This is the Truth Network. What does Enoch's walk with God have to do with Adam? And What does it have to do with us and be prepared for the end times?
Well, friends, stay with us, listen, and learn. You're listening to Until He Comes, a blend of prophetic and practical biblical studies with Dr. Greg Hinnant, author of The Second Coming of Christ, His Appearing, His Return, Our Preparation. And now, author and teacher Greg Hinnant. Welcome to the program.
Today we're going to continue our talk about learning the Enoch lifestyle. This is going to be a very in-depth study of Enoch, and that will change your life. But before we talk about that today, I want to talk to you about another event that I am sure, if you attend, you participate, it will change your life. That is the Triad Revelation Conference. This is being held September 14th through 28th.
In the First Baptist Church sanctuary in the In Kernersville, North Carolina.
Now, this is located just off of I-40, centrally located in the Triad, about 15 minutes from High Point, Greensboro, or Winston-Salem. Wonderful location. The sanctuary holds 600 plus. We hope to pack it out. With hungry students who want to delve into the book of Revelation.
For those who pay the registration fee of just $45, you will receive my Revelation commentary, which is 758 pages of information and pastoral application of every text. and many, many teachings and sermons are packed into this commentary in case you are an elder, or a teacher, or a pastor. you know, for thirty five years at least seminaries have neglected eschatology. There are so many pastors today that simply don't have a firm end time view. Friends, this is catastrophic.
The end times are here. And you need to know what the book of Revelation tells us about the last days.
so I encourage you to come to this conference in person. And you will also receive a study guide, which is about 150 pages. Wonderful course materials. And if you cannot make it in person, Register as a Zoom student, a distance student. And you will receive the The PDF of the commentary and the study guide on the day of the first class.
At completion of the ten sessions over five nights, There will be a test given. And those who complete the sessions and pass the test will be given a certificate of completion. This is a college-level course. But it is very Understandable. And adaptable to anyone who chooses to come.
And we encourage everyone to come. Take advantage of this. It is such a good value as well. as the knowledge that will be imparted will be life changing.
Now in this session today, We want to go further with our understanding of the man Enoch, this amazing character from the Old Testament, the beginning of time. As I said earlier, the antiquity of antiquity. This man in the dawn of human experience walked. With God. Interestingly, the Holy Spirit.
Inspired Jude to call Enoch the seventh from Adam. Why would he say that? That is He was the seventh generation from Adam. We have the progression from Adam to Seth. to Canaan, Canaan, and to Mehalalel, Jarad, and Enoch.
Seven generations. Why would he say that? that was recorded in Jude fourteen.
Well, I believe the reason is because seven, as you well know, is the perfect number. The Bible uses seven as a symbol of perfection, meaning completion. Fulfilment Maturity. Full development, or in layman's terms, something being what it was designed to be. And when God created man, I believe in the simplest terms.
He made us to walk with him. Adam walked with him, Oh, it was wonderful. We don't know how long it lasted, but he and Eve would meet with God in the cool of the day. in the Garden of God. Ah, perhaps for eons They enjoyed wonderful fellowship.
But then He sent. He sent. His fellowship was broken. and his walk with God was ended.
Now We said in the last episode, and I believe this is absolutely correct. that it is implied, it is hinted, though not stated directly. that Enoch, because he lived at least two hundred and forty three years while Adam was alive, probably consulted with him on what it was like to walk with God and how he could walk with God, and this inspired and informed him to do so. And that's why we're studying him. We see in this man, Enoch, the perfection of God's purpose.
In Enoch, God finally found a man. After seven generations, in whom his purpose for humanity was perfected, completed. fulfilled. that is to walk with Him, to live with Him closely forever. Enoch discovered the very secret of life.
He found the holy grail of spiritual living. The same growl that any earnest Christian today's devoted Christ wants to hold and drink from. He discovered what it's all about. You know, every once in a while we Look at this crazy world, and maybe we listen to the news and all the strife and contention that's going on. We look at our own life, we see confusion or trouble or a rush and haste and It seems to have no purpose.
Why are we here? Why were we born? Why were we born again? And Baptized with the Spirit. What is the purpose of it all, friend?
This is is It. I'm telling you that straight from the pages of Genesis, the book of beginnings. This is how you and I can begin. A walk with God that will never end. A beginning that never ends that's what we're talking about to day.
when we're studying this man Enoch. And here is the clincher. When Enoch learned the secret of life, when he had the Holy Grail. When he learned what it was all about, he was living in that, walking and sharing life. with God.
Then God Cook him. Think about that. God took him home. Why? Because his earthly purpose was fulfilled.
He had been born. He had heard about God. He had drawn near to God and believed in God, obviously we wouldn't have walked with him. He was obedient to God, or it couldn't be said he walked with him. And many other things implied by the term walking with him.
So he had a relationship and fellowship with God, and then when this was perfected, God. Took him to heaven. That, my friend, is exactly what's going to happen in the church. Please hear me today. I'm not going to be technical with you in this talk and say, well, we need to experience regeneration, and then we need to experience sanctification, and then we need to experience translation.
Oh, that's true. But I'm gonna set aside those technical terms, and I'm going to say, you know, when you decided to stop sinning and receive Jesus into your life and let him be the Lord of your life, and you began to feed on the word of the Bible, build a close walk with Him. You learned to pray and walk with Him. You learned to confess your sin quickly. And then tests came, and you learned to obey God and trust Him through your test, and as you did that for several years, God changed you.
You became a different man, a different woman. And as you walked with God through life, you were unconsciously walking in the path of one who went before you. Christ? Yes, of course. but also this man Enoch.
This man Enoch, and you unconsciously, just by walking with God, being prepared to walk with God for eternity, and so God will take you home. As I said in the previous episode, I just love the simplicity of the Enoch life and its implications. I hope you do too. I believe Jesus does. You know, Jesus really was a simple man.
Of course, he had the wisdom of the ages. But at base he was a simple man. He talked to simple people, farmers. Farmers? Agrarians Fisherman.
Simple people, merchants Travelers. Almost all uneducated, a few, a few who were educated and literate. But Jesus was a simple man among simple men, and I believe his way of being yoked to him is a simple way. I don't believe God wants it To be complicated, and I don't believe God has complicated it. It is we, my friend, who have.
complicated. This thing we call Christianity. which is orig originally called The Way.
Now So here we have I'm just it excites me so much because this is the purpose of life. to learn to share life with God. To live life with God. Enoch found that secret and his record, those two simple verses out of Genesis 5, verses 22 and 24. The experience in the statement of Jude rather, is given to inspire us to emulate his lifestyle.
And God will take us. When we learn to walk with God and share life with God through any and all experiences, the moment in time will come when the sound of the trumpet is heard and the shout of God and the archangel, and Christ will take us home. Just as sure as he did Enoch. And it will be said of us, Bill, Sally, Anne, John, pastor, deacon, teacher, etcetera. etcetera.
Walk with God. and he or she was not. For God took him.
Now, with this in mind, Let's examine the Enoch or spiritually perfect lifestyle. More closely. Walking with God implies the following. First of all, Closeness. Enoch and God walked together.
Not one far in front of the other. You see, if you walk with someone, You go to the park and say, Let's go for a walk. You don't send them 100 yards ahead and you say, Well, I'll just stay 100 yards behind you. No, that would be foolish. You walk with them, beside them, So Closeness is implied when the Bible says he walked with God.
Now, The New Living Translation says In Genesis 5, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God. The Moffat says he lived close to God.
Well now this brings up Other scriptures in the New Testament. James urges us in James 4, verse 8: draw near. to God. And then he promises he will draw nearer to you. One version says, come close to God.
Come close, God. You know, maybe today as you're listening to me by radio or podcast. It's very possible that God is saying this to you. Yes, you, my friend. Because you've been a Christian for so many years, maybe decades, but you've never come close to God.
This month, for a gift of any amount, receive Dr. Hinnant's book, Revelation Notes: An inspirational commentary on the book of Revelation. This 758-page, in-depth commentary walks the reader through John's apocalypse verse by verse. It explains its historical context and language and identifies many inspiring principles for Christian living. Every Bible student, pastor, and church leader will benefit greatly from its informational entries, thought-provoking footnotes, and inspirational additional gleanings and messages.
Give and get your copy today. For a gift of $60 or more, we'll send you the complete four-volume Hinnant End Times Prophecy Collection: The Second Coming of Christ, The Tribulation Story, Revelation Notes, a verse-by-verse commentary on Revelation, and the Day of the Lord commentary, which interprets all Old Testament. Prophecies and foreshadowings of the end times. And if you are a Logos Bible software user, you may purchase all four of these books from the Logos Online Bookstore. You may give your gift today by visiting the donation page at greghinnantministries.org or sending your checks to Greg Hinnant Ministries, PO Box 788 High Point, North Carolina, 27260.
Or by calling 336-882-1645.
Now, again, Dr. Hinnant. You've been faithful to church attendance, and friend, that's good. You've been faithful even in some Bible studies and prayer meetings, that too. is good.
Don't stop those things. But at home, it's not been your experience to spend personal quality time. In the morning or in the evening, or whenever you choose to come aside with God. You've simply not come close to the God whom you profess and possess if you've been born again. He lives in you.
So today may be the day that the Holy Spirit is saying to you, Draw near to God. Come close to God. You see, we have to come close to Him first, we have to make the first move. before he's going to come close. to us.
James says, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. If we defer drawing near to him, he has to hold back because his word is declared the order, and the order is: we must come first. We must come to him first. That's why in Matthew 6.33 Jesus says, Seek ye first. The kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things shall be added unto you.
I believe we seek the kingdom by, first of all, seeking. The king. The king is the central feature of any and every kingdom. Nothing is more important in a kingdom than the king.
So to seek the kingdom of God first is to seek the king. the King of kings, our Lord Jesus. Learn to get along with him. You know, the first disciples were called in Mark. Three.
Verses 13, 14, and 15. They were called to be with him. not to go for him. He called them to be with him.
So that, Mark says, he might send them forth with authority. To preach and to heal in his name. He later did that in Mark 6, but in Mark 3, 13 through 15, he called. twelve. from the larger body of followers to be his disciples.
to be with him day and night. to always be close to him and never be far from him. That's what is calling you and me Two. Today. Draw near to God.
Also in Enoch lifestyle an Enoch lifestyle begins with a steady determination to seek God every day. If we're going to walk close with Him, we've got to be determined to do it. Determined to do it. And we have to learn to come close or to draw near to Him every single day. Appoint a time, appoint a place.
A tryst, if you will, a place where two lovers get together, where you can meet with the Lord Jesus. By the power of His Holy Spirit and the facility of the Bible. The Bible facilitates your fellowship with God. It is the divinely appointed, chosen and inspired. mechanism through which God communicates with you.
So determine That you're going to spend time with God every day. If you don't do that, you will never draw near to God. And if you don't draw near to God, you're not going to live an Enoch lifestyle. The only way you can walk close to God is to draw close to God. Form that habit today.
Come close to him, draw near to him. I promise you this. He will respond Every time he will respond. How? I cannot tell you that, but he will respond.
Prayers will be answered with greater clarity. and rapidity. Blessings will flow as you study the word, spiritual blessings. The Bible will become open to you. Fear will go and confidence will grow.
Because you're seeking first the kingdom of God. And then. All your needs of the natural life when you have problems with the rate with the HVAC system. in your home or the radiator in your car. Problem with your electronics, problems with your neighbors, problems with your church members, problems with your children or parents.
God will help you with these things because His promise in Matthew 6:33 is this. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things, all these elements of the natural life, will be added unto. You.
So, friends, the word of the Lord to you today is get close and stay close. Get close and stay close. For that, you have to learn how to stay close all day. and all night. And clearly, one of those disciplines is self-examination.
If we would examine ourselves, Paul writes, we should not be judged. We should not be judged because we're doing the judgment ourselves.
So get close and stay close to the Lord.
Now, next. Walking with God. as Enoch did, implies communication. We talk with those with whom we walk, Don't we?
Well, then so did Edoch. Whoever heard of some one walking together with another person, particularly over any length, of distance, and being silent. That's highly unnatural. Perhaps if they were of hostile spirits. But anyone who intends to walk with another is surely going to talk with them.
So I think it is very obvious that Enoch communicated with God. He spoke with God in audible prayer. And then God spoke back. How? Well, here's one way that he does it.
to his still small voice. In Enoch's heart. In 1 Kings 19.12, We know that There was a still small voice that spoke to Elijah. Spoke to him correctively. And in love.
So Ena Spoke first to God in audible prayer, then God spoke back to him with his still small Voice. You know I want to issue a caveat of warning When you believe you hear the Spirit of God in your heart, first of all, search to see if it is spiritual. Is it? Biblical. And then you know you're hearing a communication that is very likely to be from the Lord.
Now particularly if it addresses a situation which you already recognize in your life. You know, when you're, for instance, if you were a young person and you were engaged to someone who's not a believer, and the word of the Lord comes quietly to your heart. Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, within you know, God speaking to you. You probably may wish you didn't hear it, but it is for your good. and the good of the other, by the way.
And you should break off that relationship. Billy Graham, before he met Ruth, was in involved in a relationship with another woman? And uh he loved her. But the Lord told him to break it off and he did. He was obedient.
to the voice of the Lord. You know, there are certain things which the Bible does not directly address. It does not tell you specifically who to marry, who not to marry.
Now it does say we should not marry unbelievers. As I was just referring, Two. But it doesn't tell you who to marry. Doesn't tell you what car to buy, what house to buy. It doesn't tell you specifically what friend to make.
It does tell you in general what kinds of friends you should have. But there's so many areas of discretion where we can Do the right thing and enhance our walk with God or do the wrong thing and ruin it.
So Because we communicate with those we walk with. It is obvious that Enoch talked with God. and clear that God talked back With him in that still small voice that spoke to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:12.
Now, Does God not speak to you? Or you're saying, well, Dr. Hannah, I hear what you're saying. I understand it. It's correct.
But it's just not my experience. I've never had God speak with me.
Well, friend, let me encourage you to start speaking to God. Start. The conversation. Start the conversation. As we just said before, James said, draw near to God and He'll draw to you.
Draw near to you. How do you draw near to God? One way is with your words. You pray humbly to Him and ask His mercy and ask His help. You describe your situation and lay it all out before the Lord.
We're told to cast our care upon Him. We are told to cast all our burdens upon him. We're tall too. Make known our needs to Him, At the throne of grace.
So do that. And see what he says back to you. How will he speak to you?
Well, one of many ways. One of many ways he could speak to you directly in your heart with that still small voice. He still does this today. And he could also speak to you when you're in prayer. As you're praying about something, then quietly to your mind, the solution comes.
It just comes. It's there. And it's so quick and so sudden and so clear, you wonder: could that possibly be what I think it is? Yes, it is. It's God speaking to you.
Sometimes the answer to the prayer is so wonderful, we We have difficulty believing it. It's so quick and so wonderful.
So he may speak to you in prayer about the very issue that you're talking about. The Bible does say that he answers us at times before we ask. While we are yet praying, he did this in the book of Daniel. Daniel was praying, and an angel appeared to him while he was yet praying.
Now he can also speak to you primarily through the Word of God. he uses his word, which is inspired, to reinspire it to you and I as we need it. Get her laughs. A.W. Tosa said, I believe in the inspiration of Scripture as originally given.
And he said, I also believe in another Inspiration or re-inspiration of the Word of God as I need it in my life.
Now So the Word of God can speak to you. As you are asking God about a situation, you're talking to Him and starting the conversation. Then the line of reading and study that you do brings you to a passage of Scripture that, oh, it's remarkable how it parallels your circumstances and thus It shows you what you should do, or not do. Plainly. And then dreams.
Sometimes God speaks to us through dreams.
Now, we know Muslims are particularly inclined to believe that dreams are divine communications from Allah.
So we're not imitating that, but it is true from the book of Acts. And the Gospels that God speaks to His people through dreams. New Testament now. New Testament's clear. He guided Joseph through a dream.
He guided Paul at times through a dream in Acts 16.
So he can do that to us today, particularly if a dream is very clear. And it's repeated. And it speaks to a circumstance. of which you are aware and you have in need of an answer. Then he can speak to you through ministers.
As you're praying about something, God may speak to your minister and make you aware, make him aware of a problem you have and give him a scripture or counsel for you. Same with elders, or your brothers and sisters who are mature in their walk. And then he can speak to you through circumstances. As you're praying about something, circumstances. Suddenly change.
And there's an opportunity right before you in the line of what you need and what you're asking for. That is his answer. He's speaking to you through. circumstances. Then he can speak to you through giving.
Sometimes, when he gives you something, the gift to give you doesn't have to be monetary, something else. That gift is indicative of what you're about to do. And then sometimes he can give favor or withdraw it, indicating he wants you to take a path. Taken open door or not, Remember, God both gives and takes favour. He opens and shuts doors.
And you know, sometimes I like it when he shuts a door. Why? Because I know if he's shutting one door somewhere, he's opening another at that moment.
So, maybe that's speaking to you today. Be of good courage. If he shut a door, just stay in close fellowship with him, and you'll see or hear. Of another open door. That's the one.
That has your name on it, my friend. And then sometimes he will speak yes through prophecy to those who have a special gift. to speak a word of encouragement or correction. Because the prophets usually spoke to correct. And if that person is legitimate and that gift is real, yes, he may do that as well in your life.
So, are you communicating with God? If not, start the conversation and listen for his responses.
So, today we've learned that walking with God involves closeness. and communication and as we pursue this, we are becoming like Adam before the fall and like Enoch. If this message has blessed you, tell your friends and please consider helping us stay on the air by sending your tax-deductible donation to Greg Hennett Ministries. Also, remember, you may download the Until He Comes podcast from your preferred podcast app. May you walk closely with Christ and trust and obey Him in your daily tests of faith and patience until He Comes.
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