Why is it so very important that we “walk worthy of God?” Well, many reasons to be sure, and not the least is that He is worth it. To bring honor to His name, to worship God in reverence and awe is just simply a reasonable response for who He is and what He has done. What He has given. But interestingly and where we are going to focus our time together primarily this morning…two things (two things as to why it is so important). In fact the same two things we have spoken of the past two Sunday’s in our verse by verse study of 1 Thessalonians…

First, just like we covered the week before last, it’s good doctrine. It’s right. Lost in our ‘what about me’ satanic world is so often good doctrine. What does the Bible actually say and teach. And entire movements are gaining monumental momentum teaching wrongly that sin is entirely acceptable to God. The call on a Christian’s life to walk worthy of God, live in a manner such that you proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ…it’s just right, it’s just biblical, it’s just good doctrine.

Second primary reason; folks out there are looking for something real. Last week we talked about Paul’s confidence towards God and how important that is so that we, in a way, become bullet proof to the world’s attacks. Above reproach and able to stand when the test comes. We don’t deny Him. We don’t slip out the little white lie. We don’t take the easy road and cheat a little here or there to make it a little easier on us. We don’t twist God’s Word to our own self-serving advantage. We don’t choose the accolade of man over communion with God and in us that kind of walk produces what the Bible calls salt…a fervent rich love for God that preserves and flavors every environment, every relationship, every aspect of us…and that kind of walk produces what the Bible calls light…a beacon of sorts. Power and warmth for the hurting and searching soul…

The same two things that led up to Paul making this statement are primary and paramount in the need for us to get this right today in our own lives. It’s good doctrine and without this understanding and installation we will suffer and struggle with confidence toward God and fervency in our walk. Genunieness…realness. So very important.

What is means to be a Christian has become so very confused. Folks say and do things, church folks, folks that claim to be followers of Christ and lovers of God but what they’re approving and saying and doing…there’s no way they are reading the Word because what they are saying and doing is completely against the Word of God! And the on-looking world gets confused and many times…turned off.

The world wants to see something real. There are many out there looking, waiting for you and for me to not only share with them the gospel but man show them the power of it…so that they might have something to hold onto…something that strikes them as different and real…we struggle with missed opportunities and look for ways to share the gospel but I tell you today that we need to simply walk worthy of God and opportunity won’t be an issue! When you are in a love relationship with somebody, they just come up don’t they? You don’t have to look for an opportunity like some covert ops tactical unit! It just comes up! The world doesn’t need or want folks that pompously know that God is worthy! The world needs and wants folks that walk in such a way to proclaim His worth.

Let’s break this down. My goal today is two-fold. To give you a reason why we should care, (which I’ve done),…and to show you biblically that we as Christians are to walk in such a way as to honor God (not what we need or what our feelings need or have our needs met…that is secondary…I want to walk you through scripture man!) so that you walk out of here completely enlightened with what the Bible actually says on the subject…good doctrine set in stone in your hearts.

•Colossians Chapter 1 Verses 9 – 12. “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father…”

•Ephesians Chapter 4 Verses 1 – 3. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

•Philippians Chapter 1 Verses 27 – 28. “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries which is to them a proof of perdition…”

•1 John Chapter 1 Verses 4 – 6. “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

•1 John Chapter 3 Verse 3. “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

•Romans Chapter 6 Verses 1 – 5. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”

•Romans Chapter 8 Verses 12 – 14. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”

•Romans Chapter 12 Verses 1 – 2. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

•Romans Chapter 13 Verses 11 – 14. “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

•Galatians Chapter 5 Verse 13. “For you brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

•2 Timothy Chapter 2 Verse 19. “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.””

•1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 Verse 7. “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in ”

•1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 Verses 19 – 22. “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

These verses are clear! How is it that so many have gone astray from the Word of God!? Because it is the same now as it was when Jesus walked the earth. John Chapter 3 Verses 19 – 21. Men love darkness and so rather than folding into God, their desire is for God to fold into them…that is not Biblical Christianity and that kind of walk, that kind of false faith produces a race of Christians that look just like the world. No light. No salt. No leadership. No beacon. Trapped and addicted just like the world and in turn have nothing to offer those that are in the world that are truly searching for God…listen to what Paul writes on this…

Titus Chapter 1 Verse 16. “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” The implication here is that everything sours…goes dull…doesn’t “work out” and folks point the finger at their spouse or their boss or their God completely blinded to the trap that they are in…Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 5, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

The fact is folks, Christians have disciplined walks with God. If you do not have a disciplined walk with God…you need to start now. A rule of creation is that freedom only comes with discipline. It doesn’t feel that way but man deny your feelings! If you are not disciplined then you are not free. The more disciplined you are the more free you are to operate. You want financial freedom? Discipline your spending. You want free time? Be disciplined in your time management! And here’s the kicker…to be disciplined is to lead.

The church has lost its leadership in the world to money, pleasure, politics…well I’m finning to take it back…one life at a time until the Lord returns! (Ramadi story) We must have a disciplined walk with God…because it is good doctrine, because it is what it means to be salt and light…No excuses, no one else to blame, own not only the problems in our lives but also the solutions, lead in the absence of orders and do this in every avenue of life. Salt! Light!

None of this happens without humility. The Navy Seal that briefed me this week said, “If you have ever seen real combat, then you HAVE been humbled.” Matthew 18:4 says, “Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Humility is to own your walk. Own your life. And own the results. Humility is discipline, discipline is leadership.

Finally, the hope we have in Christ is real. Folks say “the struggle is real,” well so is the hope. As you fold into Christ, stop using the verses to plead your case or validate your fleshly emotions but start using the verses to penetrate your own heart…God produces in you freedom. God does the work. That’s the awesome hope. All we are to do is to actually love Him! That’s it! It’s so simple, you know why? Because God is an awesome leader! And leaders make it simple…

Romans Chapter 8 Verse 11. “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

2 Corinthians Chapter 7 Verse 1. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 Verse 24. “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

My CEO told a story this past week about a meeting he had with a general of a powerful country. He said the general was insulted, offended and ranting on and on about how he had been wronged…my boss thought for a moment and said, “thank you.” “Thank you for your gift.” If we don’t know…how can we ever install the fixes. I’m thankful that God called me to be His disciple. To a disciplined walk with Him and a disciplined approach to life. I’m thankful for the humility He has brought and continually brings…because I am more free now, today, then I have ever been in my life and every day I grow more and more free to operate not only as I ought to, but as I want to…