Many falter in their walk with the Lord. It is almost as though they are on a roller coaster ride - up one day and down the next; victorious one time and defeated the next; obedient one minute and disobedient the next; taking two steps forward only to stumble three steps backwards. What can be done to stop this harrowing experience?

     There are some things that we can do in order to keep God's laws without fail. The Scriptures give us five possible commands to follow.

1. Eat The Meat

   Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

        Those who do not expose themselves to a settled ministry of the solid, faithful preaching, teaching, and expounding of the Word of God become subject to much turbulence in their walk with Jesus Christ. They are not safe, but exposed to danger on every side - "the people perish."

   They are likened to:

   • animals let loose who are left to run wild
   • a soldier who is stripped of his armor and left standing naked or defenseless to the enemy's attacks
   • a group of children in the school yard who are idle and simply want to play.

        They have no real purpose for their lives so they end up doing nothing and going nowhere. They have "no vision" - no word of direction, no guiding principles to lead them into the paths of righteousness or life.

        In most cases, they become contentious, despising any form of government or moral restraints over their lives.

   
   

2. Pray For Understanding

   Psalm 119:34 "Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart."

        "Understanding" is vital in a Christian's daily walk. That is why the Psalmist prayed so earnestly to the Lord saying - "Give me understanding." Without it, he could not possibly know his duty before God.

   What exactly is "understanding"? What does it entail?

        Simply said - it is the divine help in applying the truths of God's Word to one's life. It is the right and just view of the law - its nature and obligations (not the Old Testament Levitical, ceremonial Law but the moral Law and commands as found in both the Old and New Testaments.) It is God's specific teaching on the way of one's duty. It is the knowledge according to the Word of God of what to do in every doubtful situation that arises in life.

        Satan's objective is to sow much confusion into every believer's life. The way to abolish this assignment is to daily pray for "understanding" - Holy Ghost wisdom. It will enable each saint to be constant in obedience, not trifling with God, nor dividing one's affections between Him and the world.

   
   

3. Have A Made-Up Mind

   Psalm 119:44 "So shall I keep Thy law continually for ever and ever."

        In order to succeed at the course of obedience, each believer must have a Holy Ghost resolve to keep God's law, adhere to his various duties, and stand complete in all the will of God. He must never grow weary in well-doing. In all places and at all times, he must be determined to do all that is required of him.

        God must be served every day and at all times - "for ever and ever." "Backsliding" is never an option.

   
   

4. Avoid Evil Company

   Proverbs 28:7 "Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father."

        A "wise son" is one who obeys his Father's commands. He separates himself from "riotous men" - licentious, depraved, and immoral fellows - gluttons - who would in any wise entice or persuade him to walk in disobedience, resulting in considerable grief and shame to his parents.

        Every Christian is pictured as that "wise son" or "wise daughter." What this Scripture is illustrating is the fact that evil company is one of the greatest hindrances and deterrents in one's walk with the Lord. Consequently, all rebellious or worldly friends must be avoided at all costs. If not, the believer, in associating with them, will become "double minded" and eventually bring great sorrow and shame to his Heavenly Father.

   
   

5. Oppose Sin

   Proverbs 28:4 "They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them."

        Believers in Christ Jesus are automatically categorized into one of two settings, depending on what they do with God's commands. If they are walking in disobedience, compromise, worldliness, carnality, the works of the flesh, and sin - they will excuse the sinner, thereby encouraging him in his evil ways.

        By so doing, they are guilty of the transgression which the Prophet Jeremiah addressed in the people of Israel:

   Jeremiah 23:14 "they strengthen also the hands of evildoers."

        On the other hand, those who are walking in a steady obedience to God's rules and regulations, will severely oppose sin on ever side.

   They will:

   • take a strong stand against all rebellion to God's law
   • be a "thorn in the side" of every transgressor
   • "reprove the works of darkness"
   • strip the sinner of every cloak for sin and condemn every excuse for sin that would dare to come out of his mouth.

        They will copy the example of those in the Scriptures who stood for righteousness, holiness, and obedience:

        The Prophet Samuel reproved King Saul for his disobedience to God for sparing the Amalekites and their animals:

   I Samuel 15:14 "What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"

        The Prophet Elijah rebuked King Ahab for his gross wickedness and idolatry:

   I Kings 18:18 "...I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim."

   I Kings 21:20 "And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he(Elijah) answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD."

        Nehemiah opposed the leaders in his day who were oppressing their own brethren:

   Nehemiah 5:6-7 "And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them."

        John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Saducees to repentance and also rebuked King Herod for his adulterous relationship with his brother's wife:

   Matthew 3:7 "...O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"

   Matthew 14:4 "...It is not lawful for thee to have her."

        Every believer is called by God to rebuke the sinner and his evil ways:

   Ephesians 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

        The Apostle Paul boldly preached the Truth amidst much opposition:

   1 Thessalonians 2:2 "But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention."

        Jude spoke of Enoch who was translated because he had the testimony that he pleased God. In what way did he please God? He took a bold stand against the sinners in his day and rebuked them for their wickedness:

   Jude 14-15 "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."

     No Christian can possibly walk with God unless he is - constantly being fed the "meat" of the Word, praying for understanding on how to apply its principles to his daily life, determined to obey God no matter what the cost, separating himself from all evil company that would draw him into rebellion, as well as taking a bold stand against sin by opposing, striving against, reproving, and rebuking it wherever it is found.

     It is also very important to add that no Christian can possibly walk with God without the Power of the Holy Spirit enabling him to crucify his flesh and walk in the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-17 "This I say the, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

     It is Christ living in and through him that enables him to walk a steady path of obedience to God.

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

     Dear Christian! You don't have to ride the Ups and Downs of life like your were on a roller coaster ever again.

     All you have to do is follow the prescribed guidelines, and you will surely be on your way to Victory through a life with Jesus Christ!

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Last modified: 12/04/2002