The Biggest Through Hike
Enoch – How To Walk With God
Pastor Fred Calkins
Midland SDA Church
February 6, 2021
There are a number of challenging hikes on this earth:
Appalachian Trail – about 2200 miles – 6 months
It tends to be up to the mountain top,
then down to the river continually.
Pacific Crest Trail – 2653 mi. – 6-8 months
Kokoda Track – PNG – 96 kilometers – 10 days
Great Himalaya Trail – Nepal – 1,700 km. – 5 months
May stay at a ‘tea-House’ each night!
Justina Thomas – 10 hours on Palawan a ‘killer’ hike.
The most intriguing ‘hike’ is one that actually left the earth.
Genesis 5:24 says Enoch ‘walked’ with God – and left earth!
The story must start with Adam & Seth.
Adam & Eve had lots of children
Three are named:
We spoke of Cain & Able Genesis 4
Seth was a godly son. Genesis 5
He looked more like his daddy than the others. V.3
More importantly, he sought to honor God.
Yes, He grew up with the awareness of Cain’s sin.
Seth was still alive when Enoch was translated.
Surely he spoke earnestly with his
Great-great-great grandson, Enoch
Enoch listened attentively!
Enoch would also have been taught by Adam!
Who died when Enoch was over 300 years old.
When Enoch was 65, he became a father!
This can be life-transforming.
Enoch discerned how God seeks for us to depend on Him!
Teaching a child to walk
can teach us how to walk with God.
How awesome is that! Lessons of –
- Dependence
- Trust
- Unselfishness
God’s heart yearns for us to “walk” with Him!
Enoch was able to take 300 years!
We must be relatively Quick!
We only get 50-100 years – if that!
How old were you when you saw the love of God?
Enoch was a prophet: Jude 1:14&15
He named his son – ‘when he dies, the end’
Methuselah
He preached of Righteous Living (in a godless age)
He taught the Second Coming of Christ.
I believe Enoch found a balance:
Time in Nature and time sharing God with people.
Three parallel Bible characters help us learn how to walk with God:
Elijah – who also was translated – II Kings 2:1, 9-13
John-the-Baptist – called ‘The Greatest Prophet’ – Matt. 11:7-15
Jesus – who exemplified The Walk most – we have more story
a. Daily communion with God
b. Time in nature – lots of time in nature!
c. Continually doing good deeds
d. Counselling gracefully
e. Confronting Sin – tactfully and using Scripture
Key points of the walk –
Do what God says – even if it does not make sense.
God can change your nature!
He who tells – also empowers!
Pray much –
Daily communion – listen more than talk
Continual awareness – ‘Pray without ceasing’
Confront sin – gently and firmly
Joy in the LORD
Let me amplify those four points:
# 1. Start now to apply these in your life!
If you hear the whisper of God to do something,
be prompt to obey.
If you hear God saying to discontinue something,
be prompt to obey
– no matter how dear that something may be.
He says you may need to cut off a hand
or pluck out an eye! See Matthew 18:8-9
Nature-Man’s friend who self-amputated a finger.
# 2. Daily Devotional Time is a must.
Commit a significant chunk of time to this devotional.
Working people may be limited to
a quarter hour a couple times a day.
Retirees may be able to commit several hours.
Make these productive minutes.
Prayer lists help
Spend time in the Word
Journaling may help
Memorize – the FAST website is very helpful.
# 3. God will make you aware of sin.
If it is in your own life
– excise it quickly and thoroughly.
If it is another’s life
– be gentle, yet bold.
First cast the beam out of your own life. Matt 7:3-5
Seek forgiveness
as though you yourself be guilty of the sin.
And, But by the grace of God – you are.
Often we see sins that are
in our own lives to some degree.
Perhaps in an inverted way.
Only when we have humbled ourselves before God
are we safe to expose another’s sin.
Tears were in Jesus’ voice when He confronted sin.
We dare do no less.
# 4. Joy In The Lord:
Spend time in His book of nature.
Forest Bathing has started to be prescribed
– simply sitting in nature for half an hour or so.
By moving water is even better!
Live in the light of God’s presence.
In His presence is fullness of joy.
Peace and happiness (a smile)
should characterize the countenance.
This will make your face more attractive.
A smile even improves your mood.
Your character will
draw people to Christ through you.
May we, each, walk into the kingdom as Enoch did!