WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

The fad has apparently worn off, but not long ago, many Christians displayed the letters "WWJD." It was to be a reminder for believers to live their lives as Jesus would if He was in the same situation. Back then, I told my daughter that I would prefer a sticker that had "WDJD" (What Did Jesus Do). After all, the Gospel is the good news about what Jesus has done. Instead of focusing upon what I should do, which can save no one, I should focus on the finished work of the only One Who can save the lost.

Christians are admonished to live as Jesus did by "walking in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16, 25). His entire human life was orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was the source of His human life in Mary (Matt. 1:20; Lk. 1:35). The Holy Spirit is the source of our new birth (Jn. 3:3-8). The Spirit was evidence of His identity at His baptism (Isa. 11:2; Lk. 3:22). The Spirit is the evidence of the identity of new converts (Acts 2:4; 8:17; 10:44; Rom. 8:15; 1 Cor. 2:12; Gal. 3:2). The Spirit anointed Jesus to preach (Isa. 61:1-2; Lk. 4:17-19; Jn. 6:63). The Spirit guides the believer in what to say (Jn. 14:26; 16:13). He was led of the Spirit into the wilderness (Matt. 4:1). Believers are to pray not to be led into temptation (Matt. 6:13). His power was from the Spirit (Jn. 5:19, 30). Our source of power is the Spirit (Acts 1:8). He was raised again to life by the Spirit just as we shall be (Rom. 8:11).

A NOTE TO ALL NON-TRINITARIANS OUT THERE: the Holy Spirit is God Acts 2:24; 3:15; 5:4).

But how is a Christian to know if he is being led by the Spirit of God? The answer is quite easy. Is what I am thinking, saying, or doing something I believe Jesus would think, say, or do? We are told that the evidence of the Spirit working in Christians is the "fruit" produced. Galatians 5:22-23 lists a description of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. Do my thoughts, words, and deeds meet those criteria? If so, then I am walking in the Spirit. Another passage that speaks of the work of the Spirit is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 where it is described as love. Because the Spirit guides us to conform to the Lord's Commandments, and love fulfills His Law, the Spirit, being God, is Love (Mt. 5:43-48; 7:12; 22:40; Rom. 13:8-10; 1 Thes. 3:11-13; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Jn. 3:23; 4:8, 16). Therefore, walking in the Spirit is walking in love. Guard each step carefully. Amen.