Walk in the Spirit

Have you ever had a moment in your life when you felt totally misunderstood? 

We have all had those feelings at some point in our lives, probably several points if we are honest with ourselves.

Sometimes we try to say comforting words to someone, but the words come out all wrong and we end up feeling foolish or embarrassed.

I can think of many times over my life when I have felt misunderstood and have said things that were misinterpreted by the people I was talking too.

It can be rather embarrassing especially if we don't realize what we did until much later.

I am thankful that there is mercy and forgiveness for those in Christ Jesus.

We all need His mercy and forgiveness because we are all not perfect people. 

We make mistakes.  We mess up sometimes. We make really bad choices and have bad judgment at times.  We sin.

We should always be thankful as well for the grace that is imparted to us through our faith in Jesus Christ.   For it is by grace that we are saved. 

We didn't earn salvation.  We don't deserve grace either.  Grace is the unmerited favor of God. 

Sometimes we get off track.  We end up losing sight of Jesus.  We wonder off the path and try to do things on our own.  We quickly realize that doesn't work out too well in the long run.

I have learned and still am learning that I need Jesus more each and everyday.  I need to be led by the Holy Spirit who dwells with in me every moment of everyday.

I also realize that the Holy Spirit needs more of me.

I can be so selfish at times.  I can be very "me" centered.  Sometimes I try to do things on my own and in my own strength, but I end up failing miserably.

I like walking in the Spirit, but I have this pull inside of me that wants its own thing.   There is a battle within every believer in Christ between the sinful nature and the Spirit of God.

The good news is that we don't have to obey the commands of the sinful nature because we have been set free through our belief in Jesus Christ.  Jesus has set us free from that bondage of sin through His death on the cross.

Those who have trusted Christ are now free to live by the Spirit.  The apostle Paul encouraged Christians in Galatians 5:16-18 by saying,

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 

For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.

They are in conflict with each other, so you do not do what you want.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are no longer under the law."

We must submit to the Holy Spirit lead in our lives and listen to
His promptings.

The apostle Paul talks about what the acts of the sinful nature are in Galatians 5:19-21 saying,

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,
dissensions, factions and envy;  drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

Those who have not repented of their sins and received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are still dead in their sins and will not inherit the kingdom of God.

They continue to live and walk in the sinful nature and gratify the flesh. 

We who have come to Christ can say no to the sinful nature because we have the Holy Spirit.  

The indwelling Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit starting in Galatians 5:22-26 which says,

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Sometimes we Christians still listen to the sinful nature within us instead of walking in the Spirit.

We need to learn to say no to the sinful nature and the Lord will help us to do that.  We need to be in His Word and pray and call out to Him and be obedient to His call.

We need to keep step with Spirit and we do that by submitting to His direction.

The Holy Spirit wants to produce His fruit in our lives.

We can't cause this fruit to grow on our own power.

This is the Holy Spirits work within every believer in Jesus Christ.

Our sins have been nailed to the cross and we have been forgiven.  We don't need to obey the sinful nature any more.  We are under new ownership.  We are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Let us walk in the Spirit and allow Him to produce His fruit in us.

Lord,
Thank You for Your mercy on us when we fail You and others.
Thank You for being so good to us even though we don't deserve it.
Lead us deeper into Your Word.
Bear fruit in us O Lord.
Forgive us when we try to do things our own way.
Help us to walk in the Spirit.
In Jesus name,
Amen.