September 2017 Message: Month of Walking In The Spirit

This is the beginning of our new year in the RCCG. The key to the great victories that we would experience during this new month and the rest of the year is the clear and consistent commandment of the Lord that we are to WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Gal 5.16.

The need to walk in the Spirit has become more evident because many have not been able to make much progress in their Christian lives because our experience of Christ is a historical one (that describes what happened when we gave our lives to Christ several years ago). Our focus has also shifted from the Lord to mortal and transient earthly leaders. In this new month, we shall begin to have new experiences of His goodness and grace on a daily basis as refocus on Him by the power of His Holy Spirit. Let us remember, He meant that the Holy Spirit lead us once He left this world in the flesh. Jn.16.13.

WHY WE MUST WALK IN THE SPIRIT?
Firstly, the scripture warns us that if we do not walk in the spirit we shall fulfill the lust or works of the flesh—and goes to identify some (13) of these namely: Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, rivalry or jealousy,  wrath, strife, seditions or slanders, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings or wild parties etc. Flesh is responsible for most of the problems in our homes, communities, nations and even churches.
 
Secondly, we know that the flesh profits NOTHING….Jn.6.63a. It might give a sense of false security or accomplishment or even enjoyment but spiritually and over time, it becomes evident that these amount to nothing. Listen to the testimonies of great men and women without Christ- Steve Jobs, Michael Jackson etc. Satan can wipe out whatever a person has accomplished within a few days or even at a moment. On the other hand, Job’s life teaches us that if we are living by the Spirit, whatever is destroyed by the devil can and will be restored by the Lord. Job. 19: 25-27; 42: 12-13. We see this in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ as well. Phil. 2: 5-10.
 
Thirdly, and finally, only by walking in the Spirit can we exercise dominion which is the essence of our creation. Gen. 1: 26-28, Mt.28:18-20.
 
HOW DO WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT?
Firstly, by not walking in our own wisdom which some people call common sense but by God’s sense. This is why the Lord mandates us to meditate on His word day and night, and not lean on our own understanding. Prov. 3.5-7. Ps. 1:1-3; Josh.1:8-9. Jn. 6:63b.
Meditation is what enables the written word of the Lord to become rhema, the spoken word to our spirit man which is applicable to your own peculiar circumstances. Is. 30:21, It is allowing the Spirit of God to take His word and interpret it to us. Jn.16:13.
Secondly, as we praise and worship the Lord in all circumstances, the Lord comes down into our situation because the Lord is searching for those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. Jn.4:23-24. On the other hand, the sacrifices of sinners are an abomination to Him because they are not made in spirit and truth Prov. 28.9.
Thirdly, we walk in the spirit by discovering, developing and deploying our natural and spiritual gifts. Everyone has both natural and spiritual gifts and progress comes as we use them. Mt. 25.14-30, 1 Cor. 12.7 (See example of Joseph in Gen. 37: 5, 9, 11&20; 40: 6-8; 41: 9, 12).It is your responsibility to do so… 2 Tim.1.6-7.
 
Finally, we walk in the spirit when we appreciate the people that the Lord has placed in our lives—members of our nuclear, church or work and even extended families.  They are gifts to be discovered and engaged….and we should never despise small beginnings…Zech.4.10. Even our children can be great blessings to us when we begin to listen to them because they carry special and peculiar giftings and messages for us (Acts 21:8-9).

In conclusion, let us work and pray that the Holy Spirit will take over our homes and churches so that all those ‘mountains’ raised by the devil to contest against them would become leveled as a plain this month Zech.4.6-7, Mt. 21.21..
Please make up your mind that you will not (or no longer) walk in the flesh but in the spirit.  

Happy new month of great and extraordinary victories.


Dele Olowu,
SATGO, Europe Mainland