WALK WORTHY
Text: Colossians 1
7 January 2007
(I) UNDERSTANDING TRUE WORTHINESS
“That you may walk worthy of the Lord…” Colossians 1:10
1. “Worthy” has the idea of a weighing balance.
2. Subjective convictions of walking worthy may not equate in reality
a) It is not what you think that counts
b) It is not what we imagine that counts
c) It is not what we feel that counts
3. The reality of our life must be brought to the scales and measured
4. Worthiness must be accorded to us by the Lord
5. Situations where the Lord would not accord worthiness.
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:37-38
(II) MEASURING UP TO WHAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN / BLESSED WITH
1. Measuring up to the salvation and blessing given to us
a) From hopelessness to great heavenly hope
“Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven…” Colossians 1:5
b) From the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of His Son
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” Colossians 1:13
c) From nothing to partakers of the inheritance of the saints
“Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” Colossians 1:12
2. Measuring up to the truth of the gospel
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” Philippians 1:27-28
a) Truth
b) Faith
3. Measuring up to His calling
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” Ephesians 4:1-2
“That you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:11
(III) PROVING ONESELF IN WALKING WORTHY OF THE LORD
1. Constantly seeking depth of knowledge
a) Deep Knowledge of His will
“…that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” Colossians 1:9
b) Deep Knowledge of God
“…increasing in the knowledge of God” Colossians 1:10
2. Constantly seeking strength of character
“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” Colossians 1:11
3. Constantly seeking fruitfulness
“Being fruitful in every good work…” Colossians 1:10
(IV) OUR GOAL – TO BE COUNTED WORTHY
“Which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer” 2 Thessalonians 1:5