Walk by theSpirit

SERMON TITLE: How to Walk by the Spirit

TEXT: Galatians 5:16–26

BIG IDEA: Because the Holy Spirit has given believers new life, we must depend upon His power, follow His leading, and take daily steps of obedience.

SERMON AIM: To help believers understand what it means to walk by the Spirit and give them a practical, biblical pattern for depending upon the Spirit in everyday life.

INTRODUCTION

Many Christians know that they are supposed to walk by the Spirit.

We know that we should be Spirit-led.

We know that the fruit of the Spirit should be evident in our lives.

But the practical question is:

How do we actually do that?

What does it mean to walk by the Spirit when we are tempted?

What does it mean when we are angry, offended, afraid, anxious, or unsure what to do?

Paul does not simply tell believers to stop sinning.

He says:

“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

The answer to the flesh is not merely stronger willpower.

The answer is a life of dependence upon, submission to, and obedience through the Holy Spirit.

The Christian life begins by the Spirit, continues by the Spirit, and produces fruit through the Spirit.

I. UNDERSTAND THE SOURCE OF YOUR LIFE

Galatians 5:25

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

We live by the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the source of our spiritual life.

John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

We did not make ourselves spiritually alive.

We did not enter the kingdom through human effort.

We were born of the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:4–5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”

The Spirit did not merely help improve our old life.

He gave us new life.

Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

The Galatians had begun by the Spirit, but they were attempting to continue through human effort and law-keeping.

The same danger exists for us.

We may believe that salvation is by grace, but then try to live the Christian life through self-reliance.

KEY TRUTH:

The Spirit who gave us life is the Spirit upon whom we must depend to live.

We do not begin by grace and continue by willpower.

We do not begin by the Spirit and mature through the flesh.

The Christian life must be lived through the same power by which it began.

TRANSITION:

If the Spirit gave us life, then how should we now live?

Paul says that we must walk by the Spirit.

II. WALK BY THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

A walk in Scripture is often a picture of daily conduct.

Walking is continual.

Walking is directional.

Walking is progressive.

Walking happens one step at a time.

Paul is not describing a single emotional experience.

He is describing our daily manner of life.

Walking by the Spirit includes:

How we think.

How we speak.

How we respond.

How we handle temptation.

How we treat people.

How we make decisions.

How we react when we are hurt.

The command is not:

Walk by your feelings.

Walk by your instincts.

Walk by your circumstances.

Walk by your own understanding.

The command is:

Walk by the Spirit.

DEFINITION:

To walk by the Spirit is to live each day in conscious dependence upon the Holy Spirit, submitting our thoughts, desires, decisions, and actions to His leadership through the Word of God.

Paul also gives a promise:

“You will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Paul does not say that the desires of the flesh will immediately disappear.

He says that we do not have to obey them.

KEY TRUTH:

The presence of temptation does not mean the Spirit is absent.

The flesh may still speak, but it no longer has the right to lead.

Romans 8:12–14 “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

We no longer owe the flesh our obedience.

TRANSITION:

Walking by the Spirit does not remove all conflict.

In fact, the presence of the Spirit creates a new conflict within the believer.

III. RECOGNIZE THE CONFLICT

Galatians 5:17 “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

The flesh and the Spirit desire opposite things.

The flesh is our fallen nature that seeks satisfaction, control, pleasure, approval, and independence apart from God.

The flesh does not delight in submitting to God.

Romans 8:7 “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

The Spirit produces new desires.

The Spirit creates in us a desire for holiness, truth, love, obedience, and communion with God.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

Before Christ, we were controlled by the flesh.

Through the new birth, the Spirit has given us new life and new desires.

That is why there is now a battle.

The flesh says:

Protect yourself.

Prove yourself.

Get even.

Follow your feelings.

Satisfy the desire.

Control the outcome.

The Spirit leads us toward:

Trust.

Humility.

Forgiveness.

Holiness.

Love.

Self-control.

Obedience.

KEY TRUTH:

Being Spirit-led does not mean there is no battle.

It means the flesh is no longer the unquestioned master.

The struggle itself can be evidence that the Spirit is at work.

A dead person does not fight.

A believer fights because the Spirit has created a desire for something better.

TRANSITION:

Paul then changes the language slightly.

He speaks not only of walking by the Spirit but also of being led by the Spirit.

IV. FOLLOW THE SPIRIT’S LEAD

Galatians 5:18 “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Walking by the Spirit and being led by the Spirit describe the same life from two different perspectives.

Being led by the Spirit emphasizes the Spirit’s initiative.

Walking by the Spirit emphasizes our resulting conduct.

The Spirit leads.

We follow.

The Spirit enables.

We obey.

The Spirit produces.

We bear the fruit.

The Spirit does not follow our direction.

We follow His.

KEY STATEMENT:

Being led by the Spirit is not asking the Spirit to bless the direction we have already chosen.

It is allowing Him to determine the direction in which we walk.

The Spirit leads believers consistently with the Word of God.

John 16:13–14 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

The Spirit will never lead contrary to the Word He inspired.

A Spirit-led life is therefore also a Word-filled life.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

The Spirit uses the Word to:

Expose sin.

Renew our minds.

Correct false thinking.

Reveal the character of Christ.

Guide us toward obedience.

Before saying, “The Spirit led me,” we should ask:

Does this agree with Scripture?

Does this glorify Christ?

Does this lead toward holiness?

Does this reflect the fruit of the Spirit?

Does this require faith and obedience?

V. EXAMINE WHAT IS BEING PRODUCED

Galatians 5:19–23

Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit.

The works of the flesh reveal what happens when sinful desire governs a person.

The fruit of the Spirit reveals what the Spirit produces in those who walk under His influence.

The works of the flesh include:

Sexual immorality.

Impurity.

Idolatry.

Enmity.

Strife.

Jealousy.

Fits of anger.

Rivalries.

Dissensions.

Divisions.

Envy.

Notice how many of these works destroy relationships.

The flesh creates conflict, division, competition, and self-centeredness.

The Spirit produces:

Love.

Joy.

Peace.

Patience.

Kindness.

Goodness.

Faithfulness.

Gentleness.

Self-control.

The fruit is not produced through natural personality or behavior management.

It is the supernatural result of the Spirit’s work.

Grace does not eliminate effort.

Grace eliminates boasting.

KEY QUESTION:

What is being produced in my life?

Do my reactions reveal the flesh or the Spirit?

Am I becoming more loving?

More patient?

More gentle?

More self-controlled?

The clearest evidence that we are led by the Spirit is not that we say spiritual things.

It is that the character of Christ is being formed in us.

VI. CRUCIFY THE FLESH

Galatians 5:24 “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Notice the order.

We do not crucify the flesh so that we can belong to Christ.

We crucify the flesh because we belong to Christ.

Identity comes before obedience.

The believer belongs to Jesus.

Therefore, the flesh is no longer permitted to govern.

Crucifying the flesh means refusing to treat sinful desire as a command that must be obeyed.

The flesh is not negotiated with.

The flesh is not trusted.

The flesh is not allowed to set the direction.

The flesh is crucified.

Luke 9:23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

There was a decisive break with the old life when we came to Christ.

But there is also a daily application.

Each day, we deny the demands of the flesh and follow Christ.

Romans 8:13 “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.”

We put the flesh to death by the Spirit.

This is not self-powered moral improvement.

It is Spirit-empowered obedience.

TRANSITION:

How do we practically do this?

How do we move from knowing that we should walk by the Spirit to actually walking by the Spirit?

VII. HOW TO WALK BY THE SPIRIT

A. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR HELPLESSNESS

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Walking by the Spirit begins with humility.

We must admit that we cannot produce spiritual fruit independently of God.

We cannot manufacture true love.

We cannot produce lasting holiness.

We cannot overcome the flesh through pride and self-confidence.

Romans 7:18 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”

The flesh cannot defeat the flesh.

Human effort alone cannot produce spiritual life.

Before we act, we acknowledge:

“I cannot do this without You.”

“I cannot love this person in my own strength.”

“I cannot resist this temptation through willpower alone.”

“I cannot respond with gentleness unless You enable me.”

This confession destroys pride and creates dependence.

B. ASK FOR THE SPIRIT’S HELP

Because we are helpless apart from God, we pray.

Prayer is an expression of dependence.

We are not merely asking God to approve our plans.

We are asking Him to produce in us what we cannot produce ourselves.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,”

Hebrews 13:20–21 “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

We can pray:

Make me love.

Give me patience.

Give me the strength to say no.

Help me speak with gentleness.

Give me the desire to obey.

Lead me into truth.

Help me take the next faithful step.

The Spirit’s help is not a vague idea.

It is something we are commanded to seek through prayer.

C. TRUST GOD’S PROMISE

Romans 6:14 “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

Walking by the Spirit requires faith.

We must believe that sin is no longer our master.

The flesh may still tempt us.

The flesh may still shout.

The flesh may still pull.

But the flesh no longer possesses rightful dominion over those who belong to Christ.

We do not trust ourselves.

We trust God’s promise and the Spirit’s power.

Romans 8:14 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

God does not abandon His children to the rule of sin.

He continues His sanctifying work within them.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Faith says:

God’s way is better.

God’s Word is true.

Sin is not my master.

The Spirit is present.

God will give me strength to obey.

I may struggle, but I am not without hope.

Do not judge the Spirit’s work only by the speed of your progress.

Some victories come quickly.

Others come through repeated battles, confession, prayer, and perseverance.

Failure does not mean there is no hope.

The Spirit continues to work.

D. ACT IN OBEDIENCE

Philippians 2:12–13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Depending upon the Spirit does not mean doing nothing.

It does not mean waiting passively until obedience feels easy.

After acknowledging our helplessness, praying for help, and trusting God’s promise, we act.

We take the next obedient step.

We forgive.

We tell the truth.

We walk away from temptation.

We confess our sin.

We speak gently.

We stop the angry response.

We serve another person.

We refuse to gossip.

We make the phone call.

We ask for forgiveness.

We do what God has already made clear.

KEY STATEMENT:

We work because God is working in us.

1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

Dependent obedience is still obedience.

Spirit-empowered effort is still effort.

The difference is the source of our confidence and power.

We are not saying:

“I can do this by myself.”

We are saying:

“Because God is working in me, I can take the next step.”

E. THANK GOD FOR HIS WORK

After we obey, we give thanks.

We do not boast in our discipline.

We do not take credit for spiritual growth.

We thank God for producing in us the desire and power to do what is right.

2 Corinthians 8:16 “But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.”

Paul thanked God for the love that appeared in Titus.

The love was real.

Titus acted.

But God received the glory because God produced the desire.

When we respond with patience, we thank God.

When we resist temptation, we thank God.

When we forgive, we thank God.

When we act in love, we thank God.

When we speak with gentleness, we thank God.

This pattern removes every ground for pride.

PRACTICAL PATTERN:

Acknowledge.

Ask.

Trust.

Act.

Thank.

VIII. KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:25 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

The phrase “keep in step” carries the idea of walking in line or following an established direction.

The Spirit determines the direction.

We bring our steps into alignment with Him.

ILLUSTRATION:

Think of soldiers marching in formation.

One person does not choose his own direction, pace, and timing while expecting everyone else to adjust.

He listens.

He watches.

He follows the command.

He adjusts his step.

In the same way, keeping in step with the Spirit means that when we recognize we are out of alignment, we adjust our lives to Him.

We often want the Spirit to keep pace with our plans.

We make the decision.

We choose the direction.

We follow the desire.

Then we ask God to bless it.

But the Spirit does not follow our lead.

We follow His.

KEY STATEMENT:

When our desires move in one direction and the Spirit leads in another, we adjust our steps—not His.

Keeping in step with the Spirit means daily asking:

What does God’s Word say?

What desire is controlling me?

Am I responding from the flesh or from faith?

Does this response look like Christ?

What is the next step of obedience?

IX. WALKING BY THE SPIRIT IN DAILY LIFE

When someone offends you:

The flesh says, retaliate.

The Spirit leads toward gentleness, forgiveness, and self-control.

When you are afraid:

The flesh says, take control.

The Spirit leads you to trust God and act in faith.

When you are tempted:

The flesh says, satisfy the desire.

The Spirit reminds you that sin is no longer your master.

When you are criticized:

The flesh says, defend your image.

The Spirit leads toward humility, truth, and patience.

When someone else succeeds:

The flesh produces jealousy and envy.

The Spirit produces love and joy.

When conflict arises:

The flesh creates strife, rivalry, and division.

The Spirit leads toward peace, kindness, and reconciliation.

Walking by the Spirit occurs in these ordinary moments.

It is not limited to dramatic spiritual experiences.

It is choosing dependent obedience in the next decision.

CONCLUSION

The Christian life is impossible apart from the Holy Spirit.

We cannot produce His fruit on our own.

We cannot defeat the flesh through pride.

We cannot become holy through self-reliance.

But God has not left us alone.

The Spirit who gave us life now lives within us.

He creates new desires.

He leads us into truth.

He gives power to obey.

He produces the character of Christ.

Our responsibility is to walk with Him.

Acknowledge your helplessness.

Ask for His help.

Trust His promise.

Act in obedience.

Thank Him for His work.

CLOSING QUESTIONS

Where are you currently trying to live the Christian life in your own strength?

What desire of the flesh are you treating as though it must be obeyed?

Where are your steps out of alignment with the Spirit?

What is the next clear step of obedience God has placed in front of you?

FINAL CHALLENGE

Do not ask the Spirit to follow your direction.

Bring your life into step with His.

The Spirit leads.

You follow.

The Spirit enables.

You obey.

The Spirit produces the fruit.

God receives the glory.