7 Descriptions Of Believers

~ Walk in the Spirit as… ~

Introduction  ~  Looking back at the history of “Abundant Life Now” posts, we discovered that there have been 60 posts entitled “7 [topic]” through June 2021.  Surprisingly, that equals two months’ worth of daily posts since the beginning of ALN on October 21, 2009.  During each day of this seventh month of 2021, each ALN post is a “7 [topic].”   

As Warriors (fight in the Spirit) ~  “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  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.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:16-18). 

As Redeemed Ones (continuing in the Spirit)  ~  “O foolish Galatians!  Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?  This only I want to learn from you:  Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  Have you suffered so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain?” (Galatians 3:1-4).

As Confronters (praying in the Spirit)  ~  “But me — I’m filled with God’s power, filled with God’s Spirit of justice and strength, ready to confront Jacob’s crime and Israel’s sin” (Micah 3:8, The Message). 

As Worshippers  ~  (worship God in the Spirit)  ~  Jesus said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).    

As Brethren (love in the Spirit)  ~   “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Romans 12:10-13).

As United Ones (access in the Spirit)  ~  “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:18).   

As Obedient Ones (live in the Spirit)  ~  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25).   

additional comment  ~   Notice that all important last phrase:  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).  Our ultimate goal as Christians on earth is to bring glory to God.  The only way we can do that is if we consistently “walk in the Spirit”—daily living out our lives under the direction and control of the Spirit of God.  The benefits of such living is seen in the first phrase of this post: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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7 Christian Activities

 ~ How About Doing a Self-Check Based Upon the Following? ~

key passage  ~  “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Christians Love Christ  ~  “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Christians Hate Sin Just As God Does  ~  “Let love be without hypocrisy.  Abhor what is evil.  Cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9).

Christians Pray  ~  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Christians Apply the Bible To Life  ~  “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (James 1:22-24).

Christians Repent (Turn Around) From Your Former Life  ~  “Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.’  And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost’” (Luke 19:8-10).  “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). … 

Christians Grow by Producing Fruits of the Spirit  ~  … “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Christians Walk by Faith  ~  “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23b).  “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2:20-21).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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7 Checkpoints

 ~ Evaluate Your Christian Life By Acts 2 Standards ~

Confessing Life  ~  “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4). …

Convicting Life  ~  … “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.  And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.  Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?’” (Acts 2:5-7).

Converting Life  ~  “‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’  Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’  And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:36-41). …

Constant Life  ~  … “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). …

Continuing Life  ~  … “Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple” (Acts 2:43-46a). …

Communing Life  ~  … “and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2:46b). …

Contagious Life  ~  … “praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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