Walking In The Spirit

Introduction

The Holy Spirit is not necessarily the forgotten God, but in the hearts and minds of many believers, He suffers much mischaracterization. The Holy Spirit regenerates us, giving us a new nature, and then He remains in us, making himself manifest by the fruit of our new identity. However, the daily experience for the Christian is a war with our flesh as we try to make it in a broken existence. So, what does it mean to walk in the Spirit?

Perhaps the phrase walking in the Spirit seems like another confusing Christian term that will prove to be less than helpful on Monday morning. Walking in the Spirit may bring to mind the concept of some mystical out of body experience like being in the Matrix or harnessing the force like a Jedi knight. The passage we just read gives the promise that if we walk by the Spirit we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. However, if your life is anything like mine you find yourself wounded and bleeding on the battlefield as you step on one landmine after another. I can imagine the thoughts racing through your heads now as you think of all the guilt and failures last week.

Take heart friends. We do not have to be slaves of the flesh any longer. God graciously provides the weapons of grace we need for gospel transformation and daily living. Not only does God provide the means of grace we need, but the omnipotent Holy Spirit empowers believers to resist the flesh and crucify it. The “Forgotten God” is the one we must walk in, be led by, and live by.

Understanding The Issue

Sin is the problem.

We are born dead in trespasses and sins.

We are unable to obey.

We are hostile toward God.

Salvation is the remedy.

“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.” (, ESV)

The Spirit provides the power.

The church in Galatia was fractured and they would not move forward if they did not understand how to remember, rest, and rely on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit comes in power to convict, regenerate, and sanctify us.

The Holy Spirit comes in power to convict, regenerate, and sanctify us.

Holy Spirit’s power is not willpower, it is empowerment to resist the flesh and mortify it.

Holy Spirit’s power is not willpower, it is empowerment to resist the flesh and mortify it.

Under the law is Paul’s shorthand for under the curse of the law.

Under the law is Paul’s shorthand for under the curse of the law.

“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.” (, ESV)

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (, ESV)

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (, ESV)

Applying The Truth

The Holy Spirit is all powerful and he dwells in us.

Believe in his power and rely on it.

Believe in his power and rely on it.

Do not sign a truce with sin or accept the desires of the flesh.

Do not sign a truce with sin or accept the desires of the flesh.

The Holy Spirit will not only keep you from the curse of the law, he is the power to fulfill the law.

The Holy Spirit will not only keep you from the curse of the law, he is the power to fulfill the law.

“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”” (, ESV)

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (, ESV)

The Orchard should be a garden filled with the fruit of the Spirit offering an oasis of healing and nourishment in the barren desert of this world.

This is gospel transformation and vivification of our life in Christ.

To the tired legalist striving to be religious – you will not find freedom or power there.

To the angry moralist depressed by constant failure – you will not find freedom or joy there.

To the insecure hypocrite who is afraid of being discovered – you will not find freedom and victory there.

Repent of your sin, find your life in Jesus the rescuer, and live by the Spirit in power.

This comes by faith.

“For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” (, ESV)

The Spirit is the power and faith is the access.

“Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—” (, ESV)

Faith comes by the word of Christ.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (, ESV)

The word is essential for walking in the Spirit.

We feed our faith by the word.

The word of God is the food the soul that gives it strength, happiness, and satisfaction in God.

Two dogs fighting and the one who wins is the one you feed.

When our soul is nourished by the word and we delight in God, the flesh loses its power and appeal – the expulsive power of a greater affection.

This will not happen apart from God’s word.

We need the word daily.

We will find Christ in the scripture.

The Holy Spirit loves to point us to Christ and delights in us treasuring Christ there.

Journey Groups

Fresh infusions of the Spirit through the word of God are the way to be led, walk, and keep in step with the Spirit.

Journey Groups

These fresh infusions from the word of God are the way to be led, walk, and keep in step with the Spirit.