DWELL IN THE SPIRIT NOT IN THE FLESH

   DWELL IN THE SPIRIT NOT IN THE FLESH

Exodus 19:7-8: And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.

Not one has been able to live the promise; "All that the LORD hath spoken we will do". It is about 1550 years from Moses to Jesus’ day. It is about 2010 years from Jesus to our day. Only Jesus could fulfill everything God commanded. It is a sobering thought; no one can please God in this way.

The thought makes us realize… We need Jesus. It is humbling to know I can not perfectly do all that God has required of me. I want to; I just can not do all, all the time. I might do some, some of the time, not all, all the time.

God requires all, all the time… We are in trouble.

Thank God; because Jesus satisfied God’s requirement. Jesus the Righteous and Just did “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do”. And Jesus returned to the LORD, to show His Blood, the Blood of the Covenant and of Redemption.

We are redeemed by the Blood of The Lamb. He died for us. Now… we can live for Him. Actually we live and move and have our being in Him. We may never be perfectly sinless in this life. We can do better by walking in the spirit. Because when we are walking in the Spirit we are not following the lusts the flesh.

Hebrews 11:1,2 and 6: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. But without faith it is impossible to please him: because they that are coming to God must believe that he exits, and that he rewards them who diligently seek him. So God is pleased when we have faith in Him.

So… let’s see: God fulfilled the requirement in Jesus for us. And God is pleased when we trust Him. Wow… think on that a while. Trust Him. Follow Him. Walk (live) in the Spirit.

By following: THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS

Rom 8:1-7: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit, For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

If you believe in Jesus and believe God by Him saves you. Then by that Faith you seek to live in the Spirit, that Faith makes you FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. If your faith does not cause you to seek to live in the Spirit, you have dead faith and you are not free from the law of sin and death.

Read James 2:14-18:

What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, you have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You see beloved, your faith causes your actions to be what they are. Therefore your works declare what you believe.

Gal 5:16-18: This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Moreover if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

I feed the white dog more

I heard a story years ago about a revival on an Indian reservation years before. Don’t know how true the story is after all this time details get lost. On the other hand it illustrates a truth. Here goes: At this revival the meanest resident of the tribe went to the altar and received Jesus and was saved. After a few months His friends and neighbors noticed the change that came over him stuck. More over his behavior steadily improved. So they came to him one night at church and asked him how he could change so much. He thought a moment the looked up and replying said. “I have two dogs one white and the other black. I feed the white dog more”. Beloved walk in the spirit and the things of earth will grow dim.

Rom 12:1-3: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

AS CHILD AND AS AN ADULT

I watched my Dad grow in the Lord. He became better and better as he aged. He read the Bible through every year and prayed daily. My Dad is a daily witness to me by this memory. Just think when you practice these things you too will be a daily witness. Leaving good memories behind is a good thing. Think of the peace you will have in your heart, knowing that you are leaving behind good memories.

John L. Kinikin