No More Resolutions – Part I (Walk In The Spirit)
Memory Verse – Romans 8:1 -There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Study Text – Romans 8:1-5
A God-Filled, Prosperous New Year To All!!!!! This week we cover the things
that are usually associate with each and every new year – Resolutions. Yes,
each year people make them, break them and by April forget them. As further
proof here’s a question, What resolution did you make last year? Even if you
can remember your resolution(s), were you successful in keeping it/them? If so,
how long?
In verse one of this week’s text we are told "There is NO CONDEMNATION
[Latin word origin which came from three words when combined means – Intensive
Sentencing of a Penalty] to THEM which are in Christ Jesus." Now who are
the THEM in this verse; (1) those who are in Christ Jesus, & (2) those who
walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. So to keep ourselves from this
"Intense Sentencing" we need to walk in the spirit(Holy Spirit) and
not in the flesh. Walk In The Spirit!
In the second verse Paul tells us that the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
made him free from the law of sin and death. Now once we begin to walk after
the Spirit [Imagine yourself walking right behind the Holy-Spirit, step by
step, letting Him Lead You, step by step] we will find ourselves unbound to the
demonic works of the enemy. Lets be honest, if we had walked step-by-step
behind the Holy Spirit earlier in life we wouldn’t have gotten bound to those
credit cards, cigarettes or that Lotto. Walk In The Spirit!!
The third verse tells us, "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." THE LAW was a HOLY-GUIDE
LINE which was weak because it depended on man to fulfill it which very seldom
happened. Because man couldn’t make it through the HOLY GUIDE-LINE own his own
God sent our HOLY-GUIDE, Jesus, to get us through. The strength of the old law
was man but the strength of the new law is a perfect savior!! (THANK YOU
FATHER!!!!!) Walk In The Spirit!!!
Next we find out in the 4th verse that Jesus came so that the righteousness
of the law might be fulfilled in US who walk not after the flesh but after the
Spirit. This means that if you walk in the Spirit, sin will have NO dominion
over you, flesh will have NO dominion over you, temptation will have NO
dominion over you, failure will have NO dominion over you. But if You walk in
the Spirit you will have the fullness & victory of God with joy and
boldness!!! Walk In The Spirit!!!!
The 5th verse tells us, "For they that walk after the flesh do MIND the
things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the
Spirit." Paul uses a very, very accurate word here, MIND. This is the
battlefield of the Spirit Man & Carnal Man. If you continually keep your
MIND on fleshly things, like sex, sega, surfing the web and shopping then how
can you walk in the spirit?. If you don’t take the time to put your MIND on God
how can you get Godly increase? Joyce Meyer gave a definition of insanity as
"doing the same old thing expecting different results." Now how can
we get a closer walk with God by doing the same old thing, saying the same old
prayers, never increasing our time with him, never turning off the TV or music
long enough to hear His voice – THIS IS SPIRITUAL INSANITY! Walk In The
Spirit!!!!!
To wrap us this message I would like to go back to the word Condemnation. As
I was typing this message I was led to highlight the word condemnation and open
the thesaurus. A very interesting word came up "damnation." After
seeing this word in the thesaurus I highlighted it and I got the following
words "doom, banish, curse." [Example: Those who walk in the flesh
are doomed, banished and cursed.] However I was also given antonyms (opposites)
which were "redeem & bless." [Example: Those who walk in the
spirit are redeemed and blessed by Christ."] When we walk in the flesh we
have to make those New Year’s Resolutions. Walking in the flesh MAKES you take
those visits to Baskin-Robbins, mismanage your finances, or abuse your body
through unhealthy habits when you know you shouldn’t. Yet, because we are made
in God’s image we know that we should be "in better shape." (Yes,
That’s The GOD IN YOU!) A weak Spirit Man allows the Carnal Man to make
resolutions and does not know the Fullness of Christ. This is why the
Carnal(Flesh) Man wins and you make resolutions. Therefore In 1999 make your
Spirit Man stronger so that you will have victory at the beginning of the new
millennium and not resolutions.
Walk In The Spirit My Brothers & Sisters,
Walk In The Spirit!!!!!!!
