WALK WORTHY – PART 1 [MONDAY MANNA 83]

Saints,

A little Jesus.

Is that what we really think we are? A little Christ, the real meaning of a “Christian?” Do we believe it by faith?

Do we strive to behave in ALL ways like God Himself, just like when He was in His earthly body?

Or…do we still think after being saved by grace and seated in the heavenly places with Jesus Himself that we’re just a wretched, vile sinner? You know, the Romans 7 garden variety “carnal Christian”  who’s favorite life verse is “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24)

Well, thanks be to God through Christ Jesus our Lord! Jesus HAS already set us free. So, if we abide in the true vine of Jesus, greater works than He we shall do by holy grace (John 14:12).

The New Testament record calls born again believers “saints” (or holy ones) over 60 times I recall. As a matter of fact, the Greek word for this word saint is hagios, meaning sacred, holy. Of course, Jesus provides the blood sacrifice so the Holy Spirit can justify us with the Father. But from that moment on, we must deny ourselves so we will “walk worthy” by the power of the Spirit.

It’s an act of our will, and a mark of the obedient “little Jesus.” For if we believe we’re just “sinners” and not saints (the holy ones), we’ll behave accordingly with a lack of faith and disregard the clear command of our Lord. I used to think years ago when first saved I was just powerless over much sin because I was just such a sinner. Believing we can walk worthy of our calling is a crucial doctrine in the faith of those who really believe we can please God in ALL respects (Col. 1.10).

To believe otherwise, dear ones, I truly believe dismisses the holy Scripture and embraces a scheme of the devil himself. We must be vigilant and diligent.

The year was 1989. I distinctly remember the gifted Bible teacher John MacArthur exhorting us by radio from the book of Ephesians to “walk in a manner worthy” of our calling in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. And then, just as clearly and rather suddenly, I felt the Holy Spirit say to me that I should take that great doctrine and form a ministry with the name “Walk Worthy.” He also said He would bless it by grace if I was obedient to Him in my walk.

Immediately from that time, walking worthy became a passion of mine that had to be passed on to His body through true discipleship. A few years later, we did ‘officially’ begin the work as a non-profit ministry!

What does God’s word report about walking worthy of His name? Let’s take a look a 3 passages written by our brother Paul.

Walk Worthy passage 1 reads:

Ephesians 3:8-4:3  To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.

For this reason I bow my knees before the father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Paul is saying here that as a saint, God’s marvelous and bountiful grace allowed him to preach Jesus to the Gentiles. In so doing, the wisdom of God is made known to the spirit world by believers just like you and I. Wow! We’ve written extensively on this before. This preaching to the spirit world is in accord (alignment) with the eternal purpose of God Himself, which I believe is simply yet profoundly bringing glory (honor, adoration, magnification, and praise) to His name.

Paul breaks into a doxology of prayer and praise to the Father.

Then he says as a prisoner, he implores  that we walk worthy (an active practice). This is accomplished  by being humble (letting God have His way with us) and gentle (strength under control, not necessarily being just shy and quiet). Also, he exhorts us in being unified in peace as one body as we are tolerant with each other, being holy in ALL our ways.

Walk Worthy passage 2 reads:

Col. 1:9-12  For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Paul says constant prayer was being made so that we can know God’s will with all wisdom and understanding. Wonderful! What a blessing to be assured of God’s will by being made wise and knowing by His grace and mercy.

As we are blessed with this wisdom and knowledge, we’re able to walk worthy so that we can be:

1)           pleasing Him in ALL respects (not in some, but in every way),

2)           bearing fruit in every work,

3)           increasing in the “knowing” of Him,

4)           strengthened by His power

5)           attaining perseverance and patience

6)           joyously giving thanks (a vital part to being holy)

7)           sharing as heirs to the heavenly kingdom where Jesus is Lord indeed.

This passage often takes my breath away, brethren! I can imagine Paul could hardly contain himself as he wrote these long, flowing sentences trying to describe the indescribable about the unfathomable riches of Christ through the Father’s goodness.

Walk Worthy passage 3 reads:

1 Thes. 2:10-12  You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

It’s important, I believe, to see here what Paul didn’t say. He didn’t say he was a wretched, vile sinner. On the contrary, he said they behaved devoutly and  uprightly and blamelessly.

Hardly a resume for one who lived in the flesh and must die (Romans 8:13). He was exhorting them to walk worthy of the kingdom of the Father. For we must walk worthy to enter into Life, into His eternal heaven, and escape once and for all the former defilements of our past life in the sinful flesh.

As we wrap up here, please remember the next time that someone tells you we’re all just a bunch of sinners always stumbling our way along the path, relate these truths to them:

We can walk worthy of our calling. We can behave devoutly and  uprightly and blamelessly. We can please God in all respects, bearing fruit in every work. We’re commanded to preach the manifold (varied and diverse) wisdom of our Father to the spirit world in the heavenly places. What a privilege. What a responsibility.

Shall we bring glory to the Father? Or shall we shame the family name, the name above all names, by being a common “sinner?”

I leave you with this until next time. I used to believe this was true earlier in my walk with Jesus, even as the Holy Spirit was convicting my heart through His Word.

How many times have you heard and been taught we believers have evil, wicked hearts?

Don’t believe it even for a second.

It smells like smoke from the pit of hell, dear ones. For those of us with God’s seed implanted in the good soil of our heart will walk worthy by faith. It’s a promise from God.

Rejoice! This is the report from the holy word of God: we have a honest and good heart, a pure heart…

Luke 8:15  “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

2 Tim. 2:22  Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Hallelujah! What a Savior.

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,

Marc

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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!

Marc and Walk Worthy are supported in part by the body of Jesus Christ. Please consider donating on a regular basis:

www.WalkWorthy.org/donate

You may view our Archives here: MONDAY MANNA – ARCHIVES; Complete Archives. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

Marc White, Director, Walk Worthy Ministries, www.WalkWorthy.org