"Walk by the Spirit" - what does this mean to you?

[Hupomone10]

The secret to overcoming the sinful desires of the flesh!

I wanted this to be the title of this thread because of the interest it might bring, but it might also produce too many rabbit trails.

This verse,
Galatians 5:16
"walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh"
is really the subject of my question, and this concept in particular: "walk by the Spirit."

To walk by the Spirit, or walk in the Spirit, walk according to the Spirit, walk after the Spirit, what does it mean? And what does it mean to you (how do you practice it)?

Thoughts, verses, articles from other authors. Rabbit trails welcome as long as they relate to walking/living in/with/by/after/according to the Spirit. Both the doctrinal perspective and the practice of it, how we do it.

I am convinced based on this verse that it is truly one of the secrets of overcoming the flesh in practical experience of our Christian daily walk, but am equally confident that we don't often think on it and in fact don't know much about it.

Prove me wrong.

 

[Hupomone10]

Romans 8:4,5,13-14
in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Gal. 3:3
Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Gal. 5:16
walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Gal. 5:18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Gal 5:25
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

 

[Hupomone10]

I guess the verdict is in regarding walking by the Spirit - on the Baptist sub-forum, anyway.

I shall go elsewhere to look for some interest.

 

[RobertZ]

The secret to overcoming the sinful desires of the flesh!

I wanted this to be the title of this thread because of the interest it might bring, but it might also produce too many rabbit trails.

This verse,
Galatians 5:16
"walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh"
is really the subject of my question, and this concept in particular: "walk by the Spirit."

To walk by the Spirit, or walk in the Spirit, walk according to the Spirit, walk after the Spirit, what does it mean? And what does it mean to you (how do you practice it)?

Thoughts, verses, articles from other authors. Rabbit trails welcome as long as they relate to walking/living in/with/by/after/according to the Spirit. Both the doctrinal perspective and the practice of it, how we do it.

I am convinced based on this verse that it is truly one of the secrets of overcoming the flesh in practical experience of our Christian daily walk, but am equally confident that we don't often think on it and in fact don't know much about it.

Prove me wrong.

A born again Christian is led by the Spirit of God which enables he/she to walk in obedience with the Lord. Im not very good for words over the internet and sometimes its hard for me to get across what it is that im really trying to say.

 

[faceofbear]

Our freedom, which was lost at the fall, to obey the Lord was restored at the point of salvation. Thereby, we now can walk freely in obedience to God. Not by our own willpower, but Christ in us who wills and works for us, because of God's grace and Spirit living in us.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

Paul labored more abundantly, but it wasn't really him laboring, or willing to labor for the kingdom, but Christ in Him.

 

[faceofbear]

I would be interested in hearing an argument against this general stance with the scripture you posted, Bill: Gal. 3:3 Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

I.E. in context, what is the difference between being perfected by the Spirit or by the flesh, and how do you know the difference? For example, how do I know I am not trying to be perfected by the flesh as opposed to the Spirit. Which, the context is circumcision. Given Galatians 6:14,15 I'd say the difference is doing things physically to walk purely as opposed to using the Spirit within you to avoid it. For example, Christ said to cut off your hands and pluck out your eyes if they cause you to stumble. Yet if we compare it to this passage in Galatians, Paul would be saying that Christ is not saying you need to physically do this, because the flesh availeth nothing, but a new creature. So, if your hand causes you to sin, don't cut it off. But use the Spirit within you to avoid the sin because we will not be tempted beyond what we can handle.

 

[Hupomone10]

Thank you Robert, and good points Mike.

This much I know, we are either following the Spirit or following the flesh. And to follow the Spirit we must learn to follow the spirit. The Spirit of God dwells in the spirit of man, which is regenerated by that very Presence. This regenerated spirit is hard to detect and follow, because it's the inner man and we're used to either following the dictates of our body or the dictates of our mind ("Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind..."). When we get saved, we've started a journey, we haven't arrived; and that journey is to learn how to listen and heed the voice of the Spirit in our spirit above the voice of emotion and just pure thinking alone.

I think that's why he contrasts "by the letter" with "by the spirit" because they are two different kinds of walks.

I tried to obey with all my strength for many years, regarding alcohol, and failed. As I learned a little of how to follow the Spirit instead of feeling, God delivered me.

Blessings,
H.

more on your point in the future, Mike (Gal 3:3)

 

[His_disciple3]

Galatians 5:19-26
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
KJV