WALKING IN THE SPIRIT #2 ROSS SMITH
(ALL REFERENCES FROM AMPLIFIED VERSION)
I want to continue with the subject, Walking in the Spirit, and that area of the need to walk in the Spirit.
I want you to head your notes this morning with a statement that will become blatantly obvious as we proceed, that the demand to walk in the Spirit is not a popular choice. To walk in the Spirit is not a popular choice! Many times it will not be popular for us individually, and many, many times it will not be popular on a cooperative basis because it places demands on the people of God and the body of Christ, to divest themselves of things which are very comfortable sometimes, and to begin to move into the realms which are unknown, to us that is.
The Bible says “He knows the way that I take, and when he has tried me I Shall come forth like gold”. The way is not unknown to the Almighty.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore, brethren, we beg and admonish you
I stopped there and thought, “Why would Paul have to beg and admonish the church of Jesus Christ?” Surely when a man of the stature of Paul, with the confirmation of the thrust of the Spirit through his life, with the fruit of his apostleship comes to a congregation and says, “We beg and admonish you!” We should, by the aid of the Holy Spirit be open and hanging on to every word that the Lord shares with us, so that we determine the route that we need to follow.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore, brethren, we beg and admonish you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that [you follow the instructions which] you learned from us ABOUT HOW YOU OUGHT TO WALK.
Obviously Paul had great difficulty with the church at Thessalonica in their walk also. He said
1 Thessalonians 4:1 We beg and admonish you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that [you follow the instructions which] you learned from us about how you ought to walk so as to please and gratify God, as indeed you are doing, [and] that you do so even more and more abundantly [attaining yet greater perfection in living this life].
To walk in the Spirit is not a popular choice. 1 Thessalonians points this up. But because we live in perilous times and all the signs around about us are confirming this fact, it is important that we understand the need to live in the Spirit. Again I refer to
John 10:27 The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they FOLLOW ME.
Not only do His sheep hear His voice but they also follow Him. They indeed know how they ought to walk. And so for our very identification, we need to be attuned to the voice of the Spirit, to hear His voice. Because we identify as His sheep, we need to understand the thrust that comes by the Spirit, so that we might follow Him.
There are many people this morning who would claim to be His sheep but here is a test, conclusive proof as to the authenticity of those who would claim to be His sheep. Not only do His sheep hear His voice, but they follow Him. It’s a marvellous place to live, to hear His voice, to be in tune, to hear the instructions, to get the quickening of the Word of God by the Holy Spirit. There is a secure walk that we can engage upon and today when everything around about us is in a state of flux we need to learn to live in the Spirit.
Let me just briefly cover the reasons why.
1 Economically We know that our credit rating in Australia has been devalued significantly just recently by all those in financial high places. The Soviet and their satellite countries are seeking after gold and the price of gold is escalating simply because there is no security in any other financial matter.(1990) The Soviets at the moment are the biggest buyers of gold in the world. Japan’s ascendency in financial control of the world is so evident in every realm. We’ve only got to look at television every day of the week and see the collapse of financial entrepreneurial investors in our nation. We live in perilous times.
2 Politically Throughout Eastern Europe, Asia and China there is upheaval that is unprecedented both in the geographical diversity and in the united efforts by the people to attain that solidarity that they require. This morning, President Gorbachev is in trouble because the Lithuanians have said “we will no longer accept the rule of Moscow”. We have political upheaval on every hand. The New Guinea government last week authorized the use of whatever force was necessary to quell rebels in New Guinea, right on our own doorstep. We only have to look at the political scene in Australia and it is becoming farcical.
3 Ecologically If we go to the ecological situation, we live in perilous times. The number of accidents that are happening to affect our ecology is alarming. We saw that pesticide spill in India just a couple of years ago. Then there was Chernobyl accident where the Russian nuclear power plant blew up. We’ve seen super-tankers spewing their cargo all over the pristine environment of the Arctic areas.
Just recently we looked and saw the patterns of weather that have affected us even right here. I spoke to someone in Melbourne the other day and in the last ten days, they had temperatures which were 45 degrees; storms wreaking havoc right across our nation.
4 Socially If we look at the social environment in which we live, we know we are in perilous times. The social irresponsibility that is evidenced today surely must be approaching that which took place in the days of Noah. We have, in fact, a scourge upon us now in AIDs that is reprehensible, overtaking the world. We have homosexual politicians, homosexual ministers and clubs and hotels that cater specifically for the devious. Drug cultivation in our nation now has a turnover which approaches and in many cases exceeds that of publicly listed companies on the stock exchange. We live in perilous times.
5 Spiritually If we look at the spiritual situation, spiritual apathy and compromise has diluted the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that the impact of the church today is designed to impinge upon the minds of men and not reach the hearts of men. This spiritual apathy has such far reaching implications that we should be trembling in our boots as we hear the voice of the Spirit say “Come Close!” What do we do? Go on in the same old way.
Ephesians 4:18 [Listen to and remember this, because it gives us the cause, effect and result of spiritual apathy.]
Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [Here comes the effect] [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] [They can’t live in the Spirit] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature].
Ephesians 4:19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand].
Paul says to the Ephesians, in their spiritual apathy, this is the cause of these things. In their spiritual apathy, they have become callous and past feeling and reckless. They have abandoned themselves to unbridled sensuality
Sensuality for those of us who are not familiar with the finer points of the Word is “a preoccupation with the body and the satisfaction of its desires”. Now that can mean sleep, eating, holidays, whatever. It’s the whole gamut of where self has not been crucified. Spiritual apathy produces that result.
People are dependent upon us and God’s people everywhere today, to provide the “salt” which preserves the earth from total depravity. When God comes back in the person of Jesus Christ and takes the church out, this nation indeed will find that depravity overtakes it. The affects of the antichrist, and sin and depravity will just destroy the whole moral fibre of this universe. We are the salt of the earth, we must be able to know the mind and the direction of the Holy Spirit so that we can be an example to the world at large. We need to rob them of excuse, and to do what we have to to live and walk in the Spirit. People are looking at the church today and saying, “Don’t tell us about it any longer, show us. I want to see this Jesus that you talk about. I want to see Him in the reality that the book talks about and the church has been too impotent to evidence. God is calling a people together. He said: “I will build MY church”, and He is about that work today.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.
Now we concentrate on that, men preach sermons on how the earth is going to be destroyed and all the disasters that will overturn our old orb, but they forget to go on to the next verse which says:
2 Peter 3:11 Since all these things are thus IN THE PROCESS of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behaviour and devout and godly qualities,
We concentrate on the “graphic” and we overlook the personal appeal that comes to us from Peter here. “What kind of people ought you to be”? Peter goes on. This is how we should be:
2 Peter 3:12 While you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare and melt with fire?
2 Peter 3:13 But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide. [Isa. 65:17; 66:22.]
How much time have you spent this week looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ? Or is your diary full of activities that you want to put in, things that you have to do, achievements that you want to make, goals that you want to achieve, bank accounts that still don’t reach the level that you anticipate. We need to look forward to the coming of Jesus Christ. Peter goes on:
2 Peter 3:14 So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].
MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE FOUND SPOTLESS, BLAMELESS AND AT PEACE WITH HIM.
I can rephrase that this morning and help Peter out and say
“OR MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.”
This demands of us a very careful evaluation of lifestyle, not just in matters spiritual but in every dimension of our lives.
Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk!
Remember when we looked at 1 Thessalonians 4v1, Paul talks about taking care of how we ought to walk. In Ephesians it says Look carefully then, how you walk. No wonder Paul said “we beg and admonish you”.
Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),
For those of you reading from the King James Version and find that I use additional words, I am using Amplified Version. Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless….
Didn’t Paul have a way with words? He didn’t say to them. You are unwise and witless! That’s not very nice, but Paul said, “If you don’t live purposefully; if you don’t live accurately; if you don’t live worthily, you are living as the unwise and witless”. He says “I’m categorizing you!” Paul can put it so nicely, the people couldn’t take offense.
Live as wise, intelligent and sensible people.
He goes on
Ephesians 5:16 Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. [or because we live in perilous times].
Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be vague [nobody qualifies for that this morning, do they?] and thoughtless and foolish, [Now this is the contra, the converse. We can either live as the vague or the thoughtless or the foolish or we can qualify to be His sheep this morning and live like this] but UNDERSTANDING AND FIRMLY GRASPING WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS.
That’s living in the Spirit, “Firmly grasping and understanding what the will of the Lord is. If we understand what the will of the Lord is”, then we will live and walk that way. It requires that we live in the Spirit.
Let‘s carefully explore some of these verses just for a moment.
Look carefully then how you walk, Paul says. Paul assumes that the people to whom he is speaking are active in their pursuit of thing spiritual but he ties the words WALK and LIVE together, nominating that we as God’s people have to have our priorities accurately established. Purposefully, accurately and worthily we are to live and doing so in wisdom.
I’m afraid today, that so many people live their lives as perpetual accidents with nothing considered or thought through, just letting it all happen, not conscious of anything other than that which is the immediate. Now you say “You’re being harsh”, but I think we’ve only got to go back and be a little introspective of our own lives, and see indeed whether we have planned to spend our lives for the glory of God. What have you planned to do today that will exalt the name of Jesus. We’re in church sometimes because that’s what’s expected of us. Others are in church because we love to be there. But there is a greater requirement than that, there is a necessity for us to come together in the house of God, in the thrust of the Spirit, under the Word of God, so that we might live accurately, that we might live purposefully, that we might live worthily. That’s why we’re here. Walking in wisdom requires the particular right use of time, not just the space of time that we have every day, that is available to us, but the fit time. Paul says “making the very most of the time, buying up each opportunity. God gives us opportunity, we’re aware of that from previous studies, God gives gifts, and if He gives gifts, He gives opportunities.
Galatians 6:10 So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God’s family with you, the believers].
Ephesians says ”Buying up each opportunity”, when so many of us are giving up each opportunity. How many times do we get the chance to minister life, to speak a word of truth, to be of help to somebody and we pass up the chance. Paul says “Making the most of the time, buying up the opportunities”. He says it again in Galatians. Paul said it to them because the days were evil. Paul indicates that he is aware of the great pressure that is in the direction and the misuse of time and opportunity. I don’t think there is a time that I have been aware of when God’s people are more pressured for time; when there are so much activity demanded of them. I don’t mean just in church things, I mean in every area. It seems that time is so short and so precious, but as Christians, we cannot afford to relax, we have to overcome in that dimension. We have to use every opportunity we have to turn those from darkness to light.
Paul says in Ephesians 5v17 Paul says we need to firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is, we can only do that as we live in the Spirit.
I want to cover just a couple areas, this morning of very practical living. As I contemplated them, I thought, Father I don’t want to go down this route! That is why I said that this walk in the Spirit is not a popular choice because it conflicts so often with what we want to do.
Romans 15:1 We who are strong [in our convictions and of robust faith] ought to bear with the failings and the frailties and the tender scruples of the weak;
Now some people might say “well that excludes me! I’m not of robust faith and strong in my conviction!” Let me tell you, there is always somebody that is weaker or more feeble or more fragile than you are, so there is no excuse or cop out, to say “This doesn’t apply to me.” You are stronger and more robust than somebody else who needs Jesus Christ more than they need their next breath.
Let’s go on in Romans:
[we ought to help carry the doubts and qualms of others] and NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES.
I stated that to walk and live in the Spirit is not a popular choice. The book says “We ought to no please ourselves. LET EACH ONE OF US [and here’s another part to underline] MAKE IT A PRACTICE TO PLEASE. I think we should get that made up as a sign and hang it over the pulpit somewhere. MAKE IT A PRACTICE TO PLEASE!
We need to have that engraved upon our subconscious because that is satisfying to God, and if we are aware that that is our task, our calling in life, to satisfy the heart of God, we will then make it a practice to please.
Romans 15:2 Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbour for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually].
Romans 15:3 For Christ did not please Himself [gave no thought to His own interests]; but, as it is written, The reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me.
How many folk have you expended yourself for in the past week? I don’t mean doing those things which are required. I know Mums say “I expend myself every day. I wash and I cook and I iron and I clean.” No, I mean expending ourselves in the way that God requires of us. We need to be that living sacrifice so that our neighbour might be built up and strengthened and encouraged and brought into the Kingdom of God. It doesn’t mean that we’ve got to be doormats for other people, but when we are living in the Spirit, we will have the necessary equipment to do what this verse requires. So many times, we are not prepared to subjugate our own interest for the benefit of others, and dare I say, on some occasions we are not prepared to forgo our own interests even to accommodate our responsibilities. Did I say earlier that to walk in the Spirit is not a popular choice?
You see, so often, we have responsibilities but they get shoved back because I want to do something, and I want to do that to my own detriment, come hell or high water, that’s what it looks like too often. How many times have I observed, when people are able to be on time or to be available to eat out or to go visiting or partying, but they are unwilling to relinquish sleep or time or energy to do something which has eternal consequences.
This is also part of learning to walk in the Spirit. So often this is taken and used as a weapon against someone because they don’t have a job. Beloved, that is only part of the story.
2 Thessalonians 3v10 For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.
Now he’s not only talking to the unemployed. There are a lot of people today, who have got jobs, who won’t work. Part of the reason for the dilemma of our nation today is the delinquent attitude that Australians have towards work. To live in the Spirit demands that our work be an occasion for God to be glorified, and an opportunity for us to reproach the world by our example. Are you hearing me? I’m talking about work – a four letter word.
I need to address this matter, it’s not intended to embarrass or to intimidate, but I need to faithfully declare the requirements of being able to live in the Spirit in this very basic requirement and demand upon us, or we cannot live in the Spirit. If we are unreliable in our work habits, it is only a reflection of our underlying character.
Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much.
Luke 16:11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches?
Luke 16:12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]?
We need to be faithful stewards of the resources that God entrusts us with. The Book says if you haven’t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, we can’t be trusted with spiritual wealth. So many people today are delinquent in their attitudes towards that which they get from the boss each week. Here today and gone tomorrow. They put it in a bag with holes in it. Who will trust you with true riches if you can’t handle them, if you can’t be trusted with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
Paul, when he wrote to the Ephesians in Ephesians 1v1 [so often when I write to somebody I say, Dear……………….,] because of Paul’s father heart, he even goes much deeper in his salutation at the commencement of the letters he wrote to the churches. Here in this letter to the Ephesians he wrote:
Ephesians 1:1 PAUL, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah), by the divine will (the purpose and the choice of God) to the saints (the consecrated, set-apart ones) at Ephesus who are also faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus:
If it had been me, I would have come to …the saints at Ephesus “ENTER ENTER”, and continue on, forgoing all the niceties, but Paul added – the faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus.
Paul was speaking to those who understood the demands that were placed upon their lives to walk carefully, to manage their financial resources, to live in their work environment which would glorify God. I cannot condone what has now become enshrined as part of the worker’s rights and that is to take sick leave entitlements just to have a day off when we are not sick. Beloved that is against the principles of the Word of God. Sick leave is placed there as a benefit or a privilege, not to be abused, and God expects us to be above reproach in that. Compounding that difficulty is the popular pattern of being sick to nine o’clock, and once the bell has gone or the siren has sounded, to head off to the beach or go shopping or to go out for lunch. If you’re too sick to go to work, you are too sick to go anywhere else.
To walk in the Spirit is not a popular choice. If you are sick, and by nine o’clock you feel better, go to work. I didn’t hear one amen!!!
Time off to do our own thing is contrary to the principles of the Word of God. Do you still love me? You’ve got to!
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth,
I don’t believe that Paul was telling Timothy this for his benefit alone. All Scripture is given, is God breathed and it is for our benefit in every dimension.
but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
Our work habits are part of our conduct, and we need to be a pattern for those around about us.
Titus 2:7 And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity [having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive], with dignity and seriousness.
IN ALL RESPECTS – not just while you are in church, while singing or praying or speaking, but in all respects; at work, at home, at play, in the office, at school, wherever.
Titus 2:8 And let your instruction be sound and fit and wise and wholesome, vigorous and irrefutable and above censure, so that the opponent may be put to shame, finding nothing discrediting or evil to say about us.
It doesn’t mean that they won’t try. Now listen to this.
Titus 2:9 [Tell] bond servants [that is anyone who puts their hand out for some money at the end of the week] to be submissive to their masters, to be pleasing and give satisfaction in every way. [Warn them] not to talk back or contradict,
Titus 2:10 Nor to steal by taking things of small value, but to prove themselves truly loyal and entirely reliable and faithful throughout, so that in everything they may be an ornament and do credit to the teaching [which is] from and about God our Saviour.
If you take half a dozen screws from work and go home and fix the hinge, that is out of order.
Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him].
What a reputation to have. What a commendation!
Amos 3:3 How can two walk together unless they be agreed?
Enoch walked with God. He was obviously in complete agreement with God and God was in complete agreement with Enoch, or else they couldn’t walk together. To walk with God is to always set God before us and to so act because His eye is continually upon us. [His eye is upon the sparrow and so I know he watches over me]. (Matthew 10:29) It is to make God’s Word our rule, and the glory of God our end in everything we do, it is to make our constant care and concern and endeavour in everything to please God and not to offend Him in anything. To comply with His will, we need to concur with His designs and we need to cooperate with his work. For Enoch not only walked after God, as most good men do, Enoch walked with God. ENOCH WALKED AS IF HE WAS IN HEAVEN ALREADY.
Philippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity].
Philippians 1:22 If, however, it is to be life in the flesh and I am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me; so I can say nothing as to my personal preference [I cannot choose],
Philippians 1:23 But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart (to be free of this world, to set forth) and be with Christ, for that is far, far better;
Philippians 1:24 But to remain in my body is more needful and essential for your sake.
Paul said, Hang on guys. I need to walk in the Spirit, not just for my own benefit but I need to so it is for your benefit. This city depends upon God’s people of every church, depends upon them being able to walk in the Spirit, be faithful and reliable, to set the example and the pattern so that this city can say “there goes Jesus Christ in man’s form, walking in the Spirit. Most of us want to play it safe, hanging on to our friends and our hobbies, at least our hobby-horses. Consequently, most of the church of Jesus Christ today has settled for a life of compromise. We have some of God, but not all of God, He has some of us, but not all of us, and consequently we lead a tepid life, and we try to disguise with bright smiles or up-tempo choruses or emotionally stimulating exercises that are supposed to be worship and all it does is mask the spiritual destitution of the church at large. It depends on us today and our ability to live and walk in the Spirit.
oOo
Ross Smith 