Walk in the Spirit

Introduction

Walking in the Spirit of God brings freedom where the law never could.

The Holy Spirit is not a mystery, He is a person.

Do you have the evidence of a Spirit-Filled life?

The Tape Measure

Let’s say you’re going to cut a board.

First, you’d need to know what metric you were going to use to measure. Would you use the metric system or would you use the standard system? While they will get you close to one another, those lines on the tape measure aren’t going to line up.

Then, you’d need to take your actual measurement. You would need the real numbers to know exactly where to make the cut.

Finally, you make your mark, and you know that you have the right length material for the job that you need to complete.

Well, in the Christian life, we have the systems of measurement (the metrics). We then have the measurement (the real measurement), and then we make our marks based on how we line up with the Spirit of God.

I. The Metric

Galatians 5:16–18 NKJV

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

There are three units of measurement that are mentioned here. These are the Flesh, the Law, and the Spirit.

A. The Flesh

1. Definition of the Flesh

It is the depraved nature of a person.

The flesh has an appetite.

This is why we desire certain things, lust after things, because our flesh, our nature has an appetite for things that make our human side feel accomplished.

The Spirit also has an appetite.

That’s why it says in v. 17 that the flesh is set against the Spirit.

When we are saved, we know that we still sin. The reason that we still sin is because now we have both appetites inside of us.

So, the flesh is not destroyed when we are saved, but the power it has over our life is broken.

That’s why we struggle with temptations, because we are at war within ourselves to overcome the power of the flesh.

The lost person doesn’t have any such battle. They just do what feels natural, hence they are a natural man.

2. The Illustration in Scripture

The Pig and the Sheep

2 Peter 2:19 NKJV

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

2 Peter 2:22 NKJV

But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

The people of God are like sheep. Sheep are considered to be clean animals, but they aren’t that smart. They will walk through mud and manure and get it matted in their wool, and the shepherd has to shear away that dirty wool to prevent infections.

But the Bible describes those who go after false teachers who cause them to willingly turn to the law as a dog eating its own vomit and a pig wallowing in the mud.

The sheep is helpless and ignorant, but under protection by the shepherd who cleans them to keep them free from infection. The dog and the pig are intentionally dirty. They not only do it, but they enjoy doing it.

The difference between the dog and pig and the sheep is the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. One loves sin, the other is prone to infection but cleaned by the shepherd.

The Raven and the Dove

When we read in Genesis 8, we see that Noah released two birds. He released a raven and then he released a dove.

The raven is a scavenger. The Bible says that Noah released that raven and that raven went to and fro until the waters dried up. This was because that raven could just land on all of those dead, floating carcases and live his best life in the middle of death and disease.

The dove is a clean bird that needs grain and vegetation to appease it’s appetite. This is why we see the Holy Spirit illustrated as a dove, because a dove won’t have anything to do with disease or filth.

The difference between a dove and a raven is the difference between the Spirit and flesh. One requires cleanliness and purity to have its appetite appeased, the other will eat just about anything to survive and feels right at home among death and decay.

3. To “Fulfill the Flesh”

That word “fulfill” in v. 16 is a verb and it means “bring to fulfillment in action.”

That is, fulfilling the lust of the flesh means we actively participate in the process.

In the battle between our two natures, we have to choose a side.

B. The Law

Understand that when the New Testament says, “the law” it is talking about the law of God, not just any law. It is the combination of what we find in the first five books of the Bible.

The Galatian church was going back to the law. There were trying to follow God, but they were going about it the wrong way. Instead of walking in Spirit and in truth, they were trying to walk by the law. They were into achieving perfection instead of relying on God and receiving perfection.

And when we act to achieve perfection, we cut off the Spirit’s power in our life, and we begin to rely on self-power.

1. The Ally of the Flesh

The law acts like yeast in bread. When the law is added to the mixture it causes the power of the flesh to rise up.

Romans 7:8 NKJV

But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

Romans 3:20 NKJV

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

1 Corinthians 15:56 NKJV

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

The reason that we cannot be spiritual people by simply doing the right things is because those things which we know to be right and true are the strength of sin. However, we also know that there is a standard that we are called to live by. Paul writes and encouraged the church at Ephesus to “walk worthy of their calling.”

To see the perfect balance of this, we need to examine the life of Jesus and His relationship to the law of God.

2. Jesus and the Law

He was Passive

To be passive in something means to allow it to happen without taking action or resisting it.

He lived according to the law in every way because He was born under the Jewish law. That is, it was a part of His daily life.

He Recognized It

He recognized that the law of God was both a divine institution and that was corrupted by man.

He knew the fruit of the law, that people would seek to gain it’s approval by adding more and more to it.

Made it of No Effect

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

He made it of no effect by recognizing that it is sins tool of power.

He made it of no effect by understanding it is subject to the will of God.

A great example of this is in Acts 11 where He tells Peter to “Kill and eat”. Jesus overrules the law and says those things are clean which the law called unclean.

He showed that the law served the purposes of God and did not restrict the purposes of God.

He made it of no effect by showing that it is unattainable by man.

Many times He called for people to be saved by it, just for them to realize that they couldn’t, and just for them to realize that He was their salvation, not their own works.

He did this to the woman at the well, the rich young ruler, and when he asked if you would rescue and ox that fell in a ditch on the Sabbath.

The point is that obedience to the law cannot compensate for the complexities of sin and the world.

The Christian ought not resist to do what is right and recognize that the law was given by God. But also understand that the law does not overrule the will of God, nor does the law have the answers to the complexity of sin and to everyday life.

C. The Spirit

Life in the Spirit is not a medium between legalism and a license to sin. Life in the Holy Spirit is the highway that runs far above both of those things!

To walk in the Spirit means to be step-in-step with the Holy Spirit of God so that we don’t cave to the appetite of the flesh.

1. The Person

The Holy Spirit has taken up permanent residence in our life and has given us a new nature.

That new nature is opposed to the nature of our flesh and there is a war going on inside.

The Holy Spirit has the authority over the law, because the law takes second place (subject) to the will of God.

And, where the law brings contamination and gives power to our sin nature, the Holy Spirit cleanses us and gives power to our new nature.

II. The Measurement

Galatians 5:19–23 NKJV

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

A. Works of the Flesh

1. Sensual Sins

v. 19

Adultery; fornication

Uncleanness = To have a perverted mind and a perverted heart. Titus 1:15

Titus 1:15 NKJV

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

Lewdness = No Shame for the things taking place

v. 21 - Drunkenness and Revelries (Orgies)

2. Superstitious Sins

v. 20a

Idolatry

“We are to worship God, love people, and use things, but too often we use people, love self, and worship things, leaving God out of the picture completely.” -Weirsbe

We are prone to all kinds of idolatry even in the church. Stuff doesn’t matter, they are tools for God’s glory. Positions don’t matter, they are tools for God’s glory. Regulations don’t matter, they are tools for God’s glory. When we let the stuff, positions, or people determine our priorities, then we are involved in idol worship.

Witchcraft

This word in the Greek is where we get our word pharmaceutical from, because people who practice witchcraft and the occult use drugs as their pathway to demonic activity.

3. Social Sins (Mind, Emotion, and Will)

Hatred (an attitude that defies and challenges)

Contention (Strife) is the effect of hatred.

Jealousies = Hatred that is brought about by another possession of something good whether that is material, positional, or relational.

Outbursts of wrath // Selfish ambition

Dissensions and Heresies

When we form cliques or follow people and not the Lord whether its a pastor, lay-leader, or just another person.

Envy and Murder

B. Fruit of the Spirit

1. Toward God

Love, Joy, and Peace

2. Toward Man

Long-Suffering (endurance without quitting), kindness and gentleness, and goodness.

3. Toward Self

Faithfulness, Meekness (correctly using authority), Self-control).

This is how we measure our spiritual maturity.

III. The Mark

Galatians 5:24–26 NKJV

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

A. Crucify the Flesh

Christ died for me to erase the penalty

I died with Christ to break sin’s power. Romans 8:13

Romans 8:13 NKJV

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.

This means to believe and to act.

We do not wage war against our flesh, we will lose. Instead we embrace the Holy Spirit through personal surrender, and enlightened living.

B. Fulfill the Law

Make it of no effect

put it in submission to God’s will.

Rest in God’s grace as it’s fulfillment.

C. Live a Spirit-Filled Life

Giving God the glory! = The works of the flesh can imitate the works of the Spirit, but the heart of a person reveals which one it is. The spiritual man takes no credit and gives God the glory, the person of the flesh acts humble but is actually proud of themselves in their heart.

“Walk” in the Spirit = We must have the right atmosphere for fruit to grow.

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