In I Thess. 2:12 the Apostle Paul presents a challenge to the Thessalonians that he frequently presented to new believers. "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."  This same challenge is presented to the Ephesians, the Philippians, and the Colossians. The idea of walking worthy is to live in such a way that Christ would not be embarrassed that we bear his name. While the challenge is simply laid out for the Thessalonians, Paul elaborates on what it means to "walk worthy" in the other epistles. Let's see what he has to say.
     The challenge for the Ephesians is found in Eph. 4:1-3. " I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." For the Ephesians, walking worthy meant to demonstrate humility and meekness toward each other. It involved bearing each other's burdens and remaining unified through it all.
     In Colossians the challenge is given like this: "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col.1:10-12)  While walking worthy for the Ephesians dealt primarily with their relationships toward one another, walking worthy for the Colossians seems to speak more of their relationship with the Lord. They need to increase in the knowledge of God and Paul desires that they would be strengthened with the strength that only God can provide. They are also challenged in the area of thankfulness to God. So you see, in order for their walk to be worthy, the Colossians needed to tune up their relationship with the Lord.
     Finally, in Philippians, the challenge is set forth in this manner: "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God" (Phil. 1:27-28).  Although the wording is somewhat different, the challenge is still the same. "Only let your conversation [lifestyle] be as it becometh [to speak well of] the gospel."  Paul then defines what a life that speaks well of the gospel looks like; "...that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." Here we can see that for the Philippians a worthy walk is described as an effort to advance the faith of the gospel regardless of any attempts by their adversaries to stop it.
     So if we want an all-encompassing description of what it means to walk worthy, we must put these instructions given to these three churches together. To the Ephesians: walk worthy by growing in your relationship with one another. To the Colossians: walk worthy by growing in your relationship to the Lord. To the Philippians: walk worthy by faithfully and fervently reaching out to the lost. That leaves us with one question-are we walking worthy?

     In I Thess. 1:5 Paul rejoices in the fact that the gospel came to Thessalonica not in word only, but in power and the Holy Ghost! Because of this power of the Holy Ghost, many came to Christ. We must never forget that it is always the power of the Holy Ghost that produces fruit when the gospel is given. Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." So how can we be sure that when we witness, we are doing so in the power of the Holy Ghost? The simple answer (though not simple to practice) is to be sure that we are filled with the Holy Ghost.
   Ephesians 5:8 instructs us to "...be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." This is as much of a command as not committing adultery, or not stealing. How careful are we to be sure that we are filled with the Holy Spirit? While the indwelling of the Spirit is a one-time, permanent event that transpires at salvation, the filling of the Spirit must happen over and over. Let me share a few thoughts on some of the simple keys to being filled with the Spirit.

1) Prayer

• Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

• Luke 11:13  "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

• James 4:2 "...ye have not, because ye ask not."

The greatest need in our lives is probably one we pray for most seldom. While we can and should bring every care to God, what we need more than anything is the fullness of His Spirit!

2) Time in the Word

• Eph. 5:18-21 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."

In these verses we are told how one behaves who is filled with the Spirit. They have songs in their hearts, gratitude on their lips, and submissive Spirits. Now notice another passage.

• Col. 3:16-18  "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord."

Notice how similar the behavior is of those who are letting "the word of Christ dwell in them" to those who are "filled with the Spirit." This teaches us that the fullness of the Spirit and time in the Word are inextricably linked together. You will not have one with the other!

3) Crucified Flesh

• Gal. 5:17 "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

• Gal. 5:24 "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

We must recognize the fact that once we are born again we are dead to sin. We must take this into account in every decision we make and temptation we face. We must do those things that feed our Spirit and destroy those things that feed our flesh. Rom. 13:14 instructs us to, "...put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." We must remove anything or anyone from our lives that provides an opportunity for our flesh to be fed.

     Though this is not an exhaustive list for experiencing the fullness of God's Spirit, it would be a great place for all of us to start! I trust you will consider what Paul penned in Galatians 5:25. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."