Pastor Tom Bellhy
Ephesians 5:1-10

The Lord wants you to walk with Him; go where He goes, take in His Word … to have a relationship with Him.

Introduction
According to a calculation done by Arthur Blessitt, a conservative estimate of how far Jesus walked during His three and a half year ministry is about 3,200 miles. Considering John 21:25, Jesus most likely walked much more. If two miles in one hour is a comfortable walking pace and Jesus walked about 2.6 miles per day then he spent about one to two hours per day walking. His disciples spent one to two hours per day walking with God!

So what?
1. Walking is used in Scripture in both literal and figurative language. It is both action and a way of life.
2. Walking is something the American or Western Culture Christianity finds somewhat foreign.
a. We live in a fast paced, mechanical, industrialized world of cars, planes, to-do lists, email, text messaging, facebook…
b. Communication with God and with one another is suppressed into small time capsules that conveniently fit into our priority list.

The point!
Truly walking with someone means:
• there is a desire for the other person to want you to be with them,
• there is a desire for you to want to walk with them,
• you take the time to listen to them,
• you talk with them in meaningful dialogue,
• demonstrating actively moving in the same direction,
• relationships!

1. Christ longs for you to walk with Him…

Ephesians 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

• You are to walk the path with Christ, walk in the love of Christ.
• Be imitators of God…Christ loved (loves), served (serves), sacrificed (sacrifices)…
• You are called to follow Christ…

He calls you…
• John 1:43 The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”
• Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.

Do you listen to His voice?
• John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;

2. When you walk with Christ, you listen to Him. Walking with God means following His Word…

Ephesians 5:3-6
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
• There is a moral code or conduct when you walk with God. How do you know what it is?
• Immorality, impurity, greed, covetousness, idolatry has different meanings in different cultures.
• Your only guide to “faith and practice” is Scripture
• Joshua 22:5 love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments
• Psalm 1:1-2 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
• Psalm 119:105 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
• Your intake of Scripture enhances the quality of your walk with God.
• In His Word the details of your walk are clarified and come alive.
• Like understanding the Declaration of Independence” then walking by the Liberty Bell.

3. When you hear Christ calling, follow Him, walk in His Word…He wants you to go where He goes…

Ephesians 5:7-8
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

• You are no longer in darkness when you walk with Christ
• You are children of the light, of Christ, walking in the light of Christ

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