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Online Bible Study
Lesson 2 Walking In The Spirit
How To Walk In The Spirit
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Walking without God is a common practice in today’s
Christianity. It is very easy to do. Most feel this is an
acceptable way in which to function as a Christian. The
problem with this thinking is that it is not biblical. No where in
the Bible does the practice of living our lives out and asking
God to bless it exists.
Some would say this is a confusing and is just a play on
words. This, however, is not the case. When we look at our
example, Christ, we see a different life style than most of the
church world today practices. The strength of our walk will
only be as strong as the steps which are ordered by Him. The
very sentence I have just written is vital in understanding the
overcoming power of walking in the Spirit.
The term is hardly mentioned any more in most church circles.
Let’s face it. How many times have you been asked, “Have
you been walking in the Spirit this week?” This phrase would
probably draw a blank stare on most Christian’s faces or they
might answer “yes,” while deep down not even knowing the
question they answered.
What does it mean to walk in the Spirit as Paul said we as
Christians are to do? How do we know as Christians we are
being successful in our spiritual walking? How does a
Christian know he/she is being lead by the Holy Spirit in this
essential walk?
I would have said years ago, I thought I knew what it meant to
walk in the Spirit. I would have told you some different things,
quoted a few verses, and then feel I had addressed the topic
enough to satisfy most people. Most people, except myself.
The answer to this question was I really didn’t know. I knew
God wanted to direct my life and where I should go, but I did
not know how to do this type of walking with Him. I believe the
answers are contained within the Word of God, for it is our only
source for truth in this matter. The important thing to realize is
that the truth is not only contained in the Word of God, but it
has to be applied to our lives today in the day in which we live.
Vast quantities of books are being published in the Christian
circles today, all claiming to have the answers to the problems
the church is facing. I do not believe God intended the church
to be dependent on a few authors of uninspired writing to
sustain the church’s spiritual needs. I am not saying these
books do not have a place in a Christian’s library, but I am
saying that the Bible is your answer book. If more believers
would read the Word of God instead of the “How to” books
that cover the shelves at the bookstores, more people would
have overcoming power over the enemy of their souls. The
Bible declares it clearly. Faith comes by hearing the Word of
God. We live in a day when many in the church have little faith
to trust God not only with their possessions, but with there
lives. Let me explain.
The key in understanding the mistake we have fallen into is the
order of the steps. I will take each step in the order of
progression. No step can take place until the first step is
taken. Any step taken out of order causes the person to miss
in walking the Spirit. Please understand when I say this, the
majority of Christians are living out of step with God. I want to
see this corrected with sound doctrine and teaching. This will
all be backed with Scripture and clear interpretation.
Remember, there is only one correct interpretation of
Scripture. I want to make sure you know the correct teaching
on this matter. As I apply this to my own life, I pray you will too.
STEP ONE-SURRENDER ALL!
This is the first step of walking the Spirit of God. The
requirement is unconditional surrender! No demands can be
made by you to God. When wars of the past were fought and
the side which lost surrendered, sometimes the loser would
request certain things from the conqueror. Depending on the
leader, these requests were sometimes granted. Most of the
time they were not. Unconditional surrender is not just a
suggestion by God, it is required. All or none. Not some.
Jesus said in His Gospels some incredible things about this
surrender. One was the fact if a person wanted to find his life,
he must lose it. This made totally no sense to the natural mind,
but to those who know what God is saying, it bring in a new life
of victory and resolve.
Jesus spoke to many different individuals will He was on this
earth. He encountered all types of people as He traveled the
roads of His day. One interesting thought came up numerous
times with His conversations. The question would be asked,
“What must I do to follow you?” Jesus answered this question
very precise and to the point. He did not soften the answer or
made it unclear to the individual who asked. He said things
like, “Forsake all others (family, friends, anyone!).” He also
said, “Take up your cross and follow me!”
This phrase is harder for us western civilization type to really
comprehend. Jesus was saying more than just give up a little
of your life. He said in essences, “Give it all up, everything,
and follow me!” This does not sit well with our democracy
mentality. “We have rights and privileges given to us by the
Constitution!” This might be the battle cry of the person’s
heart as this demand was given, the command of surrender.
To take up a cross is to say, “I am going to follow you any
where and every where you go. I am willing to die (no, I am
going to die for you).” God was not elected as God, He is God!
This is not a democracy, it is a kingdom and He is Lord of lords
and King of kings. You do not have rights under a king like
you do a President (remember, it was the King of England that
motivated the start of our nation-people did not want to follow
what he said). A king can either be followed or rejected. The
king who is followed will benefit from the kingdom that has
been established. The king who is rejected, no benefit can
come from the kingdom that has been established.
Crosses were not just given out as a symbol (like today as
some jewelry around the neck or a bumper sticker). The cross
was used as the Roman death penalty administered to
thousands for crimes committed against the government.
People who carry a cross are on the road to their death. When
Jesus carried His cross (physically), it was on the road to His
crucifixion. The clear interpretation here is this. If you want to
follow Jesus, it will cost you everything! It will cost you your
life.
Paul talks about this in the epistles regarding the process of
losing one’s life for Christ. In Galatians 2:20, Paul wrote, “I am
crucified with Christ, never the less I live, yet not I, but Christ
that liveth in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for
me.” It is very clear from the Word of God, surrender is
required in order to follow Christ. Today’s preaching of the
gospel seems to lower the requirements all together. Now, all
someone has to do is come forward or raise their hand (many
times without anyone seeing it-it might offend the person or
make them feel uncomfortable to have to show publicly he/she
is accepting Christ into his/her life). What in the world is going
on here? A clear understanding of the gospel must be
presented as required by God, not by man. It is a complete
surrender of your life, not just say a prayer and then head back
in control one’s life. No, it is my life for His life. I surrender all,
He gets everything. Nothing I have is now mine, everything is
His.
So many of today’s Christians believe they can have God and
still own their own lives. This is just not scriptural and causes
major problems with the first step of walking with God. I totally
understand that a person who becomes a believer must grow
and mature. I realize a person does not automatically have all
these areas of their life under the control of God. However, the
mistake that is often made, is that the person is lead to believe
he/she can remain in the this state of “I surrender, but not
unconditionally.”
Christianity. It is very easy to do. Most feel this is an
acceptable way in which to function as a Christian. The
problem with this thinking is that it is not biblical. No where in
the Bible does the practice of living our lives out and asking
God to bless it exists.
Some would say this is a confusing and is just a play on
words. This, however, is not the case. When we look at our
example, Christ, we see a different life style than most of the
church world today practices. The strength of our walk will
only be as strong as the steps which are ordered by Him. The
very sentence I have just written is vital in understanding the
overcoming power of walking in the Spirit.
The term is hardly mentioned any more in most church circles.
Let’s face it. How many times have you been asked, “Have
you been walking in the Spirit this week?” This phrase would
probably draw a blank stare on most Christian’s faces or they
might answer “yes,” while deep down not even knowing the
question they answered.
What does it mean to walk in the Spirit as Paul said we as
Christians are to do? How do we know as Christians we are
being successful in our spiritual walking? How does a
Christian know he/she is being lead by the Holy Spirit in this
essential walk?
I would have said years ago, I thought I knew what it meant to
walk in the Spirit. I would have told you some different things,
quoted a few verses, and then feel I had addressed the topic
enough to satisfy most people. Most people, except myself.
The answer to this question was I really didn’t know. I knew
God wanted to direct my life and where I should go, but I did
not know how to do this type of walking with Him. I believe the
answers are contained within the Word of God, for it is our only
source for truth in this matter. The important thing to realize is
that the truth is not only contained in the Word of God, but it
has to be applied to our lives today in the day in which we live.
Vast quantities of books are being published in the Christian
circles today, all claiming to have the answers to the problems
the church is facing. I do not believe God intended the church
to be dependent on a few authors of uninspired writing to
sustain the church’s spiritual needs. I am not saying these
books do not have a place in a Christian’s library, but I am
saying that the Bible is your answer book. If more believers
would read the Word of God instead of the “How to” books
that cover the shelves at the bookstores, more people would
have overcoming power over the enemy of their souls. The
Bible declares it clearly. Faith comes by hearing the Word of
God. We live in a day when many in the church have little faith
to trust God not only with their possessions, but with there
lives. Let me explain.
The key in understanding the mistake we have fallen into is the
order of the steps. I will take each step in the order of
progression. No step can take place until the first step is
taken. Any step taken out of order causes the person to miss
in walking the Spirit. Please understand when I say this, the
majority of Christians are living out of step with God. I want to
see this corrected with sound doctrine and teaching. This will
all be backed with Scripture and clear interpretation.
Remember, there is only one correct interpretation of
Scripture. I want to make sure you know the correct teaching
on this matter. As I apply this to my own life, I pray you will too.
STEP ONE-SURRENDER ALL!
This is the first step of walking the Spirit of God. The
requirement is unconditional surrender! No demands can be
made by you to God. When wars of the past were fought and
the side which lost surrendered, sometimes the loser would
request certain things from the conqueror. Depending on the
leader, these requests were sometimes granted. Most of the
time they were not. Unconditional surrender is not just a
suggestion by God, it is required. All or none. Not some.
Jesus said in His Gospels some incredible things about this
surrender. One was the fact if a person wanted to find his life,
he must lose it. This made totally no sense to the natural mind,
but to those who know what God is saying, it bring in a new life
of victory and resolve.
Jesus spoke to many different individuals will He was on this
earth. He encountered all types of people as He traveled the
roads of His day. One interesting thought came up numerous
times with His conversations. The question would be asked,
“What must I do to follow you?” Jesus answered this question
very precise and to the point. He did not soften the answer or
made it unclear to the individual who asked. He said things
like, “Forsake all others (family, friends, anyone!).” He also
said, “Take up your cross and follow me!”
This phrase is harder for us western civilization type to really
comprehend. Jesus was saying more than just give up a little
of your life. He said in essences, “Give it all up, everything,
and follow me!” This does not sit well with our democracy
mentality. “We have rights and privileges given to us by the
Constitution!” This might be the battle cry of the person’s
heart as this demand was given, the command of surrender.
To take up a cross is to say, “I am going to follow you any
where and every where you go. I am willing to die (no, I am
going to die for you).” God was not elected as God, He is God!
This is not a democracy, it is a kingdom and He is Lord of lords
and King of kings. You do not have rights under a king like
you do a President (remember, it was the King of England that
motivated the start of our nation-people did not want to follow
what he said). A king can either be followed or rejected. The
king who is followed will benefit from the kingdom that has
been established. The king who is rejected, no benefit can
come from the kingdom that has been established.
Crosses were not just given out as a symbol (like today as
some jewelry around the neck or a bumper sticker). The cross
was used as the Roman death penalty administered to
thousands for crimes committed against the government.
People who carry a cross are on the road to their death. When
Jesus carried His cross (physically), it was on the road to His
crucifixion. The clear interpretation here is this. If you want to
follow Jesus, it will cost you everything! It will cost you your
life.
Paul talks about this in the epistles regarding the process of
losing one’s life for Christ. In Galatians 2:20, Paul wrote, “I am
crucified with Christ, never the less I live, yet not I, but Christ
that liveth in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for
me.” It is very clear from the Word of God, surrender is
required in order to follow Christ. Today’s preaching of the
gospel seems to lower the requirements all together. Now, all
someone has to do is come forward or raise their hand (many
times without anyone seeing it-it might offend the person or
make them feel uncomfortable to have to show publicly he/she
is accepting Christ into his/her life). What in the world is going
on here? A clear understanding of the gospel must be
presented as required by God, not by man. It is a complete
surrender of your life, not just say a prayer and then head back
in control one’s life. No, it is my life for His life. I surrender all,
He gets everything. Nothing I have is now mine, everything is
His.
So many of today’s Christians believe they can have God and
still own their own lives. This is just not scriptural and causes
major problems with the first step of walking with God. I totally
understand that a person who becomes a believer must grow
and mature. I realize a person does not automatically have all
these areas of their life under the control of God. However, the
mistake that is often made, is that the person is lead to believe
he/she can remain in the this state of “I surrender, but not
unconditionally.”