Walk the Spirit Walk

"Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh...adultery, fornication, uncleanness, debauchery, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries (orgies), and the like... those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."


"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things THERE IS NO LAW. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we LIVE in the SPIRIT, let us also WALK in the SPIRIT. Let us not become conceited provoking one another, envying one another."

Galatians 5:16-26

Against such things there is no law! I have heard it argued that we cannot legalize morality, and while our founders chose to use Biblical standards when establishing the rule of law in our nations past, though it was wonderfully admirable, the Word is clear that without the Holy Spirit of God, it was perhaps an idle attempt. I have tried, very hard, each of the characteristics in red... all of them. In and of myself, they were and are impossible. I don't mean all of them at once either. I mean, just one at a time. I won't even get into Love, we know that's the most impossible one, by itself... at least true Love (1Cor 13). So, let's look at self-control... Or how about faithfulness... well, okay... Maybe I don't have to illustrate it. If you need a testimony, then you can email me.

Back to my original point. Paul is speaking to Believers. Today, I discern our problem is from within, not from without. Our greatest war is not a "Culture War" as some "prophets" would like you to buy into. It is the same war as 2000 years ago... flesh vs. Spirit. And it all begins within our own bodies. First our mortal bodies... and then the body of Christ. I find it interesting when the Word mentions fighting there are two contexts... Spirit vs. flesh; which is a WAR, (1Peter 2:11) and believer against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places; which is a mere WRESTLE ... not a war.(Eph 6:12) So the bigger fight is me, myself and I, and then the enemy. No mention of battling the world either. Just not conforming to this world. (Rom 12:2, 1John 2:15-17).

Why has our focus become so extrinsic and no longer introspective? I believe it's because I, and we as a body, have assigned the evil characteristics in blue to THEM (the world), and the good ones in red to US (the church). But the Lord is saying to me as a believer, and us a body these blue words are for OUR rebuke... read Revelation Ch. 2&3.

"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you the light."

"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways... (2Chro. 7:14)

"For those who live according to the flesh set their mind on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." (Rom 8:5)