Saturday, December 31, 2016

WALKING FAITHFULLY IN THE SPIRIT

WALKING FAITHFULLY IN THE SPIRIT

Gal. 5:25: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
                                                                                                                                                  
Apostle Paul is giving us a very simple instruction. He’s telling us in plain terms, “If the Holy Spirit is living in you, let him have full control of your life. We are all to be led by the Spirit.”

The Holy Ghost was sent to be our constant, infallible guide, and he abides in all who confess Christ as Lord and Savior. In fact, our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and that is why we should keep it holy. Most of us have no problem believing that the Spirit is continually at work in us, at every moment. Most of us have called on him countless times for comfort in our times of crisis. We give honor to the Spirit; we preach about him, we teach on his gifts and fruits and many Christians have experienced genuine manifestations of the Spirit. But it seems to me, looking at the way we live, that we know very little about what it means to walk in the Spirit.
Understanding the truth about walking in the Spirit could deliver many from confusion, strife, distress, indecision, even the lusts of the flesh. Paul has summed up the solution clearly: “Let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Walking Faithfully
To walk faithfully with someone is to be loyal, have faith, be reliable or be worthy of trust. What happens when we walk with someone? You talk, laugh, listen, and share your hearts. Your attention is focused on this person to the exclusion of almost everything else. You notice the beauty around you or an occasional distraction, but only to point it out to your companion. You share it together. You are in harmony, and you both enjoy the peaceful company. Walking faithfully in the spirit is not an activity reserved for a selected few. God desires all of His children to walk with Him in Spirit and truth.

But 
What do we mean by walking in the Spirit?  Why is it important to walk in the Spirit? How do we walk in the Spirit? What is the evidence of walking in the Spirit?

What do we mean by walking in the Spirit?
Looking at Galatians 5:16, we would not satisfy or fulfill the desires of the flesh. If you are not born in the Spirit you cannot walk in it. (Romans 8:9, Ephesians 5:18). There are only two ways for a Christian to walk: “in the flesh”, or “in the Spirit”.

(  a)   Walking in the flesh meansThe flesh has its own stubborn will, and it acts as it pleases. It does whatever it chooses, then asks God to bless those choices. The flesh declares, “The Lord gave me a sound mind, and I can make choices intelligently. I don’t have to wait on him for direction. God helps those who help themselves (see Gal. 5:19-21). But walking in the Spirit is just the opposite.

(  b)   Walking in the spirit means: 
     1. Giving ourselves to Christ as our saviour and Lord.
2. Being controlled in the Spirit. We surrender our will to the Holy Spirit, and trust his still, small voice to direct us in all things. The Bible tells us, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23), and the Spirit does this ordering. He desires to lead and     direct   our every move and saying “yes” to whatever the spirit tells you.
3. Exhibiting fruits of love, patience etc. (Gal. 5:22-26).
4. It includes manifesting the gifts of the Spirit. (1Corin. 12. v.7).
Simply put, we are to walk in total submission to the Holy Spirit, just as Christ walked in constant, absolute submission to the Father.

Importance of walking in the Spirit
1.   By walking in the spirit you kill the things of the flesh. You are changed in character. (eg. gossiping, cheating, quarrelsome, anger, etc.) You will live Holy.
2.   You have power to witness. (Acts. 1:8)
3.   God controls your life. Neglecting the spirit enables Satan to come in, take control of your life and you spin out of control.
4.   We are rewarded with light, direction, discernment, revelation—a certain "knowing" that God gives us. e.g. Peter (a “layman”), Paul (learned Saul), etc.
5.   He will open the Scriptures to us through wisdom and revelation and reveal to us the glory of God that is to be found in Him. (Ps.73:17).
6.   You experience comfort, guidance, counseling and true teaching (1Jn. 2:27)

How to walk in the Spirit 
1.   Don’t lust after the flesh. Cut off all links to desire the flesh.(Gal. 5: 17)
2.   Desire the word of God and walk in it (1Pet. 2:2)
3.   Fast and pray to kill the desires of the flesh.
4.   Work in the vineyard and don’t be idle.(eg. witnessing, preaching, bible reading, serving, etc.)
5.   Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit (esp. sin- pride, adultery, fornication, idolatry, etc)



Finally 
It is not difficult to identify people who walk in the spirit. Their lives are at sharp contrast to the world around them (Philippians 2:15). They produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) rather than the fruits of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). In Acts 4:13, Peter and John had been arrested for preaching and were brought before the authorities. "The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus." When we walk with God every day, the world cannot help but recognize that, in spite of our imperfections and lack of knowledge in some areas, we have known the Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to ask you a question, “Are you walking faithfully in the spirit”? Think about this question. Amen!Bottom of Form


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