"Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you." - Proverbs 1:23

Walking in the Spirit

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The Crucifixion of Jesus ended an age, signified by the ripping of the veil in the Temple at Jerusalem. 

His Ascension and reunion with the Father kicked off another age, an age where Satan was evicted from Heaven, and is now confined to this earth (an insight given to us through our study of the book of Revelation-- look for the article titled "The Lamb and the Seven Seals".

Lastly, this is an age where the Holy Spirit was sent to believers to help them live in this more dangerous era, focused more tightly on the ORIGINAL and ENDURING battle with SIN.

 "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of ---sin----, and of righteousness, and of judgment:" (Jn 16:8)." 

He is here to give us NEW SPIRITUAL BIRTH, to open our eyes afresh to the nature of Sin, to be a down payment on our promised eternal enduring fellowship with the Father.

 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you ---for ever----;" -  (Jn 14:16). 

The Spirit does not come to leave us ever. He comes to STAY... we can grieve Him, Resist Him, but He continues to work with us to slowly bring us around to a proper discernment of right and wrong!

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (Jn 14:26)

  - "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." -  (1 Co 2:9-11)

In our studies on Biblical living, and the Parables of Jesus -- we have found that this is true. 

The Spirit illuminates the words of Christ in the Bible to pull back the curtain on the invisible war being fought in our minds, in the world, and in heaven -- and to give us the tools and mindset we need to make it through this vale of tears!

This is the PERSON that Christ was telling His apostles to expect, post His Resurrection, and He gave EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS to them to not undertake ANY MISSION ACTIVITY --- until empowered and guided by Him! Surely, there is a lesson in this for us!

This Person is spoken of and foreshadowed, even in the book of Proverbs ... our text for this week. Please look closely at what is being said... TURN, TURN, REPENT, REPENT ... says the LORD, choose HIS ways, and He will pour into you!... to make you wise, to give you understanding, to bless you, to keep you --- even though sometimes it may NOT feel like it!!!

" For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another ----discerning of spirits----; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. " - 1 Co 12:711 [[ For a detailed study check out our series on Spiritual Gifts)

There is one gift that we have highlighted... --"discerning of spirits" --- there are not many sermons or expositions on this gift, but we submit, that it allows the person with it to rightly understand the true intent/spiritual nature of a given person/situation/policy. 

To understand if it lines up with the Word of God, or is opposed to it in some fashion. After all, we are destined to operate in a SPIRITUAL REALM, and our spiritual antennae need to be honed and made extra sensitive, to guard against deception and falsehood. 

That is why we are enjoined to ", believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." - 1 Jn 4:1

How do we try them? By measuring them against the Word of God, and how can we do that--- unless the Word lives in our hearts, and is brought to our remembrance by the Spirit who has made our spirit alive!

YOU can make a difference, like a tree planted in a neighborhood, wherever you live, no matter your surroundings or situation.  Spend time to truly GET TO KNOW the LORD. Then walking in His will, is easy ... if you take it ONE DAY AT A TIME, and don't get distracted!!

One day at a time is really important. 

We are creatures of the present, the NOW, and that is the space in which we make all our decisions -- to react to an angry word in kind, or to respond with a gently answer that turns away wrath. To hate and curse our enemies or to pray to the LORD to change their hearts and minds, and be gracious to them. To hate people around us who are different from us, or to see them all as created in the image of God, and as precious souls, for whom He gave His life.

Try it... walk through one day with your spiritual eyes open -- and see what opportunities for serving the LORD He puts in your way. 

You are not going to start out by batting a 100% --- but He knows that --- the important thing is to keep ---improving--- day by day!

Transformation takes time, but our God is patient. He has created the seasons, the day and the night. Butterflies are not made in a day... they must crawl through the caterpillar stage and actually die to be reborn as the glorious and beautiful creatures we see around us.

May God bless all of you, May His Spirit fall fresh on you and anoint you, May He make His words known to you and give you Peace!

Hallelujah!