Walking by the Spirit

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:16-24 ESV)

So many professers of faith in Jesus Christ here in America today are still deliberately and habitually sinning against the Lord in these various ways mentioned here in this passage of Scripture. They are still addicted to sexual immorality, sensuality, idolatry, fits of rage, envy, drunkenness, and the like. Yet they are convinced that their salvation is secure because they make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, and/or they will have all kinds of excuses for why they cannot live a morally pure life in obedience to the Lord Jesus.

And so this passage of Scripture deals with those situations. 

For those of you who are full of excuses for why you cannot live morally pure, honest, and faithful lives, and so you continue in deliberate and habitual sin, the solution is that you must walk (in conduct, in practice) by the Spirit (and not according to the flesh), and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For those who continue in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord are not walking by the Spirit, but they are still walking according to the flesh, to please the passions of the flesh.

And this is because their lives are not under Holy Spirit control but they are still under the control of the flesh. Their lives are not surrendered to Jesus Christ to do his will, and they are not living in submission to Christ as Lord (Owner-Master). For they have not truly died with Christ to sin, and they are not daily dying to sin and living to God and to his righteousness. And they are not walking in obedience to his commands and following him wherever he leads them, for they are still in control over their own lives.

And thus many of them are doing what they call “struggling” with sin, which usually means that they are habitually yielding to the flesh and giving in to the desires of the flesh and they are doing the exact opposite of what they know that they should be doing. But this will go on in the lives of many who profess faith in Jesus Christ and who are convinced that their sinful addiction will not impact their relationship with God and their salvation and their hope of eternal life with God. So this passage deals with that, too.

Not only does this let us know that the way out of sinful addiction is for us to surrender our lives over to the Lord to walk in his ways, and in his truth, but it lets us know clearly that if sins such as these are what we practice (our habit) and not righteousness, and not obedience to our Lord, we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess or we are convinced of that we believe about Jesus in our hearts. And so this serves as a warning to us to not let sin overtake us but to follow the ways of God.

And then if we are walking by the Spirit, and no longer according to the flesh, and we are living to please our Lord, and not our flesh, and sin is no longer our practice, but righteousness and obedience to our Lord, then our lives should reflect the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. For those who truly belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires and they have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15] 

So, don’t let the fear of man or the influence of (humans) keep you from obeying the Lord. Don’t let what others do impact what you do and how you live. And if you are walking by the Spirit and not according to the flesh, do not fear what other humans might do to you or say about you just because they don’t like it that you are no longer walking in sin but that you are now living holy and godly lives in the power of God for his will. Just keep obeying the Lord and keep sharing your testimony of God’s saving grace.

Why Are You Afraid?  

An Original Work / December 5, 2013

Based off Various Scriptures

Do not be afraid. 

Your Lord is always by your side.

Serve the Lord in righteousness

Before Him all your days.

Those who hate the light

Will not come to the Lord.

They fear their deeds

Might be noticed.

So, they hate the light,

And they embrace the night.

Do not be afraid,

Although your enemy attacks.

Dare to share your testimony

Of God’s saving grace.

Do not fear their threats,

But honor Christ, your Lord.

Be prepared to give an answer

For the hope you have,

With gentleness; respect.

Why are you afraid?

For all that’s hidden will be shown.

What I tell you, speak in daylight.

Let the truth be known.

Do not be afraid

Of those who’ll take your life.

Fear the Lord with understanding.

Trust Him with your life,

And give not up to strife.

Do not be afraid.

Take courage, it is I, your Lord.

Bow before Me; now adore Me.

Oh, why do you doubt?

Listen to the Lord.

Get up and bear His name!

Run and tell the world He loves them.

Jesus came to save.

Give Him your all today. 

https://vimeo.com/114668071