WALKING IN THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Once of the biggest challenges for most people who profess to be following Jesus is to actually learn how to, and actively proceed to, “Walk In The Fruit Of The Spirit.” It is truly challenging, because we so often are drawn into the pursuit of Works Of The Flesh. These two ways of living life are directly opposed to each other. As “Sinners”, it is in our nature to fall back into fleshly behavior. The root of the problem I believe comes from our own attempt to focus on our “behavior”, and the rules we try to live by, when the truth is that Only Faith and Love For One Another will allow us to Walk In The Spirit. In Galatians 5, Paul gives us a very uncomfortable list of just exactly comes out of our “Fleshly Pursuits”. Sexual Immorality; Moral Impurity; Promiscuity; Idolatry; Sorcery; Hatred; Strife; Anger; Selfish Ambitions; Dissension; Factions; Envy; Drunkenness; and all the things that seem so similar as we look at our lives. They are all familiar to every one of us in some form or another. The Flesh seems like a constant battle. In fact, it is a battle that ENSLAVES US TO DARKNESS AND MOVES US AWAY FROM OUR INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD ! The other side of the coin is the beauty of Spiritual Fruit:) It is truly what Faith In Christ brings us, and allows us through our relationship with Him, to overcome The Flesh we crave. The Fruit Of The Spirit is so amazing ! Love; Joy; Peace; Patience; Kindness; Goodness; Faithfulness; Gentleness; and Self Control :) What I am coming to understand is that ONLY CHRIST can set us FREE from our passions and desires…because WE HAVE CRUCIFIED OUR FLESH WITH HIM. On our own, we will not succeed and move into Holiness and Righteousness’….no matter how hard We Try ! OUR FREEDOM COMES FROM HIM ALONE.
NOW THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS HAVE CRUCUFIED THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES. IF WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT. Galatians 5:24-25
NOW THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT, AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS FREEDOM. 2 Corinthians 3:17
THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE HAS SET YOU FREE IN CHRIST JESUS FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. FOR GOD HAS DONE WHAT THE LAW, WEAKENED BY THE FLESH, COULD NOT DO. BY SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH AND FOR SIN, HE CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH, IN ORDER THAT THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, WHO WALK NOT ACCORDING TO THE FLESH BUT ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT. Romans 8:1-4
The scriptures above show me exactly why the only TRUTH I can count on is that TRUTH that comes from God Himself ! God is a Righteous and Just Creator and King ! His Rules and Commandments are absolutes in His Character and Ways….but WE AS HUMANS are unable to follow them and adhere to them in our own Flesh. God in His Righteousness needed and needs Atonement for our SIN. He sees and hears all we do,….and also what we Think ! GOD”S LOVE IS SO POWERFUL THAT HE SACRIFICED HIS OWN SON THAT WE MIGHT LIVE ! We need to soak that in and meditate on it. Imagine, Christ as a “man” struggling in the Garden Of Gethsemmane in prayer to the Father; a battle of God’s Will versus the frailty and “Humanness” He had inside Him along with His Deity. Jesus knew exactly what He was going to face, and He Went Willingly To His Death, ….For Us. YOU AND ME. His disciples had followed Him for Three Years. I try to imagine the things they must have been thinking and feeling in those moments. Fear; Doubt; Sorrow; Pain; Anger ? Jesus had been very forthright in showing them the Prophecies that they all knew intimately about the Messiah; and yet they still struggled to UNDERSTAND. I often find myself struggling to understand a lot of things that Life brings our way. In my flesh. I often find myself trying to evaluate God’s timing and His lessons. The One Thing I Never Struggle To Understand However Is That I AM HIS ! I surrendered My Life To Christ, and I AM FREE :) Far from perfect, but FREE INDEED IN HIM ! Walking In The Fruit Of The Spirit is a constant work in progress. It takes Commitment and Practice. It takes Confession and Repentance. Most of all it takes a Deep Trust And Relationship With Jesus To OVERCOME OUR FLESH. GOD GIVES US GRACE AND MERCY FOR THAT PURPOSE !
LET US THEN WITH CONFIDENCE DRAW NEAR TO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED. Hebrews 4:16
WHO IS A GOD LIKE YOU, PARDONING INIQUITY AND PASSING OVER TRANSGRESSION FOR THE REMNANT OF HIS INHERITANCE ? HE DOES NOT RETAIN HIS ANGER FOREVERBECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN STEADFAST LOVE. Micah 7:18
KNOW THEREFORE THAT THE LORD YOUR GOG IS GOD, THE FAITHFUL GOD WHO KEEPS COVENANT AND STEADFAST LOVE WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS. Deuteronomy 7:9
GRACE…God’s unmerited favor and love towards humanity. MERCY…God withholding deserved punishment. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON FOR US ! If we contemplate on these things, it will inspire us to Walk In The Fruit Of The Spirit and leave our Flesh behind. I will say once again that this understanding does not come from ‘knowledge’ or “work”. It comes from Relationship With Jesus that exhibits itself in the Time and Depth you are willing to embrace to ABIDE IN HIM, AND HE IN YOU. Heart To Heart. So many things seem almost unattainable for us as humans, but for God, they are indeed simple :) CHOOSE HIM, and BE SET FREE :). BEAR FRUIT/JAA
BUT NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN AND HAVE BECOME SLAVES OF GOD, THE FRUIT YOU GET LEADS TO SANCTIFICATION AND ITS END, ETERNAL LIFE. Romans 6:22
Be Blessed. Amen.