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Walking In The Spirit Revisited
Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 12, 2000 (message contributor)
Summary: What does it really mean to "walk in the Spirit?"
Revisiting "Walking in The Spirit"
We can view "walking in the Spirit" in differing ways. One concise way
to summarize the process I call the "5 Habits of Truly Spiritual
Christians." They are implied in this text (as well as surrounding
context), though some of them are expounded in more detail elsewhere.
Assumption: we are saved--truly born again (John 3) and have dedicated
ourselves to serve the Lord (Rom. 124:1-2).
I. Confession/Restoration (hinted at in Galatians 6:1, dealt with in detail in I John 1:8-9
and Psalm 51)
II. Cultivating:Accumulating the Materials withWhich the Spirit Will Build (16, 25)--
dealt with in more detail in Colossian 3:16, Rom. 8:5, 12:1-2, Psalm 1, I Thess. 5:16ff...
--things like a daily quiet time, church involvement, prayer, and "body life" are implied
here... ("An Active Passivity" Francis Shaeffer, True Spirituality, p.p.58-59)
III. Evaluating (Fruit Inspecting) (19-24)
1. Works (fruit) of the flesh are obvious/unashamed and blatant...
A. Sexual Sins:(1) sexual immorality/(2) impurity=uncleaness of mind
(3)debauchery =unrestrained living (15) orgies
B. Religious Sins: (4) idolatry=worship of images (5) witchcraft= casting of
spells, magic, use of drugs
C. Relational Sins: 6) hatred=hostility (7)discord=strife (8) jealousy (9) fits of
rage (10) selfish ambition (11) dissension(quarreling), (12) factions (being
divisive) (13) envy
D. Intentional Impairment (14) Drunkenness / (5)Witchcraft (drugs)
2. Fruit of the Spirit...
(1) love (agape) for God and others
(2) joy--happiness/sense of feeling blessed
(3) peace-calm
(4) patience--long-suffering--able to wait peaceably
(5) kindness--goodness
(6) gentleness--meekness; a submissive spirit
(7) self-control--the holding in of passions
IV. Reckoning (5:24 and 2:20) see also Rom. 6:11
V. Depending Upon the Spirit to Empower Us (16, 25; see also Zech.
4:6)--including waiting upon and listening!!!