21 DAYS TO PENTECOST

TEXT:  GALATIANS 5

¹⁶This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

 ¹⁷For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 ¹⁸But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

 ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

 ²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

 ²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

 ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 ²⁴And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 ²⁶Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

KEY TEXT: Galatians 5:22 “…But the fruit of the Spirit is …FAITH…”

REFLECTION:  The seventh aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit should be literally translated: “Faithfulness.”  The Spirit-filled are “faithful.” 

The faithless are unfaithful. They live for the moment. They are unreliable. They are undependable.  They are not loyal to Christ.  They cannot be counted on.  They are often distracted, easily dissuaded, and given to discouragement.

Those who are Spirit-driven are:

Faithful to Christ—To believe in Him and to believe Him.

Faithful to His Word—To read it, to believe it, and to live in harmony with it.

Faithful to His Church—To attend, to participate, to promote the body of Christ.

Faithful to obey His Will—To “hear what the Spirit saith,” and then to heed His call.

Faithful to walk in the Spirit—To go where He leads and to avoid going when He forbids.

Faithful to keep promises—To keep our commitments.

Faithful to fulfilling their duties and responsibilities—To do what we promise we will do and to do what we ought to do.

Faithful to follow through in spite of difficulty—To not allow the challenges or the obstacles or problems we face to deter us from fulfilling God’s will.

The Lord Jesus encouraged His Church, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10). 

God’s Word warns that as history comes to a dramatic finale Satan and all his minions will make war with the Lamb.  We can expect that onslaught will be far more expansive and intensive than at any other time in the annals of mankind.  Yet God’s Word promises, “The Lamb will overcome: For He is the Lord of Lords, and King of kings, and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful!” (Revelation 17:14).

Faithfulness is not optional.  It is vital to victory.  “Be filled with the Spirit!” “The fruit of the Spirit is…faithfulness.”

PRAYER: Our Father in Heaven, We give Thee glory and praise.  Humbly we acknowledge our great need for Thy sanctifying, stabilizing, and inspiring Spirit!  As we recall the first Christian Pentecost, we pray that thy Holy Spirit would once again be poured out upon us in all of His fullness.  Purify us we pray.  Empower us we pray.  Embolden us we pray.  And in everything we say and do, may Thy will be done.  In the strong name of Jesus we pray, Amen. “Our Father, &c.”