Walk In The Spirit

-February 12, 2023-

Good morning, happy Lord’s Day,

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

(Galatians 5:16).

The Christian has two natures: the old sinful nature that was passed down to us from Adam, and the new nature which was produced by the Holy Spirit the moment we received Christ. Our desire must always be to submit our lives, our will, and our plans to the Lord. It is the only way to experience a victorious and abundant life. In the NT much is taught about our walk, which is how we live on a daily basis. We should never live a double life: spiritual and carnal.

So often believers walk well on Sunday but not so well on Monday through Saturday. We should live for Christ every single day, whether at church, home, work, school, in retirement, or wherever we go. Paul wrote in Romans 13:14, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” To walk in the Spirit means to be filled with the Spirit, that is, being controlled by the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit begins when we get up in the morning. It is vital to keep the lines of communication open with the Lord. We speak to Him in prayer, and He speaks to us through His Word. By spending time with our Savior, He gives us our marching orders for the day. Praying and thanking God through the day makes for a blessed day. When we are walking in the Spirit, He will produce the fruit of the Spirit in us. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Notice Paul uses the word “fruit” not “fruits.” There are nine fruits but they are all one and come from one tree. The Spirit produces them all in us. He gives us the power to live holy, godly lives. When you have the right root, there will the right fruit. Isaiah 37:31 illustrates how God works in His people, “And the remnant of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.”

When we have sensitive hearts toward the Word of God we will recognize sin in our lives that must be confessed, repented of, and forsaken. May each of us yield ourselves fully to the Lord as we walk in the Spirit. We must abhor anything that is carnal and love righteousness and holiness.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy. For those who are watching the Super Bowl, enjoy it and we hope for a good, close game.

Waking in the Spirit,

Dean