Living 4 Him

“Since we live in the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

A year ago, I discovered the scripture written above about six days before attending the Pentecost celebration at church where part of the verse was splashed across the front of the bulletin.  I took it as a sign to begin praying the phrase, “Let me keep in step with the Spirit” for my life and for others. Last week, we learned the Holy Spirit is a gift given to us through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ; a daily companion, a guide to show us the way to Heaven; a help in our earthly tasks.  This scripture expresses exactly how we can experience God’s highest purposes for us; keep in step with the Spirit. 

In order to keep in step with the Spirit, we need a clear understanding of who or what the Spirit really is.  One of my favorite illustrations of the Holy Spirit comes from writer Catherine Marshall who told of a pastor describing the Trinity as 3 manifestations of the same God; much like water can take on different forms.  Although water is frozen as ice, it is still water.  Although God came as Jesus, he is still God.  I have pondered this water illustration throughout the years, grasping a personal perception of the Holy Spirit.

God is like the water; our source.  He runs through the earth giving life, never ceasing, providing renewal and refreshment of our souls.

Jesus represents the ice; a solid form of God coming to us for a specific purpose and helping us know our source, God, even better.

The Holy Spirit is the water vapor, invisible to our eyes, yet a very real and necessary part of our lives.  The Spirit represents God ever present.  The Spirit exists in all places at all times, working for the benefit of the world. 

This is why Jesus told his disciples in John 16:7 (NLT) “It is better for you if I go away, because if I don’t go away, the Advocate (comforter, encourager, counselor) won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”  The Holy Spirit works in all places and in all ways, giving each individual the power they need to accomplish God’s plans for them.

We never need to fear unknown situations because when Jesus promised the Holy Spirit he said, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 (NIV).  Every piece of teaching Jesus gave to his disciples dwells within us through the Spirit. 

This quote from Neil Clark Warren on my God’s Promises calendar caught my eye: When Jesus left the earth, He gave us the Comforter, the Counselor, the very presence of God.  When the Holy Spirit fills you, it is as if Jesus himself takes the helm of your life and navigates your course. When you elect the guidance system called the Holy Spirit, your life moves in the right direction.

You could say that being in step with the Spirit is the ONLY way to go! The Holy Spirit educates us with a specific curriculum that leads to the best possible results: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:24)  As we keep in step with the Spirit, we are truly stepping in faith, believing that as we step with the Spirit, the Spirit is working to bring about great outcomes in our lives.

Jesus helped us to understand that our step of faith could be as small as a mustard seed and the work of the Spirit would take over, leading us to great and mighty works. (Matthew 17:20, Mark 11:23, Luke 17:6)  I explored my own faith in the work of the Spirit through a poem I recently wrote called A Mustard Seed. I had the blessed fortune for it to be published in The Way Back to Ourselves Spring Journal: In His Garden.

If you like, you may read it here.https://www.thewayback2ourselves.com/journal/amustardseed

Plant your seed of faith in the soil of God’s heart.  Water your seed daily with Living Water, absorbing the vital hope of his Light and you will be in step with the Spirit, producing luscious fruit. 

Reaching in (allowing God’s word to work in your soul):  Read the passage from Galatians 5:16-26 to gain more understanding of the work of the Spirit. Which parts of the passage do you want to stay in step with?

Reaching out (taking God’s word into the world): Look for the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) in your own life and in the lives you encounter.  Thank God for his work of the Spirit!