TWO

 W A L K I N G

 

Is God trying to spoil our fun when he commands us not to fornicate or smoke pot? Or is it for our own good and wellbeing? Some Christians consider the commandments of Jesus cumbersome, tedious, and old-fashioned. Do they have a reasonable case?

Many profess faith in God yet see no problem living with their girlfriend or drinking hard liquor. Would the Holy Spirit ever lead us away from The Word, or into a false security? Or, are those who walk unruly, merely deluded by false or shallow teachers?

We have his Word and Spirit and citizenship in heaven.

I have never physically been to heaven. Nevertheless, I would venture to guess that the saints in heaven, right now, have no behavior problems. There is no question of right or wrong. They live in the presence of God, in His love, peace and joy which flows through their hearts and minds continuously. It is pure euphoria. Who would rebel against that?

However, we are on earth and each of us must decide here and now if we will take an all-in approach to loyalty, faithfulness and obedience; and glorify him with our whole spirit, soul and body.

The Spirit Leads Us to Obey

If you were driving in England or Australia, they would require you to drive on the left side of the road, which in America is the wrong side of the road. If you accidentally forgot where you were and drove on the right side, you could have a serious crash and injure yourself and others.

This world is driving on one side of the road while the Kingdom of God runs in the opposite direction. We cannot drive in both directions at once.

In civilized countries, it is illegal to rob a bank, steal a car, or commit murder. These are legitimate laws that regulate behavior, intended to keep us safe and to maintain peace and order.

The kingdom of God also has a code of conduct to follow, but I must state up-front that we cannot live the Christian life with our own strength or force of mind. Since He fills us with His Spirit, we conform to his will and agenda, using His inward strength and power.

I must repeat this, it is ONLY by the transforming power and infilling of the Holy Spirit that we conform to His will and purpose. Otherwise, we are not in the spirit, but walking in our own willpower.

That said, as Spirit filled Christians, we have the power of God to do his will and keep his commandments.

We love our neighbor as ourselves and walk-in Agape love, forgiving and forgetting the offenses of others. We walk humbly, not arrogantly or prideful, not lying, stealing, cheating or murder. We are charitable and show empathy; not backbiting or show malice toward any brother. We are also faithful in marriage. No fornication. No adultery. No homosexuality.

We are citizens of a Godly kingdom where each citizen desires passionately to honor and respect Jesus the KING. Whatever he requires of his citizens is what we conform to. We are ready, willing, and able to do his bidding, his will, and his agenda. We renew our thinking to conform to His way of thinking, not the other way around.

Walking Defined

The Bible applies walking metaphorically in the New Testament and defines it as:

Manner of life, lifestyle.

Behavior or conduct.

We are sitting with Christ in the heavenlies, but we also walk with him on earth. Our connection is the Holy Spirit. Look at it this way: Is Jesus on his throne? Yes! Is he also in your heart? Yes.  Are you walking on earth? Yes. Are you also in his heart, seated with him? Yes.

  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.                              John 15:1-2

The life of Christ flows from him like a vine, and we are the branches. Our walk is an issue of allowing the life of the Holy Spirit to flow through our spirits, then to lead us in our walk, while we bear fruit.

What do We do With our Flesh?

We have been born again, but we still sin. And we have a flesh nature which is sometimes difficult to contend with. It bombards us with temptations, tests, and trials of every sort, and sometimes we even yield to them.

How can we love God and obey perfectly when our flesh nature is so contentious? We mature as we yield to the grace and mercy of the Holy Spirit. He helps our weaknesses and improves our resolve to mature into spiritual adults.

Not by our own ‘willpower.’ But with his aid and assistance.

If we are to take the Bible literally, and of course we do, then when Jesus or the Apostles warn us to purify ourselves, crucify the flesh, put on bowels of mercy and such like, we can be confident that we can truly do such things.

It is the Holy Spirit living in us that gives us the power to do so.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. or as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.                              Romans 8:13-14

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.          (perfecting holiness means to mature in holiness.)       2 Corinthians 7:1   

Let not sin therefore rreign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.         Romans 6:12-13

Being Spirit-filled is like power steering. We can steer a compact car or a Semi-Truck effortlessly with power steering. The Holy Spirit is within the believer to power-assist him in his walk with the Lord.

He makes it possible to overcome even our most difficult shortcomings. Otherwise, we would only have self-discipline to rely on, which isn’t enough to meet a Godly standard.

The following list will prove that God the Holy Spirit must be within the believer and is the one who gives power to overcome our worst difficulties. 1 John 3:3,

 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.     2 Corinthians 6:16

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?                         1 Corinthians 3:16

 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:     Colossians 1:27

Whatever you have going on in your life that needs correction, you can overcome the problem by resisting temptation and being determined by the power of the inward strength of the Holy Spirit of God. Keep at it because this is a continuous process. Never give up.

Maturity

Once born again, we overcome sinful habits and behaviors. Some shortcomings and sins leave immediately, while others take time. This explains why some new believers will suddenly stop smoking and drinking and doing drugs, yet struggle with anger or lying or profanity. Through time and experience, with patience, we increase our proficiency at overcoming sinful behaviors.

God deals with our maturity level and is tolerant of our immaturity. He does not expect maturity one year after you are born again any more than you can expect a toddler to behave as an adult.

Scripture exhorts us not to sin, but it does not guarantee perfect behavior throughout our Christian life. Therefore, if or when you sin, there is always forgiveness and restoration to fellowship.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”                                                                                                              1 John 1:9

A family lives in harmony as they follow the rules. If you just painted your living room, would you give your three-year-old a box of crayons, then leave him unattended? No! He doesn’t quite understand your freshly painted wall is not a canvas for his artwork.

We will trust a normal ten-year-old because they are more mature and have a better understanding of the rules and what we expect of them. They can maintain those rules.

Every house must have rules, or there will be chaos. “As long as you live under my roof,” a father instructs his teenager, “you will be home by nine P.M.. You will do your homework, help with the dishes, and keep your room tidy.” These are the Rules. Obligations. Duties. Love, Peace, Harmony.

Ephesians tells us we are of “His household.” The Lord has rules and regulations for us to follow so we might partake of a rich and fulfilling family life and enjoy the blessings of His House. If we live in His house and eat at His table, then we should know His rules just as earthly children know their parents’ rules.

As children of God, we do not view His commandments as rigid law, written on tablets of stone; nor do we see or embrace legalism. We view it as a love relationship, a family affair. You are a friend of God. He doesn’t beat you like a slave if you disobey one little jot or tittle.

Don’t misunderstand, you will reap what you sow regarding misbehavior, only it is a love relationship that we have with God. Not a hardcore legal system that you must conform to without the benefit of being Spirit filled.

He writes his law of love on our hearts because of the new birth. Remember, in Hebrews?:

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Hebrews 8:10

An undisciplined child is better known as a “brat”. God does not raise brats, and He will not let you get away with sin, but He is patient while you are maturing. Also, correcting a child for misbehaving usually results in gratitude. That little three-year-old who you corrected for coloring on the freshly painted wall does not go pack his bags and leave home in anger and frustration.

Will Christians ever be perfect in thought and deed? The answer is, while we strive for maturity, our conduct and actions will always need improvement. But what it requires is that you keep working at being Spirit-led and not give up in frustration!

If you fall, ask God’s forgiveness, get up, dust yourself off, and get back in the race.

The metaphor of “walking” is crucial because you are moving forward in a defined, specific direction. You are not walking in circles or meandering through life aimlessly.

I reiterate, one enters the family of God by being born into it. To be born again and have your spirit come alive unto God, you will need to receive Christ by faith. Unless you are born again, you will not have the power to obey and mature in Christ.

 CONCORDANCE

OK! So now we understand that to walk in fellowship with the Lord is to drive in his lane, using the power of the Spirit. With that in mind, consider these sections that cover a variety of points of behavior using the theme of walking. Remember, this isn’t about walking,

 It’s who you’re walking with.

It’s about who is walking within you.

 Will you surrender your will and agenda and walk with the gracious, merciful God?

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. Ephesians 5:1-2

 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:                                       Colossians 2:6

Or will you continue to walk in the ways of this rebel world and the spirit of immorality?

 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envying, 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.                  Gal 5:16-21

Do these passages permit us to compromise righteousness? Can we be filled with the love and joy of the Holy Ghost and be filled with lust and pornography as well? Jesus said we cannot serve two masters. You are either walking with God or walking with the enemy. (Matthew 6:24)

Also, note the degree to which morality and virtue are constant. This applies to all our verses as we keep them in context. Morality is of God because he is holy, and he never compromises His character.

The next passage is of the same sort. It speaks of how you once walked, and how you ought to walk now. We were sinners, but now we walk in the Spirit and overcome sin with His power.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:In the which ye also walked (at) some time, when ye lived in them.     Col. 3:5

It is God who has given these directives for the citizens of the kingdom to embrace and follow because they create character within us and foster the atmosphere of love and peace and joy.

For a moment, imagine yourself seated with Jesus in heavens’ blissful environment. Look around and listen. What do you see and feel in the presence of God?

Do you hear any arguing or fighting? Do you see pornography anywhere? Any profanity, crying, or bickering going on? No, of course not! That is why it is Heaven.

Let’s look at some verses that have to do with walking in the spirit. I leave all passages in full context to reinforce my point. Walking in the Spirit is not a suggestion, but a commandment.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Galatians 5:16-17

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:24-26

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

Walking in the Spirit and obedience to His will is the way we manage the flesh and overcome sin. I reiterate that we mature in Christ over time and with a great deal of patience and perseverance.

We define the word sin in Greek as missing the mark, akin to an archer missing the bullseye.

Is there love, mercy, and forgiveness from God when we miss the mark? Of course! He gives the commandments to us, and He gives the power to obey the commandment, and if you struggle or have a problem, you can take the matter up directly with Him through prayer because He is ever willing to nurture and support you.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Walking in the Light

 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.       John 8:12

According to Vine’s expository dictionary, light is a Bible word that refers to the sum-total of all God’s wisdom, knowledge, and revelation. Of all that God is and what he knows.

Apart from natural phenomena, scripture defines light as:

The glory of God’s dwelling-place, 1 Tim. 6:16;

The nature of God, 1 John 1:5;

The impartiality of God, Jas. 1:17;

The favor of God, Psa. 4:6; of the King, Prov. 16:15; of an influential man, Job 29:24;

God, as the illuminator of His people, Isa. 60:19, 20;

The Lord Jesus as the illuminator of men, John 1:4, 5, 9; John 3:19; John 8:12; John 9:5; Jon 12:35, 36, 46; Acts 13:47;

The illuminating power of the Scriptures, Psa. 119:105; and of the judgments and commandments of God, Isa. 51:4; Prov. 6:23, cp. Psa. 43:3;

The guidance of God, Job 29:3; Psa. 112:4; Isa. 58:10; and, ironically, of the guidance of man, Rom. 2:19;

Salvation, 1 Pet. 2:9;

Righteousness, Rom. 13:12; 2 Cor. 11:14, 15; 1 John 2:9, 10;

Witness for God, Matt. 5:14, 16; John 5:35;

Prosperity and general well-being, Esth. 8:16; Job 18:18; Isa. 58:8-10.”

[* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 159,160.]

 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Eph. 5:8-9

Walking in Newness of Life

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4

 Walking in Morality, not Lewdness

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.     Col. 3:5

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 1 Peter 4:3-5

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.        Jude 1:16

We have looked at many scriptures relating to faithfulness, loyalty, righteousness, and godliness. What about walking worthily and being well-pleasing to God?

 Worthily and Pleasing

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.                    1 Thess. 2:11-12

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;                   Colossians 1:10-11

 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.              2 Thess. 3:6