WHEN YOU ARE TUMPED OVER, WHAT SPILLS OUT?
As Christ-followers, we Mosaics are not of this world. It has always been so for those that have the Spirit of the one true God living within them We have always had the choice of living according to the standards of the world or living according to the standards of the Spirit, that is, exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit.
Robert Francis, a former pastor and friend who has gone on to be with the Lord, coined a phrase, You discover what a person is full of when that person gets tumped over. I often think about that whenever I respond in anger and subsequently am disappointed in myself.
The Apostle Paul gave us direction, and Pastor Lawrence reminded us of Paul’s admonition on Sunday, regarding the differences between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit:
Galatians 5:16 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 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 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
When followed and obeyed, the Holy Spirit produces new attitudes and actions in the lives of believers. When a person lives under the control and influence of the Spirit, the Spirit produces wonderful, godly qualities in that person’s life and when tumped over, good spills out.
Two great tenets by which to live: Be filled with the Spirit and have a childlike faith!