The Right Walk | Ephesians 5:1-20

Walking is considered to be a very good exercise. Almost everyone at a different point in time starts their discipline of morning walk. Many start walking but only a few press on, others drop out sooner or later. Likewise, many people who get saved drop out of their walk with the Lord within the first year or two.

I believe the number one reason why so many new Christians drop out of their walk with God is that they do not know how to walk in the Lord. They do not get the proper teaching and coaching to lead them on their new journey with the Lord.

WALK RIGHTLY IN SINGLENESS AND MARRIAGE

This is a continuation of the message: Should I stay single or get married? The success of your singleness or the success of our marriage lies in an individual’s personal walk with the Lord.

Here are the basics of the Christian walk. These are the specific areas that each Christian has to be gradually led into if they are really going to enter into the real walk with the Lord. This walk with the Lord can transform our lives and our family.

Young people look for a marriage partner. Parents look for a partner for their children. They always want the best boy or girl. A good marriage does not result in having a good partner, a good marriage is a result of a good you, which results from a right walk with the Lord.

Irrespective of your status; whether you are a single, celibate or a married person; the Bible teaches us about our basic Christian walk.

WHAT DOES EPHESIANS TALK ABOUT WALKING RIGHTLY?

The first three chapters of Ephesians talk about: “What it is to be a Christian?” The last three chapters of Ephesians talk about: “How to live as a Christian?”

From Ephesians 5:22 onwards, Paul talks about the substance of marriage laws. Before speaking to the husband and wife, Paul is talking about our individual walk with the Lord. So here are the secrets of success both for the married and the single.

SO HOW DO WE WALK?

Be imitators of God. Be imitators of God just as Christ did. Ephesians 5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love…

Therefore, what is the example Christ showed us? Well, Paul gives us the details in chapters 4 and 5.

1. WALK IN HUMILITY

Ephesians 4:1-2 ¹As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Therefore, we are called to walk in humility. Our example is Jesus. Philippians 2 talks about the humility Jesus had.

AREAS OF PRIDE:

1. Ability Pride – Do you know that if we are gifted at something, it is a probability that the devil can make us proud of it?
2. Economic Pride – This is the throwing around of our riches, displaying them. Exalting ourselves and our accomplishments by parading what we’ve gained.
3. Verbal Pride – This is just bragging or boasting. We have verbal pride of what we have done. Then we have verbal pride in what we are going to do.
4. Class Pride – We get to a certain place or status in our society. Then we think of others as lower class. We are looking down on people. It is also called social pride.
5. Appearance Pride – I think people need to dress up well and nice. But we are always tempted in our culture today to dress to call attention to ourselves.
6. Power Pride – This is the pride that comes from a position. I deserve better treatment. Everybody is in some position and everybody is tempted to use it. Such people rule, dominate, and demand respect.
7. Spiritual Pride – This is the worst one. The Pharisees had this. Feeling of spiritual superiority.
8. Intellectual Pride – Pride that comes from education and knowledge.

God calls us to walk in humility. Only when we are humble we can be united. Humility leads to unity.

2. WALK IN LOVE

Ephesians 5:1-2 1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

What is the love that Christ showed us? God’s love is forgiving, unconditional, and sacrificial.

Illustration: In the olden days a guy got married. During the reception, someone told him that his wife is very stubborn. After marriage, the couple got in the cart that was pulled by the horse, and they were leaving the wedding. The horse ran suddenly in fear, and the guy said, “That’s one.” A little while down the road, the horse bolted, and he said, “That’s two.” The third time the horse did it he got out, took a gun, and shot the horse. And his wife said, “What are you doing?” And he looked at her and said, “That’s one.”

Walk Different Than The Rest Of The World

As a result, both the single and married need to continue in sexual purity.

Ephesians 5:3-7 3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7Therefore do not be partners with them.

Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

3. WALK IN THE LIGHT

Ephesians 5:8-13 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

Shine the light of God’s Word on your life and your marriage. Expose your life and marriage to the light of God’s word.

Illustration On Walking In the Light: A preacher was winding up his sermon on walking in the light. He was exhorting them not to indulge in alcohol. He said, “If I had all the beer in the world, I’d take it and throw it into the river.” And the congregation cried, “Amen!” “And if I had all the wine in the world, I’d take it and throw it in the river.” And the congregation cried, “Hallelujah!” The preacher sat down.
The worship leader stood up very tentatively and announced: “For our closing song, let us sing hymn #365, ‘Shall we gather at the river.’”

If you lose something, you switch on the light. If you forget your car keys, the first thing to do is to switch on the lights and search until you find it.

Illustration On Searching Without Light: I heard the story about a drunk man who was down on his hands and knees under a streetlight looking for something. Someone came up to him and said sir what did you lose. He said, “I lost my wallet and I am searching in the light.” The man asked, “Did you lose your wallet here?” He said, No, I lost it two streets back but there’s no light there.”

It’s not a very good idea to search for something if you look in the wrong place. Look for life and marriage in the right place. The right place to find answers for your life is the scripture.

4. WALK IN WISDOM

Ephesians 5:15-16 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

What does it mean to walk in wisdom? A wise walking Christian knows three realities.

1. Understand our Life Principles. We have biblical restrictions. We are called to walk through the narrow door.
2. Understand Our Limited Time.
3. Understand the Lord’s will.

The will of God for us is to be:

5. WALK IN THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 5:18-20 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hence, yield to the Holy Spirit one day at a time. Follow the Holy Spirit one decision at a time. I would call it a walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16 I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Now, we ought to know that there’s a war going on in us.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

WHAT IS THE FLESH?

The flesh is the beachhead of sin. The flesh is where Satan lands his temptation. So how do we deal with this? Walk in the Spirit at all times. If you walk controlled by the Spirit of God every moment of every day, you’ll become Christ-conscious because you’re feeding in the Word of God. When you are thinking of Him and gazing at Him and conscious of Him, then you’re not going to have a problem with the flesh. Two things cannot occupy your mind at the same time. Therefore, you cannot have the flesh and spirit work in you at the same time.

If you give into flesh what happens? We end up doing the fruitless deeds of darkness: Galatians 5:19-21 ¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WALK BY THE SPIRIT?

The result will be the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-25 ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. If you are led by the Spirit you escape the punishment, chastening of God.

Ephesians 5:18-20 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21Submit to one another out of reverence of Christ.

1. Singing – Spirit-filled life produces a song in me. This is personal.
2. Giving Thanks – It has to do with God.
3. Submission – It has to do with everybody around me.

Being filled with the spirit is to be guided by the spirit. Therefore, let your life be guided by the Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we as Christians are to walk the right walk with the Lord. How do you walk? Just imitate Christ in you. Firstly, Walk in humility. Secondly, walk in love. Thirdly, walk differently from the world. Fourthly, walk in the light. Fifthly, walk in wisdom. Fifthly, walk in the Spirit. As a result, when we walk with the Lord, He will enable us to have success in our personal lives, marital lives, family lives, and corporate lives.