Dare To Walk With God

Our associate pastor, Ryan Crawford, brought our Sunday morning message: "Dare to Walk With God."

We stood for opening prayer and the reading of God's Word. The scripture reading was taken from Psalms 23, Psalms 116 and Psalms 119.

How many of us growing up took a dare from their friends? What does it mean to be daring or dare to do something? The definition of daring is "to be brave enough or have the courage to do something." To dare to do something is "to defy or challenge (someone) to do something."

Today, we are going to challenge you, or dare you, to walk with God. Who can we look back on of those who walked with God? There were a few that truly walked with God. David was one such person that not only walked with God, but was a man after God's own heart. God had removed Saul from being king of the Jews and had chosen David to serve His people. Acts 13:22 says, "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will." What can we see in David's heart and life that we can translate to our own heart and life?

Psalms 23

David didn't just know about God; he knew Him personally. He worshiped Him. David had a real relationship with God and was directed by God in all that he did. David had a personal relationship with God. David trusted, relied on and had faith in God in all things. Even as David told Saul about how God had delivered him from the lion and the bear in 1 Samuel, he spoke of how He was his personal God.

Psalms 119:1-3

Even Paul spoke of his relationship with God in Philippians 3:10. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." Paul spoke of how his relationship was more important than all the good things he had done in his service to Christ.

Looking back in Psalms 23:4-6, David spoke of knowing God intimately. He spoke of how God used His rod and staff to guide him. Psalms 56:4: "In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." Rod and staff? Maybe you are wondering how that would work. God guides us through our lives as our shepherd. His staff moves us away from the worldly perils that we encounter. The rod is there to protect us from lions and bears of the world, things that would do us harm spiritually. Psalms 118:6 says, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?"

Psalms 116:1-19

After all the things that God had done for David, he couldn't help but love God. God had blessed him in so many ways. Look in 1 Chronicles 16:9-19 as David tells Israel about all that she had to be thankful for, all that God had done for her. They had so much to be thankful for: wondrous works, Holy name, strength, judgment, and covenant. Then hop down to verse 34: "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." David also points out how God had demonstrated mercy and goodness to Israel.

As you read about David reminding Israel of their blessings, take a moment to count your blessings. When was the last time you did that? David knew that God blessed him. David was devoted completely to God and was determined to repay God for all that he had done for him. The debt was heavy on David's shoulders to pay God for what He had blessed him with. David had so much to love God for. Love is not something you feel; it's what you do. 1 John 4:19 says, "We love him, because he first loved us." That love we have for God should be exercised spiritually every day.

There were only two people mentioned in the Bible that walked with God. One was Noah, and the other was Enoch. Enoch walked with God and was no more. So, what does it really mean to walk with the Lord? Amos explains it best in Amos 3:3. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" This means that in order for you to walk with the Lord, you have to agree to what He says. You need to obey God completely. David was keenly in agreement with God. He saw as God saw. When you walk with God, you go in the same direction and you walk at the same pace as God.

Psalms 119:9-16

If we are to enjoy the blessings of walking with God, it means we submit ourselves to Him. As David submitted to the Word of God, he grew spiritually. As we submit to the Word of God, we develop our walk with God. Our hearts become closer to God. David was a great leader, but in all things he submitted to God. We need to submit ourselves to God in order for our walk with God to become closer. David was consistent in his relationship with God. God's Word never changes. If we submit to God, praying morning, noon,and night, we find that our lives in turn become consistent. Psalms 55:17 says, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."

I dare you to walk with God!

Please come join us for church. We have two services. The Early Morning service is at 8:30 a.m. with Sunday School immediately afterwards. The Mid-Morning service starts at 11 a.m.

Please check out our FBCP Teen Group Facebook page.

Friday night, Bible Study will start at 6:30 p.m.

The nursing home ministry will be at Golden Living Center in Anderson at 2:30 p.m. every other Saturday afternoon.

Kids for Christ is now happening during Wednesday night service. We are studying the Armor of God. This will be our last week. VBS will be Aug. 10 through Sept. 7. We will have meals starting at 6 p.m., and lessons will be 6:30-8. This year's lesson will be "The Amazing Race."

The 2016 Church Camp will be July 28-30 for 1st- through 6th-graders. Cost is $30 per child.

The teen camping/floating trip will be Aug. 11-12. Cost is $5 per teen. Please contact Ryan for more information.

You can hear a rebroadcast of one of our pastors' services on KURM radio, 100.3 on the FM dial, at 8:30 Sunday mornings. Or listen to our pastors' services on our website at www.firstbaptistchurchpineville.com/Sermons.html.

If you have no church home of your own, we would love for you to join us in ours (off the northeast corner of Pineville square, just behind U.S. Bank). No friendlier, down-home church can be found anywhere in the four-state area.