“Walk by the spirit!” I have heard that been said so
many times but if I am to be honest I didn’t fully
understand what that meant. I thought I did
but I really didn’t. Walking and living by
the spirit is not just about speaking in tongues or
praying 24/7 even though those things are extremely
important. I am going to bring a bit more understanding
and hopefully it will help you walk and live by the spirit.
This is what the word says about walking in the spirit:
But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the Holy Spirit
[responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit];
then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and
desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).
Galatians 5:16
It is very clear that as Christians we are supposed to
walk and live in the Spirit. So how do you walk and live
in the Spirit?
Let’s look at another scripture:
For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the
[Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are
opposed to the flesh (godless human nature);
for these are antagonistic to each other [continually
withstanding and in conflict with each other],
so that you are not free but are prevented from
doing what you desire to do. Galatians 5:17
As we desire to walk and live in the Spirit we need
to understand something, there is a war going on
in us, a war between our flesh and the Holy Spirit.
We need to understand this. They are in conflict
with each other.
In other words, the flesh hates it when you allow
the Spirit to move through you, the flesh hates
anything Spirit which would be prayer, reading
your word, spending time with God, fasting,
meditating on His word and a whole lot more
and it is the same for the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit
hates flesh. He is opposed to it.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify
the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16
That is God’s desire for us, that we would
walk by the Spirit.
The question is how?
Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are
clear (obvious): they are immorality,
impurity, indecency,
Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealously,
anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions
(dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects
with peculiar opinions, heresies),
Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the
like. I warn you beforehand, just as
I did previously that those who do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom
of God. Galatians 5:19-21
As I read that scripture I realized
something, walking in the flesh is simply
doing any of the
things mentioned in the scripture above.
This scripture gives us great insight into
how the flesh operates. As I read it I
realized I had given the flesh a lot
of leeway in my life…..!
But we are called to walk and live
in the Spirit.
But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the
work which His presence within
accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness),
peace, patience (an even temper,
forbearance), kindness, goodness
(benevolence), faithfulness,
Gentleness (meekness, humility),
self-control (self-restraint, continence).
Against such things there is no law
[that can bring a charge]. Galatians 5:22, 23
Walking and living by the Spirit
is fighting against the flesh. It’s about
getting rid of the idols in our lives, working
on that crazy temper, getting rid of envy,
and so on.
It’s about walking in love when we want to
hate, it’s about forgiving someone when
you want to hold a grudge………..
We are not perfect so this fight we are in
is a life long fight! We need the help of the
Holy Spirit to win. This is one fight you
will not win by yourself!
Look at one more scripture with me:
And those who belong to Christ Jesus
(the Messiah) have crucified the flesh
(the godless human nature) with its
passions and appetites and desires.
Galatians 5:24
This is what walking and living in the
Spirit looks like. It’s about crucifying
the flesh with its passions and desires
daily! Is it easy, heck no!
But it’s a fight worth fighting. We want
the Holy Spirit to have total control.
That is the goal…..
May we call on Him to help us walk
and live in the Spirit.
Amen
Rolain
kingspeech 