Galatians 5:16
"But I say walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."
In Galatians chapter 5, Paul discusses the differences and gives examples of those who walk according to the religious laws vs walking in the Spirit. He discusses circumcision as an outward sign of religiosity vs uncircumcision. Paul asks his readers then and his readers now to consider whether you think you are saved by the law or by your faith in Christ.
Galatians 5:1, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." He is referring to being a slave to the religious laws of that day, the many, burdensome laws that those in the Old Testament lived under. Today it might mean living by rules and regulations as a way of proving you are a good person or perhaps to earn your way into heaven.
Christ came to be the ultimate lamb sacrifice for our sins. Because Christ died for our sins, rose again and left the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and among us, we are no longer slaves to the law but free to follow the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:18, "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Paul then goes on to describe the deeds of the flesh vs the deeds of someone who is walking in the Spirit.
A practical question: How do we walk in the Spirit?
I believe it means that the Spirit of God is the ruling force in our life rather than our own sinful or selfish nature. We can be prompted by the Holy Spirit to do or say something. We can feel our conscience telling us to do or not to do something. We can get ideas or thoughts from the Holy Spirit especially while worshipping or reading the Bible. These are thoughts and ideas that line up with God's Word, of course. We always need to measure everything by scripture.
When we are regularly confessing our sins to God, filling our mind with His Word, spending time with Him in prayer, we will be able to hear that prompting of the Holy Spirit. We will be free from guilt and shame so our attitude and demeanor will be one of gratefulness, peace, joy, kindness and oh yes... all of those fruits of the Spirit! We will then be free to hear those promptings and reach out to others in helpful ways, which is generally called using your Spiritual Gifts.
Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort you in times of need and He will. He is real. He is alive. He lives within you. Acknowledge Him and seek Him out.
Get to know the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you. Do you know His voice? Are you so busy with your life, work, friends, family and your own thoughts that you have no idea what it is to hear the voice of God in your life? Is the noise around you drowning out God's voice? It's not an audible voice, but a nudging of your heart; a certain knowing, a conviction. God doesn't usually yell out to you; He's a gentleman. He won't force His will on you. He waits until you are quiet enough to hear the whispers of His voice. He waits for you to have a teachable heart; then He will speak to you through a sermon or a friend or prayer or a song or through nature. If you are quiet, tender hearted and teachable, God will speak to you somehow, some way. If you don't know what I'm talking about, perhaps you are either not a Christian or you are a Christian that is missing out on the wonderfulness of your relationship with God.
A tender heart hears the word of God and is changed by it. A hardened heart does not.
Do you have a tender heart? Do you have a tender heart towards God?
Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
I want to encourage you and myself to be mindful of keeping a tender heart, of keeping ourselves in the sanctification process and to be listening for the gentle whispers of the Holy Spirit 24/7. When we get off course, we just get back on course again. When we fall, we get back up. We build up our endurance; we don't quit. And when we need comforting and encouragement...Guess who is there for us? Our Guide, our Teacher, our Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:16
"But I say walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."
Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God."
God has wonderful things to teach us and to tell us, if we will only be still and listen.
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