Walking in the Spirit

I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity,

Introduction

Nothing is more important in the Christian life than a proper understanding of the working of the Holy Spirit in the life a Christian.

We recognize that the Holy Spirit is a Comforter, Guide, & Teacher

What does the Holy Spirit help us to accomplish?

Well, the Holy Spirit helps us to ‘die’ to self.

The Flesh is evil, backstabbing, disobedient and envious.

The Flesh will never please the Lord.

Well, the Lord said, “They that worship Me, must worship Me in Spirit and in Truth”.

If “worship” requires that we do it in Spirit, so does our “walk” with the Lord.

Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to WALK IN THE SPIRIT.

So the Question is asked, What does it look like when we are not walking in the Spirit?

When we live in the flesh we are not walking in the spirit.

What does living in the flesh look like?

Galatians 5:19–21 CSB

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

We should never try to please the Lord with our flesh for there is no good that is attained by the flesh.

Walking in the Spirit is not just speaking in private prayer languages or jerking of the physical body.'

So question remains, what does a spiritual walk produce?

It's a walk that produces Inward “Fruit”

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

When you and I willfully submit to the “Spirit” of God then our lives will be changed from the inside out.

Maturity or Completeness starts within and then works outward.

In other words you cannot fake having the fruit of the spirit.

It's a walk that produces inward “Praise”: (Admiration, Applaud, Glorification, Worship)

Ephesians 5:18–20 CSB

And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

It's a walk that produces inward “Obedience”

Galatians 5:25 CSB

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

The bible teaches is that obedience is better than sacrifice.

The Bible also teaches that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.

We must be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:14 CSB

For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.

It's a walk that produces an inward “Separation”: (Parting, Division, Abandonment)

Galatians 5:16 CSB

I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

The bible teaches us to separate ourselves from the unclean things of the world [flesh)—touch not, taste not, and handle not.

We as Gods people have to be careful trying to appear holy but living like a retch.

Matthew 23:27 CSB

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity.