WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 06 November 2012

Hi all,

Today we meditate on Walking in the Spirit. ¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Gal 5:16 ESV Don’t say it’s impossible. If that was the case, why would Paul instruct us to do so? No this is not beyond our ability if we trust the Lord and stop thinking of our own comfort. If you could do this as a teenager with another teenager of the opposite gender and enjoy it, what’s the excuse today?

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 06 November 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
George & Ira Gershwin. A winning combination of popular song writers, many of which (songs) are still well remembered. The one I’d like us to look at was composed in 1937 and popularised by Fred Astaire: The chorus was, Holding hands at midnight, 'Neath a starry sky / Nice work if you can get it, And you can get it if you try / Strolling with the one girl, Sighing sigh after sigh / Nice work if you can get it, And you can get it if you try! Personally, I remember strolling out with the current girl-friend. (Not that I had many) We would hold hands and sigh! It was one of those things we did in the middle of the dark ages. (20th century) It was a sort of adolescent version of walking in the spirit – not the Holy Spirit. However, there is one essential feature required. You can’t do it alone! You can’t very well stroll at any time of the day holding no-body’s hand. Both parties must be willing to stroll together. If you don’t, you look silly! This feature of being willing to walk together is crucial, if we want to Walk in the Spirit. In the first instance you must want to. The reason I didn’t start with the comment that the Holy Spirit wants to, is simple. He always wants to walk with us. The only problem the Holy Spirit has with walking with us is sin in our lives. The fact is, sin and the Holy Spirit is a bit like oil and water. They don’t mix very easily. You may try and get an emulsion of some sort. But He will depart the moment you try. It follows that the real problem is not the Holy Spirit. The problem is you and me. The prophet Amos wrote: 3 Do two people walk hand in hand if they aren't going to the same place? Amos 3:3 MSG It may be a bit obvious, but if you aren’t going with the Holy Spirit, you’re on your own. Walking in the Spirit is the same. There must be at least a basic agreement or the joint venture will flop. The question is whether or not you want to walk with the Holy Spirit. You must actually want it. “But how do I do that?” is the question I’m often asked. Paul gave us a clue in Galatians. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Gal 5:16 ESV I don’t want to be too simplistic. But let’s take the same Scripture and turn it round. “If I am not gratifying the desires of the flesh I will be walking by the Spirit.” How do I know I’m not gratifying the desires of the flesh? God’s Word shows this very clearly. “But I can’t do that! That’s why Jesus came. To help me to walk in the Spirit!” Absolutely true. But you can easily see if you are walking in the flesh. Anyone who can read will know if they are, or are not. So if you are not gratifying the desires of the flesh you must be walking in the Spirit! So grab hold of Jesus’ hand and go “Holding hands at midnight, 'Neath a starry sky!” Nice work and you can have it! And you can have it if you try! Try it! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			5 Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You. Psalms 25:5 NLT 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13 ESV 20 The Holy One has anointed you, so all of you have knowledge. 1 John 2:20 GW 20 Look to God's instructions and teachings! People who contradict His word are completely in the dark. Isaiah 8:20 NLT 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 NLT 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalms 32:8 TNIV 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, Matthew 6:22 ESV 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether My teaching is from God or is merely My own. John 7:17 NLT 8 A wide road will go through the land. It will be called The Way of Holiness. Only those who are pure and clean can travel on it. Only those who lead a holy life can use it. Evil and foolish people can't walk on it. Isaiah 35:8 NIrV	Walking in the Spirit! How many folk can do, This wonderful instruction hand-made for me and you? You’d think that it was easy. That ought to be the case. But walking with the Master and feeling His embrace, Seems to be too difficult and many Christians quit. They don’t know this attitude renders them unfit, To ever walk with Jesus. For if they do not try, They’ll find the opportunity has simply passed them by. So Father God, please teach us to walk in truth and light, By the Holy Spirit; not leaning on our sight. We know You can do it. But if it’s left to me, I’ll walk into obstacles and bump into a tree! O Lord, we need Your guidance. Without it, we will miss, The truth which you are teaching; and end in the abyss. Speak with Your authority, that each of us can hear, What You are declaring; in true and Godly fear. We have Your anointing, so we should have the skill, To comprehend the knowledge with which we have been filled. This we know for certain. It’s an established fact; That keeping Your commandments is the only way to act. Grant us the perception, to never contradict, The Word that You have given us, to have the devil licked. We know the Holy Scriptures; we learned them as a child. They came by inspiration; they’re pure and undefiled. Help us to assimilate Your truth in every way; To focus upon Jesus, so that we can obey, Every little detail of what Your Word has said. When we have this mastered, we will be Spirit led! It isn’t complicated, a little child can do, All that is required from folk like me and you. Listen first; then do it! You will not get it wrong. Not if to the Saviour, you truthfully belong. Anyone who wants to do that which the Lord desires, Will surely be directed to do what He requires. Find His way of Holiness. Don’t think you can fool, With other types of living. For if you let His rule, Be far more important than all you think and do. Walking in the Spirit will be a “cinch” for you. Jim Strickland  Written 6 November 2012