“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16 KJV). Are there two classes of Christians, those who walk in the Spirit and those who do not? Is living and walking without the Spirit simply a regrettable loss of reward? How does our lack of understanding on this affect our hotness or coldness toward Christ? “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). Not walking in the Spirit is clearly indefensible and strips the Professed Christian of the Spirit’s testimony of sonship. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Walking in obedience to the Spirit gives us His Spirit of sonship. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep His commandments” (1John 2:3). Walking without obedience to Christ is not only unjustifiable, but lacks any credibility to support our sonship. “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (2:4). It is not our memory of sonship that gains us access to Heaven. If He claims not to know us, then we are the liar. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).
Walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) is as achievable as it is misunderstood. Either we lower our expectation of what is possible, or we raise our understanding of what Normal Christianity is. We must begin by adjusting our understanding of temptation and sin. Since Christ was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), then temptation is not sin. Strong desires or lusts (Greek, epithumeo) to do evil are considered sin, when the heart consents to act upon them, e.g., “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Likewise, the strong desire or lust to do good, also becomes righteousness when so contemplated. “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth [Greek, epithumeo] a good work” (1Timothy 3:1). God’s faithfulness through His promises and ministered to us through His Spirit is the perfect enabler to keep temptation from overpowering us to sin. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1Corinthians 10:13).
We cannot walk in uncertainty, if we are to walk in the Spirit. “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). We should not be “holier than thou” (Isaiah 65:5), but neither should we lack the confidence to live or die for the LORD (Philippians 1:21). Our hatred of sinning will not be motivated by a personal fear of eternal punishment but because of our love for the LORD and for the honor due to His Name (Psalm 66:2). The holiness which makes Jehovah uniquely apart and separated from sin now clothes us as we put our confidence in Him. “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [Greek, anastrophē, conduct]” (1Peter 1:15). No one is capable of being holy apart from the active presence of God; hence, we are indwelt with His Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). For that reason, we are cautioned, “Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).
Returning to Galatians 5:16, walking in the Spirit would be the equivalent to “walk worthy” (Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10; 1Thessalonians 2:12) of the Lord. It would seem our main goal is to not “fulfil the lust [Greek, epithumeo, strong desire] of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). But, that is entirely opposite of what is needed. We should instead be seeking, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). Gaining His guidance will steer us away from the pitfalls of the lust of the flesh. We may become utterly amazed of how refreshing an approach being led by the Spirit is in conducting our affairs, instead of simply avoiding a check list of forbidden or not recommended actions.
How does the Holy Spirit communicate with us?
First, the Word of God is the voice of the Holy Spirit because:
A- He inspired it. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2Peter 1:21).
B- He preserves it. “For ever, O LORD, Thy word is settled [literally, established] in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).
C- He teaches it. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).
D- He empowers it. “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2).
E- He fulfills it. “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
Second, in both the OT and NT dispensations God’s Spirit has spoken to His Saints through their thoughts, for how can He get into our praise, if He enters not into our thoughts? “But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest [literally, dwells within, abides in] the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3).
Third, we should expect the Spirit of God to direct us through our thoughts, since we are to be “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2Corinthians 10:5).
Fourth, God’s Spirit communicates with us through our circumstances, since nothing happens accidentally but providentially. “And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of His mercy and His truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren” (Genesis 24:27).
Fifth, the Holy Spirit can direct others to speak, teach, or preach to us, but it must be confirmable by God’s Word, and we must be willing to hear it. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22).
Sixth, expect the Spirit of God to confirm His directions to you by the success He gives to your endeavors. “And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it” (Psalm 90:17).
Seventh, be willing for God’s Spirit to do the miraculous, if need be, to confirm and direct you, e.g., Gideon’s fleece (Judges 6:37-39), Samson’s parents’ sacrifice (Judges 13), Hezekiah’s sundial (2Kings 20:7-11). But remember, God did not need to do the miraculous to require their participation and obedience, and neither is the miraculous required for us.
Father, cause us to walk in Your Spirit as a normal way. Teach us to expect Your Spirit to direct us in concert with Your Word. Give us a thirst and understanding of Your Word that enables us to walk in Your Spirit. Help us to read, hear, remember, and think Your Word until Your thoughts become our thoughts. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your Name, we pray. Amen.
We Need A Miracle 