ORDER MY STEPS IN THY WORD

God’s Order for Quality Believersyear-after-year representatives for God. That’sthe walk. That’s the talk.I want you to observe two such representativesof God told about in Acts 16.Acts 16:4 and 5:And as they [Paul and Timothy] wentthrough the cities, they delivered them thedecrees for to keep, that were ordained ofthe apostles and elders which were atJerusalem.And so were the churches established in thefaith, and [as they were established they] increasedin number daily.As it says of Paul and Timothy, so should it bewith you as a mature believer: The churches willbe established and the numbers will increase daily.And again in I Corinthians 3 observe two menwho were established.I Corinthians 3:6:I [Paul] have planted, Apollos watered; butGod gave the increase.I Corinthians 3:6 says that in Corinth Paul hadplanted the seed of God’s Word and Apollos had266Quickened Together with Christwatered, but who gave the increase? God. Who isgoing to do the planting and watering today?Believers who walk and believers who speakGod’s Word. And as we walk, God gives the increaseto the seeds we plant and water.Colossians 2:7:Rooted and built up in him, and stablishedin the faith, as ye have been taught, aboundingtherein with thanksgiving.There is only one way for people to begin to berooted and built up and established and that isfor somebody to teach them. So, in order to getpeople rooted, built up, and established, youneed to teach as you have been taught.Abounding therein with thanksgiving.”Thanksgiving and “thanksliving” go hand inhand. Your thanksgiving to God causes thanksliving.Live the Word with thanksgiving and joy!You can’t expect to be effective witnesses forGod unless you live His Word. You can’t justtalk the Word; you have to live the principles ofthe Word or you won’t last.Now verse 8 of Colossians 2 begins with an“unfriendly dog” sign: “Beware.” You have towatch out or beware (be aware) in order to maintainyour walk in Christ Jesus.267