Freedom Secured

A Walk in the Spirit

Ephesians 4:17–24 AMP

17 So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds. 18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God [with no share in it; this is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. 19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. 20 But you did not so learn Christ! 21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], 22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; 23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], 24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

Truth that challenges your belief is not heretical!

A sacred cow for the western church is we worship our version of truth. According to Paul the condition of your heart affects how you receive truth!

The truth that will set you free from your struggles of sin lay right before you!

In Ephesians and in Colossians Paul gives the new saint everything that is needed for victory, in this battle of flesh and Spirit living!

Romans 1:16–17 AMP

16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, 17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith

The Gospel is is God’s POWER working in you for salvation!

And Delivering you from eternal death!

Fourfold salvation: saved from the penalty, power, presence and most importantly the pleasure of sin. A.W. Pink

Romans 8:12–17 ESV

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Romans 13:14 ESV

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

I can absolutely tell you what a Walk in the Spirit isn’t! It is not a walk that is Sinful, Hateful or Divisive!

As Paul wrote over in Ephesians 4 “assuming you have heard about Jesus Christ and have been TAUGHT by HIM! As the TRUTH that sets you free to put off the OLD MAN”

In our country we are absolutely about to destroy one another over hate for the other side. How many of these people do you think profess to be saved? In a nation that is supposedly made up of 62% christians!!

Galatians 5:22–26 AMP

22 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, 23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. 25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.] 26 Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.

A life in the Spirit “WILL” lead you to Love as Christ and to “DENY” your flesh as Christ did!

And I will certainly die on this hill …… if you do not start walking in these two elements of a true Holy Spirit life; I will say, you do not know the same Jesus I know!

To walk by the Spirit is to live with moment-by-moment dependency on and sensitivity to the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit. It is a lifestyle. It is my hope that you will begin today.

Charles Stanley

What changes need to be made in your life to better align with the teaching of being led by the Spirit?

Am I denying my old man and do I love AS Christ loves?