Walk in the Spirit with Disagreement

Water rushing down the hiking trail.

Walking in the Spirit in the midst of disagreement and opposition. Don't look to the problem look to what the Bible says and follow a course of reconciliation and peace making.

So what do you do when you have an enemy that is out to hurt you? You give a blessing in response.

What to do when experiencing opposition. Refer to the word in prayer for the peace of God and the direction of God and the will of God and the grace of God and the love of God.

The attitude of Abraham is a good course to take. Give way and take the lesser value alternative. God will bless you and support you as you walk in faith.

Romans 8 God will be with you and help you and support you and guide you and bless you and you can't go wrong walking in faith with God on your side.

You don't have to protect yourself. You can trust God to provide for you and be with you and give you a life of faith and joy and fulfillment.

Luke 12:15 not even when we have an abundance to does our life consist of our possessions. True life and joy comes from walking in the Holy Spirit and His word breathed to you.

With this attitude real problems become miniscule. Why? Because we are assured of God coming through for us and we have peace in the midst of turmoil. Then when the turmoil leaves not only will you be blessed in this life you will be blessed in the Spirit as well.

Life in the spirit does not look at what can be seen but what can't be seen. Life does not just consist of what you can see taste feel hear and smell. Just as radio and TV waves are here so is the Spirit of God. We accept the reality of the TV and radio waves without a problem. Let us accept the Spirit of God as well. He can do so much for us as we look to Him.

Revive the Spirit

I had a good day with devotion on intercession and a heart for God. My wife and I went to a park and hiked. I took the above picture. But after the hike I did not seem to be active spiritually. Though I did watch a youtube video on George Muller. And the day before I listened to an mp3 sermon on James Hudson Taylor.

So it was 2 days in a row that I watched and listened about men who lived by faith and not by direct income. Not there is something wrong with working for a living. We are told to do that in the Bible. Ephesians 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:10

But I want to live by faith in what I do. These 2 men went through testing as they lived by faith. So I went over the list of verses I had written in my Bible on testing. I came to getting drunk is dissipation. Ephesians 5:18 I went to the dictionary because dissipation is not a word I would use. Dissipation is a waste. When we do something that is a waste we are quenching the Spirit of God.

Watching football was what I did last night. I don't think watching football is a sin. I don't think hobbies or activities for fun are a sin. But they are not productive for me in living for Christ. It says in Hebrews 12:1 to lay aside the encumbrance that would keep us from following Christ.

In my endeavor to follow Christ, I ask in prayer what should I be doing at each opportunity. Last night I felt watching football would be good. And afterwards, still being out of it spiritually, (PS my team lost) I asked how does one become revived in the spirit?

I ask the question, do we revive the spirit by pampering the flesh?

1. Lay aside the things of dissipation.
2. Be revived according to the Word of God. Psalm 119:25, Psalm 119:32; Psalm 119:37, Psalm 119:40, Psalm 119:50, Psalm 119:107, Psalm 119:154, Psalm 119:156, Psalm 119:159
3. Review past studies; IE hygrade the Bible. Read and go over in the Bible what God has shown you in the past.
4. Matthew 4:4 We live because of what God speaks to us. Prayer and quietness before God allows us to hear Him, as we go over the Scriptures.
5. Put on a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Isaiah 61:3
6. Humble your heart before God; Isaiah 57:15; James 4:6,7; James 4:8,9,10

2 Chronicles 16:9 God will show himself strong to those whose heart is completely His. God tests us and when our heart is pure He will show Himself strong on our behalf.

If I am able to revive my spirit by pampering the flesh, is it my spirit that is revived or is it my flesh/soul? If I am revived by pampering the flesh, am I doing works for God in my strength?