Is Your Conduct Worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

[et_pb_section bb_built="1"][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.11"]Whatever is happening in our lives - whatever - the Bible admonishes us to conduct ourselves worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.It's fairly easy to do this when things are going well for us, but what happens when some trials or obstacles come our way.  Do we step out of the love, pushing it on a "backburner" for a while?Do we act in our flesh or emotions instead of our spirit man inside of us?  Oh yes, it can be so very easy, when someone is coming against us in an ungodly manner, to instantly react and respond in the same way.God expects us to give a kind answer, one that will calm a stormy situation, not give an answer that will stoke a fire.Our command in the New Testament is Love. Matthew 22:37-39 - Love the Lord thy God with your whole heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself.  Our neighbor is anyone who comes across our path.How can I do this, you may ask?   So many things happen unexpectedly!  Yes, that's just how the devil wants to trip us up.  But we can be ready and prepared at all times. We can keep him under our feet, where he belongs.  Resist the temptation to act out of love.  The Bible says in James 4:7 to "Submit yourselves to God."  "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  When you tell him to flee in the name of Jesus - he will actually flee in terror!If reacting from your flesh or emotions is an area in your life that you are "working on", then be sure to put on the armor of God and learn how to use it (Eph. 6:10-18).  This way you can be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. (We have a product catalog on our web site.  You may order the CD sets - The Whole Armor of God and Care and Feeding of the Mind, these will help teach you.)Ephesians 6:10-18 - The Whole Armor of God consists of: The Word of Truth; Breastplate of Righteousness, Feet Shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Shield of Faith; Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit. Also praying always in the Spirit.Each of us should be proud to wear the Helmet of Salvation; letting our light shine for the entire world to see.  We must be at the ready to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ - a gospel of love and peace.  We need to know that the moment we were born again that Jesus took our sins, threw them away and gave us His righteousness.  You and I are righteous.  This means we always have access to the Father, any time we desire - we have the right to freely come to Him.  It is Father God's good pleasure for us to come to Him!The Belt of Truth is the written (logos) Word of God strapped tightly around our loins.   The Sword of the Spirit fits right into this belt encased in a scabbard.  When we speak the Word of God, we are bringing up the Word from our heart, right out of our mouth.  We are speaking a Rhema (spoken) Word.  When we use the Shield of Faith, we quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. (Anything he tries to throw at us).  This is thanking and praising God for anything, even before we see it manifest in the natural.God is moved by our faith.  When we act in faith we please Him greatly (Hebrews 11:6.)Faith is a most powerful weapon.2 Corinthians 10:4 - says, the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.We are not in a fight against people, but we fight the fight the good fight of faith and take our stand against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. These are the demons who rule in the kingdom of darkness, under the devil. These are the demons that are oppressing the people we come in contact with.But we already have the victory through Christ Jesus.  We have an inheritance so great and wonderful.  We don't have to do the works in our own power - we just have to do what the Word says to do, so we may win the battle.  Jesus' armor is tried and tested.  We can't fail while wearing and using this protective armor!Galatians 3:26-27 - tells us, we are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  (We have been born again - saved when we received Jesus as our Savior and Lord).  Now those who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.If walking outside of the love walk has been a stronghold or even a minor roadblock in your life, then you can get rid of it - forever.  God's mighty power will destroy the strongholds.We have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. This is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.  Take some time to think about what that means.  We are always a winner, in times of peace or war!We have the fruit of the Spirit in us, all encased in love.  Joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, faith, meekness and temperance spring forth from this fruit of love.The Bible, in Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do ALL things though Christ Jesus which strengthens me."  The anointing and power inside of us enables us to do all things.I want to encourage every one who reads this article to take each one of the different fruit of the Spirit and work to develop it fully in our lives.For instance:  Take the fruit of joy or begin with one that you need to work on the most in your own life.  Take a week or month if need be and work to develop that particular fruit on a day-to-day, hour-by-hour and minute-by-minute basis.Purpose in your heart to act in joy (or the fruit you are currently working on), no matter what situation presents itself during that week or month.Read the Word (Bible) daily.  Look up the particular fruit you are working on to perfect in your life and see what the Bible says about it.  Read books or listen to CD's that will help you develop the fruit of the Spirit in your life.(TGM web site www.tgm.org, has an article entitled "Walking In The Fruit of the Spirit" that will be of help).Proverbs 4:20-22 tells us to attend to My Word.  Let it not depart from your eyes; keep them (the Word) in the midst (middle) of your heart.  For they (the Word) are Life to all who find them and Health to all your flesh.  Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.When we read the Bible, the promises will give life to our spirits and we will drop these promises into our hearts through believing what God says.  When the promise (Word) is deeply immersed in our hearts, we will be able to automatically pull the Word up and speak it over any situation that arises.The Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart, our mouths will speak.  So if the Word is in our hearts then we will respond in a godly way, with the fruit of the Spirit evident in our lives, all in a conduct worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.So many times, our flesh wants its own way, but when any difficult situation comes against us, we will be able to respond with wisdom and in a godly manner.Now, most of us know through experience that pushing back our flesh and operating out of our spirit is not always easy.  When we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh the Bible says.I would suggest that in the morning, right after waking up, begin speaking to your self.  Command your body to come under your soul (mind, will and emotions) and command your soul to come under your spirit.  Then command your spirit to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit only.  It is His good pleasure to guide us and direct our steps.   Repeat this as many times throughout the day as needed.  (At first, you will need to say this numerous times, just to let your body and soul know you really mean business!)It is good to be instant in prayer.  Praying before any difficult situation arises is a wise thing to do.  Daily, we need to ask God for wisdom and to help us put a guard over our mouth.  He desires to help us develop the fruit of the Spirit in our life.We don't always know what to pray for - but the Holy Spirit does.  Learn to pray in the spirit throughout the day.  This is praying in other tongues (a language besides our own).  When we pray in tongues, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through us and we are praying directly to God the Father.Mark 16:17 says that a believer shall speak in new tongues.  So if you do not have your own special prayer language and desire one then go to Luke 11:13 and ask God to fill you with His Spirit.  Believe by faith that you have received because God will not withhold anything from you.  He always makes good on His Word!When we purpose in our heart to do something, the Holy Spirit will help us succeed.  As we develop the fruit of the Spirit in our life, we will make sure not to be caught "off guard" and our conduct will be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]