WALKING IN THE SPIRIT!
Galatians 5:16-18
INTRODUCTION: Believers today are commanded by God’s Word to “walk in the Spirit!” No one in the Old Testament was ever commanded to walk in the Spirit. This was brand new and initially taught by the Apostle Paul. Jesus had hinted at the need to walk in the Spirit: John 20:21-22. Jesus also laid the ground work for the future of walking in the Spirit: Acts 1:7-8. But it was the Apostle Paul that made walking in the Spirit the central element of the believers walk through this life. So how do we walk in the Spirit and what does it mean to walk in the Spirit?
- STEWARDSHIP FOR LIVING!
The Apostle Paul was the first one to use the Greek word “oikonomia” to refer to the administration of the different segments of God’s program for mankind. Ephesians 1:9-10; Ephesians 3:9. In these verses Paul began to reveal the specifics of our current dispensation which was established by Jesus’ New Covenant work for His people. Abraham was required to glorify God by living by faith in God’s promises. The Old Testament saints were expected to glorify God by living in conformity to the Mosaic Law, God’s children today are required to glorify God by walking in the Spirit. None of these stewardships was to be the means of salvation. Rather, they are the means by which saved individuals glorify God in their respective dispensations. Paul taught that the Holy Spirit lives within every born-again believer in this dispensation of grace. But not every believer lives in submission to the Spirit of God. Acts 5:1-11. Possessing the Holy Spirit is not enough. The believer must allow the Holy Spirit to possess them!
2. WALING IN THE SPIRIT!
The Word “walk” in the New Testament is used for the way we should “live.” Ephesians 2:10. To walk in the Spirit means to live in complete submission to the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God: Romans 6:11-13. The opposite of walking in the Spirit is walking in the flesh: Galatians 5:19-25. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit: Ephesians 5:18. We get all the Spirit we are ever going to get when we receive Jesus Christ but the Spirit wants more and more for us to be controlled by Him. Romans 8:1-4. Our walk in the Spirit accomplishes these things: 1.) Walking in the Spirit prevents walking in the flesh: Romans 6:12-23; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:16-17. 2.) Walking in the Spirit proclaims God’s glory through our lives: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. 3.) Walking in the Spirit produces spiritual maturity: 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3; Galatians 3:2-3. 4.) Walking in the Spirit preserves the grace principle in our lives: Job 2:8; Galatians 5:1-6. 5.) Walking in the Spirit prevents early death: Romans 6:23; Romans 7:4-7; Romans 8:1-8.
3. HOW DO WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT?
Walking in the Spirit is both simple and profound at the same time. Three things are necessary for walking in the Spirit. 1.) Desire: Walking in the Spirit begins with desire because walking in the flesh is easier: Matthew 5:6. 2.) Confession: Walking in the Spirit demands confession of sins: 1 John 1:8-10. 3.) Yielding to the Spirit’s control of our lives: Romans 6:15-23; Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. We must learn to walk in the Spirit of God before we can run in the Spirit of God: Hebrews 12:1-2.