Today, we talk about managing our lives as we walk through life – so that we will leave a strong, impactful example to those who will rely on us, obey our instruction, and follow our lead!  So, today, I want to talk about how to have An Impactful Walk

And being Father’s Day, I want to first thank all you Dad’s who strive to make sure you are walking with the Lord, working hard to provide and care for your family, and here in this place today setting an example of what it means to do our best to follow the Lord!

The Bible teaches that the spiritual, Godly, influence of a Father is powerful.

Proverbs 20:7   The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

In fact, that’s why in the New Testament, whenever a parent gets saved, you commonly find the words “and their house” immediately following.

For example, in Acts 16:31, Paul tells the Philippian Jailor:

Acts 16:31

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Why does the New Testament commonly say that when a parent accepts Christ that their whole house will accept Christ too? 

Because in Biblical times, the parents – especially the Father – were so trusted that if a father was to stand up with deep conviction and say to his family, “The way to live our lives is to follow the living Christ,” then it was a ‘given’ that their family members would trust his judgment and follow suit! 

In essence, one could almost assume that the entire family would say, “If my Dad will wholly commit his life to Christ, then so will I!”

Well today, the sermon is not only for Fathers, but how ANYONE can so manage your life in order to have A Well-Managed Walk.  Here’s what the Bible says:

1.  Keep Your Balance

If you remember, one week into our sermon series, I talked about “Priorities” I made this point about our daily walk:

Colossians 1:9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

The words “walk worthy” is taken from one Greek word (OX-ee-oh-ss) which was the word to describe something being “in equal weight to” something else.  For example, when two things would sit on a scale and the scales finally balanced out, they would declare that the two items were now “OX-ee-oh-ss” or “in equal weight to” each other.

According to Colossians 1, we should grow in wisdom & knowledge (of the scriptures), and in discernment (“spiritual understanding”)…but also apply it and “be fruitful “in every good work.

In other words, our walk ought to be both INFORMED by God’s Word AND ACTIVE in it.  One without the other will not be an effective walk.

You can Keep your Balance by Keeping…

Be Real

Romans 12:9a

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy…

Be Holy

Romans 12:9b

⁹ …Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Be Selfless

Romans 12:10

¹⁰ Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; ¹¹ not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; ¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Be Dependant (on God)

Don’t try to attempt what only God can do (and what He said He would take care of)

Romans 12:14-21

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2. Keep Your Perspective

An Eternal perspective.  As managers, we should walk TODAY as if we must report-in tomorrow.  We started out this sermon series nine weeks ago with this verse:

I Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

And when life is over and your work on earth is done, you report back to your Leader – the One Who had assigned you to manage all that He had given you to do – you should walk worthy TODAY so that on THAT DAY you can hear the words:

Matthew 25:21…‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

3. Keep Your Testimony

I Timothy 2:1-7  Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, ⁷ for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Not only in your verbal responses to your co-workers; but in your sincere prayers for each of them.

You see, if you pray for them, you will remember their problems, you will follow up with each of them to see how they are doing, because you had them on your mind in/out of the work day,

…and that will be an amazing testimony to have before them – that you sincerely care.

Notice all the words for prayer here: 

“supplications” (day-ACE-siss)

“prayers” (praw-SOO-kay) = general prayers

“intercessions” – (en-TOO—ksis) = This word is NOT your normal word for “intersession”; this word is only used twice in the NT & implies that, yes, you make intercession on the behalf of someone else, but your prayer is conversational to God (and not like a mean lawyer who fights for what he wants his client to have as if God is the enemy).  It is a conversation that is held to learn all the facts & become more knowledgeable – then makes a request of intercession (intelligently).

“giving of thanks” -

And as v. 5 says, as Our Mediator gave his life for both Jew & Gentile, we must give our lives for everyone to hear (and see the gospel through us.

4. Keep Your Heart Pure

When you would approach the Temple in Biblical times, you had to approach the Temple, “clean.”

How you would tell the world that your sin had been confessed and that you are committed to obeying God and offering up pure worship, you would wash your entire body in a “Mikvah” (MICK-vah) prior to proceeding in the temple to worship. 

A Mikvah was likened to a baptismal tank that is located near the entrance of the temple; you’d dunk yourself in and symbolically wash your body which would be picturesque statement to all those around you that you were saying, “as my body is clean…so is my heart as I proceed up to the temple to worship.”

That’s why it references “clean hands” in Psalm 24

Psalm 24:3-4 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?  Or who may stand in His holy place?  ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.

And,

II Corinthians 6:14-16a Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

Purity of Heart allows you to commune with God more intimately & discern God’s Ways more clearly.

NOTE:  There are many words in Greek for “to see” but this particular word is considered somewhat of a superlative out of the group of words.  In this verse, the word “see” (op-TON-oh-my) where we get the word “Optimal” (eg. For they only will have the most ‘optimal view’ of God”!

5. Keep Your Heart Guarded

When you would approach the Temple in Biblical times, you would have noticed the very obvious presence of  Temple officers posted at strategic sites – especially during busy times – not only for physical protection, but for the purpose of keeping order and prevent anything “unclean” or “unacceptable” from entering in the designated for worship.

And just like temple officers were posted at strategic places in the temple to protect it from anything unclean or improper from happening, we too need to have a guarded temple.

II Corinthians 10:4-6 explains exactly how we are to protect our temple from sin – in essence, pursue holiness and allow it to channel all your energy towards obedience!

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

6. Keep Focused

Focused on your Priorities that I presented in the second sermon.

Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Remember the second sermon of this series on “living under priorities vs. living under pressures” (April 26, 2009):

To Allow the Holy Spirit to Have Priority Over You!

To Worship & Fellowship with Other Believers!

To Meet the Needs of Your Spouse!

To Focus on Your Children!

To Work Hard, Work Honest, & Honor God in Your Work!

To Stay Close to God!