Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Every one of us understands that the lust of the flesh is everywhere present. This world is controlled by the devil, rather than by the Lord. There is more evil than good about us. There is more opportunity to give into the lust of the flesh than there is to give into the influence of the Spirit. All one needs to do is open their eyes, and they will see the prevalence and pervasiveness of evil. You must look for the Spirit. It is not readily visible and evident in the world. A Christian must purposefully cultivate his spiritual life, because there is nothing in the world or in his own flesh conducive to such influences. According to Paul here, the Spirit and the flesh are contrary to one another.They are incompatible. They are at war, they are at odds; they are against one another and cannot coexist in harmony. One will outdo the other. Whichever is listened to and yielded to will rule and reign.

Now, the daily and constantly pertinent question for the Christian must be who he is yielding to. We are to walk in the Spirit, that we may not fulfill the lust of the flesh. This is the only way that the Spirit will have rule, and that is if we yield to Him moment by moment. For if we walk in Him and with Him, we shall not be giving in to the flesh, for the flesh is always contrary. And we will have discernment to know what is of the flesh and what is of the Spirit. Here there is a list of the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. They are the evidences, the test of whether or not we are walking in the Spirit. If we have any of the works of the flesh being exhibited through our daily life, we are not walking in the Spirit. Are we envying others? Are we lusting for that which we should not have? Are we at variance, living in strife with others, or with wrath toward others? If so, we are not walking in the Spirit. We cannot be! For these two are contrary the one to the other, so that we are unable to do right while living in the flesh. But, on the other hand, if the fruits of the Spirit are evident, we can be comforted and assured that we have begun to walk in the Spirit. Do we love others? For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. That is a sign! Do we have joy and peace? These are also good signs! Do we have long-suffering with others, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance? These are all signs, indicators of the power and influence of the Spirit. If we are walking in the Spirit, we will show forth these things. We must crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts, and we must yield to the Spirit.

I ask you, my friend, are you walking in the Spirit today? It will be evident by your actions. It will be indubitable. It will be certain. You will be able to ascertain whether or not the Spirit has control. It will not be questionable; it will be obvious. You will know, and you will be sure. You say, “how shall I do this?” You must crucify yourself, repent of selfishness and fleshly desires, and fully yield to Him! It is a glorious thing! If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit! If you are a believer, and thereby a child of God, you have the Spirit. Now, all you must do is yield to Him and walk in His control and in His leading. Let us this day walk in the Spirit!

“Dear Lord, we thank you for the great truths of this passage that have come upon us today. It is clearly understood. We must yield this day, not to our flesh and not to the influence that is everywhere, but instead we must yield to the inward, still small voice of God, as the Spirit bids us and woos us to follow His leading. Help us this day to submit to the Holy Spirit, to be filled with Him, and to walk in His control. And we shall glorify you and praise you for the fruit that shall come from that. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”