MY LIFE: #57 Walking in The Spirit
Dr. Stephen Phinney: When believers evaluate life based on how they are affected by life, they are forced to “play god.” We must remember that focusing on God is a choice given to us by God.
WALKING IN THE SPIRIT RELEASES CHRITS’S LIFE
For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
(Galatians 5:5-6)
Walking in and after the Spirit means the Holy Spirit actually becomes the One doing the living, supplying, and working of Christ from the inside out, as long as the believer does their part – and stays yielded.
All choice believers make, from what we eat to ministering to others, involves a Life or flesh decision (Joshua 24:15).
The one doing the living can be identified by which type of fruit is produced – fruit of the Spirit or fruit unto death.
Satan knows that we will default to fleshly childhood patterns if we do not rest in Christ, abide in His Life and walking IN and after the Holy Spirit who resides in our mortal body as believers.
Resting not only applies to the present, but to the past and future as well. Living in the past drags yesterday’s problems forward into today, adding to the responsibilities of today, which results in sabotaging our rest. Plus, Satan is a god of the past, which is where he enjoys binding and deceiving believers into the deception they are still enslaved to sin. The person who drags yesterday’s troubles into the present, is the same person who drags future worries into the present as well. Both are acts of playing-god, but those spending time manipulating future worries are openly displaying their want to replace God with their own self-control.
THE PAST: Regarding our past, we can only repent of our sinful choices, reconcile relationships we have damaged, and thank God for all He has been doing in our lives. The past is the only place the devil can play. God will not allow him to manipulate present or future events. This is why God calls to us, “Do not call to mind former things or ponder things of the past” (Isa. 43:18). When we do this, we call the devil to the forefront. The enemy’s deception of getting believers to think that past things are present problems is probably his most effective tool of destruction. It gives the grave appearance that he (Satan) has control of the present – HE DOES NOT!
Example: The defeat I experienced growing up when it came to the fleshly habit of allowing other people’s opinions to determine my personal identity – has manipulated its way into my present struggle of striving to gain the acceptance of others.
THE FUTURE: Trying to control, manipulate, or avoid the future only cause’s anxiety. Mainly, because we are guessing what might be there that can hurt us. Unbelievable amounts of deception are required for Satan to manipulate in this manner. You can be assured that Christ will NOT give you one ounce of His future plans for you to “play god” with the future. There is ONE thing we can do about the future – trust Christ with it (He purposes only good for those who love Him) and choose to live in the present with Christ’s perfect obedience.
Example: Because of the fleshly habit of allowing what others think to dictate my present behavior, my flesh tempts me to control the future of those relationships. This is accomplished through saying things that either deviate future rejection or drag future (perceived) rejection into the present. In my mind, if I could drag future rejection into my present, I was able to control the person and the rejection. Talk about being a control freak.
THE PRESENT: Believers can only rest in the Life of Christ in the present – for He will not join them in the past or in the future. It is critical the Body of Christ focuses on obedience to Christ in the present. This obedience flows from the believer’s intimacy and Love Life with Jesus. To live in the past is a life of regret; to live in the future is a life of despair; but to live in the present is Christ as Life!
Example: In the distant past, I was physically attacked by a disciple. While he had me in a chokehold, with murder in his eyes, I was faced with a decision – do I walk after the flesh and react in a way that dominated my past, do I borrow from the future and attempt to control him, or do I live in the present and rest in Christ as my defender? I choose to walk in forgiveness.
By God's grace, in the midst of chaos, panic, and disorder, I am determined to choose door number two—obedience in the present. This decision requires a proactive appropriation of the indwelling Life of Christ, which results in my ability to view a worldly situation through the eyes of Jesus.
As they say, worldview is everything – at least when it comes to humans. The way an indwelt believer views God is as critical as embracing Christ within, which is where we get our worldview. Humanity’s focus & view is the key to perception. But an eternal view requires the One who is called “Eternal” - Jesus Christ - who does the viewing through the heart of His Son’s Bride.
Did you know you can cover the sun with a penny? It’s true, if you hold it close enough to your eye. It seems as though it has covered the sun even though there is no comparison in their actual size. This is the exact illustrative concept that is being revealed in our diagram. If believers choose to look at life with human eyes, they are doomed for despair. If they look at life from an eternal view [positioned at the right hand of the Highest], they are destined to live a victorious life here on earth.
The intensity of our response to problems, circumstances, and “feelings” is a measure of our self-life (flesh). The more the believer cares about himself, the more he has at stake in battling circumstances. I hope you got that statement. When believers evaluate life based on how they are affected by life, they are forced to “play god.” We must remember that focusing on God, or on our circumstances, is a choice God gives us. We can admit we are helpless in changing this poor habit. It is in admission that His Son steps up to provide all the resources necessary to view the Father through His eyes.
When God is our primary worldview: problems, circumstances, and “feelings” become rather small. You choose – the penny or the Son.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Heb 12:1-3)
I am known today as a “worldview specialist.” What this means to me is that no matter what topic is presented, the Lord has given me an ability to view these worldly perspectives through the mind of Christ from within. Every real-deal believer has the same ability in Christ.
All the topics that I am asked to address in my writings, media, speeches or counseling is, I hope, viewed through Christ Jesus who lives in me. The result of me being able to focus on this ability in Christ is nothing more or less than learning to rest, abide and walk in and after the Spirit.
Coming up next is #58, “My Love Life.”
Review the full library of “My Life Series” HERE.