How To Follow In Jesus' Footsteps

Book of Ephesians, we are continuing on chapter 5.

Chapter 5. How many of you brought your Bible with you this morning?

Wonderful. I love it. I actually got some Bibles waved at me right there. That was fun.

How many of you have the Bible on your phone? You're going to use that this morning?

That's alright. Don't be ashamed. It's okay. Own it.

You've just given in to the technological takeover of the world. That's alright.

I'm kidding. I do it every day, so no problem.

Yeah, it's a nice advantage to have that.

Whatever you're looking at, I hope it's a copy of God's Word this morning.

There should be one in the few back in front of you if you don't have one there.

Ephesians chapter 5. By way of review, we have gone through this book, the first four chapters of it.

Ephesians 5 · chapter mention

It's talking about who we are and how we live.

Y'all notice the difference in this slide here today?

Alright, I've had this top left book up there for quite a while.

I consult that regularly in my study for this series.

But I've also added in the Bible exposition commentary from Warren Wearsby.

That's a great resource as well for anyone who wants to dive into a more in-depth study of the Bible.

The breakdown, I'm sorry, the background of the book of Ephesians written by the Apostle Paul around the year AD 62.

And he was in prison at the time.

I say, what did you do in prison?

Well, I wrote a book of the Bible.

So that was quite an accomplishment that God breathed into Paul to write down God's words for us that have lasted for all time.

And he was very familiar with this church in Ephesus.

He had been their pastor for about three years and then wrote this letter back to them.

We can read about his exploits in Ephesus in Acts chapter 19.

Acts 19 · chapter mention

And of course, the breakdown of the book, it's nice and handy, divided up into two sections, chapter 1 through chapter 3.

Who we are in Christ, chapters 4 through the end of the book.

How we live for Christ.

The identity and then the practical side.

What should we then do with our newfound identity in Christ?

So that's the part we're in right now.

The second half, how we live for Christ.

Let's look at Ephesians chapter 5, verses 1.

Ephesians 5:1

And we'll read down through 17.

I'm reading from the Christian Standard Bible.

I know we've been up and down a good bit during this service.

If you're able to join us in standing one more time, let's do it again one more time in honor of God's word.

Ephesians chapter 5, verse 1.

Ephesians 5:1

Therefore, be imitators of God.

We heard about it in our children's time just a moment ago with Miss Sarah.

Imitators of God as dearly loved children.

Walk in love as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us.

A sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you.

As is proper for saints.

Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable.

But rather giving thanks.

For know and recognize this.

Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person who is an idolater does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments.

For God's wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.

Therefore, do not become their partners.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Live as children of light.

For the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Testing what is pleasing to the Lord.

Don't participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.

For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.

Everything exposed by the light is made visible.

For what makes everything visible is light.

Therefore, it is said, get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead.

And Christ will shine on you.

Pay careful attention then to how you live.

Not as unwise people, but as wise.

Making the most of the time.

Because the days are evil.

So don't be foolish.

But understand what the Lord's will is.

God, I ask that you would reveal to us what exactly you would have us to learn today.

From your word.

May your spirit have free reign and ability to work in our hearts.

And we'll thank you and give you all the glory in Jesus' name.

Amen.

You may be seated.

Thank you for standing.

How many of you have been up to the Colorado Rocky Mountains?

Anybody?

Yeah, good number.

That's awesome.

How many of you have been to the Marble, Colorado area?

I would have been surprised if there had been a hand raised.

That is a very obscure little part of Colorado.

And then in that area, Marble itself is a very small town.

And the reason they called it Marble, Colorado was this marble quarry that can be found up in the mountains.

And you have to hike up to it.

The roads are all impassable.

And there's three big mountains around there.

The one closest to the marble quarry is Treasure Mountain.

Well, there used to be a campground up there.

I don't know if it's even there anymore.

It could be.

But I haven't been there since I was a kid.

But every year, my dad and my older brother, who will be here next week,

and I used to go up there just about every year for a little father-son getaway.

So my dad knew the owner of this campground.

And we would go up there before the camp season would open.

So we'd be there, and the camp owner wouldn't be there,

but he'd let us through and let us go stay at this campground.

And there'd still be snow everywhere.

And it was an interesting time.

It was a lot of fun.

For one thing, we would go to Sam's Club or Costco or something before we ever got up to the remote mountain area.

And we'd stock up for that week with all kinds of provisions.

And, you know, we'd get our sodas.

And we wouldn't stick the sodas in the refrigerator.

We'd stick them in the little creek that ran right outside of the cabin.

And they'd be way colder than you could ever get in the refrigerator.

There's a lot of fun.

So we would have a blast.

And the point of this, the reason I'm bringing it up today,

for one thing, it's really pretty.

The next thing is, we would always take hikes.

Just about every day, we'd take some kind of hike.

And at some point during that week,

and there were even some years,

we'd bring another dad and his son with us

and kind of have more of a friend-type week

rather than just father and son.

But we would always go up and do this hike up to the top of Treasure Mountain.

And that was the goal, try to get as far up.

And if we could actually reach the summit, that'd be a lot of fun.

And these are 11, 12, 13,000-foot mountain peaks.

So not, you know, super high like the Himalayas or something,

but still a pretty good hike.

And this was a lot of fun.

But I was probably, I don't know, in the range we were doing this,

I was probably anywhere from 8 to 15 or so.

So the first few years,

they wouldn't let me go all the way to the top of the mountain.

But then eventually, I remember the year I finally got to do it.

And especially that first year,

my dad would lead out in front,

and he would say,

okay, now, once we get past the tree line and all this,

you really just need to walk where I walk.

Step in my footsteps.

Because otherwise,

for one thing, my legs were a whole lot shorter.

For another thing,

he'd been doing that path for years

and kind of knew where to go

and where the tricky spots would be.

And he said,

if you go out and forge your own path,

you're liable to get into a deep snow drift.

It'd be hard to get out of.

You might hit something that makes you fall or whatever.

So he'd say,

just walk where I walk.

I wish there was like some kind of,

you know,

incredible climax to the story,

but there isn't really.

Because I actually did it.

I actually walked where he walked.

The only time I didn't really

was when we were still in the trees.

And I thought,

okay, well, we're not really past the tree line,

so it's okay.

So I kind of ventured off on my own.

And sure enough,

went through this big bunch of snow

and wound up with my boot in a little stream

that was running underneath the snow

and I couldn't see it.

So then everything got wet.

And the problem is,

in that kind of deal,

you can't just get wet

and then keep going.

If you get wet,

you got to go back

and get out of the wet clothes

and socks and all that.

Because otherwise,

it'll freeze.

Nobody wants that.

So that cut short

my little hike that day.

But it is,

I learned the importance of,

okay,

you've really got to walk

where your guide

tells you to walk.

Step literally

in his boot prints.

And unrelated to this,

but I remember the year

when my brother decided

to be the point man,

so to speak,

and go out

and blaze the trail for us

on up ahead.

And then he came running back

not too long after that,

totally out of breath,

and he said,

a mountain lion

just ran across my path.

It's about 15 feet in front of me.

Just boom.

I was like,

okay,

we're all going to stay together

as a group now.

So that was a lot of fun.

But I definitely learned

the importance of walking

where I was supposed to walk.

So look back.

Well, before we do,

I want to show you this verse.

1 Peter 2, 21.

You were called to do this

because Christ also suffered for you,

leaving you an example

that you should,

let's read it together.

Follow in his steps.

Follow in his steps.

That's exactly what God called us to do.

Walk in my boot prints.

I'll keep you out of the real bad snowdrifts.

I'll keep you from getting wet

in the streets.

I'll keep you on the path

that I know you need to walk.

This is the best path for you to walk.

And I remember at times in Colorado

when I would look over and say,

it looks like we can make it easier over there.

And he'd say,

no,

underneath all that

is loose shale

and we'll fall.

I remember at times when,

you know,

we were going back down the mountain.

And sometimes that's the trickiest part

is going down the mountain

rather than going up.

It's easier to fall going down.

And I remember there would be times

when he'd say,

okay,

now on this part,

you need to sit down

and slide down

because it's actually formed a glacier over here.

And we'll get down a whole lot better

and easier

and there's snow at the bottom

to impact our landing and all that.

We just need to slide down now.

And I wouldn't have known that

if I hadn't walked that path before.

But can I remind every one of us,

Jesus came to this earth himself.

He was born a man.

The Bible says he was tempted

in every area

that you and I get tempted in.

He literally walked this path of life before us.

He knows exactly what we can go through.

He knows all the arrows

that the devil will shoot at us.

He's heard it all before.

And he can show us

where to place our feet

as we go through this life.

And that's what we're called to do.

Follow in his steps.

So the title of our sermon today

is How to Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus.

How to Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus.

Number one, you've got it in your bulletin.

Number one, walk in love.

Walk in love.

Back in verse one, Ephesians chapter five.

Be imitators of God

as dearly loved children

and walk in love

as Christ also loved us,

gave himself for us.

What does it mean

be imitators as dearly loved children?

I love this quote by Mark Twain,

the famous author

and kind of comic writer.

He said,

children are natural mimics

who act like their parents

despite every effort

to teach them good manners.

Some of you didn't get that,

but I saw a couple jokes.

children are natural mimics

who will act like their parents

despite every effort

that we make

to teach them good manners.

In other words,

yeah, do as I say,

not as I do, right?

But children usually do what we do

rather than always

what we tell them to do, right?

So that is the point

is that children are imitators.

They're mimics.

Children will do

what they see usually.

That's how we learned.

It's how we learned to talk,

hearing others talk around us.

It's how we learned

to live our lives

and do the things

that we do every day

is usually by seeing others

model that for us.

So Philippians chapter two,

verse five,

let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus

who made himself

of no reputation,

took upon him

the form of a servant,

was made in the likeness of men

and being found in fashion

as a man,

he humbled himself,

became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

So this is the mind

that we should have.

The mindset that we should have

is imitating,

mimicking,

copying,

learning from

Jesus.

He is our example.

So what did he do?

What is it we're supposed

to learn from him?

What are we supposed

to mimic from him

or imitate?

He made himself

of no reputation.

That goes against

what we do.

You and I don't want

to make ourselves

of no reputation.

We want to build up

our reputation

and make it as big

and great as we can.

We want to exalt ourselves.

We want to promote ourselves.

When you're in the job site,

you know,

oftentimes you're going

for some kind of promotion,

more pay,

better hours,

better perks,

whatever it is.

You're trying to build up

your reputation.

Jesus had the opposite mindset.

He made himself

of no reputation.

He took upon him

the form of a servant.

He was made

in the likeness of men.

He was God.

He was the son of God.

Left heaven's throne

and all the majesty

and glory

and humbled himself

to become a servant.

Humbled himself

and became obedient

unto death.

This is what we're

supposed to imitate.

It's a mind shift.

It's different.

We got to stop

the way we've been thinking

and consciously choose

to imitate someone else.

So this is hard to read

probably from where

you're sitting,

but I'll try to read it

off for you.

Let me give you

the scriptural background

before we get there.

So we said,

be imitators of God.

Walk in love.

Now,

when you say love

in today's world,

oftentimes,

we might say love,

but what is heard

is lust.

There's a big difference

between love and lust.

And that's why

in verse 3,

it dives straight

into this comparison,

this contrast.

Sexual immorality,

impurity,

greed should not even

be heard of among you.

Verse 4,

obscene or foolish talking

or crude joking.

Don't do it.

Verse 5,

every sexually immoral

or impure or greedy person

who is an idolater

does not have an inheritance

in the kingdom of God.

So what are we talking about?

The difference in love and lust

and how you know,

and this is for young people,

older people alike,

is one,

the column on the left

is love.

Godly agape love.

Not getting into that idea

of the word agape,

but that's the form of love

that God showed to us.

There's agape love.

There's phileo love,

which is more of a familial

or friendship type love.

And then there is the,

obviously,

the erotic love,

and that's where you get into lust

and that kind of thing.

So on the left,

we have the love

that God showed for us,

which is that agape love.

That means sacrificial,

holding nothing back.

Everything I have,

I will lay down

out of my love for you.

That's the kind of love

that God showed us on the cross.

So what does that look like?

It's unconditional.

Lust, on the other hand,

or what some people would call love,

is conditional.

I will love you if such and such.

God did not do that.

He loved us despite all these things

that would normally erode love.

On the left,

it's patient and long-suffering.

It'll last.

On the right,

lust, temporary and finicky.

On the left,

love gives first from abundance.

On the right,

it takes first,

constantly comparing and always needy.

What does it mean

it'll give first from abundance?

It means that there is plenty of love.

That's not a shallow amount.

It's not going to run dry.

And I can promise you

God's love for you and for me

will never run dry.

He'll never run out of love for us.

And it'll always give first.

He won't take first.

Girls, can I remind you,

if a guy tells you he loves you,

but the first thing that he wants

is something from you,

that's not love.

Right?

That's not love.

Give first.

And then on the left,

always available

and always listening.

And on the right,

randomly interested,

limited attention.

Randomly interested,

limited attention.

Think through the relationships

that you have.

Think through the relationships

you have in your life.

Is it love?

Is it godly love

or is it human love

that might even be

categorized as lust?

And then on the left,

desires unity and harmony.

And on the right,

it's inconsistent.

It's discordant.

It's not unified.

It's not harmonious.

You're not together.

And it's inconsistent.

And then on the left,

selfless and meek.

Humble.

And on the right,

it's selfish and prideful.

So there's a real distinction

between love and lust.

Between sometimes

what humans strive to love like,

but we fall so far short.

But on the left

is the kind of love

that we receive from God

and the kind of love

that God can shine through us

to someone else.

God can help us love

how he loves.

So it's incredibly important

to understand

that we read

in verse 2 of chapter 5

to walk in love

as Christ loved us.

Now what does it mean

in verse 5

when it says,

know and recognize this,

every sexually immoral

or impure

or greedy person,

and I love that they

combined those impure

and greedy

with the sexual immorality.

because that is greediness.

That is a form of take

for me, right?

So what does it mean

when it says

these kinds of people

will not have an inheritance

in the kingdom of Christ in God?

Does that mean

if you commit sexual sin

that you don't get to go to heaven?

Is that what that means?

Because remember,

this is written

to Christians.

It's written to a church.

It's written to people

who have already said

that they have placed

their faith in God.

So what does it mean?

We all are coming up

empty like I did, okay?

That's good.

I tried to study this out

and I even talked to

some friends

and ministry

and that kind of thing

and finally

what I realized is

I'm skipping over

a key part.

It says,

no one recognized this,

every sexually immoral

or impure

or greedy person

who is an idolater

does not have an inheritance

in the kingdom of Christ in God.

You understand that that part

who is an idolater

is crucial,

essential.

Can't skip over it.

it means that,

what is an idol?

What is an idol?

Anybody?

Substitute for God.

That's a great way to put it.

Something that you have lifted up

or elevated above God.

Now,

you and I will do that

at times in our life.

We will place something else

more important

than God in our lives.

And usually that will lead us

off into somewhere

that we don't need to be.

However,

if you are an idolater,

it means that you have refused

to acknowledge God as God.

And so these people

have elevated their own lust,

their own greed,

themselves above God.

And this seems to be someone

who perpetually does this.

So actually,

he's warning us

that there are people

possibly even in this church

in Ephesus,

and it would be foolish

to think that we don't have

people like this

in our town

or even in our church today

who have not actually

humbled themselves

and made God,

God in their life.

That means they're not saved,

if you will.

They're not Christians.

They haven't truly

repented of their sin

and put their faith

in a Savior.

They are an idolater,

someone who will not

acknowledge God as God.

So,

they've let lust be their God.

They've let sexual immorality

be their God.

They've let obscenity,

foolishness,

impurity, greed

be their God.

So this is a warning.

And then it goes on to say,

walk in light.

Let no one deceive you.

No one like this.

Don't let these people deceive you

with empty arguments

because God's wrath

is coming on the disobedient

because of these things.

Have you ever noticed

that if you talk to someone

who lives for themselves,

they will come up

with all kinds of reasons

why they should?

They'll come up

with all kinds of excuses

why it's okay for them.

Have you ever noticed that?

You can be calling someone

on the carpet

for their obvious,

obvious sin

that is destructive

to them,

to those around them.

And they will just

come back with,

well,

you don't understand

my situation.

You don't understand

what I've been through.

You don't understand

this and this and this.

And yes,

I don't understand,

but Jesus does.

And he still calls you

to walk in the light.

He still can empower you

to resist the devil

and the devil will flee from you.

There is forgiveness.

There is grace.

But in order to experience

the forgiveness

and the grace,

we must turn

from the sin.

We must turn

from the sin.

And if we don't,

we cannot walk

in the light.

Look at verse 8.

Once you were in darkness,

but now you are light

in the Lord.

Live as children

of light,

for the fruit of the light

consists of all goodness,

righteousness,

and truth,

testing what is pleasing

to the Lord.

Don't participate

in the fruitless works

of darkness.

Instead,

expose them.

It's shameful

to even talk about

what's done by them.

Verse 13,

everything exposed

by the light

is visible.

That's what makes

everything visible.

And so get up,

wake up,

and Christ will shine

on you.

Now,

I don't normally quote

Johnny Cash

in my sermons.

However,

this one was on the money,

all right?

As sure as God

made black and white,

what's done in the dark

will be brought

to the light.

Now,

God said it a whole lot

more eloquently

here in Ephesians.

But I think

that that's spot on.

God will shine

in the darkness.

Now,

listen,

that should be

a good thing for you.

That should be

a good thing,

that God sees

the things you do

for Him.

That God always sees

the struggle

that you go through.

That He's there

and that the darkness

can't overwhelm you.

It can't overcome you.

You do get to walk

in God's light

unless you're enjoying

the darkness too much.

Unless you're hiding

in the darkness.

Unless you're sneaking

around doing things

that you know

are not healthy,

that you know

are not good for you

or anyone you love.

But you're putting

yourself first

and you're lifting

yourself above God.

And then,

it's a scary thing

to think that the light

is going to shine

in the darkness.

What's done

in the dark

will be brought

to the light.

So,

let's go to Luke.

Luke chapter 12.

Luke 12 · chapter mention

There's nothing covered

that won't be uncovered.

There's nothing hidden

that won't be made known.

Whatever you have said

in the dark

will be heard

in the light.

What you've whispered

in an ear

in private rooms

will be proclaimed

on the housetops.

Y'all,

you want to see

evidence of that?

Turn on the news.

Right?

We're constantly

hearing of things

whether it's politicians

in Washington

or even pastors

in large churches

and ministries.

People in Hollywood.

People in the business world.

You know,

look at all this stuff

with Epstein

and his island

and the lists

that are coming out

of people

that participated

in the horrific things

that went on there.

Human trafficking,

etc.

Everything eventually

will come to light.

It'll be proclaimed

on the housetops.

John 8, 12.

Jesus said,

I am the light

of the world.

Anyone who follows me,

if you're walking

in his steps,

will never walk

in the darkness.

But you will have the light.

You will have the light.

Doesn't mean you won't

mess up.

It doesn't mean

you won't fall.

It doesn't mean

you won't sin.

But you will not live

in that darkness.

God will shine his light.

And if you follow him,

you will not walk

in darkness.

You will have

the light of life.

Let me hit this briefly.

You understand

there's a distinction.

Jesus says

that we are

the light of the world.

He said,

you were once darkness,

but now you are

the light.

But do you understand

that we are not

the source?

Of the light.

Jesus is the light source.

He is the way.

He is the truth.

He is the light.

And he said,

I am the light of the world.

And then later,

he called you and I

the light of the world.

But our source

is Jesus.

We are shining

that light

into the darkness.

So,

walk in love.

Walk in the light.

And then number three,

walk in wisdom.

Verse 15.

Real quick.

Verse 15.

Pay careful attention

then to how you live.

Not as unwise people,

but as wise.

Making the most of the time.

Because the days are evil.

So don't be foolish,

but understand

what the Lord's will is.

Number one,

embrace wisdom.

Embrace wisdom.

Back in verse 15,

it said,

don't live as unwise people,

but as wise.

Embrace wisdom.

Proverbs 4

elaborates on that.

Wisdom is supreme.

So get wisdom.

Whatever else you get,

get understanding.

You know,

it's super helpful

to compile knowledge,

but unless you,

unless you come to grips with it,

unless it makes sense for you

and you can apply it,

unless you understand

what to do with that knowledge,

then it doesn't do you any good.

Right?

So wisdom is supreme.

Get wisdom

and get the understanding

of what to do with that wisdom.

Number eight,

verse eight,

Proverbs 4,

cherish her

and she will exalt you.

If you embrace her,

she will honor you.

Embrace wisdom.

She will honor you.

You will bring honor to God.

And just like Jesus,

we read a moment ago in Philippians,

he humbled himself,

took on the form of the servant.

And the next verses after that said,

God highly exalted him,

gave him a name,

which is above every name

so that the name of Jesus,

every knee would bow

with things in heaven,

things in earth,

things under the earth,

and every tongue would confess

that Jesus is Lord.

If you humble yourself,

God will exalt you.

You will bring glory to him

and he will then in turn

give honor to you.

But you must embrace

godly wisdom.

And then adopt fruitfulness.

Adopt fruitfulness.

Apparently I ran out of

a room on that there

and it just dropped the S down.

But you get it, right?

Verse 16,

making the most of the time

because the days are evil.

What does that mean,

making the most of the time?

It means you're productive.

It means you understand

that Jesus is coming back.

The day is coming soon

when Jesus will return.

We don't have tomorrow guaranteed.

We make plans.

Boy, it's going to be cold.

I got to do this.

Well, the Cowboys are going to play,

so I got to do this.

Well, my parents are coming to town

or my kids are coming to visit,

so I got to do this.

We make all these plans,

but we don't know

that tomorrow is guaranteed.

All we have is today.

All we have guaranteed

is right now, this moment.

So we must keep a sense of urgency

as the children of God

and adopt fruitfulness.

Romans chapter 13,

Romans 13 · chapter mention

do this knowing the time

that now, right now,

it is high time

to awake out of sleep

for now our salvation is nearer

than when we first believed.

Our salvation,

that moment when Jesus comes back.

And we get to start our eternity

with God forever in heaven.

Now it's nearer

than when we first believed.

The night is far spent.

The day is at hand.

Therefore,

let us cast off those works of,

what is it?

The works of what?

Darkness.

Let's put on the armor of what?

Light.

Let us walk properly

as in the, what?

Day.

Not in revelry and drunkenness.

Not in lewdness and lust.

Not in strife and envy.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ

and make no provision for the flesh

to fulfill its lust.

You see how this ties together?

The darkness versus the light.

Love versus lust.

The flesh versus the spirit of God.

And then finally,

understand God's will.

Verse 17.

It said,

don't walk as unwise people.

Walk as wise.

Make the most of your time.

And then verse 17.

Don't be foolish,

but understand

what the Lord's will is.

We've been hitting this passage

the last two Sundays.

And here we are.

We're going to hit it again today.

Romans 12.

Verse 2.

Don't copy the behavior

and the customs of this world,

but let God transform you

into a new person

by changing the way you think.

Then you'll learn to know

God's will for you.

That's how you can understand God's will.

It said in Ephesians 5,

don't be foolish.

Understand what God's will is.

Well, that's great.

How do I do that?

God is so much bigger than I am.

I recognize that.

God's so much greater than I am.

How do I understand God

and His will for me?

Let Him transform you

by letting Him change

the way you think.

You feel like you're hitting a wall.

You just can't get past

whatever it is.

If it's an addiction,

if it's a problem,

if it's something that someone else

is messing up for you,

and you just can't get around this wall,

let God change the way you think.

And then He can transform you.

He can change you.

Then you'll know

what His will is in that situation.

Then you'll know

you'll experience the breakthrough.

Then you'll get to see

the fruitfulness.

You'll get to see the promises of God.

You'll get to see the blessings.

Because God can change me.

God can change you.

I call you back to this verse

that we read at the beginning.

You were called to this

because Jesus suffered for us.

That is our example

that we can walk in His steps.

Guys, I promise you,

if you get out of those boot prints,

you're liable to get into

all kinds of treachery.

You're liable to get into

all kinds of danger.

You're liable to get off the path

that God intended for you

and experience all kinds of things

that He does not want to see

His children go through.

Whatever God allows you to go through,

He'll get you through that.

Don't worry about that.

He will get you through that.

It might be tough.

It might be difficult.

It might be taxing.

It might be sad at times.

But God is enough

to get you through that.

It's those things

that we get into

that He never planned for us

when we get out of His footsteps.

That's what messes you and I up.

That's what leaves the scars

that don't seem to heal.

That's what keeps you up at night.

But I promise you,

when we follow His steps,

man, we experience joy.

We experience blessings.

We experience that good life

that He has for us.

Looks a little different sometimes

than the good life

that we think we deserve.

But it's so much better

than anything that we could

fight and scrape to achieve.

So our point to ponder today,

how often does my path stray

from following Jesus' footsteps?

How often do I get out of those footsteps?

How often do I wander off

on my own

and I wind up

in all kinds of trouble

that I need God

to get me out of again?

And God in His loving graciousness

picks us back up,

puts us back on the path

and says,

walk in my footsteps again.

Walk where I walked.

I got you.

We can handle this together.

If we imitate Jesus,

we imitate Jesus

when we walk in love,

light, and wisdom.

That's the ingredients

that Paul gave us

in his letter to Ephesus.

Walk in love.

Walk in light.

Walk in wisdom.

We find all of that

in the Word of God.

We find all of that

in the fellowship of believers

in our church.

We find all of that

by going constantly to God

in prayer throughout the day.

So we walk in love

and light and wisdom.

And that's how we imitate God.

Amen?

Let's pray together.

God, I pray that you would

continue to work on us, Lord.

We're all trying to follow you

and sometimes we get out of line.

Sometimes we stray

from your footprints.

But God, draw us back.

Don't let us wander too far.

Pick us back up.

Put us back on the path

and let us walk forward.

At this time, church,

we're going to enter into

a time of Lord's Supper.

I'm going to call our deacons forward

at this time.

The deacons, if you'll come forward.

The Lord's Supper

is a very special time

that's reserved just for the church.

And we're not going to take long

with it this morning,

but it's important

that we observe this.

And our church has planned

on doing this every so often.

The Lord's Supper is a time

when we examine our hearts.

And so it's important...

It is important

to examine our hearts

at times like this

and ask the kind of question,

God, have I strayed

from your steps?

I'm going to ask that together

as a room,

we bow our heads

and enter into a time

of quietness,

examining our hearts

and saying,

God, show me

where I've strayed

from your footprints.

Maybe there's something obvious

that God will bring to mind

that you know you need

to work on.

You know you need to

flee from.

God, you know you need to

to be able to do it this morning.

Regardless,

this is the moment

when we stop

and we think about

the Lord's death,

his sacrifice.

That's why Paul reminded us

there in Ephesians 5

of the sacrifice

that Jesus made for us.

So let's stop

and remember

his body

broken on the cross

for us,

his blood

shed

for the forgiveness

of our sins.

We thank him

for that.

We praise him

for that.

And then together

as a church,

we take the bread

and we drink

from the cup

in honor

and remembrance

of his body

and his blood.

And the Bible says

let us first

examine ourselves

before we do this

together

as a church.

Examine

that our love

for him

is strong.

That we're not perfect

but we are truly

committed

to following

in the steps

of Jesus.

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