Pastor Jim’s sermon on January 25 (11AM service) looked at the faith of Enoch- somebody we don’t hear that much about. How does our Walk with God affect our day to day lives? Do we know that we ARE walking with God? Like Amy Grant’s song, are we Faith Walking People?
Click the following “Play” button to listen to the sermon, then scroll down to follow along…
The scripture reading was from Gen 5:21-24 and Hebrews 11:5-6. Open the following box to follow along….
Scripture
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Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him” for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
NKJV
There will be times where our legs will get tired. IF we are walking with God, all we have to do is to ask Him to pick us up…
Putting Enoch and His Times in Context
This is the world into which Enoch came. Sin was rampant. Change abounded. Life was difficult. Sound familiar??? But- Enoch walked with God (Genesis 5:24). Unlike all of the other people recorded in Genesis 5, Enoch did not die. “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” It was as if Enoch became tired and like the famous poem about the Footprints in the Sand, God simply picked him up in His mighty arms and “took him away.”
God carried him. Enoch’s presence with God simply changed locations… he continued to walk with God, but the walk was now in a far better place. To be absent from the body is to be present with God (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Putting our World and Our Times in Context…
Busyness, Change, Advancements
Enoch’s world was changing, but so is ours. Imagine; we can leave our worship service this morning, and by dinner time we can be on the beach in Florida. If a relative in a different country can’t attend a funeral, no problem. We can Skype, and it’s almost like being there. Advancements most adults couldn’t have even dreamed about when they were growing up are now common place. And yet, in the midst of his busy world, Enoch Walked With God… and so can we.
Our World is Spiritual
In all of the selfishness, this statement might seem hard to believe. But we do live in a world where people are searching for the “Ultimate Reality.” It might be in drugs, it might be in Buddha, or it might be in a “god” distant from the true God. But people are searching. And like different brands of smart phones, people pick and choose from a variety of religions. So the challenge is before us as Christians: Do WE walk with God? Can people see the true God through us? In the midst of all of our busyness, are we the Enochs of our day?
Learning to Walk Like Enoch
Enoch is a Man of Testimony
Enoch was surrounded by wickedness, and yet he continued to “walk with God.” We’re surrounded by wickedness. People always have an excuse for everything. It’s not always straight out BAD; it’s usually more subtile. Compromise. White lies. Jokes. Do we walk with God in all of those situations? Or, do we make excuses?
Enoch took responsibility. He was unwilling to compromise. Gene Campbell Morgan one said that to walk with God means that we:
“Move under a divine direction”
Can that be said of us? Do we move under God’s divine direction or do we make it up ourselves as we go along? Do we allow a “situational ethic” rule the day? Do your friends know that you have a relationship with God? Can they see YOUR walk?
(have you ever invited them to church or are you ashamed to even talk about it with them?)
Enoch’s Walk is Eternal
Eternity starts when we become one with Christ. Eternity doesn’t start with a funeral. All we have is Today. Some people think they can “put off this God stuff” until a deathbed experience. But with 
Enoch, God didn’t just carry him from this life into eternity when He “took him away.” Enoch’s relationship with God was already into full swing.
In John 10:10 Jesus tells us that He came so that we can have “life and have it more abundantly.” That abundant life is available NOW. Eternity starts NOW- when we put our hand into God’s hand and begin our Walk with Him. God writes our name in the Book of Life when we accept Christ (and it’s eternal- His pencil doesn’t have an eraser!).
“Enoch Walked with God”
Can you take Enoch’s name out of that? Can you say that YOU are walking with God???
Quiz Time!
As you reflect on what you’ve just heard/read, give this quiz a try. If you don’t understand an answer (or if you disagree with the “correct” answer, post a comment)…
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