Date: Monday June 18, 2012
Today's Chapters: Psalms 38-43
Message Title: Walk In The Spirit

Hello My Friend,

Sin is a disease, all it takes is one little spot to form and it spreads through your entire body, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Oh, there is joy for a moment in satisfying the flesh, but after it is done all the guilt and shame come crashing in. I am not talking about sins unknowingly committed, I am talking about sin knowingly committed. To get over the pain more sin is committed, then more guilt, it is a vicious, self destructive cycle that no one intends to happen, but it can happen to anyone, even the strongest Christian. How do we overcome this? We walk in the Spirit.

“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, Envyings, 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. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 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.” - Galatians 5:16,19-25.

David knew all too well the importance of walking in the Spirit, any time he got himself into trouble it was because he was walking in his flesh. There were numerous times in which David would realize the affliction he faced was sin related, in which he would go to God in prayer. “My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.” - Psalm 38:5-7,21,22.

To make haste means to hurry, the second we go to God in prayer, whether it is to seek forgiveness of sins, a need, or a healing, God gets right on it. Now, it may seem as though He is not doing anything, but part of getting things right with God is having patience to endure the affliction as He is working. David knew this and while he did not always understand why he had to wait so long, he did understand that God was with him.

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.” - Psalm 40:2-4,16,17.

You see, God waits until He gets the glory until He gives us the glory. Last week I made 156 mini cheesecakes for the youth conference we just had. I gave God all the glory for even giving me the talent to come up with the recipe. If He gives us things so easily sometimes we would take the credit for it and get the glory, but if we do everything we can and patiently wait for Him to do His part than He gets the glory, who then gives us the glory. “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” - 2 Corinthians 4:15-17.

Do you think David did not get a little down at times? He asked God numerous times, “Where are you, God?” For about 10 years he remained in exile, constantly on the move from Saul who was trying to kill him. One thing David learned while in exile was that he must continually praise and glorify God, even through his affliction. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” - Psalm 42:1-5,11.

The soul is center of everything we do, it feeds off our desires, if we are walking in the Spirit it desires the things of the Spirit, likewise, if we are walking in the flesh it desires those things. However, if you have been walking in the Spirit you can be sure that your soul will not take walking back in the flesh too well. You feel pain that you never felt before because your soul does not feel God in it. The truth is God is still there, we just need to awaken His Spirit by renewing ours. How? Sing praises to God, get in His Word, and find hope through them. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” - Romans 15:4,13.

So, you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and have made the choice to live your life for Him. You have walked in the Spirit, but something happened, you fell into sin and away from God. Now, you are guilt ridden and want to get out of the mess you are in, but do not know how. What do you do? Pray. To ask God to forgive you and help you. “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

The biggest step to getting out of the messes that we get into is admitting that we have messed up and need help. People get caught up in drugs, alcohol, gambling, porn, you name it, until they admit their sin they will continue that self destructive cycle and will have no one to blame, but themselves when they get caught. A person can avoid serious consequences by admitting their sin and seeking help before it's too late. We can get out of any mess we get into by walking in the Spirit. Will it be easy? No, there is going to be some suffering, but they can get through it because God is with them. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11,20.

Today's Prayer: God, As much as I love You and want to live my life for You, I know that all it would take is one sin to turn me away from You and into a self destructive mess. Lord, keep me walking in the Spirit, I know I am going to mess up sometimes, but do not let me forget all that You have done for me and what You have waiting for me as I patiently wait for You to work Your work in me. Give me Your power to have patience, help me to endure all my affliction with You and let me not be tempted to walk in the desires of my flesh, which hurt my soul worse than a broken heart. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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