Acts 9 is the chapter which describes the salvation of Saul of Tarsus, before he became the Apostle Paul. As a former champion of the Jews and a leader in the persecution of God’s saints, his conversion to Christ radically changed the religious landscape in Israel. His new life in Christ meant that the work he had been doing to crush the movement toward Jesus of Nazareth came to an end. And as a result, “then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria,” not to mention the churches of Christ in far off places like Antioch in Syria. And as a further result, the Judean priests came after Saul with a desire to kill his testimony – literally. “And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him.”
Of course, I will not contradict the clear declaration of the Word of God, but I’d like to reverse the beginning and conclusion of verse 31, making the resulting rest that the churches enjoyed, a part of the source of that rest. The Bible reads, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” For the sake of what is a Biblical lesson, let’s turn the verse around – “And BECAUSE the members of the churches walked in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were edified and multiplied.” I believe that is a Biblical principle, even though that is not what this scripture says. I believe that if those churches had not walked according to God’s will that peace might have quickly ended. And drawing from that thought, I will say that if we, as members of Calvary Baptist Church, do not walk according to God’s will, then Calvary Baptist will not enjoy the Lord’s blessings. Or to spin it around once again, if we want the Lord’s blessings to continue, then we need to walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
One or two of the first sermons, Brother Fulton preached here after he and Rachel moved to Idaho, were taken from Hebrews 12. The first verse of that chapter reads: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us RUN with patience the RACE that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Several times in his epistles, Paul referred to sports as illustrations of the Christian life. For example he spoke of wrestling. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” And here he points to running, and as we’ll see in a moment he may have even referred to boxing. Of course, there are rules to be followed in each of the different sports. And that is the gist of our few thoughts this afternoon.
WALKING to Christian VICTORY requires following the RULES.
As perhaps you did, I watched a little of the recent Paris Olympics. There are some of those events which no Christian ought to watch – because of the nakedness involved. And even some of the better events are difficult for nearly that same reason. But I admit to enjoying events like the high jump and some of the races – the sprints and hurdles. As I say, I didn’t watch very much, but there were three events that if I had really wanted to watch, I don’t believe I would have been able to find them. They were not telecast in this country, first, because they aren’t as exciting as most of the other races.. And second, because there were no Americans participating. I am referring to the three walking races – the men’s and women’s 20km race, and the mixed 20k marathon. Americans are not good walkers; they apparently don’t even want to walk.
Walking is an Olympic event? Yes it is. And – even though Paul refers to running the Christian race from time to time, he far more often refers to walking. Running may be a Christian event, but so is walking. You and I may not be good runners, but we could all be walkers if we tried. And even though a walking race may not be as exciting as 100m sprint, it can be exciting.
There are rules to follow, even in walking races – with judges watching every step along the way. Paul said in I Corinthians 9 – “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, (I don’t box) as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Paul didn’t want to be disqualified and miss the victor’s crown, so he did his best to follow the rules. And we should have that same desire.
Speed is not the only difference between running and race walking. There are rules to be followed. For example, in walking, one foot must always be in contact with the ground. In sprinting for a hundred meters, quite a bit of those ten seconds are spent flying. In walking, if there isn’t one foot always on the ground, it is called “lifting,” and the rules have been broken. In addition, the rules state that an athlete’s advancing leg must remain straight from the point of contact with the ground until the athlete’s body passes over it. So the bending the knee is closely monitored. Judges constantly observe the race and caution competitors if it appears a they are breaking the rules. Three violations during a race leads to a two-minute time penalty. In the mixed relay, three violations results in a three-minute penalty, with an additional minute added on for each violation until the seventh, which results in disqualification. As I say, there are rules which must be followed.
These races may be slower than others at the same distance, but these competitors aren’t taking leisurely strolls. Brian Pintado of Ecuador won the men’s 20km walking race in 1 hour, 18.55 minutes, which comes out to an average speed of 9.45 miles per hour. And a Chinese lady won the women’s race at an average speed of 8.68 miles per hour. I don’t come close to those speeds on a treadmill for a shorter period of time.
With these things in mind let’s return to the Christian race – the Christian walking race.
The Bible uses a number of words to describe the rules for the Christian walk.
I have a fifteen point outline for you this afternoon. But since I know from experience you’ll not stay with me for very long, I’ve printed the points out for you. I am going to do little more than read the list you have in your hand, but you can check to make sure they are in the rule book. Furthermore, I think you’ll find that many of these rules are little more than variations of other rules.
Going back to our opening text – in order to please our divine judge we need to walk in FEAR of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. The fear of the Lord refers to reverential awe of God, with an acknowledgment that He is judge of this race. Walking in the comfort of the Holy Ghost is a little more difficult to understand. The comfort is God’s to give, but, as I said in another lesson recently, it is ours to pick up and employ. God does not want us worrying and fretting about every little thing in our lives – in the running of our race. The Lord wants us to walk through our days with His peace in our hearts. And if we fail in either of these two things, points will be taken from us when the crowns are being dispensed
I found it interesting that Acts 9:31 uses a word for walking which is not found in any of the other verses in the rule book. It appears to mean something more than “going for a walk;” this makes fear and peace a part of one’s life. The rest of the scriptures speak about simply proceeding or moving forward according to the Book.
Another difference between some of these verses is the use of the little preposition — “in.” Some of these verses tell us to “walk IN” certain things – to walk in a certain Christian atmosphere. But then the majority of them tell us how to walk.
Let’s start with the fewer verses – those telling us how we should proceed. “We walk by FAITH not by sight.” When I was in school, I wasn’t very fast, and I had never heard of speed-walking, so I tried my hand at some of the other track and field events. Someone encouraged me to try the high jump, and there was even talk about the pole vault. I can’ assure you I never gave that last event a second thought. To vault that high even with the non-bendable pole we had back in that day terrified me. There were others, however, who were willing to give it a go, because they had a bit more faith than I had. They had the idea that if others could do it, then so could they. Similarly, in the Christian life, walking by faith is essential. If we had to have experience, explanations, and past victories before we took our first Christian step we’d never get anywhere. Christians must learn to “walk BY FAITH not by sight.”
There are three scriptures which tell us to walk worthy of the Lord and in the privilege we have to serve Him. “Walk WORTHY of God, who hath called you into his kingdom and glory” – I Thessalonians. 2:12. The Lord is the governor of this race, and we will certainly be disqualified if we walk unworthy of Him. Similarly, “as the Lord hath CALLED (each of us), so let him walk. And so I ordain in all churches.” And remember, it was out of God’s love that we have been saved and invited to run this race. “Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children; and WALK in LOVE, as Christ also hath love us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.”
Of course, sometimes the rules of a race are obvious. Everyone knows that you can’t use a pogo stick to jump the hurdles, and camels are not allowed in the Equestrian events. Despite the obvious, the rules must be mentioned in order to make sure there are no misunderstandings. For example, Christians are expected to walk uprightly and with trustworthiness. “Walk HONESTLY toward them that are without” – outside Christ. Just because they are lost, and they may mistreat you, those outside Christ don’t deserve to be cheated.
Obviously, no drunk is going to win an Olympic race. How do drunks walk? How do fools walk? That should not be the way that we walk. “See then that ye walk CIRCUMSPECTLY, not as fools, but as wise.” And speaking of wise, how did the Lord Jesus walk? “He that says he abideth in (Christ) ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
These are some of the scriptures which remind us how we should walk. There are more which use the preposition “in.” Echoing an earlier verse, John said, “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in TRUTH…” “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in TRUTH.” To walk in truth means that those walkers know what true wisdom is. “Walk in WISDOM toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” To walk in truth means that those Christian racers know that the spot-light is always on them. They are being televised throughout Heaven. “If we walk in the LIGHT, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.” “Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as CHILDREN OF LIGHT.”
As children of light, and as being qualified for this race, we need to walk as people who have new lives in Christ. Some of the inspiring stories coming out of the Olympics were about people who overcame diseases, accidents or other tragedies, but by the grace of God they were able to recover and proceed. Such is the case of every child of God in the Christian Olympics. “We are buried with (Christ) by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should WALK in NEWNESS OF LIFE.” As children of light, we have been born again by the Spirit of God. So, “walk not after the flesh, but after the SPIRIT.” “If we live in the Spirit, let us also WALK in the SPIRIT.”
And why did the Lord save us? Wasn’t it to walk in service to Him? “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
I will close with Hebrews 12 once again: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
I. And to summarize: WALK
A.In the Fear of the Lord; In the Comfort of the Holy Spirit;
B.In Faith; Worthy of God;
C.In the light of our high Calling;In Love;
D.Honestly; Circumspectly;
E.As Christ walked; In Truth;
F.In Wisdom; In the Light;
G.In the Newness of Life; In the Spirit;
H.In Good Works.