This morning, as I was getting ready for the day, I heard a message from a Pastor we know, recapping some of the important lessons, from God’s Word, that their church was learning during their revival meetings. One of the lessons was a great blessing to me personally, and I felt it would be good to share it via our midweek meditations to you.
In Galatians 6:16, we are encouraged to “walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Walk…think about that word for a moment. The brother pointed out that another place we find this word in this sense is in Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh NOT in the council of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” In both of these passages we are encouraged not so much to “do, or do not”, but rather to “be, or be not”.
Much of the Christian walk in our day is not really faced with outward, physical persecution, but rather we fight an intense battle of the spirit (OUR mind, will, and emotions). It is God’s desire that our spirit submit moment by moment to His Spirit. We find from the scriptures that a life that is led by the Spirit of God, that seeks to give the Lord control of our lives at the very fabric of who we are, is the person that begins to truly see what the freeing power of the Holy Spirit’s presence can do to transform a life.
Maybe today you are struggling with ‘doing” what is expected of a Christian. Stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and think about this. YOU aren’t supposed to be doing it! The scripture is plain in this regard, “It is GOD which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13). Here is an example, it isn’t my struggle with myself on whether or not I am faithful to church, to evangelize, etc., but rather a lack of submission to God’s desires flowing through me. As I draw closer to God, as I submit control to him, my desires will begin to emulate His desires. Doing Christian things, transforms to the more fulfilling reality of being a Christian through which the fruit of the Spirit of God begins to naturally bear outwardly in my life.
Constrained By Love,
Pastor Brandyn
<><><><><>Scripture Reading:<><><><><>
Galatians 5:16-25
[16] [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. [18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. [24] And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. [25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. [26] Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.