Fri.’s Devo - Walking in the Fruit

Read: Isaiah 33:13-36:22; Galatians 5:13-26; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 23:23
God has something to say to everyone from the nations far away to the elect false teachers in Jerusalem. The bowl of iniquity had hit the tipping point and judgement was near. The righteous ones who spoke the truth, didn’t take dishonest gain, refused to hear murderous plans and turned away from evil would be fed and taken care of. God would be their king and their judge and they would live in peace and security. They would not be sick and their sins would be forgiven.
God called the rebellious nations to gather and listen to their fate. They would be destroyed in God’s anger because they refused to listen to his prophets or repent of their sins. Their nations would become desolate and the wild animals and birds would inhabit them.
In God’s Book of Life, all the names were written of those who chose him to be their father. They would also be gathered to him and they would see the land bloom and prosper for them. God called them to be strong and not fear because they would be saved and abundantly blessed. God would make a path for them that only they will be able to walk on and it would lead to his kingdom where there will be great joy and singing.
How appropriate that Isaiah would give such words of comfort for the remnant because they would need them in what they were about to face. The king of Assyrian came through the land of Judah capturing all the cities and now they had come to Jerusalem, the capital.
The Assyrian king sent his field commander to ask Hezekiah what he based his confidence in because they had defeated all the other nations of the earth. Their gods hadn’t been able to save them so why would Hezekiah think that their god would save them. He even went so far as to say that God had sent him to destroy them. He said this loudly and in the Hebrew language so that all of Hezekiah’s men could hear it. Eliakim, Shebna and Joah tried to get him to speak in Arabic so their men would not be intimidated but the field commander refused because he wanted to intimidate Hezekiah’s men so they would lose their confidence and their strength.
This is the devil’s tactic. He uses intimidation and fear. He also boldly testifies of what he had done in the past. That is why we have to remember what God has done in the past so we will not lose our confidence and dwell on what could happen instead of what God says will happen.
Eliakim, Shebna and Joah were greatly affected by the threats of the enemy and came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn to show their distress. Hezekiah’s men didn’t answer the field commander because they had been instructed not to. That is a good thing for us to remember. You cannot negotiate with the enemy; he is not worth the breath. To ignore his threats is the greatest insult to him. It shows that we aren’t putting any weight into his words. Our peace and security comes from God and his Word.
Paul makes it clear that grace was not given so we could sin and be forgiven. It was given so through love we could conquer the sinful nature that used to be ours. We now have a new nature which is the nature of God.
Paul gives 15 acts of the sinful nature that can be swallowed up by the 9 fruit of the Spirit. If we belong to Christ, then we have crucified our sinful nature to live in God’s Spirit which manifests love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Lord, may we walk in your fruit because we bear your nature.