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“Hall of Faith” (Mess.#3) “The Walk of Faith” (Enoch)
Text: Heb.11: 5-6; Gen.5: 18-24; Jude14-15 Intro.: In Abel we see the “Worship of Faith,” in Enoch, the “Walk of Faith,” and in Noah the “Work of Faith.” Enoch is set forth as an example of a man of faith. He is given an outstanding tribute. “He walked with God,” and “he pleased God.” How? By faith! The Bible mentions only one other person who pleased God – Jesus Christ! (Mt.3: 17, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”). Enoch’s walk speaks first of all of his companionship - “God.” Also he didn’t run ahead or lag behind, but was constantly “with” his God. What blessed fellowship. What does it take to walk with God? 1) Entire self-surrender - “Enoch” means “dedicated,” one yielded up to God. 2) Unbroken fellowship - Am.3: 3, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” 3) Continual Progress - Walking involves progress. Walking with God always brings growth and blessing. Walking with God means a growing knowledge of Him. 4) Complete Separation - “God is light and in Him in no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 Jn.1: 5c-6). 5) Unfailing Perseverance - He walked with God for three hundred years! Not once a week, not only in the morning or evening, but continually, amidst all the cares and trials of life! Enoch walked with God and as a result he had a...
A) Testimony: (Heb.11: 5c-6) 1) “...he pleased God” (v.5c) 2) He did so by faith. So can we! (Heb.11: 6). 3) The lost cannot please God (Ro.8: 8, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God”). Why not? NO FAITH! 4) Enoch believed God’s Word and it changed his life (Gen.5: 21-22, “And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters”). It’s implied that Enoch did not begin “walking with God” until he was 65 years old, right after the birth of his son Methuselah. 5) He walked with God thereafter for three hundred years! 6) What kind of testimony do you have? What will it take to get you to walk with God? Are you walking with God and pleasing Him? Could God say to you, “You are my child, in whom I am well pleased?”
Enoch walked with God . . . his walk lined up with his . . .
B) Talk: (Jude 14-15) 1) Enoch was a bold prophet of God’s justice and judgment. 2) He foretold the second coming of the Lord and His judgment of the wicked. 3) Note the word “all” - He will execute judgment upon “all,” He will convince “all,” He will bring up “all” their ungodly deeds, and “all” their hard speeches (Mt.12: 36-37, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”). 4) Note the word “ungodly” - (Four times) - Ungodly men, ungodly sinners, ungodly deeds, and as to the manner ungodly committed.
5) 2 Thes.1: 7-9, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power”). This is the same truth that Enoch preached! 6) The Bible told us Christ would return during a time of great ungodliness: A) Mt.24: 37, “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” B) 2 Ti.3: 1-5, 13, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away . . . But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived”). 7) Are you telling others about this great event? Are you warning others of God’s judgment? Does you “walk” line up with your “talk” like Enoch’s did?
Enoch’s walk with God finally led to his . . .
C) Translation: (Gen.5: 24; Heb.11: 5) 1) The Bible often speaks of “justification by faith,” but seldom of “translation by faith!” Every believer has been translated by faith into the kingdom of his dear Son! (Col.1: 13, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son”). 2) We now are awaiting another translation – From earth to heaven! 3) Enoch – He is a type of the Church. He was raptured prior to the flood. The Church will be raptured prior to the Tribulation! 4) The basis of his translation – His faith! (Heb.11: 5). This is the basis of your translation as well! 5) Enoch pleased God – By faith. What are the requirements of pleasing faith? (Heb.11: 6) A) You must believe that He is - That God exists, must be believed without reservation, though we see Him not (1 Pet.1: 8, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Jn.20: 29, “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”). B) You must believe that He is a rewarder - God will reward (repay, compensate) those who diligently (perseveringly, constant in effort, not idle) seek Him. (Heb.10: 35, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” Heb.11: 26, “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward”). Have you received like precious faith?
Conclusion: Enoch walked with God in days of depravity, deception, and disbelief, yet his faith never faltered. Enoch’s Testimony - He pleased God! Are you pleasing God? Enoch’s Talk - He preached judgment! Are you preaching to others, warning them of the consequences of unbelief? Enoch’s Translation - He was “plucked” away before judgment fell. Have you been translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son? Are you prepared for the future translation?
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