Walking In The Spirit

The New Testament says quite a bit about being filled with or walking in the Spirit.  Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion about what this means.  Some have defined being filled as being able to speak in tongues, while others define it as following a particular moral code, being in a particular emotional state or witnessing to others.   The biggest reason for the confusion is that we approach being Spiritual from a carnal standpoint based on our natural understanding.  I Corinthians 2:14 warns, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  In our natural state, we are not even capable of understanding what it means to be spiritual. 

Not understanding what it means, people attempt to make themselves spiritual, working very hard at whatever their definition calls for, not realizing that all their efforts are in fact dependent on the flesh and will never produce spiritual results, as Galatians 6:7-8 tells us.  “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”  No matter how hard we work at accomplishing spiritual things in the flesh, they only hinder our spiritual life because as John 3:6 tells us, the flesh can only produce carnal or fleshly things.   “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”  Only the Holy Spirit can produce Spiritual things. 

Since the natural person is incapable of understanding spiritual things, it is crucial that he be converted or changed from his natural state.  II Corinthians 5:17-18 tells what is needed.  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”   Perhaps an illustration will help our understanding.

In order to swim, a person must surrender himself completely to the water, depending on it to support him.  Swimming requires completely different motions than one learned to walk.  Instead of balancing oneself on one leg while moving the other leg, one must move the legs in a way to use the water’s resistance to propel himself.  It requires a whole new way of thinking, based on the nature of the water, rather than the way we are used to moving on land. 

Being in Christ is much like being in the water.  God teaches us a whole new way of thinking, a new attitude or spirit.  Being filled with, or walking and living in the spirit is much like swimming.   Our efforts have to be based on spiritual matters rather than on those old carnal ways we used to live.  Unfortunately, many Christians are like the person who clings to the edge of the pool or insists on keeping one foot on the bottom.  As long as they cling to the old familiar things they will never become proficient.

As one becomes comfortable trusting the water to support him and used to thinking in terms of swimming, the more enjoyment one gets from the swimming.  Similarly, learning to depend on the Holy Spirit and let him direct our actions develops a spiritual attitude in us.  Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”  Instead of struggling to act like a Christian, it becomes natural for us as the Holy Spirit changes our attitude.  Too often we try to take a shortcut to get these things in our life, not realizing they are the natural byproduct of learning to just rest in the Lord and yield to him.   

When we learn to rest completely in God, we experience his love for us, and we begin to love others like he loves us.  We enjoy our life, even when it isn’t perfect, and are at peace, not angry or upset, even when things do not straighten out right away.  We begin to think about how our actions affect others, making a point not to cause unnecessary hurt, with a good and obedient attitude, trusting God to do what is right, being able to control ourselves so that we do not blow up or panic when things go wrong.  When these things are not present, we are not walking in the Spirit.