The Journey Through the Bible Will Continue... As Soon As I Learn to Walk

In studying Genesis for the "Journey through the Bible" YouTube series, I came across Genesis 5:22, 24, which talked about how Enoch walked with God. So, I did a word study on walking with God and learned that it means to walk with and commune with... so, Enoch walked and communed with God.

Have you ever taken on an exercise program where you and a friend would walk together? Along with the walking, you probably enjoyed some good conversations. That is what Enoch did with God. He communed with God. He talked to God. God talked to Him. In spending time with God, he grew close to the LORD, and became a spiritual giant in his day.

At this point in my study, I did some introspection. I discovered that I was not walking with God as I should. If I am going to preach a message to the world via YouTube, I ought to be practicing what I preach. So, I have been "Walking with God," meaning that I have been spending more time in prayer, and more time studying His Word (outside of my sermon preparations.)

Now don't misunderstand me. I have been a man of prayer, and a man of God's Word up until now, but I had not spent much time with the Lord lately. I've prayed for others. I've spent hours preparing sermons and lessons. But I have not spent much time praying for myself, nor had I spent much time just learning from God's Word for my own benefit. Think of me as the older brother in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. I was out in the field working, doing what my Father wanted, but I wasn't spending time with Him.

So, now that I am correcting this issue, I expect that a "Walking with God" vlog will appear on my YouTube page in the near future.

The awesome thing about the "Journey through the Bible" is that we grow and change as we study God's Word. For me, changes began happening at Chapter 5. How about you?

To catch up on the Journey, click here.

Is it a sin to... ?

Anyone who has been in ministry any amount of time has been asked questions that begin with, "Is it a sin to...?" Such questions range from, "Is it a sin to drink a beer?" to "Is it a sin to watch R rated movies?" "Is it a sin to get a divorce?" "Is it a sin to listen to (country, pop, rap, rock, etc) music?"

While I understand the motivation behind these questions (I even asked some of them myself when I was younger,) the fact is that if these are the questions we are asking, we are approaching our Christian walk the wrong way. You see, just about anything can be made a sin in man's eyes (whatsoever is not of faith is sin) and almost anything can be justified in man's eyes (all things are lawful unto me, but not all things expedient.) While these questions may be asked with pure intentions, often they can spark endless and futile debate.

The question is not, "Is it a sin to...?" or "Am I allowed to...?" but rather, "What does God want me to do?"

Ephesians 2:10 says "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

We are God's workmanship, which means that God created us. Not only did He create us, but He hand-crafted us. That's what workmanship is, it is hand-crafting. Every year, Detroit creates millions of cars, but they are not hand-crafted. They are not workmanship. God created the heavens and the earth, but He spoke them into existence. The heavens and earth are not God's workmanship. However, Genesis 2 says God formed man from the dust of the earth. He hand-crafted man.

Not only did he hand-craft Adam, the first man, but he forms all people in the womb. (Isaiah and Jeremiah both speak to this, specifically Jeremiah 1:5).

God created us, He created all of us, and He created all of us with a purpose.

We are created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. What this means is that God created us with a purpose, and once we are in Christ Jesus (meaning, once we know Jesus as our Savior), we can know and follow that purpose for which God has created us, and He expects us to follow that purpose.

So, while moving to California and renting a two-room flat in L.A. might not be a sin per se, doing that if God wants you to go to New York is a sin. The prophet Jonah was called by God to go to Nineveh. Jonah opted to go to Tarshish. Jonah's decision, seeing that it was the opposite of what God wanted, was a sin. Not following God's will for your life is a sin.

So the question is, "What does God want me to do?" Good question. That's the one you should be asking, not whether it is a sin to consume high fructose corn syrup.

"How do I find out what God wants me to do?" Prayer, spend time studying your Bible, and take time daily to meditate on the Lord and His Word.

God bless you as you seek God's will in your life.

Prayers for Lee

Lee, who has been involved with our home Bible studies on Sunday mornings, is in the hospital. He is on our hearts and in our prayers. Please keep him in your prayers as well.

My family of five is the only group who was in attendance this morning. Jessica taught the kids on Salvation.

Prayer

One of the joys of attending mission rallies and functions with the Southwest Association of Missionary Baptist Churches is the opportunity to meet and talk with veteran missionaries like Bro. B.R. Singh.

Bro Singh is a great example of Christian joy. I have never seen him in anything less than a jovial mood. Furthermore, his mission work in India is truly for the honor and glory of the Lord. Whenever Bro. Singh does something, you can be assured he has prayed it through.

He's a good example for younger missionaries to follow (though, I feel like my mission work is not worthy to be placed in the same league as his. For example, I do not face jail time for leading someone to Christ.)

Still, his is an example I would like to follow. Tonight, I had a bright idea for a way to kick-off Mission: Brownwood. (By the way, the name of the church won't be Mission: Brownwood, rather it will be Grace Pointe MBC).

I almost got online and emailed the two West Texas pastors who have offered their help to get me started. Then, I thought about Bro. Singh. Would he just jump on something as an impulse? Probably not.

My idea will require ample planning, the willing involvement of a third party to supplyh a location, or the ability to rent a facility. Then, we have to get people to attend. This idea will require prayer.

I'll probably start the beginnings of the planning of this idea tomorrow, but tonight, I need to pray about it.

The Bible records in John 11 how Jesus prayed before He raised Lazarus from the dead. He prayed in John 17. He prayed in Gethsemane. He always seemed to be going up into a mountain to pray. If Christ prayed that much, shouldn't I also? I think so.

So tonight I pray, tomorrow I act. Prayer requests? Post them as a comment to this post.