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Walk In The Spirit
by Kyria Baker
December 9, 2000
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints
and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And
there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to
the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" Hebrews 4:12,13.
The word of God discerns our thoughts and the intents of our hearts. All things
are exposed to God's eyes. Do you control your thoughts? "Of course,"
you say, "I'm a Christian. I don't entertain thoughts of lust or murder,
etc." Do you ever feel hateful toward someone? Do you ever criticize - even
if only in your head? God wants more than an outward obedience, one where the
world, and even fellow Christians look in and assume you have it all together.
He is not satisfied when you appear to live the Christian life and yet there are
strifes and stresses in your home and in your life.
Evaluate these areas if you will:
Self: Are you at peace within yourself? Do you love yourself? Are you secure in
your identity? Do you feel you are living that "abundant life" Jesus
talked about? Have you ever asked yourself why not?
Spouse: How is your intimacy? Now, don't get offended. I'm not asking about
physical intimacy, although if there are problems there, that could be
symptomatic. I'm asking if you can trust your spouse with the most secret
thoughts and desires that you have. Can you be completely open and honest or
would he/she make fun of you or even lash out in anger?
Family: Are your children obedient, happy, and cheerful? Do you feel you're
always onto them about the same problems and they just never change? How about
in-laws or your own family? How are those relationships? A little strained,
maybe?
Why all the questions, you ask? I am hoping to shine a light of hope to show you
the way to have that life Jesus talked about - and have it more abundantly. I'm
not preaching at you, telling you what you must do or stop doing. I would like
to just share with you what I've learned and applied in my life, because it has
worked. It will for you, too, because "the word of God is living and
powerful".
Living a life pure and holy before God is only possible through the Holy Spirit.
All of my puny efforts were never enough and just resulted in feelings of
failure and guilt. So many times I hear preaching or teaching on what I should
or shouldn't be doing. Even with an honest desire to do right, I failed
miserably. It's nice to know I'm in good company. Paul wrestled with the same
problem in Romans 7:15-25.
Let's read on in Hebrews, though. Chapter 4 verses 14-16 say, "Seeing then
that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the
Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we
are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
I used to get hung up on the part that says Jesus was tempted as we were, yet
without sin. Yeah, but I'm not perfect! But it says let us therefore come BOLDLY
to the throne of grace. That we may obtain mercy - in other words, we aren't
punished as we deserve. And that we may find grace to help in time of need.
Grace is God's love and favor that we don't deserve.
As we discover in Romans 8, the key to coming anywhere close to perfection in
our walk with God is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are
the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without
Me you can do nothing" John 15:5. Romans 8:13 says, "For if you live
according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the
deeds of the body, you will live."
But how? How do I put to death the deeds of the body? "For the good that I
will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice"
Romans 7:19. "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the
lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do
the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under
the law" Galatians 5:16-18. So the Holy Spirit is the key.
I find that I must take every thought captive. One little slip and it becomes a
fast slide downhill that takes my getting on my knees before God to stop. For
example, if I get frustrated with my husband because he does something that has
always irritated me, I must immediately reject that frustration and ask God to
give me grace to let it go without holding it against him. Again, I do not have
the strength of will to do this of myself. It is God who makes it possible - and
it is possible! I've been doing it for a while now and it gets easier as good
habits get established. However, Satan is always going to put some pitfall into
your path, so you have to remain on guard.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For
the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the
obedience of Christ," II Corinthians 10:3-5.
I don't know about you, but I have never taken the Bible as literally as I
should have. The weapons of our warfare are MIGHTY! Take God's promises
literally! Stand on them and do not falter when Satan hurls his fiery darts,
knowing that your armor is invulnerable. Don't forget, though, that there are
conditions to God's promises. He almost always says, "If you will... then I
will." You have to obey.
Try it. Oh, it is so worth it!
For More Articles by Kyria Baker, click HERE
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