The Bible refers to two ways a born again Christian can walk – in the Spirit or in the flesh. These two walks are opposed to each other. You are either walking in the Spirit or you are walking in the flesh.
Galatians(Msg) 5:17-18 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. 18 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.
Walking in the Flesh : To be living in the flesh involves three inter-related areas of self:
1. A self-focused mind (focused upon SELF )– the thoughts/motives of the flesh
2. Self-centered appetites the cravings/acts of the flesh (1 John 2:15-16; James 4:1-4)
3. Self-effort – own efforts and abilities (2 Chronicles 32:7-8; Jeremiah 17:5).
The fleshly walk involves the three main components of who you are – mind (the focus of your mind), emotion (the center of your craving)* and will (the nature of your effort).
Walking in the Spirit : After having born again experience God wants us to walk in the spirit. It is possible by hearing his voice and obeying Him.
Let’s take a closer look at the three principal components of our walk in the Lord.
1. The focus of your mind : (Romans 8:5-8 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.)
The self-focused mind is the stronghold of the flesh. It is a mind governed by the five senses (what we see, hear, touch, taste and smell). In contrast, the spiritual (or God-centered) mind is governed by what God says about a situation. The focus of your mind has shifted from self – what you desire and what you fear- to the Lord what matters most to Him.
An example of how this works can be found in the story of the twelve spies.
Numbers 13:17-14:11
Out of 12 spice, ten spies were governed by a carnal, self-focused mind. They believed what their natural eyes told them. They fed their minds with it, and the result was unbelief. They fed their emotions with it, and the result was fear. They fed their wills with it, and the result was rebellion.
On the other hand, Joshua and Caleb saw exactly the same things as the others, but had different reactions because they had a different kind of mind. They believed in God’s Word. They fed their minds with it, and the result was faith. They fed their emotions with it, and the result was courage. They fed their wills with it, and the result was obedience. This is why the “renewing of our minds” (Romans 12:2) holds such a high priority in God’s plan for our lives.
2. The center of your craving (appetite)
Food – the appetite of hunger
Sex – the appetite for romance and physical intimacy
Power – the appetite for rulership and control
Comfort – the appetite for rest, relaxation and sleep
Excitement – the appetite for entertainment and thrills (the so-called adrenaline rush)
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with any of these appetites. God created them for us. But when these appetites become our masters (2 Peter 2:19), they become “the corrupt desires of the flesh” (2 Peter 2:10,18-22; Galatians 5:19-21).
Believer’s life is about saying no to the mastery of flesh and yes to the mastery of Holy Spirit.
1 john 2:16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Notice how two things go hand in hand in this scripture:
1. No – to ungodliness and worldly passions
2. Yes – For the grace of God…teaches us…to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age….
The only way to combat the appetites of the flesh is to repent and replace the dominance of those appetites with a new dominating appetite an driving appetite for God Himself.
1 Peter 2:1-2 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
Just as the fleshly walk is defined by fleshly passions, so the spiritual walk is defined by spiritual passions.
The walk in the Spirit is not just defined not just by the focus of your mind, but also by the intensity of your passion for the Lord.
3. Self effort : How God see’s yourself effort?
Jeremiah 17:5-8….Cursed is the one who depends on man, who depends on flesh for his strength….
The walk of the flesh is not just about having a self-focused mind. Nor is it just about giving in to the appetites of the flesh. It is also depending on flesh (your own strength) to change yourself and to try to please God. But there are two basic problems with fleshly self-effort:
1. Flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8)
2. Flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41; John 6:63; Rom.8:3-4)
Any of these three elements – a self-focused mind, self-centered appetites and self-effort make up the walk in the flesh. Romans 8:5-8: 5 For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose].6 Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever]; 7 the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.)
The Opposite of the Flesh
The flesh, cannot please God. So what exactly, then, does please God?
Hebrews 11:6 Faith is what pleases God
Faith is the active dependence upon God is a boundary, a circle, within which your life will be a pleasure to God. Outside of that perimeter, your life displeases him.
Romans 14:25 ….everything that does not come from faith is sin..
God’s view of sin is very different from our own here we learn that anything outside of faith is described by God as sin.
What is sin? Sin is anything that is outside of the parameters God has set for your life. Sin is anything that falls short of God’s intention for your life. Sin and faith (which involves an active dependence upon and obedience to God) are opposites.
The issue that lies at the core of your walk in God is simple: Who is it you want to please? Is it you or is it God. There is only one way to please God and that is by active faith in him.
2 Corinthians 5:7: .We live by faith, not by sight..
Walking in the Spirit is that same thing as walking in faith: It is a daily declaration that I am totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit for my ability to please God today. It means that my mind is focused on the Lord, my passion is fired by the Lord and my will is committed to walk in his ways.
The Momentum of the Spirit
If you walk in the flesh—the momentum will carry you forward toward the things that the flesh desires.
If you walk in the Spirit— the momentum of that walk will carry you forward toward the things that God desire.
Galatians 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
We are not supposed to try to overcome the desires of the flesh in order to walk in the Spirit. We are called to walk in the Spirit so that we will not gratify the desires of the flesh! It is the indwelling Holy Spirit who enables us to walk daily with God.
Walking in the Spirit involves
1. Recognize the voice of the Spirit (John 10:27),
2. Obey the Spirit (John 14:15)
We learn to walk in the Spirit by spending time in his presence. We need to hear his voice in his Word before we will learn to hear it on the street.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The nature of the walk in the Spirit brings freedom to live a life pleasing to God, and the goal of that walk is transformation into the likeness of Christ. And do you notice what energizes that walk? It is the Spirit of the Lord.
Do you want liberty? Do you want freedom? Then go to where the freedom is! Where is that freedom? ….where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom..2 Corinthians 3:17)..
