(Archive of other audio sermons)
(Archive of other audio songs)

or

Sunday 15 December 2002 - "Walking with God"

Before the service, Marie Louise from Germany gave her testimony of how the Lord Jesus saved her and made her strong in the faith.

She grew up in a Christian home and was converted at the age of 13, but quickly became lukewarm. One day as the preacher preached a fiery sermon from Luke 12:20, "... thou fool, this night your soul will be required of you ...", she recommitted her life to the Lord. It only lasted for a time and she became lukewarm once again. She cried to God to bring her back to Himself, and then forgot her prayer. She and a little boy one day went to reap plumbs on a farm. They placed a ladder of 2m long against a tree and she climbed up and sat on a branch. The branch broke and she fell down and broke her back. The boy ran to get help and after a while a helicopter came to take her to hospital. She did not think that it was so serious and expected to be home soon, but what followed shook her. In the hospital the physiotherapist accidentally broke her back again and she knew that she was very close to death and hell too. The doctors did their best to heal the wounds, and it was only after eight months that she could sit again for the first time. She was lame from her legs downwards. In Sept 1978 she heard for the first time that Rev Erlo Stegen came to visit their town church. She heard the message, but did not grasp it. Afterwards, while listening to cassettes and reading the book about the revival, she was amazed and longed to go to KwaSizabantu to see for herself. In 1980 she had the opportunity to come for the first time and she found that which she had missed in her Christian life all along. Today she is truly grateful to God for hearing her prayer, even though He had to speak in a hard way.

(Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen)

Gen 5:21 - 22

21 ¶ And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

We do not know what caused this sudden change in Enoch's life, but from Methuselah's birth he walked with God. There is no life that can be compared to walking with God. It is far better than a blessed life or a wonderful, happy marriage.

A person that walks with God cannot be depressed, have a long face, and be governed by his circumstances. Young people might say that they cannot be proper Christians, because they need a marriage partner. No, a fool talks like that - someone that does not walk with God and know Him. Have you never met with God? If you've met with God, you are a new creation.

Some parents go off the track, because of their children. The father of the prodigal son waited until his son came to his senses and then received him. This should be a lesson to parents when their child leaves the Lord. You should not go to him in his pigsty and embrace him, but let him repent first.

The following is just a short testimony of how God speaks: When the Lord took my wife, someone came and gave me a few verses. It was already late, and I took those verses as my last "food" for the day, before retiring. As I lay down, God spoke to me that although I've read the verses the people gave to me, He wanted to speak to me too and give me something. I switched on the light and opened at Mt 9:35,

35 ¶ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

In German it says that "... Jesus went up and down ...", preaching the gospel and healing the people. This touched me deeply, as I thought of all the cities, marketplaces etc. where I drove past many times without preaching the gospel there. It struck my heart and I forgot about the loss of my wife. I got engrossed and troubled about all the souls that have not heard the gospel and are on their way to hell. I do not know how long I will still live, but by God's grace I do not want to waste a single day to reach someone with the gospel - even blessing another believer. I recommitted my life again anew to the Lord that evening.

What is the desire of your life? Remember that you will still have to give an account of your life. Many people fail in the life of duty, because they are afraid of death or what people might do to them. Concerning death, John Wesley said, "I will be immortal, until my work is finished." Do you know the Lord in this way too, have this confidence in Him and fellowship with Him?

At another time I came back from a farm of the mission and expected to see my wife, when it struck me that she's no longer alive. I comforted myself in God and opened the Daily Light my wife used to read too. The verse was 1 Chron 19:13,

13 Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

We should be strong and courageous in the Lord. Do not weaken yourself in the Lord, but strengthen yourself in Him. We must live for others and especially for the children of God. When some left us, I said to them, "For the sake of the other children of the Lord, do not do this thing. Think of them!" Some complain about their trials and how they are treated by others. Think of others and not of yourself! Be valiant and courageous for the sake of God's people and His Kingdom. Do you behave valiantly? Does your behaviour inspire other Christians to live for God and be on fire for Him? Think of God's people and His house when you're lukewarm!

Someone wrote the following illustration of total commitment to Jesus: If you purchase a house with 12 rooms, and the owner hands over the keys, saying, "I give you only keys for 6 rooms of the house", then you will drop that transaction immediately. Jesus created us and bought us with His precious blood. We belong to Him. He said in Lk 14:33, "... he that forsake not all that he has, cannot be my disciple." If you do not give Him every key of your life, He will not take over your house at all. Consider this and search your own life, if you have indeed given everything to Him.

Enoch had a wonderful testimony of walking with God. What will your testimony be?