WALK IN THE SPIRIT?

WALK IN THE SPIRIT?

You hear people say things like, “are you in the Christmas spirit yet?” Or, “You need to lift your spirit”.  I suppose this refers to one’s attitude or mood or feelings.

The Bible speaks of the Spirit, and although it does have to do with an effect upon one’s spirits, it is much more.

The Bible says this: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25). You might hear some Christian say something like ‘I am moved by the Spirit (emotionally); or, I can feel (or sense) the Spirit, usually in response to a mood, an emotion or feelings. But the Spirit of God is not an attitude, mood or a feeling. The Spirit (of God) is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity of God.

So, what does it mean, live and walk in the Spirit? Is it a metaphor? Is it a simile? Or, is it literal? And if it is literal, what exactly does that mean ? And, how does a person “walk in the Spirit”? And what is the outcome of ‘walking in the Spirit’?

First, Jesus tells us, in John 16: 5–15, about the Spirit of God: “But now I (Jesus) am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, grief has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

“And He, when He comes,

• • will convict the world regarding sin,
  • and righteousness,
  • and judgment:
    • regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me;
    • and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me;
    • and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them at the present time.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes,

• • He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak;
  • and He will disclose to you what is to come.
  • He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you.”

Romans 8:9 tells us, that if you are truly saved and a Christian, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

And furthermore, 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own…”

Romans 8:11 reminds us one more time, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

We can know by these verses (and a little study in the Greek) that this is literal, with metaphors and similes used to help us understand.

Jesus is literally saying that The Holy Spirit of God is real; that He literally indwells you (your body, heart, mind, soul and spirit).

We are to literally ‘walk by way of the Spirit’, and ‘walk in the Spirit’.

So, I ask, how are we to DO this?

I believe the answer is that ‘we both DO and DO NOT do this’ in and of ourselves.

We DO this in of ourselves by submitting our lives to God through faith in Jesus and by becoming His obedient followers. It is at that point the Holy Spirit comes into us. (see GotQuestions.Org).

On the other hand, we DO NOT do this in and of ourselves, because we are saved and being sanctified by God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. (see 1 Peter 3-4).

Then we listen, submit our will, obey and learn. The Spirit of God will speak to us in various ways and at various times to teach us, to warn us and to guide us; to convict us of sin, and to comfort us. He will also give us words to say at the right time and in the right circumstances.

It is by our obedient submission to Him – minute by minute and day by day – that we walk in and by the Spirit.

What is the outcome of walking in and by the Spirit of God? (The following is taken from GotQuestions.Org):

The Apostle Paul writes, in Galatians 5:16, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” The way in which believers are called to live is can be found in (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 2:10; 4:1; 5:15; Colossians 2:6).

Apart from God’s saving grace, we could not walk by the Spirit. Indeed, we were spiritually dead and could only “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16; cf. Ephesians 2:1–3). In this context, the word flesh refers to the sinful state of humanity, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit. This includes things like sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, hatred, jealousy, envy, drunkenness, and other sinful behaviors (Galatians 5:19–21). Paul assures us that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (verse 21; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9–11).

Despite our sinfulness and rebellion, God “made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:5). The grace of God completely transformed our lives. We were dead in sin. Now, we are alive in Christ.

As believers, we are to called to walk by the Spirit: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25, KJV). The Holy Spirit gave us new life (John 3:6; 6:63), and we must yield to His sovereign control and influence over our lives. In other words, the Holy Spirit should direct all of our thoughts, actions, and decisions (cf. Romans 12:1–2).

In Galatians 5:13–26, Paul contrasts the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh is characterized by selfishness (verses 13–15; verse 26), sin (verses 19–21), and death (verse 21; cf. Romans 6:23), but the Spirit is characterized by love (Galatians 5:13–15, 22), righteousness (cf. Romans 6:22) and life (Galatians 5:25).

Because the flesh and the Spirit are opposed to one other (Galatians 5:17), we cannot live according to both at the same time. We must choose one. If we choose to live according to the flesh, we will experience the consequences of sin, which is death. But if we choose to walk by the Spirit, we will produce godly fruit (verses 22–23).

Unlike the works of the flesh, which lead to sin and destruction, the fruit of the Spirit leads to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Here is a breakdown of each fruit and how we can walk by the Spirit:

1. Love: Our lives are characterized by self-sacrificial service to God and others.

2. Joy: We will delight in knowing God and having a personal relationship with Him.

3. Peace: We will be free from anxiety and worry (cf. Philippians 4:6–7).

4. Patience: We will not lose our temper – and if we do, there is a remedy to put us back into the proper state and relationship with God and others.

5. Kindness: We will genuinely consider the needs and concerns of others.

6. Goodness: We will be holy as God is holy (cf. 1 Peter 1:16).

7. Faithfulness: When we endure trials and tribulations, we will not forsake God or turn our backs on Him.

8. Gentleness: We will have a spirit (or attitude) of grace and humility.

9. Self-control: We will not be controlled by sinful impulses (Galatians 5:24).

In short, the fruit of the Spirit is evidence that we belong to Christ and are no longer controlled by sinful impulses; instead, we are led by the Holy Spirit to live according to God’s will (cf. Romans 12:2). We must continue to walk by the Spirit and crucify (or put to death) the desires of the flesh. This is a daily journey that requires consistent effort, but God will complete the work that He began (Philippians 1:6).

(Note: Every Christian, at some time, may find themselves pulled by the desires or passions of the flesh to sin. But 1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (But) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”

These are not a list of ‘religious dos and don’ts’. This is the power of God, His gift to us as Christians, to live and to be as He designed us to be.

One day, at the end of all things, when we are finally at home with God in the new heaven and the new earth, we will be like Him. Until then, live and walk by the Spirit of God and have the attitude which was also in Christ Jesus – and be truly alive!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PS:  The Holy Spirit will never – I say, NEVER – tell you anything that does not conform to the Word of God (The Bible). Beware of false teachers who say otherwise or come up with “a word from God” that is not found in the Word of God.