General,

A Walk Worthy of the Lord | July 21, 2024

By Dr. Ben Lovvorn

On Friday evening, July 19, 2024, the Historic Sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Dallas suffered a significant fire. Less than 48 hours later, our church was able to gather together for Sunday worship in downtown, at the Dallas Convention Center. Dr. Robert Jeffress delivered special remarks and Dr. Ben Lovvorn delivered a sermon on Colossians 1:9–14, “A Walk Worthy of the Lord.” Here is the full transcript of that message:

I want to ask you to envision this morning a diverse and growing church. This church is built on the truth of God’s Word. Since its founding, it has benefited from strong roots and seasoned leaders as its faithful members dedicatedly follow Christ. They’ve been learning God’s Word, steadily growing in their relationship with the Lord, broadly influencing others by spreading the gospel. But now, this church faces a crisis, an existential threat that could derail their progress and hinder their kingdom work. They live in a tumultuous time under a government that hopes to stamp them out, in a culture that is increasingly intolerant of their faith. And already facing these difficulties, persecution, and spiritual warfare, they are bombarded with false teachings and misleading messages that cause others to doubt even the most foundational teachings of their Christian faith. Without God’s help, such trials would shake anyone to the core. If these believers were not wary of the schemes of the enemy, they might look up one day and not know what they believe, much less how they should live or influence others for Christ.

That’s not very hard to imagine, is it?

The book of Colossians is one of Paul’s prison epistles. And this was actually the context of his writing to the church in Colossae, from his imprisonment in Rome 2,000 years ago. But this is also descriptive of the environment that we face today. We are embroiled in a great spiritual war against forces of darkness. In the midst of difficulty, the church will be constantly presented with thinking and theories and false teachings that are entirely contrary to the Christian faith. They are designed to lead us astray, to keep us from being who God has called us to be and from doing what God has called us to do. Trials and tribulations will come our way. But Jesus promised that He would build His church and even the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

Church, while we have been far from dormant, I pray that this day marks a time that our enemy says, “I fear we have done nothing more than awakened a sleeping giant with incredible resolve.”

We know that God has not given us a Spirit of fear or discouragement, but of power and love and a sound mind. So we will not walk away from the Lord because that walk only leads to pain and to regret and destruction. No, we’ve been called to a walk that leads to joy and strength, to redemption and victory. We’ve been called to a walk that leads us to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ. We’ve been called to walk worthy of the Lord. This was the apostle Paul’s prayer for the Colossian church, and this is our prayer for you today—that you may walk worthy of the Lord. God’s Word tells us what a walk worthy of the Lord looks like. Turn in your Bibles to the book of Colossians 1:9–14. It’s the passage that we read together this morning.

Paul writes, “For this reason also since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him, we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:9–14).

Earlier, Paul began his letter to the Colossians with a common greeting followed by a word of commendation and thanksgiving for the good report that he had received about them. Paul had been told of their progress in the ministry and that this congregation could be characterized by faith, hope, and love. Paul says, “For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints because of the hope reserved for you in heaven” (Colossians 1:3–5).

And that’s true of you, church. For 155 years, God has blessed the First Baptist Church of Dallas. We’ve continued growing in our number and in our reach. You’ve continued growing in your relationship with the Lord. You are a people known for your faith in Jesus Christ. You’re known for your love for each other. You’re known for the hope that we have in heaven.

Following this commendation to the church, in Colossians 1:9–14, our text for today, Paul tells the church that he’s praying for them. In typical pauline fashion, he tells them exactly how he’s praying for them. And he couples this with a word of teaching, encouragement, and exhortation.

He begins in verse nine, “For this reason also since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you” (Colossians 1:9). Well, for what reason? Paul points back to the good report that he’s received about them regarding their spiritual growth. And he says, because of this, I thank God for you, and I am praying for you like a father encouraging his children. He tells these believers that they are doing well, that they are off to a great start. And he says, now keep going and don’t let anything stop you.

Church, take this instruction to heart today. No matter our circumstances, as we walk with the Lord, our Heavenly Father is cheering us on. Child, you are doing well. You are off to a great start. Now keep going and keep growing, and don’t let anything stop you. Paul says, I’m praying for you and here’s how I’m praying for you.

Then in the second part of Colossians 1:9, he says, “We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdom and understanding.” It is Paul’s desire that these Christians look and live more like Jesus Christ. He prays that they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and understanding. Well, why does he start there? Because he knows that the knowledge of God’s will undergirds a godly lifestyle. Paul prays that the church will know God’s will.

And we often talk about knowing God’s will, whether that be seeking God’s unique plan and purpose for our lives or discerning how He might be working through our circumstances. But what Paul is talking about here even transcends that way of thinking. It’s an understanding of the great meta-narrative of Scripture, the overarching story of creation. As one commentator notes, “What Paul has in mind is not some particular or special direction for one’s life, but a deep and abiding understanding of the revelation of Christ and all that He means for the universe.” It is the knowledge that in His grace, the sovereign God has purposed to save whosoever will believe through His Son, through our Savior Jesus Christ. To know this truth is to know God Himself. And by the way, it is the knowledge of this truth that enables us to say today that God works all things together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

This spiritual insight is characterized by three complementary aspects: knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. These three virtues are often listed together in Scripture. Here in Colossians, knowledge is more than just an intellectual ascent or acknowledgment of information. It’s a deep, clear recognition that something is true.

Paul says, I want you to understand God’s saving plan so clearly and know Christ so deeply that nothing can shake you or sway you. In fact, this depth of knowledge is beyond human capability. It is a knowledge that is made known to believers through the teaching and the conviction of the Holy Spirit as we grow in our relationship with Christ.

Wisdom is the practical application of knowledge. It answers the question: so what? Now that I have this knowledge, what do I do with it? How do I live in a manner that’s consistent with what I know to be true? Wisdom is knowledge in action. Similarly, understanding or insight is the ability to bring knowledge to bear in various circumstances. It’s an ability to comprehend what’s happening, discern its meaning or importance, and apply knowledge in living out your life. The Bible says that spiritual knowledge, wisdom, and understanding undergird a godly lifestyle, or a walk that is worthy of the Lord.

Today, we see many develop a theology or an idea of God that suits their behaviors and their preferences. But God’s Word says that a true understanding of Jesus Christ drives action that is pleasing to Him. Indeed, Colossians 1:9–10 say that spiritual knowledge and wisdom and understanding equip believers “to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.” So, a “worthy walk” is a walk that is pleasing to God in all things.

This walking imagery is often used in Scripture to describe the way one lives his life. For example, in Ephesians 4:1, Paul urged the church to “walk worthy of the calling that you have received.” In 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12, he said, “As you know, like a father with his own children, we encouraged and comforted and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” God’s Word says that there are really two ways of walking—to walk according to the flesh or to walk according to the Spirit. These two approaches to life stand diametrically opposed to one another, and the way in which you walk reveals the type of person that you are.

In Romans 8:3–5, the Bible distinguishes between those who walk according to the flesh and those who walk according to the Spirit. In verse five, “For those who live according to the flesh, have their mindset on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). So in the Bible, your walk is more than what you think or say or do on occasion. It is the manner in which you generally and consistently live your life. You cannot fake your walk. Your walk is the way that you are.

Paul says we are to “walk worthy of the Lord,” to live a life that is “pleasing” to God in all things (Colossians 1:10). In other words, it should be our all-consuming purpose to please the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 5:9, the Bible says we are to make it our “aim”—our ambition, our desire—to be “pleasing” to God.

Church, ask yourself today, is pleasing God my one ambition in life? Is Jesus Christ my one desire?

Well, you say, I want to walk worthy of the Lord. But what does a worthy walk actually look like? Scripture tells us. In Colossians 1:10–12, Paul lists four evidences of a worthy walk. He says that one walking worthy of the Lord will bear fruit in every good work. They will grow in the knowledge of God. They will be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, having great endurance and patience. And they will joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has enabled us to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

Now, I want to emphasize a special dynamic that’s at work here in the Christian life. When you walk worthy of the Lord, not only will you experience these results or these benefits of living a righteous lifestyle. But these things also evidence, they demonstrate, who you are in Christ.

First Baptist Dallas—today, the world is watching you. We have experienced a crisis. It’s a crisis that Satan meant for evil but that God can use for good. Now is the time we show the world who we are. Now is the time you show the world what you’re made of. Now is the time to show the world who you are in Jesus Christ.

What are these four evidences of a worthy walk? First, we see that our fruit demonstrates our nature. The Bible says that Christ’s followers are to bear fruit. Most often, this means we are to yield or produce good works as worship and service to the Lord. Here, Paul says that we are to bear fruit in every good work. That is, we are to live with a general sense of readiness, readiness to do whatever God calls us to do whenever he calls us to do it. And we are to deliver when we are called upon.

What we experienced this weekend serves as a great example of this type of readiness. We couldn’t have prepared for this. As we navigate this crisis, all we can do is rely on the Lord. But because our church is filled with people that walk daily with the Lord, we were ready to respond. And we are equipped to accomplish our gospel mission in even greater ways in the days ahead.

However, the fruit of a worthy walk, however, represents even more than its resulting works. This fruit also demonstrates, or evidences, our very nature. In this sense, the fruit represents a fully grown outcome that bears witness to who we are in Christ.

My wife likes to maintain a little vegetable garden in our backyard. One time, she planted what she thought were strawberry plants. Little did she know our children had snuck some seeds into the basket. Well, when those plants matured, they started producing jalapeños.

When we saw that, we didn’t say, “Man, that strawberry plant sure produces some jalapeños sometimes.” No, we said, “That’s not a strawberry plant. That’s a jalapeño plant!” The type of fruit that you produce demonstrates the type of person that you are. The Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In other words, when you’re spiritually mature, you should look a lot like Jesus. May the fruit of our lives be evidence that we are followers of Jesus Christ.

Likewise, our growth demonstrates our health. Dr. W. A. Criswell, who served for 50 years as the Pastor of our historic church, used to say, “There’s nothing wrong with a small church, but there is something wrong with the church that’s not growing.” You see, he understood the basic principle that healthy things grow. And what’s true of a church is true of individual Christians.

As a church, we will keep growing corporately and individually in the power of the Holy Spirit. We will grow in number and influence as we accomplish the Great Commission that Christ has given to us. And we will grow in spiritual maturity as we are conformed to the very image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

But, brothers and sisters at First Baptist Dallas, this begins with you. You’ve heard us say many times over the past two days, “The church is not a building.” The church is not made of brick and mortar. It is comprised of the people of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And it’s your spiritual health and your spiritual growth that means far more to us than any building ever could.

Next, our strength demonstrates its source. Paul writes that we will be “strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience” (Colossians 1:11). Here, “to be strengthened” is stated in the passive voice, which tells us that it’s not something that we can do ourselves. It’s something that God does in us when we walk with Him. One commentator observed, “God gives us what He demands.” His provision of strength is always available to His people through the divine enablement of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Bible says that He will be our source of power, perseverance, and patience. It says He will strengthen us with power according to His glorious might. In the Greek, this phrase means that He will give us supernatural spiritual vitality that is able to overcome any resistance. Nothing can stand against our God. He has promised that the same power that rose Jesus from the grave is alive in us. And greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.

God also gives us perseverance and patience. Perseverance means that we will not succumb to pressure, to adverse circumstances, or to persecution. Patience means that we’re able to exercise self-restraint and self-discipline in dealing with others in those difficult times. As one scholar noted, “Perseverance is showing faith, hope, and love in an impossible situation. And patience is showing faith, hope, and love toward an impossible person.”

Church, if we will walk worthy of the Lord, no matter our circumstances, He will give us strength. And our power, our perseverance, and our patience will demonstrate to the world that God alone is the source of that strength. As the psalmist said, our lives will proclaim: “Where does our help come from? Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1–2).

The last evidence of a worthy walk is joyful gratitude that demonstrates our faith. As believers, we should walk in joyful gratitude, constantly giving thanks to the Lord for His undeserved and His incomparable goodness to us.

In the last 48 hours, I’ve been asked several times how I feel about what happened to our Historic Sanctuary. And my response has been that I’m severely disappointed. My family’s been in this church for five generations, for over 100 years. For that entire time, that sanctuary has been a major part of our lives. I grew up in that sanctuary. Like Dr. Jeffress, I walked the aisle to profess my faith in Christ in that sanctuary. I was baptized there. I committed my life to ministry there. I met my wife there. We were married there. There are countless special memories there, and many of you have those same types of special memories.

So, while we are disappointed, we do not despair. Why do we not despair? Because we don’t love that building. We love our church. And that means that we love the head of our church, Jesus Christ, and that means that we love each other, our church family. We don’t despair because this world is not our home. Our hope is in heaven, and that hope is found in the person of Christ Jesus.

Remember, church family, as you reflect on the loss of our sanctuary—there is a structure that will be far more meaningful than anything we could experience in this world. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house, there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and I will take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be” (John 14:2–4).

So with joyful gratitude, we thank God for all that He’s done. We look forward to all that He’ll do. And our gratitude demonstrates our faith in a promised future and a promised inheritance in Jesus Christ. God’s Word tells us that a walk worthy of the Lord begins and ends with a promised inheritance.

It begins, or it stems from, our promised inheritance because of the work that Christ has already accomplished on the cross. We seek to please God in everything because He has saved us. He has redeemed us through the sacrificial death and the victorious resurrection of His Son.

A worthy walk also ends with a promised inheritance. We seek to please God in all things because of the future that He’s promised to us. We will share in the saints’ inheritance in the light, as co-heirs with Christ in His kingdom.

The Bible says God has rescued us from the domain of darkness, and He has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Apart from Christ, we were doomed to the domain of darkness, an oppressive and tortured existence as slaves to evil for all eternity. But we have been transferred from that kingdom into a new kingdom. Just as the Israelites of the Old Testament were freed from slavery in Egypt and crossed through the Red Sea when they were delivered, and they crossed through into God’s promised land, so have we been delivered out of slavery to darkness. God has brought us through the fire. And we have been made part of the kingdom of light. We are subject to a new sovereign, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

But make no mistake about it, this transfer did not come free. It was not accomplished easily. God’s Word says, in Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. This word “redemption” means that we’ve been rescued by ransom. It’s the word used to describe the payment of a price for the manumission of slaves. Church, you were redeemed at a high cost, the cost of Jesus’ blood. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace.” Though all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, we are justified, we are declared “not guilty,” by His grace through the redemption that is available in Jesus Christ. In light of this promise, how can we do anything less than walk worthy of the Lord?

If you are here today or if you are listening to this message, and you’ve never trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, let today be the day that you are justified, that you are redeemed by the blood of Christ so that you will spend eternity, not in darkness, but that you will be transferred into the kingdom of light.

That is why we at First Baptist Dallas have hope. That is why we have joy. That is why we have victory. That is available to all through Jesus Christ. Let today be the day that you recommit yourself to walking worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him in all things so that you might experience the benefits of His grace and declare His goodness to the world.

First Baptist Dallas—in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, he said, “The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” And this is true of us today. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here this morning, but it will never forget what you do.

Let them see the fruit of your relationship with the Lord. Let them see your continued growth as you recommit yourself to Him. Let them see your strength that comes from His Holy Spirit. Let them see your joyful gratitude as we continue to stand as a bastion of biblical truth and as a light to the world.