Walk In The Spirit Series

II. THE SPIRIT LED LIFE, 25.

The Bible admonishes those who have been born again to new life in Christ to daily live in the power of Christ in verse 25. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

In verse 25 Paul says the positive thing we must do is to ‘walk by the Spirit.’ In verse 18 we are led by the Spirit – the Holy Spirit takes the initiative. In verse 25 we are to be active participants. Paul uses a word for ‘walk’ which speaks of someone who ‘walks in line.’ The word [ µ from stoiché ], sometimes translated to follow, means to walk in-step or in harmony with. We should walk in fellowship with the Holy Spirit (pnuema). Believers are encouraged to follow what is right and what we know to be right. This means a disciplined walk in the things of God. Just as a natural tree requires healthy soil, the right food, careful pruning, a mixture of rain and sunshine in order to bear good fruit – the same is true of our lives. We require good nourishment from prayer, Bible reading, fellowship. We require careful pruning by God through His Word. We require the times of trial and blessing in order that the Fruit of the Spirit might be seen in our lives. If you are evidencing a lack of any aspect of the Fruit of the Spirit in your life you are not walking in the Spirit.

God is interested in every part of our lives. We need to submit every aspect of our lives to God; emotional, physical, social, intellectual, vocational. It’s not enough to say we are born again, we must live the born again life of the Spirit. If we are saved, we must live like it! The Spirit that raised us from the dead also realigns and leads us into Christlikeness as we walk in-step with Him. Let your life be conformed to the Spirit’s direction and enablement.

Healthy fruit trees produce healthy fruit. In order to assure a bountiful harvest, the grower must protect his trees from drought, floods, extremes of temperature and disease. As Christians, the fruit of our lives is threatened by dangers from the natural world. The works of flesh listed in verses 19-21 are evidences of spiritual droughts and diseases. On the other hand, the Fruit of the Holy Spirit described in verses 22-23 is evidence the Holy Spirit is being allowed to work in our lives.

How can a Christian survive the disasters that threaten spiritual well-being? We must walk in the Spirit. This means relying on the Helper to produce spiritual fruit in our lives. When Christians exhibit Christlike character in day-to-day life, we become mature and remain free from the bondage of sin - and free to do what we were designed to do: produce good fruit.

Holy Spirit, help me to walk with You in each moment. Let Your fruit characterize my life.

CONCLUSION

We must daily commit our sinful tendencies to God’s control, daily crucify them and moment by moment draw on the Spirit’s power to overcome them (2:20; 6:14).

Have you ever noticed that in winter some OAK TREES retain their crisp, dry leaves long after the maples, the elms, and the walnuts have become bare skeletons? Even the strong winter winds and the early spring rains do not completely strip the oak branches of all their old leaves. But as springtime progresses, warmer winds blow and something wonderful begins to happen. Tiny buds start appearing at the tips of the twigs, and the dried remnants of the preceding season fall off. New life replaces the old.