Unless You Walk by the Spirit | Galatians 5:16-18

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18

As we survey church history and recount the amazing works of godly men who labored to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ, no amount of intellect, status, knowledge or wealth could have ever enabled them to do what they did. Without the Holy Spirit, men are powerless to do the works of God. In this portion of Scripture, God commands us to walk- and to keep walking- by the Holy Spirit. To walk means to live– to live by the Spirit is to live under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit, as He directs us to do God’s will. (Rom 6:4) We walk by the Spirit as God’s will becomes our utmost desire, impelling us to live a life guided by Him.

Scripture uses different phrases to refer to walking by the Spirit:

Walking by God. The Holy Spirit is not a force; He is a Person in the Trinity. He is God. He directs us, speaks to us, and reveals His Will to us. The Holy Spirit is the One who unfailingly sanctifies all believers to present us perfect and complete before God. (Phil 1:6) He helps us understand truth in our hearts. We know we walk with God because the Holy Spirit dwells within us, securing us as He accomplishes the complete will of God. (1 Cor 3:16-17)

Walking by Jesus. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Jesus. (Rom 8:9) The Holy Spirit and Jesus are distinct persons, yet the Holy Spirit dwells in us to make Christ known, loved, honored, and praised in perfect accord. Jesus is no longer physically living on earth, but He remains with us always through the Holy Spirit. (Jn 15:26, Matt 28:20) The Holy Spirit came to fulfill the work of Christ to the end. (Jn 14:26) He enables us to receive, understand and believe the words of Jesus. He sustains us in saving faith as we believe in Jesus- not by our own effort, but only by the Holy Spirit who helps us believe in things unseen.

Walking by faith. Christians walk by faith. We have an assurance of things hoped for, and an understanding of reality that goes beyond circumstances and conditions. (2 Cor 5:7, Matt 4:4) Jesus does not require us to balance our physical and spiritual needs- He commands us to wholeheartedly pursue the kingdom of God, with the promise that He will provide all our physical needs to live. Faith is from the Holy Spirit- it results in obedience, as the Holy Spirit sustains us and leads us to see the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ. (Phil 3:4-6,8; 2 Tim 4:7-8)

As we examine the accounts of notable men of faith- Enoch, Abraham, and Noah- we see that it was by the voice of God these mere men were called out and enabled to walk by the Spirit. (Heb 11:5,7-8) God’s inerrant, infallible Word upholds the same power and quality throughout all generations of men. (2 Tim 3:16-17) Scripture alone is necessary to teach and guide us today, because Scripture is alive and active by the Holy Spirit who works in our hearts through His Word. We are to meditate on the Word of God until our hearts are full- this is the life of walking by the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we are empty and poor. No religious embellishment and self-effort can count for anything before a holy God. But our God has given us His Spirit and His Word, and as we walk by the Spirit of God, He will lead us to a truly victorious life through sanctification.