I have been gathering with a group of young lions and teaching on what it means to walk in the Spirit. I would consider this one thing perhaps THE key to victory and true fruitfullness in the life of a believer. I was curious to hear what everyone thought that looked like in the life of a believer just for the sake of getting everyone to thinking about it.
Travis
The Spirit of GOD dwells within; and HE comforts,
counsels, directs, guides, leads us into a knowledge
of the truth and an understanding of His purpose
and will for us. The Spirit of GOD empowers and
enables us to follow and serve the LORD!
Excellent question Travis. Seems to be the key to New Testament Christian living. I don't have the complete answer, but I will share some thoughts here.
Col. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
The Spirit gives the believer an inner witness or discernment about whether something is right, good and true and it is received as peace. The greek word which is translated rule in this verse is probably better translated "umpire". Let the peace of Christ umpire in your heart.
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
If you about to do or say something which does not have the above mentioned qualities, it probably isn't the Lord's leading.
I also an interested in hearing what others have to share on this important topic.
Grace and peace to all.
I think that Paul describes it best in Romans 8. He compares the flesh to the Spirit. We, as humans, walk according to either one, the flesh or the Spirit. The one who is a follower of Christ will live and walk according to the Spirit. I believe that this is what Paul refers to when he talks of walking or praying in the Spirit. There is another form of praying in the Spirit as described in 1 Corinthians 14:13-17 but that is different. He refers to the daily walk that must be led by the Spirit and not the flesh.
Romans 8 (New American Standard Bible)
1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [a]through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Allow the gratefulness which flows forth from objective knowledge of what Christ accomplished on the cross lead you in every area of life.
Anything else is legalism.
It is what the brethren have said. And....
In everyday life, it means listening and heeding when He nudges you, for example, to go greet that new face in church, or give someone money, or refrain from making a not-so-edifying comment or wakes you up @ 5am to pray!
Examples:
Acts 8, He tells Philip to go join the Ethiopian eunuch's chariot
Acts 10:19, He tells Peter to go with Cornelius' servants.
In the above situations, He gave specific instructions to each person and they obeyed resulting in a harvest. As it was in those days, so today. He continually speaks to us, we need to quiet down and listen.
I would consider this one thing perhaps THE key to victory and true fruitfullness in the life of a believer
The Key to victory and true fruitfullnesis in the life of a believer is Holiness....
We are NOT able to be Holy in and of ourselves, and we should not try and discipline ourselfs in the flesh into living as holy that would be foolish and is decepection.
To live a Holy life a life in the Spirit it takes a work of the Holy Spirit to purify us from the filth of the flesh......
The Spirit Alone Mortifies
The Spirit strikes at the very root and habit of sin, the Spirit mortifies sin in us by purifying our hearts.
This work of the Spirit makes us Holy....
EDIT:- Spelling
Hello Travis.I've thought about this alot too.I think the real question is what do we do in order to stop walking in the Spirit? Walking in the Spirit is the starting point. Walking in the spirit is normal christianity. As soon as we go in the direction of self will, walking in the Spirit ceases. Whether self will toward religious laws or temptation.
I appreciate the responses so far and have read through them a couple of times. Keep them coming if you would. I am still very interested to hear everyone's perspective on this topic. I am seeing great fruit of teaching on this topic among the young men of our fellowship. They are hungry for God and are really getting it! I hope to find time to share some of what we have been studying in the articles section before too long.
Travis
"walking in the flesh" is a metaphor for selfishness
"walking in the spirit" is a metaphor for being loving
selfishness is sin
sin is selfishness
love is righteousness
righteousness is love
We cannot "walk in the spirit" and "walk in the flesh" at the same time.
We cannot sin and be righteous at the same time.
We cannot be selfish and loving at the same time.
If we are truly loving (walking in the spirit) we will not sin, but we will be righteous.
If we are truly loving then we will love God with all of our ability and love our neighbor as ourselves.
To walk in the Spirit is to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
With care in Christ...
"walking in the flesh" is a metaphor for selfishness""walking in the spirit" is a metaphor for being loving"
I would see it this way
Walking in the flesh is loving yourself.
Walking in the Spirit is loving God.
by murrcolr on 2010/2/21 11:02:59
I would see it this way
Walking in the flesh is loving yourself.
Walking in the Spirit is loving God.
murrcolr, do you think we should only love God? Or do you think we should love God, neighbor, and self (in the right order)?
I appreciate all of the good points that have been made on this topic of walking in the Spirit.
In order to walk in the Spirit, the self life must be dealt with. The cross is at the center of the Spirit led life, and it is by the Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the flesh.
Walking in the Spirit or being led by the Spirit is to follow Jesus, and following Jesus involves denying self and taking up the cross.
Many Christians walk not after the Spirit but are living out of their soul life. It will take a total surrender to the Lord of every area of our lives for us to walk in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to be in control, but unlike man, He will not force us to do anything. The devil is not the greatest hindrance to us walking in the Spirit. If we are wanting to save ourselves then we will loose out spiritualy. If we loose our self life, then we will gain the life of the Lord. Walking in the Spirit is being crucified with Christ, where it is no longer I that lives, but Christ lives in me.
Mike
Friends,
The most recent episode of the "White Horse Inn" radio show discusses this very topic. They contrast the Biblical concept of "walking in the Spirit" with the idea set forth by the Keswick concept of "walking in the Spirit"...
www.whitehorseinn.org
With care in Christ...
Here's something from Harry Foster that might be helpful in considering this topic...
To walk in the straight path of the gospel we must learn to walk in the Spirit, to be led by Him. What is the truth about the Holy Spirit? Perhaps we should turn to the gospel story and focus our attention on the experiences of Jesus. He began His public life of walking in the will of God at Jordan. And it was then that in a visible way the Holy Spirit came upon Him. Luke tells us that this happened while He was praying. What was He praying for? Surely it was to be guided in the will of the Father, as seems evident by the fact that we are at once told how He was led of the Spirit into the wilderness. He had been born of the Spirit; for thirty years He had lived by the Spirit; and now in a more definite way He was to be led by the Spirit, to walk in the Spirit. His prayer was answered.
SO it was that the Lord continued in the straight path of the will of the Father right to the final climax of spiritual maturity. This is God's goal for us all. The Corinthians and the Galatians needed to know -- as we do too -- that spirituality is more than witnessing striking operations of the Spirit or exercising His passing gifts; it means lasting conformity to the will of God in terms of character. This is the path, the straight path of the gospel. But how can we keep to it? It is a well-known fact that a human being cannot walk straight, but will go round in circles if left without landmarks to counter this natural tendency to veer away from the straight line. Well, we have landmarks to help us, for we have the perfect example of a Spirit-filled life in the Gospel description of our Saviour. But more -- much more -- than this, we have the same Spirit who led Him, who is able and willing to lead us. With the Word in our hands and the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we too may become spiritual people and make good progress in the straight path of the gospel.
-excerpted from [i]Toward the Mark - Vol. 3, No. 1, Jan. - Feb. 1974
murrcolr, do you think we should only love God? Or do you think we should love God, neighbor, and self (in the right order)?
You said walking in the Spirit is loving.
A un-converted husband can love there wife, un-converted mother can love there child, un-converted people who live next door can and do love each other...
The converted but still carnal do love others, so the difference between being led by your carnal nature and being led by the Holy Spirit must be of a higher path it must be more than loving.
That path we are to follow must be a complete giving up the love of your self and loving God completely with your whole heart. Some of the ways that love for God would manifest is by keeping his commandments, doing what is pleasing to him, loving others etc...etc.
Hope that explains....
What a wonderful question and I am sure there are many facets to this beautiful diamond, many of which are being expressed in these posts.
Here is how I walk in the spirit. The same way I received the Spirit, "by the hearing of faith." I received the Spirit when I believed "the thing heard", the rhema and logos of Jesus Christ. I now walk in the Spirit in the very same way. The Spirit is sent to guide me into all truth. He speaks, and will never speak on His own, but only what He hears is what He speaks. Walking in the Spirit is simply hearing,receiving and acting upon what the Spirit is speaking - this is the obedience (hearing under) of faith. This is my simple walk in the Spirit, out of faith unto faith. I hear His voice "in the way" and I receive the implanted word and it has been saving my soul. Receiving His word, is receiving His truth, and receiving the love of the truth is setting me free from the vanity of my own mind.
Everytime I am tempted, the Holy Spirit speaks to me, and simply by receiving His word by faith, I overcome the temptation and walk in the way of escape. The way of escape is simply the way the Holy Spirit directs me through His voice. This is how by simply walking in the Holy Spirit we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We are conscious of them, but we choose by faith to receive what the Holy Spirit says and we overcome by faith in the thing heard.
All the words of Jesus are Spirit and life, the Holy Spirit brings all the words of Jesus back to me moment by moment so that I can literally walk by faith, from faith to faith. This is producing the righteousness of God, the rightouesness of God that is by faith. It is simply hearing the voice of God through the word spoken by the Holy Spirit residing in me and guiding my feet into paths of peace. It is wonderfully simple.
makrothumia
Just wanted to highlight some of the points.
SO it was that the Lord continued in the straight path of the will of the Father right to the final climax of spiritual maturity.
To be a Son of God.
The Corinthians and the Galatians needed to know -- as we do too -- that spirituality is more than witnessing striking operations of the Spirit or exercising His passing gifts; it means lasting conformity to the will of God in terms of character.
In terms of character
But how can we keep to it? It is a well-known fact that a human being cannot walk straight, but will go round in circles if left without landmarks to counter this natural tendency to veer away from the straight line.
Natural tendency to veer away from the straight line.
So how do we go from being a Child of God to a Son of God in the terms of character becasue we have a natural tendancy in us to veer away from the things of spirit.
Matthew 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
The Spirit of God, the Sanctifier of mens souls who takes away, who destroys the natural veer in us is the one we need to encounter. This work of sanctification which gives us a Godly charcater and will allow us to follow the straight path of the gospel where are the Sons of God...........
i was hoping this thread would go on and on, perhaps with those more seasoned in the faith, sharing their experiences of their daily walk with our Teacher. I know some experiences are too sacred to share, but what little you're allowed to share, would be gratefully received.
SHALOM
I agree Theophila. I would like to hear some more thoughts on what it means to walk in the Spirit from everyone.
Travis
very good thread.that's why i like SI.it's focused on our wonderful Saviour. a while ago i heard D.Wilkerson's description of what walking in the Spirit is and really agreed with him.he puts it this way: "Walking in the Spirit is not doing your best not to sin,but it's walking in total dependence on the Lord,trusting the Spirit of God to produce the righteousness of Christ in us."
To me, walking in the Spirit is walking in fullfilment of His word. When someone offends me, but I do not take the offence, I am walking in the Spirit. When I am insulted , yet I do not care because I am dead to my own self, I am walking in the Spirit. When I love when naturally I should not, I am walking in the Spirit. When I should be angry, but ager quicly gives way to love and forgiveness, then I am walking in the Spirit.
When I have something against a brother, or know that he has something against me and I go to that brother and reach out to him, then I am walking in the Spirit. When I agree with someone who attacks me, rather than defend myself, then I am walking in the Spirit.
When I look upon a woman, not with lust but with purity, then I am walking in the Spirit. When I would rather pluck out my eye than offend my Holy God, then I am walking in the Spirit. When all men know that my word is my bond, that I do not have to attach oaths to my word, then I am walking in the Spirit.
When I am assaulted and I turn the other cheek, then I am walking in the Spirit. If I am robbed of my wallet, and I reach into my pocket and give my robber the money that is also in my pocket, then I am walking in the Spirit. When I can bless those who curse me, and pray for those who hate me without cause, then I am walking in the Spirit.
If I can love , not only those who love me, but those who hate me, then I am walking in the Spirit. When I do a good thing for someone and I make sure no one knows about it, then I am walking in the Spirit. When I talk to my Lord all day long, whispering loving thoughts to Him, then I am walking in the Spirit.
When I fast, and no one knows about it, then I am walking in the Spirit. When I refuse to be anxious, when I make a concious descision to do all things by prayer and supplication and thanksgiving, then I am walking in the Spirit. When I judge others by the same standard that I judge myself, then I am walking in the Spirit.
When two paths open up before me, and I choose the narrow one, then I am walking in the Spirit. When I do all these things and men know me because of them, then I am walking in the Spirit. When disater strike my life and my response is to praise my Father in Heaven and lift up the name of Jesus, then I am walking in the Spirit.
As I do all these things and a peace that is beyond understanding fills me completely, then I know that I am walking in the Spirit of the Living God and my heart literaly burns within my chest. And as it burns, it gives off a light that men can see and they are drawn to Christ in me. When this happens, I know that I am walking in the Spirit..........Frank
Walking in the Spirit is so simple And you all said it so well but I thought I would add Galatians 5.
The Lord has been ministering this to me for over a year now along with 1 Corinthians 13. And of course He has put situations in my path so we can be a doer of the Word and not just a hearer.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control. Against such there is no law. 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."
1 Cor. 13
"Love suffers long, and is kind, love does not envy:love does not parade itself, is not puffed up: does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil:does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth: bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things. Love NEVER fails...And now abide, faith, hope, love, these three: but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor.14:1 Pursue Love...And for or me, if I were to be concentrating on these, I would be constantly walking in the Spirit. All glory to God. This is my desire.
Under the topic of "are we born w/ a sin nature or not?" I posted a lengthy post on what the real issue is. THis topic would be covered by that post as well. And is actually the real issue. If there was a need to walk in the Spirit, then we were walking in something else beforehand.
Walking in the Spirit: is not what you do or don't do. It's not how well you perform. Walking in the Spirit is simple Faith in what Christ did for you on the Cross as means of Justification, Sanctification and ultimately, Glorification. God does all by His Spirit, not by changing our soul. We walk in the Spirit by allowing the manifestation of Jesus through our lives. It's the same exact thing as the Kingdom of God. What is that? It's the Rule, the Reign, the man Christ Jesus having total and complete dominion in your heart and life. That's being in the Kingdom this side of Glory. Hope this helps.
P.S. see, this is such a difficult thing to communicate to the Body these days as this message of the Cross takes all human effort out of the factor. A great man I will quote, "God looked down and seen me in my filth and HE reached down and scooped me up and placed me and all my failures and shortcomings inside of Himself." We did nothing to deserve this. Being in Christ and Christ in us through what was accomplished on the Cross IS walking in the Spirit and dwelling in the Kingdom. Great question - most of the Church has no clue. The Lord bless you.
Dear knitefall,
We should be careful to express anything contrary to how the Holy Spirit inspired it to be said by the hands of the apostles and our Lord Himself. For example,
the Holy spirit inspired these words - "giving all diligence to add to your faith." This hardly sounds like taking out all human effort. Have you considered this?
The Holy Spirit also said "Seeing that you have purified your souls by obeying the truth." This again directly contradicts what you have said about taking away all human effort.
There is a voice in the Greek grammar called "middle" voice. It is used when the writer wants to place the responsibility upon the individual to accomplish an action. Please search this out and you will find that "putting off the old man" is an aorist, middle, imperative which places the responsibility for the accomplishing of this command squarely upon the believer.
I am unsure why there is a need to make statements like faith takes out all human effort. On the contrary, our Lord Himself said - AGONIZE to enter for many will seek to enter and will not be able."
Giving our all does not in any degree take away from the glory of God the Father or our Lord Jesus Christ. What does take away His glory is making statements that are a direct contradiction to how He chose to inspire them to be said the first time.
makrothumia
makrothumia
Helpful to understanding "walking in the Spirit" is to look at Scripture for all the passages that deal with the work of the Spirit ( eg., mortify the deeds of the body,etc. ) and the names for the Spirit ( eg., Spirit of Holiness, etc.) Also, look at the Old and New Testament for the things that grieve the Spirit. The Spirit is in the believer for a purpose(s). Figure those out and walk (live) in the way of the Spirit.
Alright, what did Abraham DO to be declared Righteous? What did the sinner on the cross, next to Jesus DO... to be declared Justified? Answer in this Light, How does the Holy Spirit work in the life of a Believer?
Some thoughts that came to me this afternoon as I prepared to teach on Roman's 7.
It is interesting to look at the whole context of scripture and see how many times walking in the Spirit is contrasted with keeping the law. Galatians: The whole discussing deals with people who accepted justification by faith but then tried to trust in keeping the law to continue in right relationship with God. Romans: Deals primarily with the fact that the law only revealed the exceeding sinfulness of sin (Romans 7:13) and condemned us. 2 Cor. 3:7 calls the law (the ten commandments specifically as they were the ones graven in stone) a ministration of death. It did not minister life, nor could it. It did not make us righteous, but showed us how unrighteous we were.
Many people isolate a verse or a chapter and try to interpret it in that isolation through the lenses of personal experience. Many have used Romans 7 to describe a struggle between two natures (please don't turn this thread into another discussion of natures)that many believe reside in a believer. They use the old white dog/black dog analogy and say the one we feed will be the one that grows and eventually dominates. Not so in my opinion. Paul is describing the futility of trying to live for God out of his own flesh by trying to keep the law. When we attempt to be right with God, or to please Him, or to get Him to answer prayer, or to approach Him in any way through our own efforts and abilities to live a holy life, we are walking in the flesh. So many times we see walking in the flesh in light of holiness of action, but in reality holiness of action is the fruit of walking in the Spirit, of living out of a power other than ourselves.
I like what Frank said. Most of his examples were actions, but they all were indicative of something going on in our Spirit from which these actions emanate. In fact, I am enjoying reading what each of you have to say. Walking in the Spirit has been resonating in me for some time now.
KEEP IT COMING. As you think about what it means to walk in the Spirit, add your comments.
Travis
I guess the question could also be phrased as,'what does it mean to walk WITH the Spirit of God?
I believe the Holy Spirit, 'a.k.a the Spirit' lives in us, to lead us in the path of life and enable us conform to the image of Jesus. I'm walking with the Spirit when i cooperate with Him in the molding process.
Consider Amos 3:3..'...can two walk together except they be agreed?' If i'm not walking with the Holy Spirit, it's because i'm not agreeing with Him.
I remember once when DH are i were arguing about whateveritwas. To my shame, i admit i gearing for a verbal mudfight. Fortunately, i felt a check in my heart before i could do any damage. Bless God, i heeded it and the conversation ended amiably. A few more seconds and i would have traded an atmosphere of love and tranquility for my right to be right.
The Holy Spirit really does lead us into all truth...not just sound theological truth but truth for daily Christ-likeness.
Travis writes....
"Not so in my opinion. Paul is describing the futility of trying to live for God out of his own flesh by trying to keep the law. When we attempt to be right with God, or to please Him, or to get Him to answer prayer, or to approach Him in any way through our own efforts and abilities to live a holy life, we are walking in the flesh. So many times we see walking in the flesh in light of holiness of action, but in reality holiness of action is the fruit of walking in the Spirit, of living out of a power other than ourselves.'
I agree with my brother. There is such a subtleness here and is the rocks upon which many a man has foundered in his faith.
Doctinal correctness, theological knowledge, its all information. And without the Spirit of the Lord it is dead orthodoxy. It is illumination of the Word, and by that I mean it is the Holy Spirit working in us for His good pleasure that prompts us in a certain direction. When we respond to that prompting, then we are walking in the Spirit. All the things I mentioned in my last post I would never do. In fact, my nature is such that I would do the exact opposite for most of the examples and be applauded by my culture. My only part in this is to yield to the inner workings of the Spirit. It must come from the inside out. If it comes from the outside in, then I will eventually cry out "Oh wretched man that I am.' The problem is that for long periods of time we cannot tell if a man's outward piety comes from the inside out or the outside in. Time and circumstances will of course tell the story. The man who operates and lives his life by dead orthodoxy and tries to accomplish a Christ like life from the outside in, will eventually, or sooner or later, fall to pride and then fall as he ultimately fails. If we try an accomplish the commandments of God in our own strength, then we will utterly fail in short order, or have some success and self-righteousness and then utterly fail. This can take one year, but I have also seen it take 30 years.
My part is to surrender and yield to the Spirit that is within me. I must also be able to hear that small still voice that leads and guides me. I must also be genuine in all that I do, my outward actions must be a reflection of my inner state. That right there is the difference between life and death. I must cultivate my relationship with Jesus because my ability to walk in the Spirit is directly tied to Christ in me and my relationship with Him. I must be able to come into His presence. It is only by walking in His presence, walking in the Spirit, that I can be used of Him to be light to the darkness. Experiencing His presence actually, as opposed to believing a theological truth, having a faith in information, giving a mental assent to an abstract truth is also the difference between Spiritual life and a fleshly life........Frank
Amen Frank. Well said.
Travis
I hope you don't mind hearing from someone who has just joined the disussion. You wrote -
"Not so in my opinion. Paul is describing the futility of trying to live for God out of his own flesh by trying to keep the law. When we attempt to be right with God, or to please Him, or to get Him to answer prayer, or to approach Him in any way through our own efforts and abilities to live a holy life, we are walking in the flesh. So many times we see walking in the flesh in light of holiness of action, but in reality holiness of action is the fruit of walking in the Spirit, of living out of a power other than ourselves."
Yes exactly but the hardest thing ever is to try and tell someone how to do it. And this is what we all want to do but many spend years and years trying to understand the 'how' when most answers just give the 'why'. I myself was stuck in this one.
There has been some debate about what our own responsibility is here -
"I am unsure why there is a need to make statements like faith takes out all human effort. On the contrary, our Lord Himself said - AGONIZE to enter for many will seek to enter and will not be able."
This is so, we are to seek first the kingdom of God, anything that comes first for us will keep us out as it is an idol. The way to enter in is to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit and not stop His work within us. He wants us to enter in and knows how to get us there, so all we need is to desire it about everything, and not just seek it as one of many things we wish to have, and to not grieve Him.
The actual work itself in entering is a divine transaction whereby we agree with God's pronouncement He has made on us, that all of our works and all of our earning of brownie points for His approval, are as nothing, we can do nothing that has any worth in His kingdom and everything that we did do was tainted with the flesh, there was no purity, it had a streak of self in there. We enjoyed the attention we got or the praise or even thought ourselves more 'holy' or obedient or doctrinal than our brethren and allowed pride to grow.
It is when the Reaper comes with His scythe that we see the whole emptiness of our confessions. This is the work of God alone and any resistence to its fulfillment though pride will mean that one day it is too late, we grieved Him too many times ans His presence left. Sadly, this is the state for many in the church today. We are hanging over the gates of hell by a thread if we have not entered in. We are either in or not in, like the ark and Noah, there is no halfway point. To be saved from the floods we must be aboard, safe in the arms of the Saviour.
And again, once we enter in, and the chains which bound us have fallen of so that we are not a mixture of flesh and spirit which cannot be, if the heart is pure then everything that issues forth is pure, then and not until then can we walk in the Spirit, having had the old man nailed to the cross with Christ and then buried in Baptism and we have attended our own 'white funeral' as Oswald Chambers oput it.
To walk in the Spirit is as easy as to walk in the flesh was previously. It is to walk according to our nature that is the new nature. We know how to do it then we do not need someone to explain to us, but even so, it is not easy to put into words. Spiritual matters aren't. But we know the difference between walking in the mixture and now walking in the light. In the mixture, we heard God say this way and that, but now, all is before us in perfection and we know exactly what He requires.
There is never a time when we will be 'taken over' by Him, something is always required of us but this time it is the keeping down of the natural flesh and many misunderstand Paul here.
It is not a battle with sin as others suppose, that battle has been won and we are walking in conformity to the Son of God. Now we must 'sacrifice the natural' as again our friend Chambers says. What comes from us is the natural impulse of the human nature and not the lower part which was ruled by sin before it went to the cross.
This part will be weary in its human strength and hunger and desire to preserve its life, but when the Spirit is in control of a man, this part will bow down and must be kept down. This was the test of Adam but he failed. In his innocence he refused to accept the boundaries God had given him regarding what knowledge God would reveal to him and when He would reveal it.
If we are walking in the Spirit we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. It does not say that sometimes we will and sometinmes we wont. However we add grey areas if we do not have the Life in us.
blessings
Brenda
I don't mind you joining in at all. Awesome post! I think you put it very well. I say AMEN!
I believe that when we walk according to the dictates of the flesh it means that our thoughts which then becomes our actions do not line up with God's words. When we walk in the spirit, our thoughts and deeds are lined up with God's words. It is a way of thinking, a mindset. Whenever we are prompted to do something we must check it according to what God says in His Word. If it does not line up with God's word,then be aware that it is the flesh, not the spirit. Walking in the flesh include lusts, pride, selfishness and such like.We recall what the bible says about the fruits of the spirit. When we walk in the spirit, we will enjoy the fruits of peace, joy, love but the fleshly,earthly pleasures will turn to sorrow sooner or later.It is very simple. Weigh each thought against God's words and you will certainly know which side you are on.
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