Why do you think that My servant Paul ends his appeal to the believers to walk by the Spirit instead of by the deeds of the flesh with the admonition to resist boasting, challenging and envying one another? I want you to remember that while the law clearly condemns those things, which he calls the works of the flesh, it does not provide power to overcome them. One of the subtlest effects that arise from those who seek to obtain personal righteousness by keeping legal regulations is that they develop a sense of competing with others, either to prove themselves equal to or better than others. Therefore, inevitably they will either boast about their own attainments in the observance of laws, or else they will envy those who they consider to have achieved more than they have achieved. Sometimes when they will see others doing what they might consider either something that falls short or transgresses, they will challenge them, but in a self- righteous and judgmental manner. So you see that my servant Paul well understood those manifestations which may appear to be correct in the eyes of those who are committed to law observance, but they actually are manifestations of the flesh. So then, recognize that when My Spirit reveals to you an attitude that produces boasting or envy, or challenging and contending, you are being shown that the works of the flesh and not the fruit of the Spirit are operating within you. Understand that it will not just be a matter of whether you can judge that you are walking in the Spirit by what you believe and what you profess, rather it will be also by how you regard your fellow believers and how you conduct yourselves in relationship to them.
As you can see from what My servant Paul declares in this portion, the walk in the Spirit is not a walk without conflict, it is not a walk that is unopposed, for he declares here that the flesh is in a struggle against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. As long as you seek to depend upon the flesh in any way to accomplish what you may think is pleasing to Me, you are not only deceived, but you will truly be hindered, both from really knowing what is pleasing to Me and also from doing what is pleasing to Me. As long as there remains in your hearts any desire to accomplish through the flesh that which only the Spirit can accomplish, you will be inclined to operate by the works of the flesh, and you will be hindered from bearing the fruit of the Spirit. So while the power to fulfill that which is pleasing to Me and to bear the fruit of the Spirit demands that you depend completely upon the Spirit, yet, because the flesh has continually to be dealt with, yours will always be the choice as to whether you will completely, wholeheartedly depend upon My Spirit or whether in some measure you will choose to lean upon the flesh. Yes, the choice is truly yours. I do not make the choice for you, but you must always remember that the power to walk out that choice is by completely relying upon the Spirit. And I will have more to say to you about this matter, for it is very necessary that you not only understand this, but that you are able to recognize for yourselves whether or not you are truly walking in the Spirit.
Tags: Choice, Flesh Walk, Spirit Walk
Posted by: admin in Psalm
You see how David, when he looks at the circumstances can only at best cry out for help to Me. But the fact that he does cry out to Me, even though his cry is one of desperation, really means that he recognizes that I am the only one who can deal with the grim circumstances that confront him.
Notice something else; that as he recounts the way the ungodly deal with their neighbor that he begins to pray that I will judge the flattering lips and the tongues that speak proudly. And what is the result of his cry for help and his prayer that I may judge the proud and the flattering lips? Is it not that he hears My promise that I will arise to help those who are poor and needy and deal with those who oppress them. Yes, he has heard My Word and he confesses that he knows I will keep My Word. Here you have not only the struggle of the truly righteous person facing what is apparently the triumph of the wicked in their defiance of Me and in their mistreatment of others, but in this you have the key to where your hearts must look, must act and must rest in the face of such a grim and unpromising situation. And you know, My son and My daughter, that when you consider the situation that seems to prevail now both among My people and among all peoples of the earth, that you could like David think that the godly have perished from the earth and those who rebel against Me seem to prevail. But when you consider who I am, what I have revealed about Myself, and what I have promised concerning those who defy Me and concerning those who trust Me, then can you not take comfort, encouragement and hope that My Word is pure and reliable and that all of its promises, because they depend upon My faithfulness, will be fulfilled? That is why I have brought you to this portion at this time, so that you will not despair. For I know the impression that is made upon your mind and heart as you consider the circumstances that you face here. And those that are portrayed from abroad seem to you as they did to David. But as you turn to Me and consider what I have done, what I have said, and who I am, then you will not remain in despair, nor will you be overwhelmed with doubt, worry and fear, for you will know, even as David knew, that I will arise and deal with the wicked and establish the faithful who trust in Me.