Bonus Message: Walk Differently, Walk Anointed

River Valley Church • Pastor Rob Ketterling •

Summary

Pastor Rob Ketterling delivers a powerful message about the priestly walk of every believer, building on the summer series through 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. He reviews the foundational truth from 1 John 1:7 about walking in the light, explaining that it means living in alignment with God's nature while rejecting darkness. Drawing from the Hebrew concept of 'Halakha' (the walk), he emphasizes that ancient Jewish disciples would follow their rabbis closely, wanting to imitate everything about them—this is what it means for Christians to walk in the light and keep in step with the Spirit. The core of the message centers on Leviticus 8, where Aaron and his sons were anointed as priests with blood placed on their right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. This anointing symbolized: hearing God's voice (ear), using gifts for God's glory (hand), and walking differently in the world (toe). Pastor Rob powerfully declares that all believers—not just pastors or ministry staff—have 'anointed toes' and are called to a priestly walk. Every Christian is an ambassador of Christ who should walk differently than the world, representing God in every aspect of life. The message systematically explores multiple New Testament passages about how believers must walk: in newness of life (Romans 6:4), honestly (Romans 13:13), in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1), in love (Ephesians 5:2), as children of light (Ephesians 5:8), circumspectly with caution (Ephesians 5:15), worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10), in wisdom toward outsiders (Colossians 4:5), pleasing to God (1 Thessalonians 4:1), and as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6). Pastor Rob challenges the church to recognize that social media is part of our walk and witness, cautioning believers to walk circumspectly—like walking through a minefield or on ice—being careful where their feet take them. He concludes with William Barclay's insight that Christianity requires intellectual knowledge, emotional experience, and moral action combined, emphasizing that if we truly know God and experience His presence, we have an obligation to live differently than the world.

Key Takeaways

  • All believers have 'anointed toes'—we are called to walk differently than the world
  • Walking in the light means keeping in step with the Spirit, imitating Jesus in everything
  • Social media is part of your walk and witness to those outside the church
  • Walk circumspectly—like walking through a minefield, step where Jesus stepped
  • We are all ambassadors of Christ, not just pastors or ministry staff
  • If we truly know God and experience His presence, we have an obligation to walk differently
  • Never arrive at 'good enough'—always ask God for the 'more and more' in your walk
  • Christianity requires intellectual knowledge, emotional experience, AND moral action combined
  • Holiness isn't boring—if we really understood it, we'd find it amazing
  • Your anointed feet should become 'good news feet' sharing Jesus with the world

Outline

Review: Walking in the Light (1 John 1:7)

  • Series kickoff reviewing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John
  • Walking in the light means living in alignment with God's nature
  • Rejecting darkness (sin, falsehood, and moral distortion)
  • Old Testament: walking with God was about relationship, not just rules
  • Hebrew concept 'Halakha' means 'the walk'—the way you walk with God
  • Ancient Jewish disciples followed rabbis, wanting to imitate everything about them
  • Walking in the light means keeping in step with the Spirit, following Jesus

The Priestly Walk for All Believers

  • Distinction: pastors are called to equip the saints, but all believers are in ministry
  • All staff members sign a covenant—living as examples even if not pastors
  • All Christians are children of God living out a priestly life
  • Not about hierarchy (balcony vs. front row vs. deacons)—all called equally
  • Different levels of responsibility, but all called to live this out
  • The priestly walk applies to everyone, not just clergy

The Anointing of the Priests (Leviticus 8)

  • Moses anointed Aaron and his sons as priests
  • Blood placed on right ear: hear what God wants to tell you, be tuned to the Spirit
  • Blood placed on right thumb: use your skills and gifts for God's work
  • Blood placed on right big toe: walk differently, walk anointed
  • All believers now have 'anointed toes' through the blood of Jesus
  • We represent God and stand in His presence—we should walk differently
  • Isaiah 52:7: Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news

We Must Walk in Newness of Life (Romans 6:4)

  • Buried with Christ through baptism, raised to walk in newness
  • No longer enslaved to sin
  • Different cadence, transformed character
  • Empowered by the Holy Spirit
  • Living with eternity in focus

We Must Walk Honestly (Romans 13:13)

  • Walking upright, honorable, morally blameless
  • Opposite of those partying in darkness
  • Living in daytime—everything done where God can see
  • Moral purity and integrity
  • Living honestly means inviting inspection of our lives

We Must Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16)

  • Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh
  • Living aligned with the Holy Spirit
  • Surrendered to God, producing fruit
  • Victory over sinful desires and pulls
  • Not just struggling—there's actual victory through walking in the Spirit
  • Confidence and spiritual authority evident in how we carry ourselves

We Must Walk Worthy of Our Calling (Ephesians 4:1)

  • Not just for pastors—for all children of God
  • Walk worthy of the title 'child of God' that you carry
  • Illustration: father asking 'What's your last name?' before going out
  • Ketterling name had to be honored—same with God's name
  • 2 Corinthians 5:20: We are all Christ's ambassadors
  • Remember who you represent when you leave church

We Must Walk in Love (Ephesians 5:2)

  • Christ loved us and gave Himself as a fragrant offering
  • Walking in love means forgiving
  • Walking in love means serving
  • Walking in love means sacrificing
  • Anointed toes walk in love

We Must Walk as Children of Light (Ephesians 5:8-11)

  • Once in darkness, now light in the Lord
  • Walking in holiness everywhere you go, not just privately
  • Producing good fruit
  • Discerning God's will
  • Taking no part in unfruitful works of darkness
  • Prayer request idea: 'Pray I can discern what pleases God'

We Must Walk Circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15)

  • Walking with caution and precision
  • Making sure feet don't go where they shouldn't
  • Like walking through a minefield—step where Jesus stepped
  • Like walking on ice—being very careful
  • Illustration: hiking and warning 'don't step on that one, it's slippery'
  • Spiritually alert and careful

We Must Walk Worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10)

  • Fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work
  • Increasing in the knowledge of God
  • Growing through reading God's Word and prayer
  • Using gifts for His glory
  • Reflecting His character
  • Living with intentionality and making aligned choices

We Must Walk in Wisdom (Colossians 4:5)

  • Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside
  • Redeeming the time with outsiders watching
  • Your walk affects how outsiders think about the God you serve
  • Have discernment and a positive witness
  • Social media is part of your walk and witness
  • Illustration: Being careful about photo background at Bahamas hotel/casino
  • Walk with wisdom on social media—where do your anointed toes take you?

We Must Walk Pleasing to God (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

  • Paul says 'you're doing it, but do it more and more'
  • Never arriving at 'good enough'
  • Always asking God for the 'more and more' in how we walk
  • Continual growth in pleasing God through how we live

We Must Walk as Jesus Walked (1 John 2:6)

  • If we abide in Him, we ought to walk as He walked
  • All believers cleansed by the blood of Jesus
  • Anointed ears, hands, and toes
  • Imitating Jesus, staying in truth
  • Showing the world we serve God through obedience and our walk

William Barclay: Knowledge, Experience, and Moral Action

  • Three aspects: intellectual knowledge of God, emotional experience of God, living it out
  • Christianity offers greatest privilege and brings greatest obligation
  • Intellectual effort and emotional experience must produce moral action
  • If we know God and experience His presence, we must walk differently
  • What a privilege to be ambassadors living differently, anointed

Closing Challenge: Be an Example

  • To staff and interns: be an example of the believers
  • Walk so others can say 'follow me as I follow Christ'
  • Show danger spots, walk in safe steps
  • To the whole church: walk as an example to the world
  • Let them see Christ has truly changed and saved us
  • All are anointed: hear His voice, use gifts, walk differently
  • Perfect holiness—CS Lewis: if we knew what holiness was, we'd think it's amazing
  • Anointed feet become 'good news feet' sharing Jesus with the world

Scripture References

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Leviticus 8:22-24
He then presented the other ram, the ram for the ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. Moses also brought Aaron's sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. Then he splashed blood against the sides of the altar.
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'
Ephesians 2:1-2
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Romans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Galatians 5:16
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Ephesians 4:1
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 Corinthians 5:20
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Ephesians 5:2
and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
Ephesians 5:10-11
and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 5:15
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise.
Colossians 1:10
so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 4:5
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
1 Thessalonians 4:1
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
1 John 2:6
Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.