Living IN the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The Likeness of God
God’s desire is that we live like Him. All the nine attributes of the Spirit define who He is. They also make up the parameters of who every child of God should be.
Hebrews 1:3 (KJV)
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person...
Just as Jesus was the express image (or exact copy) of the Father, we should also be the exact copy of Jesus!
The Boundary of God’s Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit makes up the parameters or boundary of the spirit-filled believer. Put all nine attributes in a circle, and these acting as a fence or boundary line, this becomes the area that we live in. A true child of God lives within the parameters of God’s Spirit. We become new creatures in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We are created to dwell within Him, within the realm of who He is. Jesus said...
John 14:20 (KJV)
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
By This, We Know!
1 John 2:3 (KJV)
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
We are convinced that we know Him by keeping His commandments. This is something we cannot do by our own strength. God has to help us in order for us to be able to fulfill His will. When you know that you are living a righteous life and you truly understand that it is impossible for you to live that way, then you know that God must be helping you. Then, you KNOW that you are connected with the almighty God!
Because of This, We Must!
1 John 2:5-6 (KJV)
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Ought - To owe, be bound, be one's duty, be a debtor, be guilty, be indebted
We are a debtor to Jesus for dying for our sins. We owe Him our lives! Therefore, we must walk as He would have us to walk!
All In or All Out
1 John 3:7-10 (KJV)
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
If you have never fully surrendered to God and are living a lukewarm life, you will never be able to live in the Spirit. You cannot be half in and half out. We encourage you to surrender all to the Lord!
Please pray with us...
Dear God, we know we are created to reflect your life to all who are around us. We understand that you want us to live in the Spirit and be like you. We surrender all to you right now Father. Take all of us and make us wholly yours. Please work your will thru us today and forevermore. -Amen
Sowing The Word | Bible Study Blog is a ministry of the church of God of Mount Vernon, Ohio