Hidden to Reveal
Walking in the Spirit means having a communion with the Father, dependence on the Spirit, and occupation with the Lord Jesus.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of walking in the Spirit to overcome the desires of the flesh. By focusing on worship, prayer, and communion with the Father through the Spirit, believers can come to a deeper knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Walking in the Spirit involves looking to Jesus as the ultimate object of faith and drawing all needed strength from Him, as seen in the example of Stephen who was full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
Text
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
As we walk in the Spirit, worship in the Spirit, and pray in the Spirit, we shall come to know, not the Spirit, but the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus explicitly said, "He (the Comforter) shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you" (John 16:14, 15)
"What is it to 'walk in the Spirit' (Galatians 5:16)? It is to walk in communion with the Father, in dependence upon the Spirit, having the Lord Jesus as my one object. What held the attention of Stephen, 'full of faith and of the Holy Spirit' (Acts 6:5)? Two things: the Word of God on earth, and the Christ of God in heaven (Acts 7:55)."
"To walk in the Spirit is not self-occupation, nor even occupation with the Spirit. Walking according to the Spirit is occupation with the Lord Jesus. When the believer looks to the Lord Jesus, depends upon Him, draws all he needs from Him-if the Lord Jesus is his all, then the believer walks in the Spirit." -A.C.G.
"To be Spirit-controlled does not mean the loss of free-agency. A free agent acts as he pleases, and the Spirit-controlled individual pleases to act in accordance with the mind and will of the Spirit." -A.McC.
"'I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not (in no way) fulfill the lust of the flesh' (Galatians 5:16). It might be objected, if a Christian were not under the restraint of the law that his life might be careless. The 'no way' of our verse forbids such a notion." -H.F.W.
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2) .
Sermon Outline
- Walking in the Spirit
- Communion with the Father
- Dependence upon the Spirit
- Occupation with the Lord Jesus
Key Quotes
“'To walk in the Spirit is occupation with the Lord Jesus.' -A.C.G.” — Miles J. Stanford
“'To be Spirit-controlled does not mean the loss of free-agency. A free agent acts as he pleases, and the Spirit-controlled individual pleases to act in accordance with the mind and will of the Spirit.' -A.McC.” — Miles J. Stanford
“'I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not (in no way) fulfill the lust of the flesh' (Galatians 5:16).” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- As we walk in the Spirit, we should focus on having a communion with the Father and dependence on the Spirit.
- Our occupation should be with the Lord Jesus, not with ourselves or even the Spirit.
- Walking in the Spirit does not mean the loss of free-agency, but rather acting in accordance with the mind and will of the Spirit.