TRUE WORSHIPPERS - WALKING WITH THE LORD

By Frank Lin

The emphasis of DCCC this year, as Pastor Lee has mentioned to us many times, is Worship. In the past few weeks, we have heard several messages about worship; Worship in Spirit, Worship in Truth, etc. What is worship? Can we define the word Worship from the Christian’s point of view?

Warren Wiersbe, a famous bible scholar and theologian, gave a very good definition for the word "worship" in his book entitled Real Worship and I’d like to share that with you. It helps me to have a better picture of what Worship is about. He said that " worship is the response of the entire being of a believer to God for what he says, what he does, and for who he is; It is a reaction of love, balanced in the reverence to God, and a reaction that grows ever deeper as a believer knows Him more."

Worship is recognizing the Creator God as the sovereign Lord and King of the universe and rendering to Him the glory, honor and allegiance due to Him. In other words, worship has two parts: One, knowing God, and two, putting in action and rendering to Him glory, honor, and love that are due him according to who he is.

This morning, we will learn through two Patriarchs who put their worship in action. They walked with God and their life exhibited the characteristics of a true worshipper.

In the bible verses we just read, Gen. 5:21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters; and also in Gen 6:9 Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Both Enoch and Noah walked with God. Bible accounts very little about the person Enoch. In fact, when I first became a Christian, I used to think that Enoch was just a lucky guy. He walked with God and God took him and he didn’t see death.

I remember a pastor told a joke about Enoch. He said, Enoch walked with God three hundred years and God took him away. Do you know why? Because one day Enoch was walking with God as he did everyday, and Enoch was so far away from home and so close to God. God said, old friend, why don’t you just stay. That’s why bible says, "and he was not found".

Of course, that was a joke. The other person whom bible also said that he walked with God was Noah. However, unlike Enoch, the bible talked quite a bit about Noah and most of us know about the story of Noah and the ark. Why did the bible specifically points out that Enoch and Noah both walked with God? What do they have in common? What caused them to walk with God? Did God revealed something to them? If so, what was the vision that grasps hold of their lives? What brought them into this wonderful relationship of walking with God?

Let’s see what the bible tells us together.

The bible records: "Gen. 5:21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah." Genesis continues to tell us that "After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters." (Gen. 5:22) Obviously, the birth of Methuselah was mark as a major milestone in Enoch’s life. We don’t know how he was with God before that point, but he walked with God for three hundred years after that.

A popular bible trivial question often asked is: Who lived the longest life in the Bible? The answer, of course, is right here in Genesis chapter 5. Methuselah was 969 years old when he died. Many years ago, there’s a health club in Los Angeles called "Methuselah Health Club". No doubt that the owner of the business would like to project the idea that by joining his health club and doing exercises, one would live a long life like Methuselah. However, if the health club knows the meaning of this Hebrew name, they might not have picked this name. Methuselah means: "He died", or ‘ When he is dead, it shall be sent". It is a name talking about death, not life; let alone long life. Ironically, the health club didn’t last long, either. But why would anybody pick a name like that for his son? "He died?" Why not David or John or Winston? And who gave a name like that to his son? Enoch did. But why such a name?

Now, let’s do a simple mathematics. Those of you who have heard me preaching, know that I like to do math in my sermons.

Genesis 5:21-29 gave the account of the age when the patriarchs gave birth to their first-born. It goes like this:

21: When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah.
25: When Methuselah had lived a hundred and eighty-seven years, he became the father of Lamech.
26: Methuselah lived after the birth of Lamech seven hundred and eighty-two years, and had other sons and daughters.
27: Thus all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.
28: When Lamech had lived a hundred and eighty-two years, he became the father of a son,
29: and called his name Noah."

6: Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth.

So, when Methuselah died, the great flood came. It was not a coincidence because the name of Methuselah means "When he died, it shall be sent". The name of Methuselah was a warning from God to man. Every time this name is called, it sends a warning. It is highly possible that God revealed this name to Enoch when his first son was born. Up to the time when Methuselah was born, "death" was not something often thought about by the patriarchs. No one ever died of old age. The bible records only the death of Abel who was killed by Cain. Everybody else including Adam was still alive. All eight generations were still alive. So, with a name like Methuselah- "when he died, it shall be sent" would be peculiar but hard to relate to. Nevertheless, Enoch’s life had certainly impacted since the birth of this son. Whether or not the Lord had revealed to Enoch about the great flood, he saw the judgment was coming. Jude 14-15 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." Enoch was the first prophet in the Bible. He saw the second coming of Christ with all saints. One day, our Lord will come with all saints again to judge the world. What was the reaction from Enoch when he was revealed that one day God’s judgment shall come to the world? He Believed. The bible tells us that he puts that faith in action and pursuit God. Heb 11:5-6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and he was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Enoch became a man who walks with God.

How about Noah. Bible also tells us that Noah walked with God. God told Noah to build an ark. Just like the name Methuselah, an ark- a great big boat, did not make to much sense to the people at that time when there had never rained. What would a boat for? But, what was Noah’s reaction when the Lord told him to build the ark in order for him to escape the judgment of the great flood? Like Enoch, Noah believed the Lord. Gen 6:22 "Noah did everything just as God commanded him."

We thank the Lord for not only he warned the people of that time by the name of Methuselah that something great shall happen upon the death of that person, he also warned the people to repent through Noah. More importantly, he had Noah prepared the ark for the salvation of those people who believed in him. 2 Peter 2:5 "if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;" For 120 years, Noah and his family were building the ark, and during that time he was a preacher of righteousness.

Unfortunately, no one believed them.

Some may say, what’s all this got to do with me? They all happened thousands of years ago. The stories of Enoch and Noah have everything to do with us. The bible tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ will be coming again. We don’t know when that is. We all know that we are close to the end time by the fulfilling of the signs prophesized in the bible.

So, the Lord wants us to learn a lesson from the fig tree. "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man."

Oh, dear brothers and sisters and friends, how were the days of Noah? People were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. They didn’t believe that judgment was near regardless of the warning of Methuselah and Noah. The bible says, "and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man."

Today, it’s hard for people to believe in the one and only true God who shall come again to judge the world. Just as Noah a preacher of righteousness, Christians preach the gospel to every corners of the world. But how many people would accept the salvation and enter into the ark which is a symbol of God’s salvation in Christ?

For us Christians, we should learn a lesson from Enoch and Noah. We cannot fall in the trap of complacency thinking we are saved while there’s a dying world out there. We see how Enoch and Noah’s lives had changed by the revelation of the righteous God. They knew that judgment would certainly come one day. They knew God will judge all ungodly people. They became man who walked with God.

What does it mean by walking with God?

Worship is not only an attitude but a life style. It is not an act exhibited at a particular moment or time, but a continuous out pour from a believer’s heart in an outward action towards God. Walking with God is an exhibition of a believer’s life.

In Enoch and Noah’s time, the bible tells us that people lived in sins. All day long they lived in flesh and grief the heart of the Lord. God regret that he had created man. Man that was created after His own glorious image has come short of that glorious purpose which is to manifest the glory of God on earth.

We cannot walk with God while living in sin.
Amos 3:3
For how can we walk together with your sins between us?

To walk with God, Enoch and Noah lived a sanctified and consecrated life.
Gal 5:24-26
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

In order for two to walk together, there’s got to be a common goal. To walk with God is for us to follow him. In order for us to follow him, we need to know his mind.

In order to know his mind, we have to first submit our own mind to him and willing to live a life fro his will only.

Phil 2:5
Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Just as Jesus submit himself to God’s will and died on the cross, we should follow his example and carry our own cross to follow Christ.

Gen 6:22 "Noah did everything just as God commanded him."

Despite the whole world was probably laughing at what Noah and his family were doing, building an ark. He carried on what God commanded him to do, and preached righteousness to people would repent. This is a person who walked with God.

Finally, a person who walk with God has a simple focus, God himself. "Enoch walked with God three hundred years." Did he do anything else? Yes. He "had sons and daughters." As God commanded them, be multiplied. But it was in our day to day life, we walk with God. Just as anyone in the world, we have 24 hours a day. What is the motive behind everything we do and every word we say as Christians set as apart from the rest of the world. It seems that Enoch had such a burning love towards our God, a love that’s balanced in reverence, he continuous walked with God for three hundred years.

I believe psalmist Asaph gave us a glimpse of what might have been in Enoch’s mind in Psalm 73:

The other night there was a TV program showed a documentary of a man who traveled all over the world to search for celebrities. Not living ones but the deceased. Yes. He traveled thousands of miles to different cemeteries to search for tombs of the celebrities. J. F. Kennedy, Gandi, Marilyn Monroe, etc. He likes to photograph the tombs stones of the celebrities and collects them. On the tomb stone of these celebrities, he says, usually would have a motto which give a one liner that best sums up the whole life of a person.

Enoch didn’t see death for God took him away. If he did have a tombstone, then I’m sure we would have on his tombstone something like this: " Enoch - Walked With God". Although we care a lot how others think of us, it’s more important how we’re viewed in God’s eyes. In God’s eyes, Enoch is a man of faith. Heb 11:5 "By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Moreover, the bible simply says: Enoch walked with God three hundred years. What about Noah? Gen 6:9 "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." Oh, dear brothers and sisters, how would you like to be remembered? How would your life be summed up when it’s over? And how would your whole life be viewed in God’s eyes? Both Enoch and Noah saw the end time was near and they lead a holy life. They walked with God. They have such a simple vision and purpose in their life that was to live for God. Their relationship with God is reflected in their daily walk with God. Enoch pursuit God and Noah built the ark and was a preacher of righteousness. God was the center of their life. They have the heart of the Lord. They care about what God wants. How about us? Do we care about how God see in our lives? How’s your relationship with the Lord recently? Is he the center of your life each day? Do you live a life of a true worshipper? I’d like to ask a family to come up to present this song: "Whom have I but you?" During the presentation, let’s all open our heart to our dear Lord. Let his spirit touch us with his love. May he be the only one worthy of our worship and praise.

The name "Enoch" means "Sanctification and Consecration". Many people may have a name like that, the one in Genesis chapter 5 bring that name into reality in his life. Adam’s disobedience brought in death to him and the world, yet Enoch’s obedience to God took him out of death. In the birth of Methuselah, he saw the authority and righteousness of God. From that day on, he live in the reality of walking with God. That is to live a life of total submission, consecration, sanctification and God-loving life.

Methuselah lived 969 years old, the oldest man in the world. Some say he had good health. May be. But we see God’s mercy in this oldest man. God waited for a long time before he let his judgment fell on mankind. He wish that no one would perish but all would repent. Our Lord Jesus shall coming again. He’s not delaying, but wish that all will repent.

1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near.

Dear friends, while there’s time, do not harden your hearts. Repent while there’s time. Enter into the ark which is believe in Jesus Christ who died for your sins. In Noah’s time, people didn’t repent and the flood came suddenly. The bible tells us that Jesus will come again to judge the world. Believe in him while the gate of grace still open.

Christians, it has not been changed that God still seeks for true worshippers. It was so when he created man, it was so when Jesus came, and it is still so today. Let’s live a life worthy of his calling and walk with the Lord each and everyday until we see him.

Title: True Worshippers - Walking With The Lord
By: Frank Lin
Series: Worship
Date: 8/13/00