Pastor's Power Points

Walking in the Spirit

 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom. 8:5-8

In terms of genuine change, transformation is infinitely more powerful and productive than conformity.  A caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly and can then fly. But until it is transformed into a butterfly it cannot fly no matter how hard it may try.  The thrust of the New Testament is the transformation of the individual according to God’s grace as opposed to following religious regulations through human effort.  So if we are to be molded into the image of Jesus Christ in holy character and conduct it will not come through regulation but through the Holy Spirit who indwells each believer.

 Now – as children of God, reconciled to God – we love Him and desire to please Him.  Pleasing Him is antithetical to anything that the flesh (self-centered passions and desires) demands. To not fulfill the desires of the flesh we must walk in the Spirit because overcoming these strong urges (you know what yours are) is not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord (Zech. 4:6). That God has put His Spirit in us and made us partakers of the divine nature is a key benefit of the new covenant as opposed to the old (Mosaic law).  So if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 We will explore this profound and dynamic truth by considering three ways that the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Christ – is described in the New Testament record; He is 1) the Spirit of truth, 2) the Spirit of adoption, and 3) the Spirit of power.

 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal. 5:25

 The biblical action “walk” is reference to a daily, continual, habitual, diligent movement. It is not so much event related as it is a description of a person’s over all manner of life. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the trinity – God, and, as a member of the triune, perfectly other-focused, eternal community, it is His delight to glorify the Father and the Son. So as we walk in the Spirit – keep in step with the Spirit – we also delight to glorify God.  Pursuit of the glory of God becomes not only our modus operandi (method of procedure) but our modus vivendi (manner of living). This is consistent with the apostle Paul’s imperative to be filled with the Spirit. The verb “filled” is a present and active verb – to keep on being filled – a modus vivendi.

 If a person in today’s theological context were to ask: “Is your church Spirit-filled?” He or she would most likely be referring to what a congregation practices in the event of corporate worship. The apostle’s command, however, is not in that limited context. Being Spirit-filled is a manner of life – walking in the Spirit. The answer to the question: “Are you Spirit-filled?” can only come from an individual who is indwelt with the Spirit of God.  Let me rephrase the question: Is your manner of life a habitual diligence in the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of adoption and the Spirit of power? Walking in the Spirit is not an event – it’s doing life.

In outlining the practical meaning to walking in the Spirit we need to consider the essence of the Spirit, the objective of walking in the Spirit and the practical benefits as well as the fruit of walking in the Spirit.

 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17

 The Holy Spirit who indwells each believer is the Spirit of truth (cf. John 15:26; 16:13; I John 4:6). He is God – the divine nature – who takes up residence in the believer; therefore He is the same essence as the Father and the Son. The triune God has revealed Himself – Truth – to His creation. The primary objective of walking in the Spirit of truth, then, is to know Him – the Creator/Redeemer who created us for Himself.  The Spirit of truth teaches us the word of God (I John 2:27), brings to our remembrance the words of Christ and illuminates our understanding of God’s revelation. Jesus said of Him (the Spirit of truth) He will glorify Me. Why? Because He will guide you into all truth.

 There are two key practical benefits to walking in the Spirit of truth. 1) Discernment. As the Spirit glorifies Christ in our hearts and minds the preeminent Christ becomes the infinite reference point and standard for all that claims to be true as well as all attitudes and behavior. What ever does not measure up to the character and words of Christ is not of God.  2) Liberty. Jesus said: the truth (My words) will set you free. Grasping the truth as found in the character and purpose of God engenders transformation that liberates the believer from the bondage of God-ignoring desires and ambitions, and creates an awareness of one’s freedom to function according to the Creator’s good and gracious design.

 The fruit, then, of walking in the Spirit of truth is faithfulness: being faithful – consistent and committed – to that which is indeed true as well as to the developing character of Christ in the believer. The fruit of the Spirit is …faithfulness…. Walk in the Spirit of truth by letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
Gal. 4:6

 In the daily practice of faith, do you delight in God? The beauty of the benefits you have as a New Testament believer is that God equips and empowers you to do the very thing for which you were created – to love Him.  He has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your heart crying “Abba! Father!” This is an endearing term which points to an engaging relationship – a position and qualification for deep, personal communion with the Creator! This is the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15).

 To walk in the Spirit is to walk in the Spirit of adoption. To walk in the Spirit of adoption is to walk in God’s presence.  Remember, “walk” is a daily, continual movement – a manner of life. In line with walk in the Spirit, James instructs you to draw near to God and Jesus directs you to abide in Him.  Why do you walk in His presence? To love Him.  How do you walk in His presence?  First: by an unending consciousness of God’s loving, gracious presence in all events and circumstances of the day. Where can I go from your Spirit (Ps. 139:7) is a deeply comforting and empowering truth for the child of God. Be diligent to maintain that consciousness. Second: because of His presence, fellowship with Him in all events and circumstances of the day. Pray without ceasing, is not a glib spiritual platitude but the profound privilege of unending communication with your Creator/Redeemer.  How precious are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them (Ps. 139:17).

 You must be very clear on this next point:  being busy for God is not equal to walking with God. God did not create you for the things you can do for Him – He is absolutely self-sufficient. You were created specifically for fellowship with Him. Pursue that now that you are indwelt with the Spirit of adoption. When you do, the fruit of the Spirit you will know is love, joy and peace – in all events and circumstances of the day.

 You will make known to me the path of life,
in Your presence is fullness of joy…
Ps. 16:11

 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…
Eph. 3:20

 The apostle Paul was straight forward: those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  The good news for the believer is that because you are indwelt with the Spirit and a partaker of the divine nature, you can walk in the Spirit (by His power and under His control) and please God – which is why the apostle affirmed: we make it our ambition to be pleasing to Him.  To love and glorify God is the highest function for created humanity. Once again, it is God who equips you to fulfill that function, and the earnest prayer of the church ought to be that each of its members would be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. The Spirit in whom and with whom you walk is the Spirit of power so that you can please God as you obey Him with abandon (see Acts 1:8; 10:38; Rom. 5:13, 18-19; I Cor. 2:4; Eph. 3:16; I Thess 1.5).

 Paul also pointed out to Titus that Christ redeemed us to be His own special people zealous for good works. It follows that when you walk in the Spirit of power this statement is descriptive of your life.  He is the Spirit of God at work in you equipping you with gifts to be fanned into flame with boldness, love and self-control (II Tim. 1:6-7).  To walk in the Spirit of power is to boldly engage your spiritual equipping (gifts) in order to be a light to the lost and a help to the church.  “Boldly”, of course, does not mean arrogantly, abrasively or by imposition, but with confidence – absent the fear of man.

 Finally, walking in the Spirit of power, the believer will realize the fruit of the Spirit and engage life (with all of its pleasures and adversities) with patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.  These are virtues as a package and a manner of life (walk) that only the Spirit of God can produce, so walk in the Spirit of power.  Pleasing – loving and glorifying – God first comes only through faith, for without faith it is impossible to please Him. But once you, the believer, are in the eternal grip of God’s grace then you are endued with a clear purpose and His inexhaustible power to accomplish that for which you were designed. Surely this is part of the surpassing worth of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, the Lord!

 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit

– of truth, of adoption and of power.