Good morning, CHURCH!

(Church joke of the day)

A man was on an airplane sitting next to a woman who was reading her Bible.

He said, “You don’t really believe that stuff, do you?”

She said, “Of course I do.”

He said, “What about the story of Jonah.

“What about it,” she said.

“You don’t really believe he could be swallowed by a big fish and live for three days, do you?”

She said, “Of course I do.”

“How can that happen,” he asked?

She said, “When I get to heaven, I’ll ask him.”

“But what if he’s not in heaven, he asked?

“Well then you’ll have to ask him.”

Are you ready to be equipped today?

Let me see your Bibles.

Let’s go to the book of Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV for this week’s wisdom Vaccination.

This Week’s Wisdom Vaccination

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Let’s get into it.

Those who walk in the Spirit

As we begin to enter springtime, followed closely by summer, it’s almost as if we’re entering a time where even the serious Christian, is tempted by the flesh, which is just waiting to get buck wild.

With the better weather, the desire to be out and about comes calling us.

With the sun setting later in the day, the desire to be out later in the night comes calling.

With that thought in mind, how do we continue to walk the path that God wants us to walk when so many people around us are doing the exact opposite.

How do we keep ourselves mindful of the fact that God’s way of life for us is better than our own ways?

Better for us and for those around us.

Great question.

Galatians 5:16-17 NKJV

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

It’s almost like the way the flesh and Spirit war against one other is comparable to the way men and women often war against one other in relationships.

But that’s not what we’re talking about today.

I would venture to guess that as you sit here in the presence of God and in the presence of other believers, you feel like you should walk in the Spirit.

Like you CAN walk in the Spirit.

Like the Spring and Summer will be no temptation for you.

But I caution you to remember that Peter told Jesus that he would die before he denied Christ.

And before the rooster crowed twice, he had already denied Him three times.

And some of you might be asking yourself, “What does it even mean to walk in the Spirit?”

Walking in the Spirit is simply following the ways of the Spirit of God.

To walk in the Spirit means that we yield to His control, we follow His lead, and we allow Him to exert His influence over us.

Ask yourself:

Do I yield to His control?

Do I follow His lead?

Do I allow for His influence over me?

Walking in the Spirit is basically the opposite of what comes natural to us.

It’s more natural for our flesh to control us.

The flesh being —our fallen nature under the power of sin—is in direct conflict with the Spirit.

When the flesh is in charge, the results are obviously not good.

Here are some of the results to allowing the flesh to control you.

Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But when the Spirit is in control, He produces godly qualities within us.

And the Bible tells us in Galatians 5:24 that:

Galatians 5:24 NLT

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.

In this series we are going to talk about how we can Keep It Under.

It being the fleshly desires.

How do we keep them nailed to the cross?

Those who walk in the Spirit

Those who walk in the Spirit are united with Him and are the ones that carry the fruit the Spirit produces.

Point #1

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in love.

Love is a necessity in our lives to be a successful follower of Christ.

Let’s look at some of the ways the Bible teaches us to love.

Love is needed for a strong marriage and strong families.

John 13:34-35 NLT

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Jesus requires us to love even our enemies.

Matthew 5:43-44 NLT

43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

And of course the command to love God.

Mark 12:29-30 NLT

29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’

Point #2

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in joy.

They exhibit gladness in what God has done, is doing, and will do.

The experience of deliverance and the anticipation of salvation were the most significant occasions for rejoicing among the O.T. people of God.

And now that we have seen come to pass what the O.T. saints hoped for, we should be joyful in all situations and circumstances.

The scriptures constantly tell us to have joy or rejoice.

*James 1:2 tells us to rejoice even during trials.

*Philippians 4:4 tells us to rejoice in the Lord always.

*John 16:24 tells us to ask and we will receive that our joy may be full.

*Romans 14:17 tells us the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

*Psalm 30:5 tells us that weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

John 15:11 NLT

11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Point #3

Those who walk in the Spirit walk in peace.

Our lives should not be defined by worry or anxiety.

Philippians 4:6 NLT

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.

Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

But in Isaiah, 48 it tells us:

Isaiah 48:22 NLT

“But there is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.

If you’re watching online or here in the building, I have a very important question to ask you.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you right now?