Thy Kingdom Come…In Me???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #208

Just a few thoughts I’d like to share with you this evening, and I pray that we will all be encouraged to reexamine our priorities and see if we are walking in the right direction.

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word,

even in this;

Thou shalt love thy neighbour

as thyself.

15 But if ye bite and devour one another,

take heed

that ye be not consumed one of another.

16 This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…

…. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections

and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,

provoking one another,

envying one another.”  Portions of Galatians 5:14-26

Paul reminds us that we have the choice of walking in The Holy Spirit’s power—who dwells within born again believers –or walking in our flesh; and our choice will show in our actions, either the “fruit” of The Spirit or the “deeds” of the flesh.  The choice is real, and God holds us accountable.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”   Galatians 5:19-21

Paul makes it clear that our behavior is a display of what is in our hearts; while this isn’t very popular today, it is still truth.  So true that we need to consider it and ask God to help us be honest with ourselves.  Yet, we need to understand that isn’t referring to one instance of “wrath” or “envy” but to a lifestyle of ungodliness.  This heart toward God was exemplified in our Lord.

“And he was withdrawn from them

about a stone’s cast,

and kneeled down,

and prayed,

42 Saying,

Father, if thou be willing,

remove this cup from me:

nevertheless not my will,

but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him

from heaven,

strengthening him.”  Luke 22:41-43

 So what are we doing with our life?  What are we doing for Jesus?  Are we so consumed with doing our own thing that we have forgotten about the thing that Jesus told us to pray:

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:9-10

It draws my heart to some more of Paul’s and Peter’s writings that speak to us of the crucified life.  I simply want to share some passages for us to ponder and pursue God’s will for me!  How about you?

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

And from Peter, a reminder that it is Jesus’ blood that purchased our salvation; we need to seek God’s face to revive our hearts and stir them to holy living—a seemingly lost desire in the heart of the church.  May God speak to us through His Word, in one of my favorite passages.

“For what glory is it,

if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins in his own body on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:20-25

Amen and Amen!!!