“How you ought to walk.”

Paul said, “Brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;”

Through this scripture we must understand that there is a manner in which we should walk, meaning behave and live. His Word is what teaches us “how we ought to walk.” Yet, I am eye witness that some do not obey this truth. And in not teaching “how you ought to walk” have created a body of cripples and babies. For the purpose of this writing I will address some behaviors in regards to praise.

While singing, dancing, shouting and declaring their righteousness in God, in the midst of all these antics there is no joyful shouting of salvation, because there is no understanding of salvation. There is no consideration of how to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Because there is no teaching of “how you ought to walk.” There are rituals, traditions and behaviors that display godliness, yet deny the power of true godliness. Godliness, having reverence and respect for God, piety toward God, holiness unto God, which means being obedient to God. And walking before Him worthy of the vocation in which we were called.  

We sing “we summon your power O God” and work ourselves into frenzies then when physically and emotionally fatigued think we feel the presence of God. The whole display is exhausting. His Word says that God inhabits the praises of His people. The word inhabits means to dwell, remain, abide. The definition indicates that His presence is to exist in the praises of His people. Therefore, singing, dancing, shouting etc. for any manner of time has nothing what-so-ever to do with God’s presence, for these actions which are temporary can not possibly produce inhabitancy.

We are called to live our lives as praise to God through obedience to His Word then His presence abides in us. His presence doesn’t fall on us over and over again as in the day of Pentecost. C’mon man! When we lift our voices in song to Him, His presence that is in us is what flows out of us. Does not His Word say, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living waters.” This He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive.  His presence is to inhabit us! Yet, if you live your life in disobedience, sin and disregard of His Word, you are not praise to Him no matter how loud you sing or how much you dance. This is evidence that you do not know “how you ought to walk.” 

His Words says, yet now brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance. I realize most are not taught “how you ought to walk” however, when you hear truth, as in today, you must receive truth and walk in truth. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” This scripture means, change your mind, being contrite or remorseful for your behavior and turn toward the true God and worship Him in truth. Again, times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord is not equated with physical demonstrations of praise, it is of an obedient heart and manner of living. His Word says, “This people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”

As we begin or as with some continue to walk “how we ought to walk” then God’s presence will abide in us.  And we through our lives will praise Him saying, “The Lord is my strength and my song, and He is become my salvation; He is my God, and I will prepare Him a habitation; my God, and I will exalt Him.”