Galatians 5:22-26 – “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.”

Sometimes, I am challenged unexpectedly by the Spirit of God.   Today, as I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God, I faced a challenge that demanded deep introspection and elicited repentance and resolve.

A passage quoted frequently by believers is Galatians 5:22-26.  “But the fruit (singular) of the Spirit (the fruit the Spirit produces) is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

The challenge was, “Are these the characteristics of your life?”    It would be easy to superficially say YES or to justify deficiency, saying, “I’m trying, or I’m human.”  I knew better than to give such a casual response.

• Do I love ALL THE TIME?
• Am I joyful ALL THE TIME?
• Do I live in a constant state of peace ALL THE TIME?
• Am I ALWAYS patient?
• Do I manifest kindness ALL THE TIME?

What about goodness?  The Greek word translated as “goodness” in this verse is agathosune, which is defined as “uprightness of heart and life.”

Some examples of this would be:

• Confronting someone about a sin.
• Giving to the poor.
• Providing for one’s children.
• Visiting the sick.
• Volunteering to clean up after a storm.
• Praying for an enemy.

That is a small sampling of examples.   But what about faithfulness?  Is that an all-time characteristic of my daily walk?   Do I struggle with gentleness?  And a big one, self-control, is that evidenced in my attitude, words, and deeds?

Paul’s challenge or revelation to the Galatians is driven home in verse 24 – “NOW (present tense) those who belong to Christ HAVE (past tense) crucified the flesh WITH its passions AND desires.”   If I belong to Christ, then this is my state.  [Emphasis mine].  That is incredibly challenging.

In verse 25, he says, “IF we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.” Being Spirit-led is not just receiving guidance about where to go and what to do; it is about every detail of life!   Paul urged them to live in a way that inspires others to live the same way.

Galatians 6:1 is intertwined in this life of the fruit of the Spirit.  We all have the capacity to become entrapped and sidetracked by the flesh.  Therefore, the life marked by the fruit of the Spirit always seeks restoration in gentleness, vividly remembering that we, too, could be in that failed condition.

If the fruit of the Spirit is the mark of my daily life, I can live in perfect peace and restore others.  In Galatians 6:6-10, Paul packages it and reminds us of the law of reciprocity (Reap what we sow, good or bad).

My cry is, “Lord, help me to ALWAYS exhibit, as the real fruit of my heart, the fruit of the Spirit ALL THE TIME, EVERY TIME!” Is that possible?   If it were not, it would not be in the Bible.  Galatians 5:16, “But I say, live by the Spirit, and you WILL NOT carry out the desires of the flesh.”

I am being challenged and facing my flaws.  What about you?  Let’s set our hearts to be those who always manifest and bear the fruit of the Spirit.  It will be our greatest evangelistic tool.  It will impact everyone and everything around us.

Let’s face our flaws and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us!

2 Kings 18:1-8 – “In the third year of the reign of Israel’s King Hoshea son of Elah, Ahaz’s son Hezekiah became king over Judah. ² He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.  His mother was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah. ³ He did what the Lord approved, just as his ancestor David had done. ⁴ He eliminated the high places, smashed the sacred pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah pole. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been offering incense to it; it was called Nehushtan. ⁵ He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; in this regard there was none like him among the kings of Judah either before or after. ⁶ He was loyal to the Lord and did not abandon him. He obeyed the commandments that the Lord had given to Moses. ⁷ The Lord was with him; he succeeded in all his endeavors. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to submit to him. ⁸ He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.”

Sometimes, reading with an open heart and uncluttered mind brings a much-needed reminder.   Such was the case today as I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God.

2 Kings 18:1-8 is a brief introduction to the reign of Hezekiah.  Something in this brief introduction grabbed my attention and stopped me in my tracks.   

In verse 3, “He did what the LORD approved…”   That should be our daily ambition.   In verse 4, he began to clean the house, clearing the land of all the idols and high places where false gods were worshipped.  Then, this stopped me in my tracks, “He ALSO demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had made, FOR UP TO THAT TIME the Israelites had been offering incense to it; it was called Nehushtan.”

Immediately, the Holy Spirit brought to my consciousness a shocking reality.   It is possible that there is the danger of taking something God has done and making an idol out of it.

They had made the object the source rather than simply a contact point.  They had made the symbol their reality.  We create formulas and rituals out of experiences and elevate the ritual or item to the level of God or above God.

We must never relegate God to a formula, a ritual, a practice, or even a mode of prayer.   He is God!   The visible symbols only point us to Him; they do not possess the magic quality to bring about His purposes or promises.

We are creatures of habit and creatures of the visible.  God is the God of the invisible.  We see Him through the symbols, but the symbols are not Him; they only point to Him and are often temporary reminders, not rigid additions to our practice.

That subject needs our full attention.   But since there is neither space nor time here, suffice it to say – NEVER allow any symbol, experience, practice, or place to become an idol.   Focus solely and only on God.  Matthew 6:33 – God first, God second, God third, God is to be our ALL.

If we focus on God and keep the symbols in their place (reminders that point to Him), we will not get sidetracked by the devil and crippled by idolatry.   Only God!   God only!

Beware of allowing the enemy to shift our focus from God to the object, event, or pattern.  That act of burning incense opened the door to other demonic invasions and created their problems.  It’s time to cleanse the heart and clear the land!

We are to be free and victorious through Jesus.  His blessings are NEW every morning.  Welcome today’s blessings, and tomorrow, NEW blessings will come.

I pray for you to discover that which God approves and do it today!

2 Kings 13:14-19 – “Now Elisha had a terminal illness. King Jehoash of Israel went down to visit him. He wept before him and said, “My father, my father!  The chariot and horsemen of Israel!” ¹⁵ Elisha told him, “Take a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. ¹⁶ Then Elisha told the king of Israel, “Aim the bow.” He did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the king’s hands. ¹⁷ Elisha said, “Open the east window,” and he did so. Elisha said, “Shoot!” and he did so. Elisha said, “This arrow symbolizes the victory the Lord will give you over Syria. You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!” ¹⁸ Then Elisha said, “Take the arrows,” and he did so. He told the king of Israel, “Strike the ground!” He struck the ground three times and stopped. ¹⁹ The prophet got angry at him and said, “If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would have annihilated Syria! But now, you will defeat Syria only three times.”

Hear this!  Today is a day without compare!   What is unique about today?  It is a day of opportunity and marks the beginning of a new outpouring of God we have longed for.   It will be viewed as just another day by all but those whose hearts are not attuned to the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit.   Today, God is reassuring His timeless call to Himself in full surrender and complete obedience.   No more mixed worship and divided hearts.

As I read in 2 Kings, a repeated theme surfaced.  Those Kings who did what was pleasing to God all had a similar flaw – they failed to fully rid the land of the high places and mixed worship.

The same situation exists today in many churches and lives.  There is a burning hunger for God, but there is evidence of allowing things of the flesh and world to be mixed into the church and life.  We call it tolerance and inclusiveness; God calls it an abomination.

In 2 Kings 13, when Elisha was terminally ill, he called King Jehoash to him for a prophetic revelation.  He had the king shoot an arrow to the East to symbolize victory over Syria.  In order to complete the victory, he instructed the king to take the arrows and “strike the ground.”

The king was clearly not enthusiastic, nor did he grasp the power of symbolism, so he nonchalantly hit the ground three meek times.  Elisha became irate!  He said, “If you had struck the ground 5 or 6 times, you would have annihilated Syria!  Complete victory was yours, BUT not only partial victory is coming because you did not give God your whole heart.”

In 2 Corinthians 6, Paul speaks to this attitude, condition, and requirement for Victory.  In verses 16-17, he says, “For we are the temple of the Living God, JUST AS GOD SAID, I will live IN them, and walk AMONG them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.  THEREFORE, come out from their midst, and be separate, says the Lord.  AND touch no unclean thing…”

God not only expects but demands complete commitment and obedience.

If we want complete victory and desire to be an integral part of God’s Last Days Harvest, there must be a coming out from the world and a coming into God.  Nothing of the flesh can be allowed to be mixed in.

Of course, this is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit, not by willpower.  It is not performance but a surrendered heart that God seeks.

We are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!   That is where victory comes, spilling over into everyday life.  We become flames to moths and honey to flies as we are totally invested in Him. Power flows unhindered by pride, or the impurity of mixed worship mingled with divided hearts.

So, today is the beginning of renewal, revival, and restoration.   The door is open, so let’s walk through it and into the glory of God!

It is time for us to Strike the Ground in a declaration of Victory!

1 Kings 19:1-4 – “Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning, “May the gods judge me severely if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!”  3 Elijah was afraid, so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah.  He left his servant there, 4 while he went a day’s journey into the wilderness.  He went and sat down under a shrub and asked the Lord to take his life: “I’ve had enough!  Now, O Lord, take my life.  After all, I’m no better than my ancestors.”

Elijah had just participated in a mighty miracle and had killed the prophets of Baal.   Jezebel sent him a threat.    He became afraid.    That captured my thoughts.   How did the Fear get in?

He had just seen the demonstration of God’s Almightiness, and yet became fearful when the queen of Baal threatened him.  Why?   We are often the most vulnerable after a victory. 

Before the battle and during the battle, we are focused, and faith flows.  After the victory, we are often physically, mentally, and emotionally drained.  We shift from supernatural strength and adrenaline to our humanity.

Elijah ran!   Exhausted, he lay down to sleep.   The angel came and gave him food.   He slept more, and a second time, the angel fed him.  The food of heaven and divine, as well as physical rest, is required to reach the place God has purposed.

He traveled 40 days and nights away from where he was, the victory and the threat.  In the cave, God asked a probing question, “Why are you here, Elijah?”   It was not rhetorical but literal.   “Elijah, why have you run from Jezebel?”

Elijah gave his human justification.   God responded by manifesting Himself to the prophet.   There was a powerful wind, earthquake, and fire (demonstrations and manifestations we call a move of God), but God was not in them.  

The real move of God was in the soft whisper of God.   Then God asked again, “Why are you here, Elijah?”  He got the same response.  The presence of God should have transformed him, but he was still focused on himself and his problem.

God then said in verse 15, “Go back the way you came and then go into the wilderness…”   Do you see that?  It is first, go back to the place of victory and where fear gripped your heart, then pursue My purposes.   He had three specific tasks.

God shifted Elijah’s focus from self and fear with the assurance and reminder Elijah, you are not alone!  There are 7,000 others who are standing for Me!

Think about this: if one can put a multitude to flight, think about what 7,000 can do.   That revelation was a source of hope and courage.  It should be to us as well.  We are not God’s only ones.   There are many others.   We are the Body of Christ, the Army of God on the earth.

Don’t look for the visible manifestations (they are wonderful).  Listen for the Voice of His presence; therein is the strength. 

• The Word of God is our sustenance for life. 
• The Spirit of God is our power.
• The Purpose of God is our mission.

If we have been sidetracked by fear, let’s retrace our steps so we can fulfill His call and purpose.  In the strength of His Word, the rest of His Spirit, and the assurance of being linked in the Body, we are more than conquerors.
Don’t focus on the problem.  Focus on the promise.  God is whispering, but if we focus on the threat, the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, we will miss the whisper where the strength lies.

May faith crowd out all fear from your heart, and may you see the demonstration of the Almightiness of God today!