Live According To The Spirit

Walk By the Spirit

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

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

There are two natures that live within us. The nature of the flesh and the nature of the Spirit. The flesh is the nature that is controlled by sin and the Spirit is the one that guides us in the will of God. We must choose which one we are going to live by. Tell the story about the two dogs and the one you feed the most is going to survive.

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold [m]into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

21 I find then the [n]principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God [o]in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in [p]the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner [q]of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from [r]the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Verse 15 says that Paul knows what is right and wants to do right, but instead he does the thing he hates (sin)

Verse 16 says if he recognizes that he is doing wrong then he agrees with God on what is right.

Verse 17-18 Paul claims that he still has sin and that he lives in it and finds it hard to escape it.

Verse 19 says not only is he doing wrong, but knows the right to do but refuses to do it.

Verses 21-25 Paul recognizes that he cannot escape sin on his own. He must trust and depend on Jesus Christ.

When we make a choice to follow the Spirit we e must e will not carry out the desires of the flesh. You are in essence replacing the flesh with the deeds of the Spirit.

You will find that you are in a battle daily between the flesh and the Spirit. One may say this is a no brainier! I will follow the Spirit. We must not discount the power of the flesh. It is recognizing the weakness of our flesh that enables us to ask the Spirit to give us strength to overcome the flesh.

Be Led By the Spirit

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 5

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

The only way to led by the Spirit is to be filled by the Spirit. This is not something we can do ourselves. God must do it. However, there are three things we must do before God will fill us with His Spirit.

1.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We must confess our sin and need for God’s cleansing. This shows that we are dependent on Him

2. Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, [a]acceptable to God, which is your [b]spiritual service of worship.

This is a matter of submission. We must surrender the entirety of our being to Him. God will not work when we mix our will with His.

3. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your [a]heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

This is a matter of wanting and asking. If you truly want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, then ask!

Evidence of being filled with the Spirit

Love - You will have a love for Christ and others.

The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

You cannot be filled with the Spirit and have hatred toward your brother.

2. Joy - joy (emotion) n. — the emotion of great happiness and pleasure.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Your joy is not dictated by your circumstances, but the hope Christ brings in your circumstances.

3. Peace - peace n. — harmonious relations and freedom from disputes; especially during the absence of war.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all [a]comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Our peace comes from prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving.

4. Patience - patience n. — patient endurance of pain or unhappiness.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

We are able to endure hardships in life in anticipation that it is preparing us for something better.

5. kindness - kindness (quality) n. — the quality of being warmhearted, considerate, humane, gentle, and sympathetic.

The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.

Kindness is simply meeting a need without any expectation of return.

6. Goodness - goodness n. — the quality of moral excellence; especially as a quality that is not stagnant, but actively working itself out.

Goodness is simply sanctification. It is becoming more Christ-like.

7. Faithfulness - faithfulness n. — the quality of being faithful.

For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

Being faithful means to be committed to something or someone.

8. Gentleness - gentleness n. — acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a [a]harsh word stirs up anger.

Gentleness is a matter of behaving in such a way that it subdues anger.

9. Self-control - self-control n. — the trait of resolutely controlling one’s own desires (which would produce actions); especially sensual desires.

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Self- control means you are in control of your emotions and desires.

Believers In Jesus Are To Live and Walk By the Spirit.

Believers have the capacity to live and walk by the Spirit because the Spirit dwells within them! How are you Walking? How are you living?