Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Sunday, January 27, 2013

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 4 III. Section 2, Vs Stay away from the wicked individual!

Vs. 12, Walking and Running in Christ!

Doctrine of Walking: “Walking” is consistent and continual advancement in the spiritual life unto the Lord, which will not be hindered by the problems and details of life.

8. “Walking” describes the purpose of living in the operational GPS; to glorify God in the great power experiment of the Church Age, 1 Thes 2:12.

1 Thes 2:12, “So that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

1 John 1:7, “If we keep walking in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

9. The challenge of “walking in the light” is found in Rom 6:4, walking in the newness of your spiritual life.

Rom 6:4, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism (Holy Spirit) into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

a. “Newness of life”, we are in union with Christ and have been given a regenerated human spirit, making us a new spiritual species. 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15

b. It is the utilization of all the assets God has provided for you in your Portfolio of Invisible Assets.

10. The Faith-Rest Drill is a mandate of “walking,” having poise and control of the Christian Way of Life, while executing God’s Plan for your life.

2 Cor 5:7, “For we walk by faith and not by sight.”

Col 2:6, “As you have received Christ Jesus to yourselves, so keep walking by means of Him.” We received Christ by faith; so now we walk by faith.

11. “Walking” also means the utilization of the Problem Solving Devices.

Eph 5:1-2, “Become imitators of God as beloved children, and begin walking in the sphere of virtue- love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Eph 4:1-2, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.”

12. All of the mandates to “keep walking” are commands to keep learning Bible doctrine, and to keep advancing spiritually in the Christian Way of Life.

Prov 4:12b

Prov 4:12b Doctrine of Running: 1. Regarding the spiritual life it means either advancement or degeneracy, Prov 1:16; 6:18. Advancement is the topic of this Doctrine.

Prov 18:10, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.”

2. “Running” is the believer’s advance to spiritual adulthood, (i.e., Spiritual Self Esteem, Autonomy and Maturity). Heb 12:1

Heb 12:1, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance,, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Heb 12:1, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

3. Running is related to the dissemination of Doctrinal teaching.

Gal 2:2, “I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.”

Phil 2:16, “Holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”

a. You stop running when you forsake the assembling of yourselves together, Heb 10:25, and neglect the teaching of God’s Word, which also results in loss of rewards, 1 Cor 3:10-15.

4. Running is contrasted with reversionism in Gal 5:7. Gal 5:7, “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth, (Bible doctrine)?”

5. Running is related to the blessings of maturity, 1 Cor 9:24 ‑ 27. The believer has to keep studying doctrine so that he does not lose his spiritual growth and rewards.

6. Running is related to the victor’s rewards at the BEMA Seat of Jesus Christ, 2 Tim 4:7-8.

2 Tim 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course (run the race), I have kept the faith …

… 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Prov 4:9, “She (Wisdom), will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.”

In Prov 4:12, “walking” and “running” means living daily unto Christ pursuing and applying His Word. When we do, we will not be impeded nor stumble in the execution of God’s Plan for our life.

Grace Offering 1 Cor 9:14, “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”

Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, January 27, 2013 Tape # Proverbs Chapter 4 Walking and Running in Christ Prov 4:10-19; Gal 2:2; Eph 2:10; 2 Tim 4:7: Phil 2:16 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2013