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Walking in the Spirit
Nelson Boils:
"..try very much to do ALWAYS what is good.And try very much to know God more and more...You must rule yourself properly...continue to be patient and brave...you MUST ALWAYS make God happy...you MUST do what God wants...You MUST be kind...You MUST love other Christians...You MUST love all people also...You should do all these things...These things will show that you know our Lord Jesus Christ.And your work will have good results.But some people do not do these things.They do not think these things are important.They are like people who cannot see clearly...If you do these things,you will NEVER turn away from God...God will be happy with you.."
Kat:
--- Quote from: stello on January 20, 2016, 11:42:47 AM ---Good morning everyone,
I am a new member to the forums. First hello and greetings to everyone!!! Second, how do you walk in the Spirit? There is a verse that says "... walk in the Spirit so you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.."-- I really don't want to fulfill the lust of the flesh, but i don't know what it means to "walk in the Spirit" Any help would be greatly appreciated.
PS. if this question has been asked already i apologize.
--- End quote ---
Hi stello, I'm glad you have joined us, your questions are welcomed.
Our "walk" is the way we live, so we are to walk/live by Christ's spiritual commandments.
Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that He answered them well, asked Him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?"
v. 29 Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
v. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
v. 31 The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
The only way to obey Christ is to yield to His Spirit indwelling.
Eze 36:27 And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
We are to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," (Php 2:12) and here are parts of a beautiful pray from David that I think show how we do what Paul admonished there.
Psa 143:1 A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Psa 143:8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
Psa 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
stello:
Thank you all for such fast and helpful answers and scripture. God is indeed amazing. I have a better understanding of what it means to walk in the Spirit. I believe for sometime God has been slowly teaching me about his truths.
For a long time i was in such distress about going to hell. But God is merciful and he directed me to this website where he opened my eyes to the truth. Since then i have had peace with regards to that issue. I am also learning little by little to love him more and more. I truly want to do what is right is the yes of God, but so many times i fail miserably. One of the reasons i asked about walking in the Spirit is because of the scripture that talks about many are called but few chosen. I want to included in the chosen but i know it is not my choice but entirely up to God. But i do want to live right and that scripture that says.. walk in the Spirit.
So then i wanted to know how to do just that, and you have all answered my question. Thank you all very much and thanks to God for being such a merciful and loving God.
stello.
PS. my name is Sterling Alfred, but you can call me by my nickname, stello :)
Colin:
Welcome Stello
I am a relative "new-comer" as well.....like me, you will find it profitable in receiving answers to what may have seemed to be minor questions - where those answers provide opportunities to rediscover many points made by Ray, which we often "read past".
I too have pondered the topic of "walking in the spirit". And as we are of "like mind", many of us could say the same.
While watching on TV the staggering brutality and many forms of suffering which so many are experiencing, particularly in Middle Eastern countries, it is only natural to ponder, “how much more must the inhabitants of our planet have to endure”, before the end of this age arrives and a new one begins, where right values will be taught and implanted. I long for that to happen and pray that my vision of that future time be not dimmed, but rather be even more a certainty to me. And that if chosen, I can form part of a team which will work towards the achievement, which God has planned for us all.
Rom 8:22 KJV For we know that the whole creation groaneth [G4959] and travaileth in pain [G4944] together until now.
Συστενάζω sustenazō G4959 From G4862 and G4727; to moan jointly, that is, (figuratively) experience a common calamity: - groan together.
Συνωδίνω sunōdino G4944 From G4862 and G5605; to have (parturition, child-birth) pangs in company (concert, simultaneously) with, that is, (figuratively) to sympathize (in expectation of relief from suffering): - travail in pain together.
The type of pain mentioned (intentionally) is one that gets worse and worse until things finally “give way” with intensity. Our world at present is “in hard labour”….wishing for release….a solution, a way out of it all.
Paul continues by including us, saying that we are also groaning, but he uses a different word…… why would that be, I asked myself.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan [G4727] within ourselves, waiting for the adoption [G5206] , to wit, the redemption of our body.
We have a different type of “groaning”….
Στενάζω stenazō G4727 From G4728; to make (intransitively be) in straits, that is, (by implication) to sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly: - with grief, groan, grudge, sigh.
We know that there is coming a solution, relief, a complete “turn-about”….. we know that our hope will be fulfilled, but it’s tiring to “wait” and upsetting to see and hear about all the bloodshed and misery.
υἱοθεσία uihothesia G5206 the placing as a son, that is, adoption (figuratively Christian sonship in respect to God): - adoption (of children, of sons).
A few verses later, Paul asks:-
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
What he could have said is…. “we might (some will) have to experience all sorts of trials, stresses, go hungry, needing clothes, living with widespread terrorists and in fear of our lives….” But that does not indicate Christ has left us separated from His love. So, we need to take stock, praying for a continuing and strengthening of the faith which Christ gives us, as we face “rough water” ahead.
One “anchor” which will assist is holding on to the vision of the millennium ahead and the desire to qualify.
Prov 29:18a Where there is no vision,H2377 the peopleH5971 perish:H6544
H6544 פָּרַע pâra‛ A primitive root; to loosen; by implication to expose, dismiss; figuratively absolve, begin: - avenge, avoid, bare, go back, let, (make) naked, set at nought, perish, refuse, uncover.
We could put it this way; if you don’t hang on to the vision, you’ll “lose the plot”.
As I view the world news, I ask God to give me the ability to think like He does…to see things more from His perspective….of a world needing to be not only chastised, repaired, cleaned up, but to be educated - eventually to think along God’s wavelength. My thoughts turned to how could I gain some life experiences to be of any use – to help in reshaping my “spirit” - were there any cues worth following?
Matthew 25 gave me some pointers….they are words from Jesus, the One who is in charge ….and they are not too obscure. That was what led me to becoming a volunteer for Hospice and it has been not only rewarding and challenging, but has greatly helped me to empathize towards others, who, despite being younger, are worse off than myself. I look back and see that was an inspiration given to me and I am grateful for the opportunities to participate. Not everybody, of course, has the time or chance to do that exact sort of thing, but we all have opportunity to be kind to somebody somewhere, some time. By beginning “small” we can be given “open doors” to gain more experience and to strengthen our resolve, as well as God inspiring us with thoughts and ideas.
Ray said he pleaded with God to be shown certain things from scripture….we can do that too; in line with
Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Another “prod” was from my reading James, where I found……
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
A few verses further on, I saw……
Jas 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Again, everybody has limits on what they can do….but I had no excuse to “look the other way”, now that I am on my own, following the death of my wife over two and a half years ago; I can still get around, visit and help the sick and dying – as I find I am able.
I look ahead to the time when they will remember me when we meet again. Those particular folk will all give God the praise then for how He has taught, corrected and guided me and also for what He has in mind for them, as they make progress from “darkness into light”.
Ask God to keep you "hungry and thirsty".....spiritually speaking.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Your replies indicate to me that you have indeed been provided with the nourishment you asked for....God does keep His word. Colin
Porter:
Hi stello and welcome to the forum. Now that you have an idea on how to walk in the spirit, try not to get discouraged if at times you "trip" and "fall" during your walk.
I once heard Ray say something like "you'll want to quit sinning long before you actually do". I personally have found this to be true and there are still some sins I want to quit, but haven't been able yet. Just remember take baby steps and that we repent in increments. Above all remember that Christ will finish the work He started in you. :)
Porter
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