WALK ACCORDING TO …

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”,  Ephesians 2:2.

The book of Ephesians is a letter to Christians. It is a letter to help Christians grow and mature in Christ. Paul speaks of the time when we “walked according…”  First, the word according in the Greek means after the manner of, with, and in.  So, in times past we walked after the manner of something, walked with something or in something.  The modern definition of according means in agreement with, and depending on.  Another word worth looking at is walk.  It means to live or follow.

So, in time past we lived in agreement with, depending on and followed after the manner of the movement of this world.  It goes on to say, we lived according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience.  In times past was before we accepted Christ into our lives.  In times past we were children of disobedience.  In times past we followed the prince of the power of the air.  That was then, right?

Unfortunately, it is still going on, with one exception.  We should follow Christ, by allowing his Spirit to take control.  The word “according” tends to give the impression of domination or under the authority of another.  Because the spirit of Christ dwells in us we can choose to live according to the Word of God. We can choose to be under the influence and direction of the Holy Spirit or we can live or follow according to the world, under the influence and direction of the devil and evil spirits.

What an easy choice and yet we all struggle to yield to the leading of God’s Spirit.  Yes, it is about yielding, letting God have the right away.  You might think that you have to yield to the devil, but not so.  The devil and evil spirits nurture the flesh and that feels good.  So what is there to yield to?  Self is getting what it wants.

Are you living according to the word of God?  Are you yielding, constantly, to the leading of the Spirit of God?  How can you know if you are allowing God to have the right away in your life?  Often, when it conflicts with what you have in mind.

“God is a giver and a lover, and sin is selfish and self-centered”, T.D. Jakes.

Ephesians chapter two shows us what we were in our past, (1-3); what we are in the present (4-6); and what we shall be in the future (7-10).

Following after the Spirit,

Pastor Rosita