“IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT!”

 Galatians 5:16-24

Keep in Step with the SPIRIT

“[16] But I say, walk by the SPIRIT, and you will not gratify THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH. [17] For THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH are AGAINST THE SPIRIT, and THE DESIRES OF THE SPIRIT are AGAINST THE FLESH, for THESE ARE OPPOSES TO EACH OTHER, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. [18] But “IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT”, YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. [19] Now THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE EVIDENT: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will NOT inherit the kingdom of GOD. [22] But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS have CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with its PASSIONS and DESIRES.”

Since you are are PRESUMABLY “old enough” to make wise decisions concerning your life (considering that has ever happened!), how do you PLAN for the uncertainty that life is seemingly GUARANTEED to bring, and usually as a surprise???  There are times when it seems that nothing works PRECISELY the way it might have been planned.  When that happens, it might be that our plans may have been “superseded” by something we could dreamed or imagined?

There was a recent post on a social media site that said “GO TO THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHOICE TODAY”.   These words were written by a lifelong friend, a man respected by me for over 50 years!  Even THE CHURCH we CHOOSE might not be where GOD wants to divinely SPEAK to our SPIRIT during the particular time HE needs us to hear?  GOD IS ABLE to SPEAK to us even when when we “aren’t ready” to hear from HIM.  HE is quite adept at speaking WHEN HE KNOWS WHAT HE SAYS will IMPACT our lives, especially for HIS GLORY!!!

“Now THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE EVIDENT: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do SUCH THINGS WILL NOT inherit the KINGDOM of GOD”.  No matter how Godly we live, things that are OF THE FLESH will not be part of our HEAVENLY REWARD!

“But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those “WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS” have CRUCIFIED THE FLESH with its PASSIONS and DESIRES.”  We WHO are indwelled by the SPIRIT OF GOD can and will WILL BE instruments to display OUR HEAVENLY REWARD!  “IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT” HE will guide our steps for HIS GLORY!!!