WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
“IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, let us also WALK in the SPIRIT."
Galatians 5:25 (NKJV)
Believers are called to walk with God, serve Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23,24).
This walking with God is preceded by being born of the Spirit: “THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH, AND THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT” (John 3:6 NKJV).
Human being is a spirit, has a soul, and lives in a body (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
The inward man, your spirit, becomes a new creation, when you give your life to Christ—when you accepted Jesus as you Saviour and Lord (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Howbeit, any number of regenerated believers are still walking in the flesh (1 Corinthians 3:1-3), because they work not on their body and mind (Romans 12:12).
Our text says, if we live in the Spirit, we should also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25)
Walking in the Spirit is being sensitive to the Holy Spirit on the inside of you and being led by Him. The walking with the Holy Spirit is by acknowledging Him in all your endeavours (Proverbs 3:5,6).
God does not want us to live independently of Him. The Holy Spirit is given to us at new birth, to lead and direct us in all our ways (John 14:16,17,26; Romans 8:9,14,26).
11 FOR WHAT MAN KNOWS THE THINGS OF A MAN EXCEPT THE SPIRIT OF THE MAN WHICH IS IN HIM? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12 NOW WE HAVE RECEIVED, NOT THE SPIRIT OF The world, BUT THE SPIRIT WHO IS FROM GOD, THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FREELY GIVEN TO US BY GOD."
1 Corinthians 2:11,12 (NKJV)
Some believers have dwell so much in the sense realm, they have even forgotten that the Holy Spirit dwells on the inside of them.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, and Standby (John 14:16 Amp.)
He is waiting for you to turn to Him and ask for His help; of course, He would not force Himself on anyone.
Thus, fellowship with the Holy Spirit has to be consciously and deliberately developed, through regular conversations with Him.
You cultivate the habit of conversing with Him, asking Him questions on things you do not know and that He should lead you in all you want to do.
• You let the Holy Spirit be in your sleeping and waking thoughts.
• You acknowledge Him in whatever you want to do (Proverbs 3:5,6).
• You have the consciousness of His Presence on your inside.
• You tell Him to help you as you want to pray, study the word, and in whatever you want to do—including on your secular work.
Some believe since they have brains, do they still need to tell the Holy Spirit all they wanted to do. They do believe, they already know what to do, why troubling the Holy Spirit again?
The truth is, the Holy Spirit wants acknowledgment, and if you want to build intimacy with Him, you have to constantly be engaging Him in conversations. You do not talk to Him when you have problems only, you talk to Him even when you know what to do, because: "THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN, BUT IT'S END IS WAY OF DEATH” (Proverbs 14:12 NKJV).
Acknowledgement is an act of accepting that something exists or is true. It is also an act or statement expressing thanks to somebody. Thus, when you acknowledge the Holy Spirit, you are recognizing His presence with you.
Some crave to have God’s Presence but they do not have time to fellowship with Him. They rather spend more time hanging out with the people who will not help them in their Christian growth (James 4:4)
The Holy Spirit wants fellowship. He wants you to spend quality time with Him daily. Also, He wants you to have Him in your thoughts throughout the day—in your car while driving; in your work while working; in your house while cooking, showering or whatever; as you go about your day-to-day activities.
Fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit is needed to be cultivated and developed; through it your sensitivity to God's voice is sharpened—as you grow in the fellowship.
Growth in your walk with the Holy Spirit increases your sensitivity to His leadings.
Remember, as growth is in the physical, so it is in the spiritual. Growth in the physical dependent on feeding and exercise, likewise in the spiritual. Feeding on the word of God and praying—talking to the Holy Spirit and waiting to hear what He would say in reply.
Your sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit is sharpened:
• By consistent studying and pondering God’s Word.
• By praying in the language of the Spirit.
• By being prompt in obeying the instructions given by Him.
If your relationship with the Holy Spirit is cordial, pleasant and friendly, you will always have a knowing or witness in your heart on what to do, on any issue you take to God.
Any matter you do not take to God, He may not say anything on it and may permit you to have your way, but not without repercussions—negative consequences.
Note:
In your walk with God, you may miss it at times; you may think you have heard from Him through the Holy Spirit on the inside of you, but you have not, you heard yourself.
When you missed it in hearing from the Holy Spirit correctly, do not be discouraged and quit, you are still learning. As time goes on, you get to be more accurate in hearing from Him as you grow in your walk with Him.
As you become sound in hearing from the Holy Spirit, you begin to know God’s mind about major issues in your life. Things like career to pursue in life, business to invest money in, who to marry, in short, about every aspect of life.
God’s confidant
If your walk with God and communion with Him is nurtured to growth, you become His confidant (Genesis 18:16-19).
God confides in you, reveals things He wants to do to you. God's mind about other people—relatives, friends, acquaintances, and even about your nation—would be shared with you in your conversations with Him (Genesis 18:16-21; Psalm 25:14).
Remember, the Holy Spirit will not lead you further, beyond your last obedience. In other words, if you have not obeyed what He told you last, He will not lead you further than that.
Thus, your must be prompt in obeying Him, if you want to keep the line of communication between you and Him, open.
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!