The Refining Part 4
"Walking in the Spirit"
Part E
by Ricci Johnson-Wilson
Regardless of the function or post we have in life or ministry, we are called to serve. Whether we serve our neighbor, serve at the CedarWood or local church pantry, serve as a Joel’s Army intercessor, feed the poor, reach out to those in need, help our neighbor, talk to shut-ins, make sure others are okay, whether the need seems obvious or not, if we walk in the Spirit He will tell us. Or if we are called to be on corporate calls, on the helps crew or worship team at the Gathering of the Eagles, or to be the lead speaker, whatever our function is, we must—above all else—walk in the Spirit. It is the only way to function and ensure we fully fulfill our call. The only way to truly walk in the Spirit is to stay in tune with the Lord God Almighty, every single day. Why? Because, if you shut off that valve between you and the Father, He is going to stop flowing through you. The value must be opened every single day
One of our Joel’s Army State Coordinators (JASC) travels across her state to reach into her Prayer Cell Leaders’ (PCL) lives. If they are in the hospital, she finds out which one, and will even drive hours to ensure they are connected with someone locally. Then, she stays connected with that individual to make sure we stay updated on their condition. She pours her life into the lives of the Joel’s Army intercessors in her state and we have several JASC who are also just as committed.
Paul says to “pray without ceasing.” This enables our spirit to remain connected with the Holy Spirit. Remember, we read in the book of Acts that when Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to each one of us for us to function in the power and the authority, the humility, the tenderness and the love of the Holy Spirit. He is a gift straight from Heaven to enable the Church to operate in the fullness for which she’s been created to function. No wonder the enemy has sought to stifle the Holy Spirit for the last 2,000 years! Satan knows the power and authority the believer will walk in if we will enter into the Spirit every single day.
These passages all deal with this subject: Matthew 5:43-38, Colossians 3:23-24, Ephesians 6:7-8, 18-20, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, and Philippians 1:19-20. Every single one discusses walking in the Spirit, humbling ourselves, praying without ceasing and doing everything as unto the Lord and not unto man. Remember, what we do and how we serve another individual is not about the person standing in front of us. It is not about their flesh, and it needs not to be about our flesh. It needs to be about the Spirit of the Lord our God pouring into the soul of the person standing in front of us in that moment. As I said in the beginning, it is easy to connect with fellow believers or intercessors. We see the victories achieved through our tears. We are like-minded, and our spirit leaps when we see one another. Our challenge comes with those who do not walk in that in that capacity.
If we are going to be Spirit-led vessels, drawing all men into the Kingdom of God, helping to train people to go deeper in God than ever before, we must press into the Lord God Almighty and gain His understanding for the day. His understandings and impartations released to us through the Holy Spirit are essential.
We never know when we are going to miss our opportunity; we never know when we will inhibit our own growth. We never know the end from the beginning until it is too late. If we are going to be what God is calling us to be in this hour, we must press in. We must use this time wisely, ask Him to clear the path and if there is any hindrance left, let Him root it out, anywhere in our heart, in any area left. We have got to let Him move it out so that we can be used of God in this next hour, to be a vessel, to be the new breed of believers so that when people come into our presence they will feel the presence of the Lord God and it will free them to respond to God.
Romans 12:20 concludes by saying that if we would do all this, it is like “heaping coals of fire upon his head.” I have heard some good teachings on this; I am sure everyone has. When we show kindness to our enemies, it can bring them to repentance. However, it’s more than this. It used to be that coal was the only thing used to keep a house warm and cook food. If one’s coals died out, they would go to their neighbor and ask, “May I have a coal to get my fire started again?” By granting them some hot coals, we are gifting them with life. They can stay warm, they can cook their food and they can warm and sanitize water. Friends, you are gifting them with life.
So, when the Word says, “If anybody hungers feed him, if anybody thirsts, give him drink” it also says, “for in doing so thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.” You are gifting him with life when you heap coals of fire on his head; you are providing him with a means to live. When someone has nothing but animosity for us and we give them the means with which to live, will it not also open their hearts to one day receive the means for eternal life? We may need to forgive, forgive, and forgive some more in these situations in order to finally come to a place where we can heap coals upon friend or foe and provide them with life everlasting.
Consider the parable of the Kingdom of Heaven:
Matt 18:21-35: “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
This passage speaks of the importance of not just forgiving but forgiving again and again—seventy times seven. If we cannot forgive those who persecute us, who antagonize us, who reject us, who sin against us over and over again, how will our Father which is in Heaven forgive us? This parable speaks to the reality that if we do not forgive others, we are imprisoning them in this world and preventing them from entering the freedom of the Kingdom of Heaven. The end result? All that we’ve earned will be lost to us, and we will be enslaved until our debit is paid in full. This my friends, is eternity. I cannot begin to tell you the impact of unforgiveness in both our own lives and the lives of those around us.
God is continuously working to refine us, to transform us and to prepare us for the days ahead. Part of this process is learning to walk in the Spirit. This enables us to interact with those we love, those we know and those who wish they did not know us, in such a way as to always release within them the life-giving love of our God.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I want thank You for Your Word, for the work it does in our lives; it is unmatched. Your Word, coupled with prayer—what a powerful combination! It helps develop a character within us that is not self-serving, one that walks in humility and serves our fellow man without malice. This is a character developed by You to serve our fellow man without an agenda and demonstrate the character of our Lord to those we meet. Continue your refining work within us, Lord. Draw us into the prayer closet and open your Word that you might create in us a new man, ready, humble and prepared to prioritize that which You have created us to accomplish. Continue Your work Lord, transforming us into vessels who continuously walk in the Spirit.
Blessings & Love,
Ricci Wilson
