t need to be saved again, however you do need to yield those areas of life to the Lord.

(growth of a teen to adult – new appetites, desires, ambitions, friends – all need to be yielded to Christ) struggle some think well I just won’t have any fun!

Jesus never takes away anything that is good for us! Always adds to the personality!

2. METHOD – being filled with the Spirit is allowing Christ to move into all the areas and reaches of life.

{story of the deacon – I am a 35 year old medical doctor. I now realize what is wrong with my life. I trusted Christ when I was 11. Now at 35 I am trying to serve the Lord with the dedication of an 11 year old. No wonder my Christian life is unbalanced and out of focus”}

3. MECHANICS

What I yield to Him, He takes; what He takes, He cleanses; What He cleanses, He fills; What He fills, He controls and uses.

Simple but challenging – look at Luke 9:23-25

This is following the Lord – taking up the cross daily. Not putting up with life’s problems – not your mother-in-law!! Cross is designed for one thing, die on it.

Daily dying to self – the uncontrolled, unsatisfied personality and passions

My job is yield those areas to him –

He will take, cleanse, fill, control, and use!

Some of us have been serious in our past and often prayed for the Lord to use us. But then didn’t have the prayed answered and did not get used. Can you see now why the Lord does not use you?

He uses what he controls; he controls what he cleans; he cleans what he takes; he takes what we yield.

If you haven’t yielded your life to him, then he can’t fully use you in his service – 2 Corinthians 4:11