How to Walk in the Spirit, Part One

Want this teaching in a different format? You can watch it here or find the audio version here.

How to Walk in the Spirit, Part One

Do you know how to walk in the Spirit?

One of the most misunderstood, but frequently asked questions in Christianity is, "How do I walk in the Spirit?". Another related question that many Christians don't ask but are often confused by is how to recognize the works of the flesh in themselves. It is essential that you be able to recognize when you are walking in the flesh versus when you are walking in the Spirit.

There is a common misconception that walking in the flesh only means walking in the world's ways. While this is true, it could also mean coming under the Law rather than abiding in the grace of God.

In order to learn to walk in the Spirit, you must first understand the difference between the Old and New Covenants. Many Christians are unwittingly coming under the Old Covenant by not walking by faith and the Spirit of God. These misguided believers are trying to follow the letter of the law rather than the Spirit, and as a result are falling from grace.

2 Corinthians 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Jesus Promised that the Spirit Would Lead You.

You must first understand that you are no longer under the Old Covenant. Without a clear understanding of the New Covenant and what it means for you, you will run the risk of missing out on the promises of God.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 10:1-6 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Jesus operated in the power of the Holy Spirit and said that He could not do anything on His own.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

If Jesus said that He could do nothing on His own, how much more is that a true statement for you?

Trying to lead yourself or trying to work out your salvation in your own strength and understanding will always result in failure.

Jesus was listening to the Father through the Holy Spirit. Religion separates you from this type of fellowship with the Father. If you're walking in your own strength, then you will not be led by the Holy Spirit, but rather another spirit.

The New Covenant brought the Holy Spirit to now fill you so that you could have the same relationship that Jesus had with the Father. 

If you have been born again, then you are not under the old Law, but rather the law of the Spirit of Liberty. You're no longer under the Mosaic covenant. You are under a better covenant, the law of love. You're now being led by the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Jesus has given you liberty!

You are free! You are no longer led by the letter, the Old Covenant. You are under the New Covenant, which is about being led by the Spirit of God.

Walking in the Flesh vs. Walking in the Spirit

Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

It is vitally important that all believers learn to walk in the Spirit. If you're being religious and walking under the Law, then you have become self-righteous. The end of self-righteousness is death. Walking in the flesh is to be carnally-minded.

The carnal mind trusts in self rather than places its trust in God. Religion denies the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. It has a form of godliness but denies its power.  Some Christians will try to keep parts of the law selectively. This is a form of idolatry. It is the flesh in operation.

The person who walks in the Spirit will enter Christ's rest, abide in Him, and walk in His anointing. The living water comes through the Cross. The joy of the Lord is your strength.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Love Fulfills the Law

Galatians 5:13-15 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

See the simplicity of the Gospel. The Gospel is simple. It was designed for children to understand.

You need to abide in love for your Savior, Jesus Christ. If you walk with Him, then He will walk with you. If you trust Him, then He will give you whatever you need. 

Faith activates the Spirit.

Do not try to follow the Law. The Law is purely a schoolmaster which leads you to Christ and reveals Jesus. You enter into Christ by faith, not through the Law. You can gain wisdom from the Law, but do not try to follow it.

Galatians 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

It is the Holy Spirit that cuts off the works of the flesh, through the Word of God. The Word of God cuts off the works and deeds of the flesh, which is the Old Man. The Sword of the Spirit cuts off all the works of the sin nature.

If you are led by the Spirit then you are hidden in Christ. Demons cannot even see you because you are in His perfect sanctuary.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Mankind Before and After He is Born Again

Before you were born again, you were born of Adam's corrupted seed. You inherited Adam's sin and rebellion. Satan encompassed you when you were in the unregenerated state. Your flesh was depraved and chained to the soul, which was a slave to sin. In that state, your spirit was dead. You were under a veil of spiritual blindness and could not see God or know God, unless God called you. You were separated from God.

The middle wall of separation, the curse of the Law, is what blocked you from having unity and fellowship with God.

When you were born again, you were born from above. You are now in the Kingdom of God. After you were born again, you were separated and called out from the world. You were hidden in Christ and were no longer part of the world.  

Your flesh is still depraved and will not inherit the Kingdom of God. If you are led by the Spirit, then your flesh is dead to sin and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. The cross sets you free from the dominion of sin. When you come to the cross you have dominion over your flesh and will no longer be a slave to sin.

When you are baptized, you are baptized into Christ. It is dying, being buried, and being raised up with Him in newness of life.

The Holy Spirit Sanctifies the Unregenerated Parts of Your Soul

Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Your soul must be renewed by the washing of the Word. You are made completely holy, pure, and righteous in Christ. Your spirit man is not contaminated by Satan. When God looks at you He sees His finished work and His righteousness in you. You are justified by His shed blood at Calvary.

There is no condemnation because you have now been bought and are seated with Him in Heavenly places.

Guilt, shame, and condemnation come from the part of the soul that has not yet been sanctified. You cut the deeds of the flesh off with the Sword of the Spirit, by Holy Spirit. When you take the Sword of the Spirit, and believe it by faith, then that will restore whatever part of your soul the enemy has taken captive. There is no reason for the devil to be in your life except for doubt, unbelief, and disobedience.

To abide in the Kingdom of God, is to abide in His Word and to abide in the promises of God by faith.

Following the Law will separate you from the Kingdom of God, and cause you to be separated from God. The Law is not of faith.

You are one with God in the spirit. You are the righteousness of Christ. You are pure and holy, just as if you have never sinned. God is working with your spirit to completely renew your soul. At the same time, He sanctifies your flesh, so that you won't get sick.

As you submit to God, resist the devil, walk in the Spirit, and renew your mind the demons will be cast out of your flesh and the unrenewed parts of your soul. That part of your soul that is unrenewed must be taken back, just as Joshua led the conquest of Canaan and removed the giants from the land.

Spiritually, you are the righteousness of Christ.  You are saved and sealed with the Holy Spirit. You are a New Man, perfectly righteous before God. It is for this reason you can enter boldly into the throne room of God. Not because of anything you've done but because of what Jesus Christ has done for you by grace.

It is very important that you see yourself as a New, Born-Again Man, as Christ being formed in you.

You are now in Christ. You are in total union and unity of the Spirit. You are walking by faith in the finished work of Calvary. You no longer do things by your own self effort, but are walking by faith in Christ's finished work.

This is the message of the Cross. It is the shedding of Jesus's blood that saves you, nothing that you did. You are no longer led by self under the old Law, but are being led by the Spirit of God. You are a king with His righteousness and authority: kings, priests, and ambassadors. You now represent Him.

Your authority cannot be taken away. Don't ever question your authority. Instead, align yourself by faith with your true identity in Christ.

Jesus Christ is now your peace and your Sabbath rest. You are an heir of God, a son of God.

You are no longer a slave to sin or the Law, but are being led by the Spirit. Being led by the Spirit means to love God, to love your neighbor, and to love yourself. When you love, you will fulfill the whole Law. Trust in God as a little child and literally cast all of your cares on Him and He will give you rest. He will heal and deliver you because of His great love for you.

Receive His love. The Spirit of liberty is love. You are under a covenant of love.

Understand your new identity and that you are seated with Him in heavenly places. He has put everything under your feet. You are no longer under the power of this world, so there is no reason for you to fear anything.

Faith is the Key to Walking in the Spirit

The just shall live by faith.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Our Foundation for Being Led By the Spirit

Hebrews 10:16-18 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

It is vitally important for you to understand that the New Covenant is different from the Old Covenant. The law of God is now written in your heart, not on tablets. The requirements of the Law have been fulfilled for you. You must not try to fulfill the Law in your own strength or in your own works! Jesus nailed the Old Covenant to the cross. He finished it for us. That is why he said, "It is finished!"

To go under Law is to fall from grace. The New Covenant is about being led by the Holy Spirit. It is about you no longer being led by your flesh, but by being led by His works in the power of His Holy Spirit.

 If you have entered into Christ, then He is your peace. He is your sanctuary and you now are hidden with Him, under the wings of the Most High. You abide in the secret place. The Lord is a strong and mighty tower and the righteous run into Him.

Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Jesus Christ is your peace. Your peace is the Word. It is love.

If you are going to declare the Word, then you must have faith.

Remember, do not try to go under the Law. The Old Covenant passed away in Christ. Do not try to go under something that God has overcome.

You have been baptized into Him. You are one in Christ and cannot be separated from Him. Nothing in this world, including Satan, demons, rulers, the world or anyone else can separate you from your position in Christ. You have access by one Spirit to the Father. This is why it is so important to understand how to be led by the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that guides and leads you now.

Jesus is your salvation, and the author and finisher of your faith. If you have faith in Him, abide in Him, love and trust Him (and Him alone), then nothing can separate you from Him.

Do not fear anything! The Lord has prepared the way for you.

Faith Activates the Spirit in Your Life

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 10:19-25 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Notice, that the verse says that it is by a new and living way. When you understand what Jesus has really done for you, then you will enter in through the veil. The temple curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies has been torn, which is His flesh. You come to the Father through Jesus.

You have had your heart sprinkled from an evil conscience if you have put to death the deeds of the body.

Do not lose hope. Stand on the Word. Declare the Word by faith and do not doubt!

If you have no faith, then you have no Spirit. Faith stirs the Spirit and activates Him, like internal combustion. When you activate your faith, your spirit man comes alive with God.

Faith brings the fire of God and refines us as silver tried seven times. The fire of the Holy Spirit brings purity and solidarity. It brings unity: one mind and one Spirit by faith.

When we come into this truth, it activates the fire of His Spirit. The fire of Christ's Spirit is love. You can prophesy and move in all the gifts of the Spirit, but if you don't have love, then you have nothing. Love will never pass away.

It's critically important for you to be led by the Spirit by abiding in the promises of God through faith.

Walking in the Spirit is to enter into the New Covenant by faith, to abide in the promises of God, to abide in Jesus, to abide in the completed and finished work of the Cross, and to abide in the atoning work of His blood.