Spirit Or Flesh Walking

What does it mean to walk in the spirit and how do we know if

we are truly walking in the spirit? How many situations come up in

one day that we have to make a choice? That choice to “walk in the

flesh” or “walk in the spirit?” What are the consequences for our

choices?

I chose to “walk in the flesh” for many years. I chose to do what

I wanted and when I wanted. Since I was walking in the flesh I wasn’t

going forward, I was just going around in circles, and at times

downward. My thinking was that worldly things were fun, and they

were making me happy. In some things I even tried to justify my

behavior. I tried to convince myself what I was doing wasn’t all that

bad. Actually, I was running – running from God. I wanted to do

things my way, and my attitude was nobody is my boss! Not the right

way to live when you have been a Christian since the age of seven,

but it is the truth.

Turn to Galatians 5:16-25. “But I say, walk by the spirit, and you

will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire

against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: for these are in

opposition to one another, so that you may not do things you please.

But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law now the

deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity,

sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of

anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness,

carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I

have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall 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. Now those who belong

to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the spirit, let us also walk by the spirit. Let us not

become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

Clearly this is an outline describing what flesh is and what spirit

is. What we should and should not be doing. Since we are not

perfect, we can expect to mess up and even, at times, royally blow it.

The Lord says in Lamentations 3:19-24, “Remember my affliction

and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul

remembers and is bowed down within me (or humbled in me). These

I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies

that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They

are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The lord is good

unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.”

Also, I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and

just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all

unrighteousness.”

So, since we know we are going to blow it, because we’re not

perfect, we have the assurance that we have forgiveness and His

mercy is ever constant and present in our lives.

The next time we are about to open our mouths, or we start

thinking the wrong thing, we need to quickly realize what we’re

doing. We need to get out of our flesh and walk in the spirit. A lot of

times it’s a second by second process, but once we’re accustomed to

recognizing it we can get out of it quicker and easier. God says He

sent His Holy Spirit to be a comforter and teacher to us. The Bible

warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 4:30. We can

grieve the Holy Spirit by not walking in the spirit – His spirit. We

need to always be sensitive to His presence in our lives, and when He

may be prompting us to say or do something, and when He’s

prompting us not to say or do something.

What About You?

1. What are the things in your life that influence your choices?

2. How would your life be better if you were influenced more

by the Holy Spirit?

From God's Garden Tools by Gina Burns