ChristianConsFurryGuy
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- Joined
- Aug 13, 2019
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- 58
What does it mean to walk in the spirit? That's what my current study brings to my attention. I'm currently going through Galatians 5: 13-26 and two things show up here: the flesh and the spirit, and walking in the spirit.
When I think of Walking in the spirit, I think of a journey--having a beginning, an end to that journey and the time between. There also has to be a reason for that journey; a purpose. I can only surmise that the purpose is Jesus. When we give ourselves to Jesus and ask his forgiveness, our old self is crucified with him, as is written in Romans:
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
I love how they used the actual word 'Old man' for this verse, because it reminds me of how stubborn the flesh can be. Our flesh side acts like a cranky old person, dead set in their ways, unflinching and hating change. Think of that stereotypical old guy who still has his old rotary phone cause it works for him and he doesn't need any fancy-schmancy cellphone or wont go near a computer cause he thinks he will launch a nuclear missle just by staring at it funny. That is our flesh-our bodies so used to our old ways of sins that it would be physically painful to do anything different.
Our spiritual side is the opposite, however. When we are born in this world, we are actually spiritually stillborn. It is why when we were still living in the flesh we saw the Bible and Jesus dismissively. When the Holy Spirit gets involved, He acts as a tutor or surrogate to our dead spirit, teaching us and nuturing those who are curious about God until we finally take that purpose into ourselves and become born again.
Just like Jesus said to Nicodemus:
John 3:3, 5-6 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Our spiritual sides are young and naive, and often still struggling against our old flesh that, despite being crucified with Christ, still tries to force us to live in the flesh.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
This is why spiritually new believers need training and education on how to walk in the spirit, so they can actually walk and not crawl on the ground like a baby.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
The first spiritual step
Whoever coined the phrase "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step" was right on the money! On our walk in the spirit, we first must take the first step pointed in the right direction. It sounds easy, but lets not forget that we as new believers are not exactly experienced in our spiritual sides and we may not be sure how to begin.
Let me show you two things: our desitination and how we start our journey.
First off, our goal is heaven and His Kingdom. This is not an easy path to take, especially considering our spiritual newness. Jesus didn't make it easier, but he did point us in the right direction:
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Our walk in the spirit will not be easy, cause as I've mentioned before, we still contend with our flesh who resists anything spiritual. It helps to know how we should begin our journey of faith by simply following the one instruction Jesus gave us that would help us along the way:
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Now this is one fundamental law of God that he tells us is essential and yet if we really think about it, its a singular law that has broad implications.
Think about it:
This one singular law tells us a lot about our spiritual journey. We must learn to love our neighbor and if anyone else knows about this, Jesus equates our Neighbor with anyone and everyone (Luke 10: 29-37). This does conflict with our flesh who we are led by fear and selfishness for our fellow men rather than help and support them. Did I mention that this wont be easy?
When I think of Walking in the spirit, I think of a journey--having a beginning, an end to that journey and the time between. There also has to be a reason for that journey; a purpose. I can only surmise that the purpose is Jesus. When we give ourselves to Jesus and ask his forgiveness, our old self is crucified with him, as is written in Romans:
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
I love how they used the actual word 'Old man' for this verse, because it reminds me of how stubborn the flesh can be. Our flesh side acts like a cranky old person, dead set in their ways, unflinching and hating change. Think of that stereotypical old guy who still has his old rotary phone cause it works for him and he doesn't need any fancy-schmancy cellphone or wont go near a computer cause he thinks he will launch a nuclear missle just by staring at it funny. That is our flesh-our bodies so used to our old ways of sins that it would be physically painful to do anything different.
Our spiritual side is the opposite, however. When we are born in this world, we are actually spiritually stillborn. It is why when we were still living in the flesh we saw the Bible and Jesus dismissively. When the Holy Spirit gets involved, He acts as a tutor or surrogate to our dead spirit, teaching us and nuturing those who are curious about God until we finally take that purpose into ourselves and become born again.
Just like Jesus said to Nicodemus:
John 3:3, 5-6 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Our spiritual sides are young and naive, and often still struggling against our old flesh that, despite being crucified with Christ, still tries to force us to live in the flesh.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
This is why spiritually new believers need training and education on how to walk in the spirit, so they can actually walk and not crawl on the ground like a baby.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
The first spiritual step
Whoever coined the phrase "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step" was right on the money! On our walk in the spirit, we first must take the first step pointed in the right direction. It sounds easy, but lets not forget that we as new believers are not exactly experienced in our spiritual sides and we may not be sure how to begin.
Let me show you two things: our desitination and how we start our journey.
First off, our goal is heaven and His Kingdom. This is not an easy path to take, especially considering our spiritual newness. Jesus didn't make it easier, but he did point us in the right direction:
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Our walk in the spirit will not be easy, cause as I've mentioned before, we still contend with our flesh who resists anything spiritual. It helps to know how we should begin our journey of faith by simply following the one instruction Jesus gave us that would help us along the way:
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Now this is one fundamental law of God that he tells us is essential and yet if we really think about it, its a singular law that has broad implications.
Think about it:
- If you love your neighbor, you will help them when they need it without expecting anything in return.
- You will celebrate their triumphs and achievements, but comfort them in their failings.
- You would never lie or gossip against yourself, so why do it with your neighbor?
- You would love your stuff enough that you wouldn't steal from yourself or be jealous, so why be jealous or steal from your neighbor?
This one singular law tells us a lot about our spiritual journey. We must learn to love our neighbor and if anyone else knows about this, Jesus equates our Neighbor with anyone and everyone (Luke 10: 29-37). This does conflict with our flesh who we are led by fear and selfishness for our fellow men rather than help and support them. Did I mention that this wont be easy?
