kingdom of God – Practical Insights, by Dr. Annette

How to know if you are walking in the Spirit Part 7

Faithfulness

Throughout our walk with God, we meet many opportunities to walk in love. Walking in the Spirit is described in Galatians and so is walking in the flesh. In this series we have been looking at each word of the fruit of the Spirit so we can apply this word to our lives. We need to know by God’s word what walking in the Spirit looks like. Sometimes describing what the flesh looks like helps us to recognize when we are not in the Spirit.

This passage describes the flesh/sinful nature Galatians 5:19-21 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

This week’s post is on the fruit of faithfulness. Faithfulness is not just an action it is also a disposition. It is a Christlike nature to be faithful. When we walk in the Spirit we are walking in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness 23gentleness, and self- control. There is no law against these.”

To be faithful means to me to be consistent, reliable and trustworthy. A Dictionary says, “steadfast in affection or allegiance.” It also means to honor your word. In our day faithfulness has been replaced with ‘whatever feels good for you.’ That is not Jesus’ way. He did what the Father wanted, He said “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me, nevertheless not My will. But Yours, be done.” That is faithfulness.

I guess we can ask ourselves some questions to see where we are at in our walk with Christ. Do I get jealous if someone else is chosen over me? Do I honor my word? Am I able to keep my commitments? Do I follow the leading of the Holy Spirit when I don’t like what is happening?

Galatians 5:24-26 NLT “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”

First thing in applying faithfulness is to prayerfully think it through before you commit to something. Do not just say yes then change your mind when something better comes up.

Second thing in applying faithfulness is to never give yourself permission to back out on a commitment unless it’s for sickness or death.

Third thing in applying faithfulness is allow the Holy Spirit to show you any areas that you haven’t been faithful in and repent for it and surrender to His leading in the next opportunity to commit and do.

How to Know if You’re Walking in the Spirit Part 5

Kindness

This week we are looking at the fruit of kindness. What is kindness? How does it look, and can a person be kind without sincerity? As I have been writing this series, I’m asking the Holy Spirit to search me for where I am in walking in the Spirit. We need a good heart check regularly. I recommend you do the same.

The word kindness means “In ancient Greek It means goodness, honesty, goodness of heart, kindness.” “Kindness is selfless, compassionate and merciful.” Websters Dictionary for similar words of kindness: “are compassion, sympathy, generosity, heart, mercy, kindliness, pity, kindhearted.“

Now that we know what kindness means we can see by these definitions how it should look and feel. I think of times when I have experienced kindness from those who truly had heartfelt genuine kindness and I was left feeling a warmth of being cared for. But I have also experienced an act of kindness that was not genuine, and it left me feeling confused thinking, why bother. As with everything we need to look at the results/fruit to decide where it’s really at.

Since we are talking about the fruit of the Spirit let’s look at the Scripture in Galatians 5:22-23 NLT “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. There is no law against these things.”

I love that the Holy Spirit is working in us producing this kind of fruit. We do have a role in it, since we have a free will, we can override the Spirit and walk in the flesh, but the result makes our situations worse not better. I would prefer my situations to go better than worse. Am I successful every time no but as you walk in the Spirit you learn to listen before you speak, wait before you act. That is a key to walking in the Spirit. James 1:19 “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;”

In Galatians it tells us what the fruit of flesh looks like. Galatians NLT 5: 16 “So I say. Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Galatians NLT 5:19 “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, division, 21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

As we look at the list think of the description of each one and as your living your life ask the Holy Spirit when you are walking according to your flesh to help you crucify it. We will always have a choice your free will is given to you by God but he won’t choose for you.

As we think of the word kindness, we can begin to choose to walk in kindness to one another and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit by doing kindness. I say do because kindness is an action coming from a sincere heartfelt motivation. These words show us kindness in action compassion, sympathy, generosity, heart, mercy, kindliness, pity, kindhearted each one of these words relay a sincerity towards others.

What type of fruit are you producing? Walking in the Spirit produces good fruit and kindness is one of them. Purpose in your heart today to allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart to work on this area in your life.

Kingdom living…

What is kingdom living? Why would the word of God tell us to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness? I wrote about worry in my last article in the blog and would like to continue with the rest of the passage in Matthew chapter six.

Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ Or ‘What shall we drink?’ 32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34)Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

In verse 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” the meaning of seek is pursue, go after it pursue with all your heart the kingdom of God and His is capitalized meaning a person Jesus his righteousness is given to us when we are born again. We do not stand before God in our own righteousness. It’s Jesus’ righteousness therefore seek after the kingdom of God, because of Jesus’ righteousness you have access to the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is residing in you, walking with you, seek this because all those other things are going to be taken care of for you. Kingdom living understands God’s providing for all your needs.

In English seek means, “attempt to find, attempt or desire to obtain or achieve, ask for something from someone.” To me seeking the kingdom of God is being kingdom minded. It’s focusing upon and seeking God by way of pursuing him regularly through Jesus and His word.

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Luke 17:21’…nor will they say, ‘See here’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed the kingdom of God is within you.” These scriptures verify that the kingdom of God is in us through Jesus and by way of Holy Spirit. So how do we walk in it? That is the question…

Walking in Jesus righteousness, walking in Jesus peace and walking in Jesus joy. Are all three by the power of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God lives in you through Jesus in your spirit. You can walk in the kingdom of God by being led in the spirit. That’s the reason you can walk the way Jesus walked. Following the leading of the Spirit is how you walk in kingdom living. Being kingdom minded is also how you walk in the kingdom of God.

Jesus told the disciples beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees was traditions of men, wrong beliefs about God’s character and ways. Even though they believed in the written and oral word of God. There was no mercy, no love which is opposite of the kingdom of God.

We also should beware of our own traditions, opinions, attitudes because they obstruct the kingdom of God in us. We can get so self-righteous that we forget our righteousness isn’t ours it’s Jesus’s that’s when it is time to repent.

Walking in the kingdom of God is a pursuit of God daily not legalistically but a daily depending upon him for your needs. Spend time with Jesus in your alone moment in time of prayer, get alone together with Him by calling on Him and He will meet with you. Opening the bible to be read with expectation from God that he will talk to you through his word.

Worry pulls on our mind and heart that is the reason why Jesus said, “your heavenly Father knows what you need but seek first the kingdom of God.”

Jesus walked and was living in the kingdom of God through his spirit. He was in harmony to the Holy Spirits leading in the same way as you can be. He trusted God along with his needs as well as pursued the Fathers will.

Be on guard do not get caught up in the chaos of 2020. Whether you wear or else don’t wear a mask, political stuff, elections etc. “Be wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove” the bible says. We can be trusting God through this moment in time we all are living in. We can choose to walk in kingdom mindedness.

As I am writing this article, I heard God say, “Put me first-and watch what I will do.” If that is a word for you receive it because God cares for all your needs. God has it and he is faithful to provide it. God cares and supports all his children.

Once you have confessed your sins and received Christ Jesus into your heart and made him Lord of your life you will become born again. You have the kingdom of God inside you and you can live in the kingdom of God daily.