Many times we bring up prayer requests that our friends and co-workers bring to us. This is based off of a Christian testimony. They see our walk with God, and they hope that we might have some favor with the man upstairs.
We should have a testimony that every one knows that we are a Christian. Not just some one who goes to Church.
Man is incurably religious.
Is there a difference between being a faithful Christian and someone who goes to Church?
–The difference is whether or not you are Walking with God.
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Enoch walked with God. Enoch was at the same time as Noah.
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Walking with God was as difficult then as it is today.
Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
It got so bad that God had to do something. Then and Now!
Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Jd 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.
It is getting bad out there!
So why is it important to realize the difference between just going to Church and being a Christian?
2Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many different churches?
If the difference between Churchanity and Christianity is whether or not we are walking with God then…
How can we walk with God?
Going to Church
Note: If you are going to please your Lord and savior you must learn to do and appreciate the things He likes to do!
example — Marriage.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
There is nowhere in the Bible that commands the sinner to go to the Church.
But rather the Church to go to the Sinner!!!
Learning His ways and following His Guidance
2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Blow the dust off of your Bible and learn about Jesus.
Jo 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jo 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
When you are walking with God it is not so that you might spend your life in bondage… Enjoy life!!
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Fellowship and strengthen one another so to be prepared to go into the field.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Mk 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Fellowship with God while you walk with Him.
Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Mt 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Have you ever tried to walk with someone without talking with them?
Churchanity takes the believer and puts him in a building. He hears all the horrible things that are going on in the world.
- Religious liberty restricted
- Decline of moral values
- Hate crimes
- Murder
- Rape
- Robbery
- Covetousness
- Adultery
- Teen pregnancy
- Abortions.
- Churchanity creates a social position and leads a man down a path of false security. I am very much for going to Church, but if that is all that you do is sit and put your tithe in, YOU ARE NOT WALKING WITH GOD.
Once Christians walked with God, and boldly spake out against immorality and sin. But know satan’s devices. He has cunningly created a class war.
He has scared Christians into a building, told them here you are safe from the world. He has even taken saved people and created so many programs within church to “keep them busy” that they don’t have time to share the GOOD NEWS with someone.
Now we won’t even go outside for fear of the world. And we have locked the door so not even Christ Himself can come in.
That fear keeps us from walking with God, because the mission of God is the salvation of the lost and the discipling of the saint. You can not do that without going into the world.
We are even afraid to invite someone to Church in fear that someone new will devour the fold.
Once the Church doors were open.
John 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
But now the doors are closed.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Enoch had a testimony of walking with God and pleasing Him in Spite of how bad it was in the world.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.