Walking in Love/the Spirit- is the answer to the flesh and is the highest calling...

Walking in Love/the Spirit- is the answer to the flesh and is the highest calling...

Galatians 5 >> "For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence:Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom...For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatable with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erractic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?"

It has been so exciting to me to know that I do not have to try and be good or deal with my flesh and it's besetting sins..because it is a losing battle anyway! Have any of you found this to be true too? Thank God that if we are convinced that taking the focus off of ourselves (...which is where our focus is when we are trying to control our carnal natures...) and put it on to others (Love) then our besetting sins will naturally begin to disappear...because you cannot love and continue to sin (harm) at the same time. The two are at odds with each other and cannot coexist! They are light and darkness. Hurray!

Galatians 3 >> Trying to follow rules and be good by our own efforts does not work...we cannot control our own flesh...it has to be done by faith, in God's way. Therefore we have to be convinced and understand God has a better way that benefits both the lover and the lovee.

God IS love...therefore, since God is all powerful, then that love is all powerful as well. It is a transforming love...not a worldly-fluff kind of love...but a God kind of love. SO, if we will take our eyes off of ourselves and put them outside of ourselves onto the welfare of the people and God's creation all around us...then we will naturally begin transforming...as well as serve God in a powerful way as we are walking in HIS love, everyday and around every corner as Christ did.

Are there things in your life that you do without barely a thought...because you are convinced they are the way things are done? This is how convinced you need to be...otherwise living this way will be burdensome and will be something that will feel just like rule keeping and will defeat the purpose. This type of life takes faith...working thru love. This is the victory!

However, the flesh will be tempted to put the focus back on self (legalism does this)...out of anxiousness and fear and self-will...but it is God's way to deal with the flesh in a much different way...the way of the Spirit...which the fruits are-love, peace, and etc...

Thank you for taking the time to read this...
 
It has been so exciting to me to know that I do not have to try and be good or deal with my flesh and it's besetting sins..because it is a losing battle anyway! Have any of you found this to be true too? Thank God that if we are convinced that taking the focus off of ourselves (...which is where our focus is when we are trying to control our carnal natures...) and put it on to others (Love) then our besetting sins will naturally begin to disappear...because you cannot love and continue to sin (harm) at the same time. The two are at odds with each other and cannot coexist! They are light and darkness. Hurray!


Thank you Jenny for this thread . Yes what you say is thruth . If we are truly led by the Holy Spirit we have put everything under His control . But we also need to do our part by praying and reading the Word so we will not fall into temptation.

Of course Love is the essence of all we are in Jesus Christ because He first loved us so we shed all our love on Him and in doing that it comes natural to love others . It is not force ful just as the Holy Spirit is personal and does not force Himself on us .

Light will disapate the darkness
 
Dusty,
Thank you! However, I truly do not, and have not experienced that there is any buts about it. Anytime I put my eyes back on to myself even forjust a few minutes...because I am afraid walking in the HS is deficiant...then I am putting myself back in that old vicious circle of trying to make myself better by my own efforts. Gal's 3 "The one who does these things [rule-keeping] continues to live by them". A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Any human effort puts us back under the law again...which is defeating. Putting our whole focus away from ourselves (love/walking in the Spirit, which is not at all self-focused)...as God works His way in us...allows God to do His work in us. God's Spirit has enough power to lead us into righteousness...and away from temptation as we put our eyes on His way. Galatians spells it out very, very well... I am so grateful that the writer of Galatians took the time... :^)
 
Jenny what I am trying to say is God expects us to do our part and I do understand the focus " on oneself issue ." I won't use the word " but " to say , we are not focusing on ourselves when we are obedient in reading and praying every day . That is how we stay under the Blood of Jesus . If we didn't have these tools we would be dead in the water to put it bluntly .

God cannot do His work in us unless we submit our whole selves to Him . Yes of course when we focus on Jesus that is our goal and I totally get that .

How does your walk with the Lord deepen if you do not read His word and study His word and pray? We cannot and will not grow in Him without these tools for our lives.

Putting our whole focus away from ourselves (love/walking in the Spirit, which is not at all self-focused)...as God works His way in us...allows God to do His work in us. God's Spirit has enough power to lead us into righteousness...and away from temptation as we put our eyes on His way

That is it and I am in agreement with you .
 
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Who is keeping the body under subjection?

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Who is suppose to put away those conversations?

We are told if we Walk after the Spirit, then we will not fulfill the lust and desires of the flesh. That lust and desire is still lurking there however.

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

We still have a soul/mind. Our soul was not saved, we have to make a choice to do something about the way we think. We have to be filled with the Word.

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Jenny, this is all Human Effort. We are just not all spirit, though we are a spirit in a flesh body, and have a soul, or mind. Even Jesus at the Cross was looking for a way out. We are told Jesus was Obedient unto death. The temptation to walk away was so great, he sweat blood. He had every right to walk away, He did not deserve what was about to happen to him. He had a choice to make as the Man Jesus.

So do we. There is power in the Word, in the Anointing of the Holy Ghost, to empower us to make the right choice. It is still human effort, because we are flesh and blood. If I could, I would just stay filled with the Holy Ghost 24/7 and have God's love radiate off me..... doing wrong, never crossing my mind. There is a place like that, We know. It's just not reality though. There are times, we are just going to have to walk away, while listening to our flesh scream at us. We know to walk away, because it's the right thing to do, it is Human effort, but effort that has the Truth of the Word to choose from. We have to keep our own bodies under subjection. We have to keep ourselves.

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
It's not love keeping us, though listening, love will restrain, it's not God keeping us, though he gave us all the tools to do so, it's not the Holy Ghost keeping us, though he empowers as a "Helper" (John 14:26) It's us, keeping ourselves............. We have to put forth that effort.

God's Spirit has enough power to lead us into righteousness

Jenny, I am not sure where you got this one......... We are the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus. Already done!!! If your not, then you need to make Jesus Lord and get Born again. Righteousness, just means "Right Standing With God." You are made this way, it's a free gift.

2Co 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Jenny, sounds like your grasping some good things, Love is the key to Victory, but we must choose to walk in that love. Walking in love, fulfills the law. On the Royal law of love, hang all the law and all the things the Prophets said. We keep the Law, by walking in the tools God has given us to walk in Love. This removes all the ritual type ordinances of the Law. Trying to keep those, you know is silly. Walk in Love, and you won't kill, steal, commit adultery, and so on.

Jenny, this is the third thread you have talked about sin and walking in love, and that leaven that ruins the whole lump....... Your repeating the same things.... If you need help with something, there are many here that are mightily anointed to help. I just want you to know that door is open for you.

Be Blessed.
 
But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.... Galations 5:5

I think this may be the verse that is confusing you Jenny .

We need to go back and see what Paul is trying to teach the Christian Galatians at that time . The Christians in Galatia faced the problem of embracing the old Jewish law .. Paul was emphasizing the importance of faith and was warning them about puting the law above faith .

Paul was trying to tell the Christians that they ought to trust Jesus who makes them righteous.

Same with us . We need to check our living and our attitudes . Far too many Christians are just remaining on the fence . They feel like they don't have to commit themselves and that is where the danger lies .

How many times did Jesus say " Either you are for me or against me ?" Jesus told us we have freedom because . He set us free .

Yes this chapter does talk about love but it talks more about faith . And you cannot have love without faith . If we have not crucified ourselves with Christ we will never be able to do all the other things in love. We have the Holy Spirit in us who helps and guides us , speaks to us , comforts us , teaches us and so on .

The Important thing is" Faith " - the kind of faith that works through love . Verse 6
 
2Co 5:21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him

The more we realize that God made us righteous through HIS righteousness that He put within us, the more we will walk in righteousness. And it keeps us from being so sin conscious, which pulls us toward sin because we are dwelling on it, instead of His power in us to now live righteously.
 
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; Ephesians 6:14

And let us not forget the armour of God and the breast plate of righteousness . When we put on the breast plate , it protects us from spiritual harm.. We need to guard our hearts by putting on the breast plate of righteousness.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed...... 1 Peter 2 : 24

When Jesus went to the cross he took all our sins with Him So that we would be made whole and healed by His wounds and made righteous.
 
Another thought on love :

Worldly people express " love" and do good works too . But without the love of Christ in their hearts their good works and love all come to naught . Yes they probably get a fuzzy warm feeling when they give but that feeling is superficial and not life changing . The only change is when we submit to God and give our all to Him and then the turn around comes .


John 15:19
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.


1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

People of the world cannot know this love and they try and they sing songs about love but my God has separated me from the world and all of it's friviality and I am consecreted to Him , to do His work and to hear His voice. That is the difference beween worldly love and Godly love. God is" agapeo " love .... all encompassing ... " LOve " .... extreme love that He lavishes on us as His children .
 
Another thought on love :

Worldly people express " love" and do good works too . But without the love of Christ in their hearts their good works and love all come to naught .

.
Right. There is a natural love people have for others, but it is far below Agape, the God kind of love that only comes from Him, through us to others.
 
We seem to be talking to ourselves here as I have not seen the OP return to answer anything on her thread.
 
but it is far below Agape,

Indeed. Yes, that is so true Godspeaks. Other kinds of love are well beneath Agape because Agape would remain forever:

And now abideth faith, hope, charity (Agape), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (Agape).
1 Cor 13:13
 
Even so, I guess it would ok for us to continue discussing it

Ok .... You are probably right . So the most famous love verses are : I Corinthians 13

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


The Bible indicates that love is from God. In fact, the Bible says "God is love."Love is one of the primary characteristics of God. Likewise, God has endowed us with the capacity for love. This capacity for love is one of the ways in which we are "created in the image of God "

The greatest verse in the Bible of course would be " For God so loved the world , that He gave His only begotten Son "
 
Phileo and agape love .... Phileo leads to agape and phileo is brotherly love .

You start off in Phileo or Filadelfiva love , to get Agape or Agapao love

1Peter 1:22 …. 2 Peter 1:7 .

The definition of Pheleo love, or brotherly love means things in common . Interesting that the city of Philidelphia came from that name “ City of brotherly love

Agape love or Agapao love is unconditional love and comes from God , Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
 
I was ill and I also have a disability...this is why I have not been around. Also, I didn't start this to argue...but to give people somethings to think about. I believe that we as Christians have the biggest power available to us that we could ever imagine...a God IS love kind of love (power)! A love that is as big as God...a love that is different then any human love. A love that needs no ones efforts to be good ontop of it...because this love fulfills it in every sense. If I am loving you, then I won't delibrately be harming you. Period. If my motivation is love on a daily basis...toward everyone I meet...then I don't even need to think about 'trying' to be good or doing good or not, as loving fulfills that. You can argue and argue....but it is biblical. That God does not just make us right with Him...but also on a daily basis in practical ways does so by His Spirit, which is love. >>>>> In fact it is biblical that outward discipline and bodily restaint cannot affect the inner-person (Col. 2: 20-23)...it has to be done by walking in the Spirit (doing it in a Spiritual way) which will cause Spiritual results (Godly character).

And even this is not an effort, if one is convinced of it's effectiveness and how biblically-based it is. It becomes as natural as following rules on a carnal level has been, as it has been very natural to follow rules in this carnal existence...but it can be AS natural to follow the HS instead, as God gives us understanding.

Gal. 5 >> "No, I say: be guided by the Spirit and you won't end up doing what your body wants. What the flesh desires is against the Spirit, while what the Spirit desires is against the flesh, because the two are opposed to each other...which keeps you from doing what you mean to do. But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren't under the law."

Gal. 3 >> "Can you be so senseless as to finish on the physical level what you started on a spiritual level? Have you come so far for nothing? And the One who provides the Spirit to you and activates His powers among you, does He do so by your performance of the law or on the basis of your having heard and believed.?"

1 John 2 >> "Anyone who loves his brother is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble."
Your effort or good behaviors do not activate the HS in your life...it is the other way around. His HS brings about the good behaviors as you focus/walk in/cloth yourselves in the HS...which the prime fruit being love.

Any time scripture talks about dealing with sin or the flesh...it will always be dealt with in the same way...by walking in the Spirit, then you won't succumb to the desires of the flesh.

Alittle leaven leavens the whole lump. You can't put your flesh in there a little bit and then God in there a little bit...and why would anyone want to? God has called us to freedom and God can do it ALL, thru His HS anyway, if we but let Him.

Hebrews 5 & 6 >>> About growing up and moving away from the basics...about furthering your understanding and maturing in Spiritual things...
 
I was ill and I also have a disability...this is why I have not been around. Also, I didn't start this to argue...but to give people somethings to think about. I believe that we as Christians have the biggest power available to us that we could ever imagine...a God IS love kind of love (power)!
Jenny I am sorry to hear that and thought you had left . I don't think at this point any one is arguing , just expressing their pont of view as we are all individuals and come from differing denominations .

Yes of course God's love is the greatest and I don't think any one would dispute that . God is love .




A love that is as big as God...a love that is different then any human love. A love that needs no ones efforts to be good ontop of it...because this love fulfills it in every sense. If I am loving you, then I won't delibrately be harming you. Period. If my motivation is love on a daily basis...toward everyone I meet...then I don't even need to think about 'trying' to be good or doing good or not, as loving fulfills that.

But even though our motivation is love , we cannot do it on our own without the Holy Spirit .because the flesh will take over no matter how hard we try .

You can argue and argue....but it is biblical. That God does not just make us right with Him...but also on a daily basis in practical ways does so by His Spirit, which is love. >>>>> In fact it is biblical that outward discipline and bodily restaint cannot affect the inner-person (Col. 2: 20-23)...it has to be done by walking in the Spirit (doing it in a Spiritual way) which will cause Spiritual results (Godly character).

Again as I said no one is disputing that fact or arguing

And even this is not an effort, if one is convinced of it's effectiveness and how biblically-based it is. It becomes as natural as following rules on a carnal level has been, as it has been very natural to follow rules in this carnal existence...but it can be AS natural to follow the HS instead, as God gives us understanding.

We have the Holy Spirit in us and it is the Holy Spirit that does the leading and teaching and speaking to us

Gal. 5 >> "No, I say: be guided by the Spirit and you won't end up doing what your body wants. What the flesh desires is against the Spirit, while what the Spirit desires is against the flesh, because the two are opposed to each other...which keeps you from doing what you mean to do. But if you are being led by the Spirit, you aren't under the law."

Gal. 3 >> "Can you be so senseless as to finish on the physical level what you started on a spiritual level? Have you come so far for nothing? And the One who provides the Spirit to you and activates His powers among you, does He do so by your performance of the law or on the basis of your having heard and believed.?"

1 John 2 >> "Anyone who loves his brother is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble."
Your effort or good behaviors do not activate the HS in your life...it is the other way around. His HS brings about the good behaviors as you focus/walk in/cloth yourselves in the HS...which the prime fruit being love.

Any time scripture talks about dealing with sin or the flesh...it will always be dealt with in the same way...by walking in the Spirit, then you won't succumb to the desires of the flesh.

Alittle leaven leavens the whole lump. You can't put your flesh in there a little bit and then God in there a little bit...and why would anyone want to? God has called us to freedom and God can do it ALL, thru His HS anyway, if we but let Him.

Hebrews 5 & 6 >>> About growing up and moving away from the basics...about furthering your understanding and maturing in Spiritual things...

I did notice you saying the same thing .... A little leaven leavens the whole lump which you seen to be stuck on and in other words . You cannot serve two masters .... you are either hot or cold not luke warm .

We also know that for new Christians who have been into so many things in the world it is a process for them and even though they have the Holy Spirit they still have fleshly desires.
 
I'm just wondering why so many people think a disagreement is an argument...
There is a difference... isn't there?


We are all expressing our thoughts . We can disagree in love and express why without the other person being upset.
 
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