Incite: Walking in the Spirit [Tues Nov 25, 2008]

Walking by the Spirit

As of Late I have not been keeping my mind pure. And whatever is in your mind will come into being sooner or later.

So God showed me this to meditate on:

Galatians 5

I usually Read ESV but I've found it is paired well with the Amplified bible.

(Side Note: Each Version, as we cannot all read and understand the original text, is the same as a photo of a person. Each angle photographed gives new information yet lacks the vantage of another angle. The way to envision the whole person without seeing them first hand is to view as many angles as possible. I frequent biblegateway.com for this.)

ESV

16But I say,(AD) walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify(AE) the desires of the flesh.

17For(AF) the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other,(AG) to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

18But if you are(AH) led by the Spirit,(AI) you are not under the law.

19Now(AJ) the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,(AK) divisions,

21envy,[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that(AL) those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But(AM) the fruit of the Spirit is(AN) love, joy, peace, patience,(AO) kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23(AP) gentleness,(AQ) self-control;(AR) against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus(AS) have crucified the flesh with its(AT) passions and desires.

Amplified

16But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

17For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

18But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

19Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,

20Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), 21Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

23Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [[f]that can bring a charge].

24And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

25If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit [g]we have our life in God, let us go forward [h]walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]


Some Definitions I wasn't previously aware of:

 dis⋅sen⋅sion --1.strong disagreement; a contention or quarrel; discord.

 for⋅bear⋅ance -- 1. the act of forbearing; a refraining from something. 2. forbearing conduct or quality; patient endurance; self-control.

con⋅ti⋅nence -- 1. self-restraint or abstinence, esp. in regard to sexual activity; temperance; moderation. (Pretty specific huh?)

I got a new revelation about what the word "Law” refers to in the bible. It seems to have many meanings depending on context. While I have always read it just as the religious law that the Hebrews had to live by I've realized that it means so much more.

"Law" can be seen also as entropy. It can be seen as the natural order that deals us our due. It is in Human law as in physical law. (If you cheat on a test and fail it’s not Gods Wrath its just that you stepped out of order.) It is sort of like how it just rains. It is chance. It is “karma.”* In many cases it just IS.

So the natural “come-upings” for the practices of our Human Nature without God are the result of the Law. The full brunt of the effect is left to chance.

But the Fruits of the Spirit: ( 23…Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. ) Do not bring a negative effect (though they can cause resistance.) Not just that but they also allow us to step out of the restraints of chance, into Gods favor.

So therefore the practices of our flesh (human nature without God) only bind us more and more to the misfortunes, hardships and entropy of the world.

While the fruits of the spirit (our human nature in Gods image) serve as a ticket to a higher level. We can reach our dreams. We can move through life with greater ease, more favor and deeper purpose.

This is foolishness to the mind of our fleshly human nature. Only by letting our mind be renewed by the nature of God’s image (by actively following his example of purity and changing our ways) can we comprehend and tap into this “magical realm,” just as the internet is invisible and intangible until we get a computer and a wireless card to access it.

-R

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Response by LArry Wittien,

I think you are on to something concerning the Karma thing. How about this: God created the universe before the curse of sin fell upon it. So, our imperfect responses to life cause spiritual and natural outcomes that could be called karma. Also, because of the universe's 'fallen state' random bad things happen to both good and bad people. Those 'bad things' are not necessarily karma or reaping from a past action, or God's judgment they just happen. The Bible says somewhere, "The rain falls equally on the just and unjust." And, as you point out, our only way to avoid bad karma is to walk by the Spirit.

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