WALKING BY THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)…10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The phrase Walk in the Spirit refers to lifestyle. In Biblical terms, to walk means to conduct oneself in a particular manner; pursue a particular course of life.

The Greek word “walk” is peripateo; it is a compound word that is made up of two words – peri means “about, concerning, around;” and the main verb pateo means “to tread, to walk along” – thus peripateo means “to stroll or walk about.” 

This Greek term is used ninety-five times in the New Testament as a metaphor for “live,” as illustrated by Paul in Ephesians 2:10). As stated earlier, to “walk in the Spirit” is to live in complete submission to the control of God’s indwelling presence – “We are not to let sin reign in our mortal body that we should obey its lusts, and we are not to present our members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin instead, we are to present ourselves to God as being alive from dead works, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:12-13).

The figurative meaning of “walking” refers to conduct –

~As believers we are to conduct our life in the paths indicated by God (2 Kg 20:3).

~As sons/daughters of righteousness walk in the light, rather than walk in darkness (1 Jn 1:7).

~The sinners way of life is to walk according to the flesh (Rom 8:4; Eph 2:2; 1 Cor 3:3).

~But Believers are to…

•walk in Christ (Col 2:6 – that is our “position” in Christ)

•walk according to the Spirit (Rom 8:4 – according to His leading)

•walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16 – that is the realm in which we are to walk)

•walk in love (Rom 14:15; Eph 5:2; 2 Jn 1:6 – that is the essence of a godly walk)

•walk as children of light (Eph 5:8 – that is the sphere in which we are to walk)

•walk in good works (Eph 2:10 – our lives are to produce fruit)

•walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4 – we are to live in this new reality)

•walk in a way that pleases God (1 Th 4:1 – by obeying God we please Him)

•walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7 – we must trust God and walk accordingly)

•walk in the light and walk in the truth (1 Jn 1:7; 2 Jn 1:4; 3 Jn 1:3 – the whole way one lives proves fellowship with God – 1 Jn 1:6ff; 2:6)

•walk in a manner worthy of their calling (Eph 4:1; 1 Th 2:12; Col 1:10 – conduct your life in a way that corresponds with your holy calling)

MY PRAISE PROVOKES SOMETHING TO HAPPEN!

We must recognize that praise is one of the most neglected weapons of war, yet it is one of the most effective if not the most effective of all spiritual weapons at our disposal.

But How, one may ask?

· Provokes the flow of Revelation – 2Kgs. 3:15-18/ Is. 30:29-30/ Is. 60:1-22

· Provokes Divine Intervention – 2Chr. 20:22-24/ Ps. 47:5-7

· Provokes Divine Multiplication – Jer. 30:19-20/ Jn. 6:5-11

· Provokes Divine Guidance – Is. 30:19-21/ Ps. 100:4/ Ps. 16:11

· Provokes Supernatural Deliverance – Acts 16:25-30

· Provokes Supernatural Promotion – Hab. 3:17-19.

· Provokes Divine Health – Ps. 100:4/ Ps. 84:7

· Provokes Divine Favour – Ps. 119:164/ Ps. 30:5-7

· Provokes Supernatural Blessing – Ps. 67:5-7/ Joel 1:11-12

· Provokes Divine Vengeance – Ps. 149:3-7/ 2 Sam. 6:14-23

· Empowers our access to realms of Signs and Wonders – Exo. 15:11

· Facilitates fulfillment of Prophecies – 2Chr. 20:14-24/ 1Tim. 1:18.

From scriptures, we understand that praise is God’s spiritual habitat (Ps. 22:3).

It is also the conductor through which our battles are handed over to God and we know that God cannot take over what we do not hand over (2 Chr. 20:3-24/ Ps. 149:1-9).

This is why when we engage in praise, God shows up on our behalf and when God shows up, signs and wonders flow. (Ps. 22:3/ Zeph. 3:14/ 2 Chr. 20:22-24)

Also, at every cross road, we usually hear people say, “it will take God…” But whatever will take God will require praise – because it takes praise to provoke divine presence (Ps. 22:3/ Ps. 114:1-9).

Therefore, scripturally when we pray God answers and when we praise, He comes down and when God comes down, our obstacles are turned into miracles (Exo. 15:11).

                                 How To Wait On The Lord? 

King David knew from experience what it meant to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14). While David was waiting, he was chased through the wilderness by jealous King Saul. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of His promise to reign as king. And, after becoming king, David was chased by his rebellious son Absalom. But, David did not give up, even though he was discouraged at times. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 30: 6 that when David was distressed, he “encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

Waiting on God is not easy, and that is one of the reasons why depression comes. Often it seems God is not answering our prayers or doesn’t understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking, however, implies that God is not in control or is not fair. But God is worth waiting for. Often God calls us to wait because He uses waiting to refresh, to renew, and to teach us. We should try to make good use of our waiting time by discovering what God may be trying to teach us while we wait.

There are several ways we can wait on God: 

Focus directly on the Lord and not on our problem. Praise God for Who He is and read His Word on a regular basis. If we take our focus off of God, we are bound to fail and spiral even further into depression.

Continue in prayer until we receive our answers. God does not always answer our prayers immediately, sometimes it takes a while. What we may not realize is that while we are waiting, our faith and trust in God is becoming stronger.

Thank God for the renewed strength He has given you through your time of waiting on Him. Your renewed strength and your new perspective allows you to see God as greater than your problems. Therefore, the higher you climb spiritually, the smaller your problems will appear. 

Since God has all strength, there is no reason for us to quit. Even the strongest people can get tired and become depressed, but God’s power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired, too depressed or too busy to listen to our prayers. God’s strength is our source of strength. So, when you feel life is weighing you down and you cannot go another step, admit that you cannot solve your problems and turn them over to God. Call upon God and ask for His help, then watch your hope return and receive a renewed strength. 

When we become discouraged, we forget God’s mercies and blessings of the past and become fearful of about the future. The enemy will do everything in his power to get us to think that God has forgotten us. 

But God says in His Word, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 12:5)

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

                              DOING THE WILL OF GOD!

I’m sure you have probably heard someone say before "it’s my life, I can do what I want to." While it is true that the life we have is ours, we cannot do what we want to with it if we really want to be pleasing to God. 

The Bible says, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are" 1 Corinthians 3:16-17). 

Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us. God created us and expects us to be obedient to Him in all things. 

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). 

We need to understand that we are here only because God created us and that our obligation in life is to make sure that we please Him in all things. Christians have been baptized into Christ and have made a vow before God to live for Christ each day for the rest of our life. Baptism puts us into Christ (Galatians 3:27) and into His body, and the church (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:22-23). 

When we die, our soul will return to God who gave it to us in the first place (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Our eternal resting place will be in heaven or hell, depending on who we have really served while on this earth (2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 6:24). 

Lastly as Christians, we must ensure that we are living our lives for Christ, not for ourselves or others. Jesus will judge us in the last day, nobody else (John 12:48).  In the end can it be said that we were REALLY doing the will of the Lord?  I say Do the Will of God!

STAY FAITHFUL TO THE END!

God has promised us that if we are with Him then He will be with us. 

Azariah the prophet of God spoke to King Asa and said, “The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:2). 

You can read about King Asa in chapters 14-16 of 2 Chronicles. 

When Asa sought God then he was blessed in all that he did. He was able to destroy an Egyptian army of a million men because he sought God first. 

As a result of his reliance on God, he and the kingdom of Judah enjoyed 35 years of peace. In chapter 16 we learn that God forsook Asa because he began to leave God out of his decisions. In the 41st year of Asa’s reign, he became diseased in his feet and still did not seek the Lord’s help. Asa died having devoted the first 35 years of his life in faithful service to God but unfortunately he made some very foolish decisions, not relying on God as he did earlier in his life and service as the King of Judah.

The life of King Asa should teach all of us something today. Hanani, the prophet spoke these powerful words: 

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him...” (2 Chronicles 16:9). 

We can know that if we will dedicate our life fully and completely to God, then God will prosper us. But if we choose to put anyone or anything ahead of Him, then we will not prosper. To the loyal Christian, God is our strength, hope, and salvation. Stay the course! Continue to be “.....steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). We must be faithful until the very end of our life here on earth in order to receive the crown of righteousness (Revelation 2:10).

STAY FAITHFUL TO THE END!

WALKING BY THE SPIRIT

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)…10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The phrase Walk in the Spirit refers to lifestyle. In Biblical terms, to walk means to conduct oneself in a particular manner; pursue a particular course of life.

The Greek word “walk” is peripateo; it is a compound word that is made up of two words – peri means “about, concerning, around;” and the main verb pateo means “to tread, to walk along” – thus peripateo means “to stroll or walk about.” 

This Greek term is used ninety-five times in the New Testament as a metaphor for “live,” as illustrated by Paul in Ephesians 2:10). As stated earlier, to “walk in the Spirit” is to live in complete submission to the control of God’s indwelling presence – “We are not to let sin reign in our mortal body that we should obey its lusts, and we are not to present our members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin instead, we are to present ourselves to God as being alive from dead works, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:12-13).

The figurative meaning of “walking” refers to conduct –

~As believers we are to conduct our life in the paths indicated by God (2 Kg 20:3).

~As sons/daughters of righteousness walk in the light, rather than walk in darkness (1 Jn 1:7).

~The sinners way of life is to walk according to the flesh (Rom 8:4; Eph 2:2; 1 Cor 3:3).

~But Believers are to…

•walk in Christ (Col 2:6 – that is our “position” in Christ)

•walk according to the Spirit (Rom 8:4 – according to His leading)

•walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:16 – that is the realm in which we are to walk)

•walk in love (Rom 14:15; Eph 5:2; 2 Jn 1:6 – that is the essence of a godly walk)

•walk as children of light (Eph 5:8 – that is the sphere in which we are to walk)

•walk in good works (Eph 2:10 – our lives are to produce fruit)

•walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4 – we are to live in this new reality)

•walk in a way that pleases God (1 Th 4:1 – by obeying God we please Him)

•walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7 – we must trust God and walk accordingly)

•walk in the light and walk in the truth (1 Jn 1:7; 2 Jn 1:4; 3 Jn 1:3 – the whole way one lives proves fellowship with God – 1 Jn 1:6ff; 2:6)

•walk in a manner worthy of their calling (Eph 4:1; 1 Th 2:12; Col 1:10 – conduct your life in a way that corresponds with your holy calling)

Lighting up the World!

Jesus made a statement in Matthew 5:16 that should help us realize how glorious and remarkable it is to be a Christian. He told us, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, which is in heaven.” 

Exactly what did Jesus mean when He said to let our light shine? He simply meant that the lifestyle and behavior that we display to others is our light. Our light shines when we act or react in ways that are consistent with Christ (His teachings and His ways), which is in contrasts with the world and its ways.  

Jesus said He is the Light of the world (John 8:12). As we read and study the life of Christ, we see that Jesus’ life contrasted sharply with the lives of the Pharisees and other religious leaders. His light shone brightly, and the people could easily see it in His actions and they could hear it in His words.

Through Jesus Christ, we have not only received light, but we have been made light. We have become transmitters of light to fallen mankind. Jesus did not say, You are the light of the Church. He said, You are the light of the world. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are placed into the Kingdom of Light. Therefore, we are to live in a way becoming of that position and not as if we were the children of darkness. We are to live in such a way that people will be attracted to God, just as tourists are attracted to the Northern Lights. The light within us should be shining daily through the darkness in the world.

We know that we are followers of Christ, but some may still wonder how do we shine our lights in this world? Our light is noticed in several ways:

• In the workplace
: People see the difference in you when you are different from the way they are. God expects us to show our light and to be an example by performing our jobs with a spirit of excellence. That is the best witness for Jesus that we can possibly give in the workplace because most people today are not giving their one hundred percent on their jobs. Christians should do everything as unto the Lord and be honest and reliable on the job. Then, our work performance will truly be noticed by both our co-workers as well as our employers.
•  
• In our response to others: Jesus commanded that we love one another (1 John 13: 34-35). It was the second great commandment of the Law of Moses (Leviticus 19:18). However, this commandment had been so corrupted by Jewish traditions that it was considered new to those hearing it. Laws of revenge and retaliation and self-love were so common that the law of brotherly love was obsolete. Jewish religious leaders taught that to love one’s neighbors simply meant to love those of your own nationality and religion. These leaders taught that Jewish people were not obligated to love Gentiles nor to help them or rescue them if their lives were in danger. Loving others as much as Christ loved others is what made Jesus’ commandment new. 
Jesus did not just talk about His love, He proved His loved. He did more than just love those who loved Him. He initiated love rather than to just respond to it.
  
  Godly love is not a shallow sentimental emotion that a Christian tries to “work up”in order to get along with others. It is an attitude of the will that reveals itself in action. Agape, or Christian love, is not an emotion. Christian love is treating others the way God treats us. God loves us when we have done well and when we have not done well. He loves us when we mess up and even when we have done terrible things.
  
  The greatest evidence of our shining light is not in carrying a Bible, going to Church, singing in the choir, or exercising spiritual gifts but in loving others as Jesus did. However, unless the Holy Spirit is permitted to fill our hearts with His love, our carnal nature will dominate. Only when we learn to abide in Christ will His love permeate through us. The more we spend time in fellowship with God and His Word, the more we submit to His will for our lives and the more we will grow in our love for others. Our compassion for others is an accurate gauge of our devotion to God.
•  
• Through our praising God in difficult situations: When we are placed in difficult situations, we must remember that people are watching our reactions. It is during these times that we need to have hearts overflowing with praise and ask God to bring His light into our dark moments. When others ask us how we can go through tough times without falling apart, we can testify to them about God’s goodness to us.

Blessings,

Apostle L. R. Gooden Jr.

JUMP OVER LIFE'S HURDLES!

Being a Christian does not guarantee that our lives will be trouble-free. But, it does guarantee us that we will never go through our problems alone. God says in His Word, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” (Hebrews 13:5). Despite our situation, winning over life’s hurdles is ours if we respond in the ways that God directs us. In the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles 20:1-17, King Jehoshaphat gives us an example of what we need to do to have a victorious outcome:

• Ask God for help. When facing a crisis, we must actively seek God’s help. This means that we must cry out to God in prayer for His help and commit ourselves completely to Him. This is what King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah did in 2 Chronicles 20:1 after the enemy nations declared war against them.

• Let your fear drive you to God. The Bible says that King Jehoshaphat feared when he heard the news of impending disaster (vs.3). It is not unusual to be afraid when adverse circumstances come our way. Fear can be a positive force if it drives us to trust in God. Fear drove King Jehoshaphat directly to God. Rather than asking his priests to intercede on Judah’s behalf, King Jehoshaphat prayed to God himself.

• Acknowledge God’s greatness. We must have the faith to believe that God is greater than whatever problem that we are facing. Therefore, He will be the one to save us because our problems cannot exist out of His presence. King Jehoshaphat and his people exalted God above the invading armies even though they knew they were facing total destruction (vs. 5-6).

• Wait on God to respond because He has the solution to your problem. When King Jehoshaphat ended his prayer, the people of Judah stood before the Lord and waited on Him to speak to them. So many times, we take matters into our own hands because the pressure from our circumstances begin to mount and we feel we do not have time to wait on God. Unfortunately, we sometimes regret our actions. We can focus so much on the problem that we lose sight of who God really is. We limit Him and forget that He is limitless.

• Act on what God says. Sometimes we question whether we heard God correctly when what He tells us to do is not what we want to do. Often, God tells us to simply praise Him and watch Him work on our behalf. This is where our trust in Him comes in because God takes the situation out of our hands. This is what happened with the people of Judah: “This is what the Lord says to you, ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you,'” (vs. 15, 17,).

• Begin to praise and  thank God for His Word, then watch Him move. Praise releases God’s supernatural power into our situation. “King Jehoshaphat …appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated,” (vs. 21-22,). Their praise opened the door for God to move in the midst of their distress. The Word declares that God inhabits the praises of His people. He was most surely there in their midst, and He will be in our midst when we praise Him as well.

When we encounter challenges in life, we must remember that we do not have to face them alone. Through His Son, Jesus Christ, God has given us the strength and ability to leap over life’s hurdles so that we will bring honor to Him and end up winners at the finish line, “Now thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…,” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Blessings,

Apostle L.R. Gooden Jr.

The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength!

No matter what happens or doesn’t happen in our lives, the joy of the Lord is the strength of every Believer. It is a deeper and abiding inner experience which goes beyond all outward circumstances. which goes beyond .  Also, the joy of the Lord rests in the Believer’s knowledge that God is sovereign and in control of all things.

Where does the joy of the Lord come from?

God’s joy is a “Fruit of the Spirit.” It is a product of the Holy Spirit in the lives of maturing Believers (Galatians 5:22-23). And, The Holy Spirit’s ability to grow fruit in us isn’t dependent on life’s circumstances. Jesus says in John 15:4, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” So, we see here that the Fruit of the Spirit comes as a result of daily communion with God. And, obeying His Word through the guidance and power of His Spirit.

Joy in the midst of trials

The Apostle Paul experienced many trials and sufferings. If anyone knew about suffering, it was Paul. Yet, in 2 Corinthians 6:10 he wrote: “…sorrowful, yet always rejoicing…” And, in 2 Corinthians 7:4, Paul says, “I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.” Even from his prison cell the Apostle Paul reminded Believers to be joyful (Philippians 4:4). Paul knew that God’s joy lasts even in the midst of our trials:

There are those who have it—and yet are continual sufferers. Everything that is supposed to be essential to earthly happiness, may be lacking—and yet their hearts may have joy that abides unbroken through all the pain and loss!.

Only God can give the inward joy, that is permanent, if you abide in Him. The world cannot give or take away this joy. The Apostle Paul firmly fixed his mind on Jesus. In fact, He knew that everything would turn out exactly as God had promised. And, because of Paul’s unwavering faith in God, he experienced this kind of joy.

The Bible says that the joy of the Lord, is our strength. Conversely, if we lack the joy of the Lord, we can not be victorious in adverse situations. And, without this spiritual joy to preserve us, we will find ourselves fearful and weak. 

God’s joy strengthens us for struggle and burden-bearing. The Bible says that Jesus endured the cross for the joy which was set before Him. Although, He was not “happy” while being tortured and enduring a painful death, Jesus held on to His joy. This was because He knew He was accomplishing the will of His Father. And, through His blood sacrifice, the world would be reconciled to God. 

How to keep the joy of the Lord

When Satan tries to rob us of our joy or when we go through tests and trials, we can still keep the joy of the Lord in our hearts. On the condition that, we continue to abide in our Heavenly Father and stand firm on His Word. There may not always be smiles on our faces, but on a deeper level, we will have strength to endure whatever situation comes our way. This is because our confidence is in God, and we know that He will work all things for our good (Romans 8:28).

Blessings,

Apostle L.R. Gooden Jr.

How do we wait on the Lord? 

King David knew from experience what it meant to wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14). While David was waiting, he was chased through the wilderness by jealous King Saul. David had to wait on God for the fulfillment of His promise to reign as king. And, after becoming king, David was chased by his rebellious son Absalom. But, David did not give up, even though he was discouraged at times. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 30: 6 that when David was distressed, he “encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”

Waiting on God is not easy, and that is one of the reasons why depression comes. Often it seems God is not answering our prayers or doesn’t understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking, however, implies that God is not in control or is not fair. But God is worth waiting for. Often God calls us to wait because He uses waiting to refresh, to renew, and to teach us. We should try to make good use of our waiting time by discovering what God may be trying to teach us while we wait.

There are several ways we can wait on God: 

1. Focus directly on the Lord and not on our problem. Praise God for Who He is and read His Word on a regular basis. If we take our focus off of God, we are bound to fail and spiral even further into depression.
2.  
3. Continue in prayer until we receive our answers. God does not always answer our prayers immediately, sometimes it takes a while. What we may not realize is that while we are waiting, our faith and trust in God is becoming stronger.
4.  
5. Thank God for the renewed strength He has given you through your time of waiting on Him. Your renewed strength and your new perspective allows you to see God as greater than your problems. Therefore, the higher you climb spiritually, the smaller your problems will appear. 

Since God has all strength, there is no reason for us to quit. Even the strongest people can get tired and become depressed, but God’s power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired, too depressed or too busy to listen to our prayers. God’s strength is our source of strength. So, when you feel life is weighing you down and you cannot go another step, admit that you cannot solve your problems and turn them over to God. Call upon God and ask for His help, then watch your hope return and receive a renewed strength. 

When we become discouraged, we forget God’s mercies and blessings of the past and become fearful of about the future. The enemy will do everything in his power to get us to think that God has forgotten us.

But God says in His Word, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 12:5)

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord!”