Walk by the Spirit

Dear COAH,

According to the church calendar, it was Pentecost three weeks ago. Pentecost may not mean much to some, unlike Passion Week or Easter Sunday observances. However, we must pay close attention to the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Pentecost marks the coming of the promised Spirit, whom Jesus said he would send to his disciples after his departure. Pentecost also marks the beginning of the church. The Spirit brings all believers together and equips everyone with spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of living God. He enters our lives when we first believe and is always with us through eternity. The Spirit neither forces His way into our lives nor dominate our thoughts and actions. He only takes control of our lives when we humbly invite Him into our lives. When we disobey the Spirit and follow the lusts of the flesh, we not only resist the work of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:17) but also grieve Him (Eph 4:30). Yes, that is right. We grieve Him. But, when we walk and live by the Spirit, we bear the wonderful fruit of the Spirit known as love, peace, joy, and the score of other qualities (Gal 5:22). We call this a Spirit-filled life.

So, brothers and sisters, let us remember that we have a choice each moment, to follow the ways of the flesh or the ways of the Spirit. If we choose the Spirit, we embrace peace and eternal life. When we choose the work of the flesh, then we become enslaved to sin and death. Let us be wise and make the most of the opportunity. Each decision we make, and each walk we take will all add up to the kind of life we will leave behind. Let us not forget that all of us will one day appear before the judgment seat of Christ and give account for everything we have done in the body.

Blessings,

Pastor Minho Song