Walking in the Spirit: Fellowship with Holy Spirit
I. CALLED TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT
16 I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust (sinful desires) of the flesh. 17 For the flesh
lusts (wars) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that
you do not do the (holy) things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law…
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:13–18, 25)
A. The “flesh” in Paul’s theology includes sinful physical pleasures (sensuality, gluttony, alcoholism, etc.) as well as
sinful emotions (pride, bitterness, anger, defensiveness, etc).
B. In Galatians 5:17, Paul described the violent war that is waged inside every believer. The flesh wages war against
the Spirit’s mandate in our lives. The Spirit wars against the flesh to the degree that we are actively engaged with Him. We
need a revelation of the violent clash of these powers.
C. Paul found a fierce war in his members (his physical, mental and emotional appetites). Our deliverance only comes
as we encounter Jesus in an on-going way by the Spirit (Romans 7:25).
21 I find then a law (principle), that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the
law of God…23 But I see another law (principle) in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and
bringing me into captivity to the law (principle) of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through (on-going encounter with) Jesus Christ
our Lord! (Romans 7:21-25)
D. The body of death in our members wars against the Spirit. Death works in our members (our mind, emotions and
body). Life is a struggle for everyone. You are not being picked on. Death works in our members. For example, one day
maybe your mind is confused, the next day it is your emotions that maybe enraged, the next day, your body is either tired,
or sick or stirred up with sinful desire (immorality, alcohol, drugs, food, etc.), and so on.
E. The law (consistent principle) of the Holy Spirit’s power is stronger than the law of sin. The law of gravity works 100%
of the time unless a greater law is introduced. Airplanes overpower the law of gravity by the law of aerodynamics, that
operates when the plane’s engines are turned on. The law of sin has dominion in us unless we engage in a more powerful
law (law of the Spirit of the life). God provided this more powerful law, but we must have a vibrant relationship with the Spirit
to experience it in our war against lust.
2 The law of the Spirit of life…has made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are…under grace. (Romans 6:14)
F. In Galatians 5:16, Paul gives us a foundational command, “Walk in the Spirit,” with one of the great promises in
Scripture, “You shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Walking in the Spirit is within the reach of every weak believer. The
promise is not that all fleshly desire would be gone, but that we would have power to not fulfill it or to walk it out.
G. To “walk” in the Spirit (v. 16) means to engage with Spirit throughout our daily life or to maintain a vibrant
relationship with Him. This is the only way to overcome the power of lust. It is not enough to believe in or to possess the
Spirit; we must live in active fellowship with Him.
14 …The love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthains 13:14, NAS)
H. Many put their primary focus on the necessity of denying sinful desires. Whereas, Paul said that walking in the
Spirit is the primary condition in overcoming the lusts of the flesh. We remove darkness from a room by turning on the
light, not by taking out buckets of darkness.
5 Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (overpower) it. (John 1:5)
I. In Galatians 5:16-25, Paul used three verbs to describe a dynamic relationship with the Spirit. He called us to walk in
the Spirit (v. 16), which requires us to be led by the Spirit (v. 18) and to live in or by the Spirit (v. 25). In other words, Paul
emphasized two issues in walking in the Spirit. First, being led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:24; Romans 8:14) and second, living
in the Spirit or being alive by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). We are made alive in the Spirit at the new birth. This is only the
first fruits of the Spirit (Romans 8:23). Paul spoke of living “according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1, 4).
J. To be “led” by the Spirit (v. 18) is to follow His leadership by being watchful of the Spirit’s promptings, especially in
our spiritual life (thoughts, words and deeds). We honor (instead of ignore) the Spirit’s leadership in the small decisions of
our spiritual life. We walk out the Spirit’s values in our daily life choices (v. 19-22). We cultivate an awareness of the Spirit’s
leadership in what we say (speech), what we look at (eyes), how much time we give to feed our spirit (schedule) and how we
spend our finances (money). We must refuse the lie that the Holy Spirit is not Lord, and thus, viewing His promptings as
optional.
K. To “live” in or by the Spirit (v. 25) is to be empowered with the Spirit’s life as we are fed by the Spirit’s food which is
the Word of God. One who has an under-nourished spirit will walk in lust. We must have a present tense vibrant relationship
with the Holy Spirit not our past experiences. For example, a pilot must keep the engines running at all times to overpower
the law of gravity. The plane’s track record of successful flights will not keep the plane in the air if the engines are not
running in the present tense. Our authority is found in current inner life with the Spirit.
L. We must deeply value our relationship with the Spirit. A vibrant walk with the Spirit is essential in our quest to
experience God. We must be determined to be people of the Spirit in our inner life, then also in visionary experiences. We
must cultivate our friendship with the Spirit, being careful not to quench or resist Him (1 Thessalonians 5:19;
Ephesians 4:30). Thus, we prize, watch and guard the prompting of the Spirit on our heart.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me
you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
M. The Spirit in us is greater than the devil and the flesh, but His power works in us only as we actively engage with
Him by speaking to Him. When in temptation speak to Him.
4 He (Holy Spirit) who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
II. HOW TO ENGAGE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. One way in which we walk in the Spirit (or walk with the Spirit in friendship) is by dialoging with Him. It is a continual
on-going conversation with the indwelling Spirit as we see ourselves in light of the Jesus’ beauty, cross and resurrection
(Romans 6:11, 13). We thank the Holy Spirit for His presence and power inside us and for revealing who we have become
in light of Jesus’ work on the cross. Our dialogue with the Spirit is greatly enriched by pray-reading the Word.
B. Principle: we walk in the Spirit by talking with the Spirit. This persistent on-going conversation with the indwelling
Spirit is a key to our transformation and renewal. If we just talk to Him, He will talk back. He will talk us out of sinning and
quitting. He is very good at talking to us once He gets us in the conversation. We can start by doing all the talking, and in
time we will pause and He will slip a word in. We will not walk in the Spirit more than we talk to the Spirit. He will help us to
the degree that we talk to Him. We will not obey Him more than we talk to Him.
C. We need to focus on the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit in our war against sin. We thank the indwelling Spirit
for His presence and power inside us. Our dialogue with the Spirit is greatly enriched by pray-reading the Word. I suggest
using the following prayer, “Thank you Holy Spirit, for Your presence in me that is mighty in love, peace, patience,
self-control, etc. I love and honor Your leadership over me in this moment.” We recognize His presence (power love,
patience, etc.) in us by thanking Him for it.
D. The emotional resource of the Spirit or the power of God on our emotions has 9 different facets of the one “diamond”
of our relationship with the Holy Spirit. We talk to the Holy Spirit as the way to experience the release of His power in our inner
man. The moments that we dialogue with Him are the moments in which we are most aware of His power and presence in
our inner man. Talking to the Spirit re-directs our focus from fantasy (of anger, pride, pleasure, etc.) to Him.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit…22 the fruit (result) of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:18, 22-23)
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God…3 as His divine power has given to us all
things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him 4 by which have been given to us
exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…
(2 Peter 1:2-4)
E. We are to behold and know the Spirit. We do this as we focus on His presence inside our spirit.
17 The Spirit…whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him (it does not behold Him, NAS) nor
knows Him; but you know Him, for He…will be in you. (John 14:17)
18 We all beholding…the glory of the Lord, are being transformed…by the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
F. When beholding (gazing) on the Spirit in your inner man, say, “Thank you Holy Spirit for Your indwelling power and
leadership. Oh! Living Flame of Love, I honor Your leadership in me.”
G. This is part of what is means to be spiritually minded, or to set our mind on the Spirit (Romans 8:5-6). We are to be
“mindful of the Spirit” or “mind-filled with the Spirit.”
5 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, (set their minds on) 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 can be. (Romans 8:5-7)
6 The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life… (Romans 8:6, NAS)
III. RECEIVING A FRESH SUPPLY OF THE SPIRIT
16 That He would grant you…to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ
may dwell in your hearts...that you…18 may be able to comprehend…19 to know the love of Christ which passes
knowledge… (Ephesians 3:16-19)
A. Ephesians 3:16-19 is a prayer to revive the heart of a believer with divine strength so that they would feel God’s
presence and receive revelation of His affection. The darkness in our heart naturally repels the light of revelation. Thus, it
takes supernatural power for the human heart to understand and feel the presence of God’s love. Every time we receive
insight into God’s heart or feel His presence, it is because of the miracle working power of the Holy Spirit.
B. It takes God’s strength to remove the darkness, dullness, oppression and lethargy of our spirit. Paul’s goal in this
prayer was that Jesus would dwell or manifest His presence in an active and discernable way in the heart or emotions of
the saints. We are strengthened progressively so that we are rooted and grounded in the revelation and experience of
God’s love. Then and only then, do we have an adequate foundation to go deeper into the depth and height of God’s
affection.
C. We receive a “fresh supply” of Holy Spirit as we dialogue with the Spirit and receive His response as impulses of
life surging through our inner man.
19 Will turn out for my deliverance through…prayer and the supply of the Spirit… (Philippians 1:19)
D. We only have the first fruits of the release of the Spirit in this age (Romans 8:23). We need an on-going release of
God’s life in our inner man (mind/emotions). This is released by prayer; both the prayer of others for us and our dialog
with God (reckoning/beholding). Receiving the supply of the Spirit refers to discernibly experiencing what is always present
from God’s point of view.
E. There is nothing comparable to the life the Spirit gives our heart. We will fill our heart with God’s Word because the
“voice of the Spirit and the Word” is much stronger than the “voice of sinful lust.” Bible study must create an active dialogue
in our heart with God. Scripture gives us the “conversational material” in our prayer life and creates the language of our
heart with God.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me
you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they
gather and throw them in the fire…7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you
desire, and it shall be done for you. (John 15:5-7)