Week of April 9, 2021
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 (NKJV)
The essential characteristics of a person filled with the Spirit are that they serve God wholeheartedly and do not trust their own sinful nature. Being controlled by the Spirit means walking in the Spirit, which means following His guidance in our daily life.
The guidance of the Holy Spirit is not something we keep for Sundays and special occasions. The Lord has given His Spirit to guide us every day all day long. Each and every morning, we should ask God to fill us anew. The attractions of the world are constantly trying to lure us away from Him.
It is good to remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit remains with us all day and is able to keep us from the sinful practices of the flesh. When the Spirit guides our lives, our lives will reflect the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 gives us the list of the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, greatness, self-control).
The Bible also gives us a list of the works of the flesh (adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries).
This is why it is essential that we walk in the Spirit.
God Bless, Pastor Rick